Step-by-Step Process On How to Get Married In France As A Filipino

Planning to get married in France as a Filipino? Follow our step-by-step guide that covers everything you need to know to make your dream wedding a reality!

One of the most well-liked locations for couples to celebrate their devotion and exchange vows is France.

There are many locations to pick from, from the quaint towns to the gorgeous countryside. However, saying “I do” and showing up are not the only steps in a French marriage.

We’re going to embark on the process of getting married in France, so get ready to make that dream come true!

This guide is your ticket to a wedding that is as enchanted as the City of Love itself, from negotiating the paperwork to locating the ideal French wedding for your wedding venue.

Step-by-Step Process on How to Get Married in France as a Filipino

Legal Requirements for Getting Married in France as a Filipino

The legal procedures for marriage in France are complicated and can be especially challenging for foreigners like Filipinos. As a solution, most couples choose to first have a civil wedding in their home nation before traveling to France to attend a religious or symbolic ceremony.

It is required that at least one of the individuals involved in the marriage have lived in France continually for a minimum of forty days in the time leading up to the marriage. This needs to be in the location where the marriage is going to happen.

Before applying for marriage, one of you must live in France for 30 days, following French law. Then, the marriage application must be filed at the appropriate Mairie at least ten days before your wedding.

Required Documents for Getting Married in France

Here are the required documents for getting married in France as a Filipino:

• A recently issued passport or authorization to live in France
• Long Form Birth Certificate (This needs to be sent out three months before the date of your marriage).
• Proof of domicile, or Justificatifs de Domicile (You must provide documentation of your address. This can be in the form of two bills, as those for gas and electricity).
• A prenuptial agreement, or Certificat du Notaire (A prenuptial agreement must be filed with the Mairie if you intend to have one).
• Identity and address statements of the two witnesses.
• In case of a divorce, obtain a divorce certificate (If widowed, the former spouse’s death certificate).

You will also need:

• A Certificat de Coutume (Customs Certificate certifying that the marriage customs in your native country are the same as those in France, i.e., you are not allowed to have eight wives).

Check their Official Website to know all the documents you need to get a Certificate de Coutume.

• A Certificat de Capacité Matrimoniale attests to the fact that you are unmarried and not married to someone else back home.

The easiest way to get a copy of your birth certificate and Certificate of No Marriage in the Philippines is to get them online via the PSA Helpline. Personal information like your name, birthdate, and parents’ names will be requested of you.

Process on How to Get Married in France as a Filipino

Here’s a detailed guide on the step-by-step process for Filipinos to get married in France:

Step 1: Your Documents Need to be Apostilled and Translated into French

A certificate that certifies the origin of a public document is called an apostille. It proves your paperwork is authentic and acceptable to French authorities when it comes to marriage in France.

The DFA Apostille criteria are not too complicated. However, just to be clear, here it is:

• If you plan to use an Authorized Representative, you must have a Special Power of Attorney (SPA).
• A photocopied ID of the owner
• ID of the Authorized Representative, both original and photocopied.

Although the apostille is not expensive in and of itself, it does take a lot of time and effort to get all the necessary supporting documentation and to coordinate with the DFA.

That will cost you Php 200 if you need it in a day. All you have to pay is Php 100 if you can wait three days.

Obtaining an apostille involves two essential steps:

1. Proceed to the Department of Foreign Affairs, fill out the appropriate form, and make the necessary payment.
2. Obtain the Apostilled document. Don’t forget to confirm that you have fulfilled all requirements and have the necessary documentation before leaving.

The branches of DFA are:

• DFA CO-East in SM Megamall
• DFA CO Pampanga at Robinson’s Place
• DFA CO-Northeast at Ali Mall Government Center
• DFA CO Davao in SM Davao
• DFA CO-West in SM City Manila
• DFA CO Cebu in Pacific Mall in Mandaue City Cebu
• DFA CO-South in Alabang Town Center

You have to first find a sworn translator to get your paperwork translated into French. The web page of the Official French Government has a list of translators.

There is a government database of translators, but there are many more internet translators that are also capable of doing the job. All that matters is that you understand the type of translation you require.

You can just submit a broad translation for certain French items that have been translated by a sworn translator.

Step 2: Bring all of the Documents to Mairieand Get the Marriage Banns

After fulfilling the necessary requirements for a French civil marriage and finishing the first paperwork, the next step is to present all the required documentation to Mairie, or town hall, in the location of your intended marriage.

As you prepare to see Marie, make sure you have all the necessary paperwork organized. You will receive a White Book named the “Guide des futurs époux” when you submit this, in which you will record the information about your witnesses.

Mairie will print Marriage Banns upon receipt of your documentation. These are declarations of intent to marry made in public and are up for display for a set amount of time.

Both the town hall where the marriage is celebrated and the town halls where the couples show their domicile on their door for a minimum of ten days

It is consequently impossible for the marriage to occur before these ten days have passed. It needs to happen within a year of the 10-day period ending.

For instance, if the banns are published on January 15, 2024, the wedding has to happen between January 25, 2024, and May 10, 2025.

Step 3: Send your Wedding Banns to the Philippine Embassy

Wedding banns, which are open declarations of intent to wed, have to be displayed for at least ten days in the consulates or Embassies of France and the Philippines.

This is a mandated legal obligation intended to enlighten the public and provide anybody the opportunity to oppose for legitimate grounds.

If a Filipino citizen marries someone outside of the Philippines, they must register the marriage with the Philippine Foreign Service Post of the host nation. All required documentation is available on their official website.

The Philippine Embassy will provide you a certificate of conformity once the wedding banns have been posted for the necessary amount of time and no legitimate objections have been voiced. An essential component of your marriage license is this certificate.

Step 4: Schedule an Interview with the Mayor

The next step is to arrange an interview with the Mayor or their agent in the chosen Mairie where you want to tie the knot after you’ve obtained all the required paperwork (as covered in Steps 1 through 3).

This appointment is intended to make sure that your marriage conforms with French law and is an essential aspect of the legal procedure.

Common inquiries include how you met,  who suggested getting married, and how long have you been dating.

You may even be questioned at random to determine the authenticity of your relationship, so always be truthful!

Step 5: Set the Date and Get Married!

Congratulations on making it to the last stage of the French marriage application procedure for Filipinos! It’s time to jump into married bliss after careful preparation and following all the requirements.

Make sure everything has been done legally before deciding on a date. Verify that you have obtained the required paperwork, filed it with the relevant authorities, and been given the all-clear to move on.

Verify your documentation one more time to be sure there are no last-minute problems. After the Wedding Banns are issued, you have a year to decide on a date and get married.

Where to Get Married in France

Couples can choose between a Civil Ceremony and either a Religious or Non-Religious Ceremony while getting married in France.

The only marriage ceremony authorized by law in France is a civil ceremony. In France, religious ceremonies are still permissible, but they have to follow your civil ceremony.

The marriage license and all other documentation will be issued in French, and the wedding ceremony will take place in French.

Civil Ceremony Venue

The town hall (“Mairie”) in the area is always the site of the official wedding ceremony. It is not permitted for legal representatives to perform the ceremony at hotels or wedding locations in France.

The ceremony, which is officiated by the mayor or a delegate from the community, requires the couple and their guests to travel to the Mairie.

In France, the average cost of a civil wedding ceremony ranges from 110 to 750 USD. This range includes any additional services like a celebrant as well as a wedding photographer, in addition to the legal documentation needed to get married.

You may also need to budget for any decorations you want for your big day, as well as the price of your marriage certificate.

Religious/Non-Religious Ceremony

After the legal wedding, couples might want to have a religious ceremony at a church, garden, châteaux, or historically significant places like castles.

Because Catholics make up the majority in France, many opt for Catholic church weddings. Nonetheless, there are places of worship for various faiths and denominations, such as Protestant churches, synagogues, and mosques.

Additionally, you must present your marriage certificate. For this reason, getting married at the town hall rather than the church is essential.

You’ll end up setting yourself up for a very long and difficult day if you don’t give yourself at least a few week’s break between the two.

The marriage certificate is often the last document a parish receives in a dossier because it is the final piece of information you will need on the day of the religious service.

The Pre-Cana

For couples being married in a Catholic church, the Pre-Cana is a lesson, workshop, or consultation aimed at preparing them for marriage.

A prerequisite for the entire marital preparation process is Pre-Cana; before celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage, a couple must get a Certificate of Completion from an authorized Pre-Cana school.

A Certificate of Completion for Pre-Cana can be obtained in a few ways:

• Enroll in an authorized online course.
• Participate in a weekly schedule of meetings, usually held at their house, with a sponsor/mentor pair.
• Together with other engaged couples, go on a weekend retreat.
• Attend all of the scheduled meetings with your deacon or priest.

The Cost of Marriage in France

It makes sense that so many romantic couples decide to exchange vows in this magical country. It’s important to weigh the costs of marriage in this enchanting location before saying “oui” to a French fairy tale.

Although people are usually not charged for the civil ceremony at the town hall, there may be some administrative costs involved in processing the relevant papers, particularly if French-language translations by sworn translators are needed.

The ceremony itself is usually free, although there may be additional costs if you would like to rent a particular space or have decorations.

Depending on its location and status, renting a château can cost anything from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

Venue of your Wedding

The first factor that affects how much a French wedding will cost is the venue selection, and location is important.

More small or rural locations are usually less expensive than opulent châteaus, iconic sites, and wine estates.

Costs are also influenced by where you are in France; popular areas usually have higher prices. In France, venue fees can range from 10,800 USD to more than 65,000.

Catering and Wedding Services

Since French cuisine is so well-known worldwide, adding local cuisine to your wedding meal could help it stand out to guests. Catering in France may start at 10,800 USD, with regard to the menu and the amount of attendees.

A wedding planner’s fee can start at 6,000 USD and will vary based on expertise, degree of engagement, and complexity of the wedding.

Photography and Entertainment

It’s crucial to preserve the special moments from your wedding day. Your overall costs will increase if you hire videographers and photographers with experience to capture your celebration.

In France, the average cost of a wedding photographer is between 1,000 USD and 3,500 USD.

However, this cost may differ greatly based on a number of variables, including the skill level of the photographer, the number of hours needed, the number of prints or digital files you need, and whether or not you want an album.

Extra Cost for Considerations

It’s crucial to account for any unexpected costs that could come up during the preparation phase, including insurance, legal fees, stationery, wedding favors, and other small-scale purchases.

Organizing a wedding in France may be an incredibly memorable event, but you must be realistic about the associated expenditures.

You may design a budget that fits your idea by taking into account important details like the location, number of guests, catering, services, and other requirements.

French Wedding Traditions

France’s stunning variety of landscapes, settings, food, weather, and venues have made it a favorite choice for weddings.

Here are a few of my favorite customs that you may come across if you’re traveling to France for your upcoming wedding.

La voiture balai

The literal translation of la voiture balai is “broom car.” It is used to track the automobiles of the bride and her guests as they travel between sites, making sure that everyone gets to the celebration safely.

For this job, a quirky and distinctively French car is usually used, maybe highly adorned with pans or tins that follow it along the way.

No Bridesmaids/Best Man

No, the French don’t even have a term for bridesmaids or best men. The witnesses are the closest thing to the French concept of best friends who participate.

During the ceremony, the bride and groom may each have one or two witnesses. They do, however, have young people escorting the bride the corresponding flower girls and ring bearers.

The Cake

Well, not wedding cakes the way we know them anyhow. Rather, they serve what is known as a croquembouche, which is simply a pyramid of delicious balls filled with vanilla cream!

Traditionally, each visitor would bring a tiny cake to the wedding to be stacked high. This tradition dates back to the middle times. Sometimes a conical alternative is served instead of the profiterole-style cake, such as macrons or other French delicacies.

The Reception Dinner

Invitations to the reception supper are sent exclusively to a limited number of attendees, often friends and relatives.

A classic French wedding reception dinner will have a selection of dishes and beverages, including dragées and croquembouche.

Final Thoughts on the Process of How to Get Married in France as a Filipino

Our guide aims to be a guide in the maze of marriage requirements, from obtaining the required paperwork to enjoying beautiful settings.

Always keep in mind that patience is essential, and every step of the way, you and your spouse are demonstrating your devotion to one another.

Congratulations on your path to becoming legally joined by the love of France, a nation that embraces the tapestry of global love tales while also honoring its rich heritage. To a lifetime of love and happiness, cheers!