Planning a Wedding in France - 5 Things to know before you start
planning a wedding in France –
5 Things to know Before you start
You’re engaged!
Congratulations on your engagement! I can imagine your excitement and eagerness to dive into planning your wedding in France.
But, let’s acknowledge that this is likely a novel experience for you. Even if you’re familiar with the events industry, planning a personal event overseas adds a different perspective. The process is meant to be exciting and enjoyable, but in today’s world of constant information bombardment from the internet and social media, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with options and others’ opinions, before you even start.
As an established Wedding and Events Planner I have witnessed this scenario frequently, as couples, whether just starting out or midway through planning their wedding in France, often find themselves struggling to cope.
The good news is, with over 25 years of experience organizing weddings and events, there’s very little I haven’t encountered and I know how to make it easier.
I firmly believe that being forewarned is being forearmed. So, before you eagerly jump into the world of destination wedding planning—scouring the internet for dream venues, pinning countless dress photos, and seeking supplier recommendations on Facebook—let’s take a moment for you and your partner, to delve into these essential points. This reflection will grant you a clearer vision for the next steps.
5 Things you need to know before you start planning a wedding in France.
1. It's Different
You have chosen France to host your destination wedding, and it’s a fabulous choice with so much to offer. But, it isn’t the same as your home country. So, my first tip is…
Don’t assume anything!
There are some differences that you are going to need to consider…
Language
Let’s state the obvious first—they speak French. While there are numerous English-speaking suppliers in France, the majority are French. Not being versed in the language might mean missing out or paying more than necessary.
Business Etiquette follows a different tune.
Renowned for their bureaucracy and a somewhat rigid approach to business discussions, negotiations can be a bit challenging. However, with preparation and a genuine effort, many French suppliers are willing to accommodate you where possible.
Legal Marriage
Legally, marriage is only recognized when conducted at the town hall and there are a number of pre-requisites. However, having connections in France can open up possibilities. And by connections, I don’t mean anything shady!
Church Weddings
Churches are reserved for religious weddings. The surge in destination weddings to France has led to an uplift in requests from foreign nationals to marry in a French church. While possible, using churches for ‘wedding tourism’ (or having a church wedding solely for picturesque photos) is strongly discouraged. If you desire a religious service, there are diverse options depending on your faith, and you will have to meet the requirements. Also keep in mind that a church wedding can impact your choice of wedding reception venue. If these are a commitment you can’t make or a risk you can’t take, there are alternative avenues to explore.
2. Know Your Requirements
When you reach out to any wedding venue or supplier, they’ll be eager to gather key details such as the number of guests, your chosen date, the duration of the event, and more. Taking a deeper dive into your requirements beforehand not only streamlines your search but also ensures faster responses. Consider factors like the specific needs of your guests, including children and any special requirements. Break down your accommodation preferences and get into the nitty-gritty of your style, needs, wants, likes, and dislikes. While it’s okay for these preferences to evolve, kicking off with a best-case scenario sets the tone.
3. Date/s
When deciding on the date for your destination wedding in France I strongly advocate for selecting a date that suits you best and not worry about the weather. Neither you nor I can control its unpredictable nature, so the smart move is to plan for it. It’s the least stressful route.
Naturally, there are other practical factors to consider too, which could influence your options. Take into account the region’s characteristics including significant local events, guest availability, transportation calendars and associated costs. While some flexibility may be necessary, start with what dates align with your preferences and have some backup alternatives. Then, see what unfolds.
4. Location
With over 10,000 wedding venues in France, avoid getting overwhelmed with options and streamline your search by picking your town or region first. Each region has its unique style and pros and cons, so research them before venues. Infrastructure and supporting services are also key elements to considering location. This upfront investment will pay off in the smoother planning of your wedding. If you lack a strong connection to an area, knowing your requirements and dates will help guide your location choice.
Why not take this opportunity to join our FREE online mini course:
SHORTLISTING YOUR WEDDING VENUE WITH CLARITY
It’s our step by step guide to shortlisting your wedding venue without stress, overwhelm or costly mistakes!
Click this link or see more information at the bottom of the page.
5. Know Your Financials
Budgeting can be a challenge, but understanding your financial landscape is crucial. France may not be the cheaper option it’s perceived to be, especially with recent price hikes due to global factors. Consider what your budget needs to cover, contributions from various parties, and prioritize your expenditures based on their value to you. Also set your wedding day budget before your venue budget then you will be sure you can have the day you want. See our blog on Setting your wedding budget
In summary
Invest time in thorough background research to grasp your requirements and pinpoint your ideal location for planning your wedding in France. This groundwork will significantly ease the subsequent steps of finding your venue and selecting your suppliers. Use it as your compass, staying focused and deviating only when necessary or when you wish to redefine. While it’s an evolving process, starting with this approach will keep you on the right track. Resist the temptation to be a magpie—being drawn to everything will only add confusion and consume more time.
Most of all enjoy!
Speaking with you and having someone break the process down for us has been invaluable.
Craig & Luke
Nov 2023
FREE MINI COURSE – SHORTLISTING YOUR FRENCH WEDDING VENUE WITH CLARITY
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COVID-19 | The Rules for hosting a Wedding in France in summer 2021
COVID-19:
Rules for your wedding in France, in 2021
Well, we are finally here. It’s the 19th May on Wednesday and France starts it’s 3 phases out of lock down, ready to open up fully by the summer. So, what are the COVID protocol rules of hosting a wedding in France in summer 2021 during each of the 3 phases? And what do they mean for your wedding?
Phase 1
From 19th May 2021
From Wednesday the 19th May 2021 couples getting married in France can finally gather more than 6 guests.
For ceremonies in church, guests must only occupy every third seat on every other row. The relative spacing should also be applied to outside events or at the wedding venue.
Wedding venues with reception rooms (including marquees) and terraces can reopen and couples may welcome guests up to a maximum of 35% of the total capacity of the space (this applies to both internal and external spaces).
Receptions inside are to be stand up only and no catering service is permitted.
Wedding receptions held outside (including marquees) may host stand up receptions or seated meals under the hygiene protocols and with a maximum of 6 guests per table.
Eg: If your venue has a terrace with a maximum capacity of 100 for a stand-up cocktail reception then you may host 35 guests. If the same terrace can host 60 wedding guests for a seated meal, then you may only invite 21.
There is a night time curfew of 9pm for any guests not resident on site. Note: Guests must be returned to their own accommodation but this time.
Phase 2
From 9th June 2021
From the 9th June 2021 this reception capacity increases from 35% to 50% indoors and 65% outside. The service of food is possible from this date providing the room capacities are respected.
For wedding ceremonies in church guests must occupy every other seat but may sit in all rows. Again for ceremonies at venues or outside the relative spacing should also be applied.
At the wedding reception food may be served both indoors and out with only seated meals permitted indoor. Outdoors both standing cocktail receptions with food and seated meals are permitted.
Maximum of 6 guests seated at a table.
Night time curfew extended to 11pm. Non residential guests must be returned to their lodgings by this time.
Phase 3
From 30th June 2021
Couples can gather for their wedding day without restrictions.
Ceremonies can take place without spacing out the seating
Both stand up and seated receptions can take place inside or outside at venues, without any restrictions on the capacity of the space.
No night time curfew.
Hygiene Protocols
There will be no PCR or hygiene passes required at venues, but all other hygiene protocols applicable at gatherings will remain in place in line with government advice at the time.
Contact your venue or caterer who will be able to advise you further on the applicable legislation.
So, whilst couples will finally be able host a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic and invite more than 6 guests, it’s not necessarily all good news.
For many reading this blog travel restrictions will have a big influence on how to proceed so we recommend that you keep up to date with these developments.
- Information for Travellers Arriving in France from Abroad (Eng)
- For Information on travel from and back into your country of origin see your Government’s own website.
SOURCE: A letter from the Union of Event Professionals (UPSE) in Le Parisien.
Be positive…
If you are worrying about how your wedding in France will look under COVID-19 rules this summer then don’t despair, we very successfully assisted Samara and Garry through their wedding preparations and day last year. They and their guests had a fabulous weekend to remember and it was not as restricted as they had envisaged. See their wedding story here and for details of what we put in place, see our blog: A Destination Wedding In France during COVID-19
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A destination wedding in France during Covid-19
Going ahead with a wedding during Covid-19 was a big decision
Going through the process of re-arranging our couples’ weddings in 2020 because of COVID-19 showed how every case was different, and every supplier, venue, couple and guest felt differently about attending a wedding.
Here I share how it went, what was put in place and what was learnt from the experience, in the hope that it will help you make your own decision and preparations in 2021.
Firstly, going ahead was not a decision taken lightly by the couple and me. However, we did have a number of things in our favour…
- they and their guests were already in France when UK quarantine measures were announced
- complete exclusivity of the venue and the three days of celebrations were taking place on one site.
- almost all the guests were staying at the venue for the whole duration and had been picked-up and drop-off at the airport by private coach, limiting external contacts.
Weather
This worked massively in our favour being warm, sunny and dry 90% of the time, allowing pretty much everything to take place outside.
Had we had to run the event entirely inside, under COVID protocol (which is much stricter for indoor events), this would have been a lot harder as more space would have been required and had a much greater impact on the feel of the days. That said, we planned, as always, for all eventualities and had the option to put up a tent 48 hours beforehand, meaning we could keep the event outside with plenty of ventilation, if necessary.
Guests
With just under 60 guests it made it easier to implement COVID protocol and the likelihood of everyone adhering to it also. Had this event been for 100+ guests, the risks to all involved and being able to deliver it safely, especially if it had to have been indoors, would have made us question the event’s viability. I would be lying if I said that all guests remained 1-2m apart during every single moment of the event. That said, it certainly seemed that social distancing has become more of a habit and we all found ourselves taking those extra steps back naturally, when necessary.
This behaviour will of course depend on your group, but it is possible to subtly manage as per my suggestions outlined below.
So let's get practical...
Set-up
This was perhaps the biggest consideration, and wherever we could, we doubled the space guidelines for every aspect of the event. For the ceremony, cocktail and dancing we worked to a minimum of 1sqm per person to stand or sit.
Ceremony
We were still able to seat our front row of guests together as they
were from the same family. The rest of the congregation, were well-spaced out and we also made sure we had sufficient room at the front so that the celebrant, couple and any readers could social-distance easily.
Cocktail
We increased the cocktail area by laying out the furniture, food stations and bar further apart than usual, encouraging the guests to spread out more. We also used extra furniture to fill the space but had less people at each place, for example, a maximum of four guests at any table or seated together. We used natural boundaries and decoration to define the space, as usual.
Dinner
This is better if it can be done outside, but with the smaller number of guests we had, we had sufficient space to dine inside, ensured the doors were open and the room well-ventilated.
We increased the distance between tables to at least 2m to allow waiting staff and guests to move around more safely.
Bar
We had screens on our bars and set them up in such a way that guests could not access or move around closely behind them. We used 1m deep tables or bar counters to create distance and asked guests to keep their glasses and return for refills. On this occasion, due to Covid-19, we also broke the golden rule of not having your bar separate from your dancing. Instead, we used the permanent bar just outside the reception room to only dispense drinks but didn’t have a seating area.
Caterer
Our caterers had very strict protocols set by the state that we had to sign off in advance. It’s useful to know that many of these protocols are normally in place, they just don’t have to tell you about it. New rules included: staff wearing masks during service inside, gel dispensers at food stations, smaller selection of canapés served on each tray, used and clean plates and glassware had to be to stored and handled in completely different areas and by different people, guests were managed by staff to move in one direction at the counter.
Masks
This was very much the personal choice of the clients and suppliers (as this was not obligatory in outdoor spaces at that time). Masks were available at all times to purchase at the venue and all my staff and those of suppliers coming into to close contact with other suppliers and guests, wore masks. Those who had limited contact and could manage their distances, had the option.
The band did not wear masks, but again, their area was set up in such a way that they could distance themselves from the dancers by spacing out their equipment.
Gel Stations
Gel was provided to all staff to carry on them and gel dispensers were placed on all counters – bar, food stations, etc, in the washrooms and at the entrance to the property and event. We also made sure to have extra bins around to dispose of masks.
Cleaning
We always provide on-the-day cleaning as an option, but this has never been more relevant. In this case, the venue had their own cleaning team, but if it hadn’t, I would have had a cleaner to do their usual tasks but also include, as part of the COVID measures, keeping the gel stations topped up, regularly emptying bins, regularly disinfecting tables and counters, collecting up unused glasses promptly and disinfecting furniture between event days.
Have a look at Part 2 which provides some more useful tips for planning a wedding in France during Covid-19.
If you have moved or are planning your wedding in 2021 and are looking for support in how to plan for COVID-19 protocols then get in touch.
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Interview with Laura - Wedding Planner France
Tell Us your experience, Laura...
Laura, owner of French Wedding Company was recently interviewed by ‘To Have and To Hold Films’ on planning a wedding in France…
Laura Southgate heads up the French Wedding Company and has been planning weddings and events for over 20 years, working on over 200 weddings and 500 events! That’s some serious experience right there!
Laura and her team can spend anything up to 300 hours on each individual couple’s wedding planning, as long as it takes to ensure the clients are 100% happy. If you are planning a wedding in France, they are the award-winning team you have to contact.
We interviewed Laura to hear all about her tips and advice on planning a wedding in France and what she sees as the up and coming trends in weddings this year! Make sure you find out what her one piece of advice is that she’d give to couples – we think it’s a fantastic idea!
Where is your favourite location in France to plan a wedding and why?
I don’t have a favourite location as France is such a diverse country. That is, in fact, what I love about it – I have planned weddings in vineyards, on beaches, with views of the mountains, as well as at many chateaux, of course. The whole reason I decided to go freelance was so that I wasn’t tied to a specific location or venue. My favourite location is the new one I find, that a couple never even knew, existed.
What makes weddings in France different to UK weddings?
The biggest difference is the way a wedding is organised. In the UK, it tends to be very ‘packaged’ and the venues provide everything. Even though more and more venues are getting into ‘packages’ in France, it is still not the norm. In France, couples start with a venue that is just a blank canvas or ‘dry hire’ and can then choose their own suppliers to create the day that they want. Whilst ‘packages’ can suit many couples, all the clients that we work with at French Wedding Company are looking to create a unique day with special experiences for their guests and so don’t want the constraints that a ‘package’ and fixed set of suppliers, bring.
Why did you relocate to South West France to be a Wedding planner?
I didn’t relocate to SW France to become a wedding planner, I just relocated for a change, to get out of the London scene and do something different. I didn’t come with a plan. Life just evolved. I managed a couple of chateaux for a while and developed their wedding, holiday rental and events businesses. When the chateau I was working at was sold, I was made redundant and I had to move six weddings… so I became a freelance wedding planner.
What’s been the most unusual thing you’ve been asked to plan for a wedding?
There have been a few things over the years. Last year I was asked to source professional ballet dancers for a wedding (we arranged for two ballerinas from the Royal Ballet in London to come and perform specially choreographed pieces of dance). I am currently working on sourcing a falcon for a wedding next year, but one of my favourites was organising a jockey race as part of the wedding day experience.
The Groom’s Dad was editor of the Racing Post and they had this ‘idea’ of having a jockey race but weren’t sure how to go about it. Anyway, after the site visit and over a few glasses of wine (the best ideas spring to mind over a relaxed glass of the local tipple!). We threw around some ideas and ended up creating a parade ring at the welcome dinner the night before. The jockeys paraded around in their silks and had to go over a trial jump whilst the Groom’s Dad commentated on their ‘form’ so that guests could place bets. The next day, a ‘racecourse’ was set up around the wedding tent and just before dinner, six guests, representing different groups in the party, raced three times around the course, jumping wine barrels, whilst the rest of the guests cheered them on to the Father of the Groom’s commentary. It was great fun, the winnings were divided up and there was a prize-giving at the end of dinner too… It really created some great memories.
Do you prefer a Chateau or Beach Wedding?
They are both beautiful and both present their own challenges. My favourite weddings are the ones which are a true reflection of the bride and groom. This is often less about the venue, although the right setting helps.
In your opinion what makes a “Good Wedding”?
A good wedding is about the people. Brides and grooms often get caught up in worrying too much about keeping up with the Jones’ or planning lots of little details that are so often unappreciated, overlooked or end up in the bin. Guests will take the day as it comes and are there because they want to support the couple. If the couple are relaxed, the guests will be relaxed. The key then is about creating the right level of activity to keep everyone entertained and the vibe going. This is where guidance from a good planner comes in.
What new styles/trends do you think are going to be the next big thing for weddings in France?
Experiential weddings are becoming the new trend. Today’s couples are looking to create memorable experiences for both themselves and their guests, and not follow the traditional wedding format. At French Wedding Company, this is how we have always approached our wedding planning and we love the challenge of coming up with new ideas as to how the couple can style, entertain or deliver their day differently, whilst staying true to themselves.
What’s your favourite wedding trend currently?
Doing food differently. Couples are looking for new ways to offer food at their weddings, with many couples not wanting to sit down for long drawn-out meals. This year we are planning weddings with food trucks, picnics, gourmet hog roasts and cocktail dinatoire to name a few, but all with a twist… like an opera-singing Italian ice cream seller!
What’s the one piece of advice you would give couples on their wedding day?
Apart from… get a planner who you can hand everything over to so that you can truly be ‘in’ your day and enjoy it? The next would be to give up your mobile phone 24 hours beforehand or give it to someone else. When guests need to know something, even the simplest of things, they always contact first the person hosting the event, (often without even bothering to try and sort it out themselves). We’ve all done it. It’s easier. But, so often I have seen brides and grooms running around and getting stressed the day before trying to sort things out for guests that really they could be sorting out for themselves. This is not how you want to be spending the 24 hours before your wedding day!
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A Vegan Wedding in France
The Vegan wedding experience
When I first wrote this blog it was coming towards the end of January, or ‘Veganuary’ and there was a lot of press about the benefits of going vegan.
But for most couples the thought of hosting a vegan wedding or having to accommodate vegan guests at a wedding in France fills them with dread… afterall, historically France has not exactly been known for its meat- and dairy-free cuisine, or even recognising these diets! In the past that just meant a bigger plate of veg.
But I am pleased to say that this is changing, particularly in the larger towns… yes we even have vegan food exhibitions now!
So, if you’re hoping to carry through your new resolutions to a wedding in France, or are just worried about how to cater for your vegan or vegetarian guests, then you can worry no more… there are some great French caterers who can make the vegan menu experience just as gastronomic as that of meat-eaters.
Here is an example of a Vegan menu for one of our clients:
And a couple of dishes:
Don’t forget your wedding cake either, and why choose one when you can have three?
Elisa and Brendan had an entirely vegan wedding rounded of with these fabulous three vegan cakes; a Victoria sandwich, rich chocolate cake and a lemon and poppy seed cake. I can tell you there wasn’t a crumb left!
For the day after party there are also a growing number of street food trucks with some truly tasty vegan options…
And of course, plenty of vegan wines can certainly be found here too!
So, if you are looking to create extraordinary catering experiences for you and your guests then share your ideas and concerns with us and see what we can do help you get the best food experience for all your guests.
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A snapshot of our weddings and events in 2018
2018 was all about
Experiences
Something we hear our couples and clients talking about a lot… wanting to do things that are unexpected, different or that show off the region. Their guests are often at the forefront of their minds. Knowing that they have travelled far to attend, couples also talk of making sure that their guests have fun, get to experience the region and France, and don’t feel like they could be at a wedding at home.
In 2018, as in previous years, our couples journeyed to France from all over the world and we, French Wedding Company, journeyed up and down the country to locations ranging from a moated chateau in Normandy, the front steps of a grand holiday home in the Lot, to a Premier Cru vineyard in Bordeaux.
However, for us, the most important thing was how we worked together with our couples to create something individual and reflective of themselves, yet also with their guests’ enjoyment, front of mind.
So here are just a few highlights from our ‘experiential’ weddings and events that included:
An interactive show with French Can-Can dancers that involved ad hoc performances by the groom and certain guests (lots of laughter and cheering here).
Ballerinas from the Royal Ballet, London performing specially choreographed dances, for a bride who was an ex-professional dancer.
Synchronisation of a couple’s first dance to fireworks. We had to ensure the first firework went off as the groom lifted his bride up into the air! (No mean feat in the dark 500m apart and your phone network goes down 16 seconds from the big moment… but we nailed it and you should have heard the gasps of awe from their guests, who had no idea there were to be fireworks!):
A themed Great Gatsby night including Charleston dancers, cocktail barman, cabaret singer and all the appropriate styling.
It also saw…
The best take on a performance of ‘Riverdance’ by the groom and his best woman, outside of the actual show that I have ever seen (It was their party piece amongst close friends)
A few celebrity guests also made key appearances for their friends…
And…
Plenty of fun was had by all, particularly at the following day’s BBQ and pool parties…
If you are looking to create extraordinary experiences for you and your guests then share your ideas with us and see what we can do for you.
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Venue Search Tips - Setting Your Wedding Budget
Understanding your wedding day costs at the start makes the journey much less stressful
If you are starting out on your wedding planning journey then it’s an exciting time, but, it can also be a confusing one… not least because most wedding venues in France do not offer an ‘all-in’ package.
‘GREAT!’ I hear you cry, ‘we can have our day, our way’, and yes, that is of part of the joy of a wedding in France.
But beware...
Before you get out your iPad and start searching for venues, have you considered what venues you can afford AFTER you have calculated your wedding day costs?
So often I hear...
“I thought the venue would do that!”
or
‘I’ve over spent on my venue so have to make the rest of my budget stretch further.”
The reality is that there is a huge choice of wedding venues in France to suit all tastes and budgets, if you know where to look for them, but the cost of hiring a venue can vary vastly from one venue to another.
The cost of your wedding day, however, generally varies little from venue to venue (assuming you are comparing apples with apples!).
So, to avoid disappointment and to get a fabulous wedding venue AND the wedding day of your dreams, follow these 5 steps.
1. Fix your overall budget
Decide on a total figure that you both feel comfortable spending, taking into account any family contributions.
2. Work out what your ideal day will cost
Talk through your ‘ideal’ wedding day and research the average cost that each service required will be. Don’t forget support services such as staff, delivery charges and equipment hire, for example. DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING!!! This is perhaps one of the hardest areas of your budgeting as it will take time and research, but make the effort, take advice and you are setting yourself up for a lot less hassle and potential heartache.
3. Allow contingency
It may be impossible to know all costs before you know your venue or exactly which suppliers you are using. Also, things often have a bad habit of coming up unexpectedly, so, add a contingency: 5-10% is usually good depending on your number of guests.
4. Work out your venue budget
Take your wedding day costs from your overall wedding budget and see what you come out with. Don’t be too upset if your venue budget comes out less that you thought, you won’t be the first! It is at this stage you can then add in any accommodation costs you are hoping to recoup from guests, as this will boost your venue hire spend.
5. Find your venue
Before despairing that you can’t afford anywhere or the venue of your dreams, do take a look around. With over 8000 wedding venues in France there are sure to be some options for you. If not, then this is when you need to decide where you might be happy to compromise. Prioritise on-the-day services, identify where you might be prepared to shave some money off to increase your venue budget… and get expert help!
Don't...
…get yourself in a position where you fall in love with or even commit to a venue but can’t afford to hold the wedding day you had dreamed of. You’ll end up resenting the fact that you had to squeeze other areas so tightly or spend the whole planning process and even on the day, stressing about it.
If it all feels a bit overwhelming, why not contact French Wedding Company about our Venue-Finding Service.
We know how to find a broad spectrum of venues, understand site logistics and their impacts on costs. We also thrive on getting creative… thinking of different ways of doing things to achieve your dream wedding. The service includes helping you to understand your options and set your wedding day budget.
For more help with your venue search see ‘Your Wedding Venue’
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Our 2017 Season Wedding Venues in France
2017 was yet another year of variety for wedding venues...
One of the best things about my job is that I get to travel the country visiting and organising events in stunning places and this year was no exception.
I travelled from the Vendée region down to the Gers in the South West. Every region has its own style and with an ever increasing number of properties making themselves available for weddings there is something for everyone.
This year I organised weddings at
- rustic, country chateaux
- elegant, luxury chateaux
- chateaux sleeping 40 guests and chateaux just for 10
- wedding barns and courtyards
We revisited our exclusive partners at the stunning Aristocratic Chateau three times and long-time friends at Chateau de Malliac.
Were delighted to return to Chateau de Saint Paul and Chateau de la Bourlie…
And established new partners at Chateau La Gauterie.
We travelled to new regions with Esther and Kevin who got married at Chateau la Flocellière in the Vendée, and once again, helped couples plan weddings at their own, or at their parents’ homes in France.
Our new Venue Finding Service went from strength to strength with couples from across the globe engaging our services. We helped them find their wedding venue in Paris, Provence, Bordeaux, the West Coast, the South and South West of France, as well as on a beach.
Three of these wedding venues were booked from afar, without any visits, directly from the search it is that thorough!
Search STATS
- Total wedding venues found on initial searches 426
- Total wedding venues presented to couples 112
We are looking forward to carrying out more personalised venues searches in 2018 and sharing some of the amazing and hidden wedding venues that France has to offer.
For expert help on finding your wedding venue and understanding the options, their costs and suitability, contact us below.
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Candice and Carl Part Three – The Wedding Day
Written by Candice and Carl – Part 3 of 3
Having Laura there on the dayfelt like having an old friend with us
The weekend of our wedding came and final preparations began. Laura arrived the day before to oversee the set-up, organising all of the suppliers and giving us a final run through of the day which helped settle our nerves and intensify the excitement at the same time.
The day came and the only hiccup being menacing early morning grey clouds for the outdoor wedding reception (for which Laura had a contingency plan). We had beautiful sunshine on the day and our dream day was perfect. Everything was just as we had pictured it and so much more. The suppliers FWC helped us to choose were amazing and worked so well together under Laura’s management that it felt like they had been working together for years. Laura’s support during the day made sure everything ran as we wanted it, even when timings inevitably changed; she would oversee the flow of the day, never interfering or pushing things through to get to the next step in the day, but intuitively knowing when the time was right.
The FWC team’s attention to detail was great and we loved the little extras that we didn’t expect. They made our day truly memorable.
Having Laura with us on the day felt like having an old friend with us, someone we could completely trust and who knew who we were and what we wanted.
We will always be eternally grateful to Laura for giving us the happiest day of our lives.
Celebrations that engage, excite & delightfrom start to finish
Candice & Carl Part Two – Wedding Planning
Written by Candice and Carl – Part 2 of 3
The best investment that we made!
How, having found our venue, French Wedding Company helped us plan our day.
“Laura helped us make the arrangements with the venue owners and with the translation of the contracts. It was at this point it dawned on us that although both of us could parle un petit peu de francais, we would definitely need some help with the rest of the organisation, as how would we cope with contract negotiations and finding suppliers in the French countryside from the UK? We always thought of a wedding planner as indulgent and reserved for celebrities and those with money. Having already worked with Laura made our decision easy and, in retrospect, I am not sure how we would have got everything done without her. Having her as our wedding planner was the best investment that we made.
From the point that we decided to use French Wedding Company as our wedding planners things became so much easier. Laura met with us in the UK before we went out for a 2nd visit to France to understand the unique and personal twists we wanted to add to our day, building up a wedding portfolio of things we liked from other weddings, magazines and our own ideas, guiding us through the practicalities and keeping us on track when our focus got side-tracked on minute details.
The second trip to France allowed us to re-visit the venue and work with Laura on the walk through of the day. By this point Laura had already helped us to find a celebrant to do the ceremony and sourced a caterer, florist and hairdresser for us to meet with during our visit. We met with all the suppliers and Candice had a run through of hair and make-up before the all-important big day. The food tasting afternoon with our amazing caterer Fabrice, left us no doubt as to who would cater our event and also fuller than one of his delicious crème patisserie profiteroles. My only regret was not to get a taxi there to sample more of the splendid wine that accompanied the food!
With four months to go Laura helped us finalise the details with our suppliers; the florist, the celebrant, waiting staff, the Music (PA and Speakers), decorations and catering and tableware. Planning a wedding from another country can make you feel a bit isolated and out of the loop, but it really helped to have a single contact who knew what you wanted and who knew how things work in France, working behind the scenes when things sometimes seemed to be going slower than we expected, or prompting us when we needed to make decisions and get things booked.
The online planning tool used by French Wedding Company helped us keep track of what we had to do, decisions to make and view options Laura and the team had sourced for us, and track spending against our budget. It really helped that everything was in one place.”
