George Boyle
French weddings are a lengthy affair, with celebrations lasting all night. The day itself is packed with traditions, from the groom collecting his bride-to-be from her home, to the bride cutting ribbons stretched across the road by children, to the throwing of napkins and rice or petals when the newlyweds enter the reception. The marriage ceremony is performed by the mayor at the town hall, with a religious ceremony often following. The wedding dinner is reserved for close friends and family, with a long cocktail hour for all guests. The traditional wedding cake is a croquembouche, a pyramid of cream-filled pastry balls.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length of celebration | All night |
| Dress code | Conservative, classic, fancy fabrics |
| Food | Pastries, croquembouche, hearty fare |
| Drinks | Mimosas |
| Traditions | Throwing napkins, throwing rice/confetti/petals, sounding car horns, giving the groom a watch |
| Ceremony | Civil and symbolic services over two days, led by the mayor at the town hall, followed by a religious ceremony |
| Focus | The two families coming together |
| Guests | Large number, all invited to cocktail hour, only close friends and family invited to wedding meal |
| Witnesses | One or two each, mixed-gender |
| Favours | Candles, local produce, les dragées |
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What You'll Learn
- French weddings tend to be all-day affairs, lasting all night
- The bride and groom have témoins, or witnesses, instead of a bridal party
- The traditional French wedding cake is a croquembouche
- The focus is on the two families coming together, rather than the bride
- The marriage ceremony must be performed by the mayor at the town hall
French weddings tend to be all-day affairs, lasting all night
French weddings are a joyous occasion, but they can also be lengthy. The celebrations tend to be all-day affairs, lasting all night, so it's important to pace yourself!
The day usually starts with the groom collecting his bride-to-be from her home before the ceremony. They are led by musicians and the bride's father, and on their way to the chapel, children block their path with white ribbons, which the bride must cut as a symbol of overcoming obstacles in married life. At the chapel, the groom will walk down the aisle with his mother, followed by the bridal party, including flower girls and boys carrying the rings. The bride then walks down the aisle with her father or another person of her choosing.
After the ceremony, everyone exits the church, and guests throw rice, petals, or confetti over the newlyweds to symbolise warding off evil spirits and bringing prosperity and fertility. The witnesses and newlyweds stay behind to sign the registers before exiting the church last. Outside, guests may form a dome with long branches, another pretty tradition.
The wedding dinner is reserved for select guests, usually only the closest friends and family. During the meal, it is common for the witnesses, friends, and family to prepare PowerPoint presentations with anecdotes about the couple's youth or to give speeches. There may also be entertainment and games for the newlyweds to participate in between dishes. The celebrations continue with a long cocktail hour, which is open to all guests, and usually includes hearty fare and more drinks.
French weddings often include a large number of guests, and they tend to be less formal than in other cultures. The dress code is typically conservative and classic, with fancy fabrics favoured over beads. Men usually wear suits and ties, and ladies may wear fascinators or hats, especially if the wedding is in a family castle!
French weddings are known to be a long affair, so guests are often invited to a late breakfast or early lunch the next day, sometimes with mimosas. It is also customary for guests to throw their napkins at the newlyweds when they enter the reception. And, in some regions, the married couple may be disturbed on their wedding night by guests entering their bedroom with a chamber pot filled with a concoction of drinks and food, which they must consume together!
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The bride and groom have témoins, or witnesses, instead of a bridal party
French weddings are a joyful occasion, but they can also be intimidating if you are unfamiliar with French culture and wedding traditions. One notable difference between French and American weddings is the bridal party. In France, the bride and groom have "témoins" or "witnesses" instead of bridesmaids and groomsmen. These witnesses play a crucial role in the wedding ceremony and celebrations.
The témoins are typically close friends of the bride and groom and can be of any age or gender. They usually wear whatever they please and stand next to the couple during the ceremonies. The couple may choose to have one or two witnesses each, and these witnesses contribute to the planning of the wedding day. The witnesses are also involved in various traditions and activities throughout the wedding celebrations. For example, they may prepare PowerPoint presentations with embarrassing anecdotes about the newlyweds or organise games for the couple to play during the dinner.
Another unique aspect of French weddings is the engagement tradition. In France, the engagement period is considered a big deal, and couples plan an engagement party for family, close friends, and future witnesses. During this time, the couple keeps their engagement a secret until they can personally tell their loved ones. This bringing together of families is an important tradition respected by most French couples.
On the day of the wedding, it is customary for the groom to collect his bride from her home before the ceremony. The procession is led by musicians, and the bride walks with her father. Children block their path with white ribbons, which the bride must cut as she passes, symbolising her ability to overcome obstacles in married life. The groom also walks down the aisle with his mother, a tradition known as "le cortège", which is taken seriously by French families.
French weddings tend to be all-day affairs, lasting well into the night. Guests are invited to a long cocktail hour after the church ceremony, followed by a wedding dinner for close friends and family. The celebrations often continue until the next morning, and guests are invited to a late breakfast or early lunch. It is customary for the guests to throw napkins at the newlyweds when they enter the reception and to throw rice or petals as they exit the church.
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The traditional French wedding cake is a croquembouche
French weddings are steeped in tradition and culture, with a focus on the joining of two families rather than the bride as the centre of attention. One of the most iconic and delicious traditions is the French wedding cake, the croquembouche.
The croquembouche is a tower of cream-filled, puff-pastry balls, piled into a high pyramid and encircled with caramelised sugar. The pastry balls are called choux in French, and a typical serving is around three or four choux per guest. The entire structure is a stunning sight, often decorated with icing, chocolate, sugared almonds, or candy ribbons. It is a challenging dessert to create, requiring careful construction to avoid collapse, and is considered one of the most technically difficult bakes.
The presentation of the croquembouche is a major event during the wedding reception. The lights are dimmed, sparklers and fireworks surround the cake, and upbeat music plays as the head patissier and assistants bring out the cake to the happy couple. The couple then feed each other a few bites, similar to the Western tradition of sharing a piece of wedding cake. The cake is then whisked away to be cut, plated, and served to the guests.
The croquembouche is not just a dessert; it is a symbol of French wedding culture and a unique alternative to the traditional stacked wedding cake. It adds a touch of Parisian glamour to any wedding celebration and is a delicious way to honour the union of two people and their families.
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The focus is on the two families coming together, rather than the bride
French weddings are less about the bride and more about the two families coming together. This is evident from the start, as French weddings tend to be less gendered. For example, when the bride receives an engagement ring, she traditionally gives her future husband a watch. The bride and groom each have a mix of male and female "witnesses" (the French equivalent of bridesmaids and groomsmen) who contribute to the planning of the day.
On the day of the wedding, it is customary for the groom to collect his bride from her home before the ceremony. The procession is led by musicians, with the bride accompanied by her father. On their way to the chapel, children block their path with white ribbons, which the bride must cut to symbolise her ability to overcome obstacles in married life.
At the chapel, once all the guests are seated, the groom walks down the aisle with his mother, followed by the bridal party. This includes flower girls and boys acting as ring bearers, and the bride, who is accompanied by her father or another person of her choosing. The couple will then be seated on red velvet chairs to exchange their vows.
After the ceremony, there is usually a long cocktail hour, to which all guests are invited. This is followed by the wedding dinner, which is reserved for only the closest friends and family. During the dinner, witnesses, friends, and family of the couple may prepare presentations or give speeches, and the couple may hire entertainment for their guests. French weddings tend to be all-day affairs, and guests are often invited to a late breakfast or early lunch the next morning.
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The marriage ceremony must be performed by the mayor at the town hall
French weddings are steeped in tradition and customs, with a few legal obligations to be fulfilled as well. One such legal requirement is that the marriage ceremony must be solemnized by the mayor at the town hall. This is a public event, and the doors of the room must remain open. This tradition is to allow anyone who wants to oppose the marriage to do so. This is the only way to be legally married in France.
The mayor, as an official representative of the state, conducts the civil ceremony. This is usually a short and simple affair, where the couple exchanges their vows. The couple may choose to have a religious ceremony after this, which is more spiritual in nature. The town hall ceremony is a legally binding step that every married couple in France must go through.
The town hall ceremony is often followed by a reception, where the guests are treated to a hearty fare. This is usually followed by the wedding dinner, which is reserved for select guests. The witnesses, friends, and family of the couple may prepare presentations or speeches, and the couple may also arrange entertainment for their guests. The newlyweds may also be made to participate in games organized by the witnesses.
The civil ceremony is just one part of a French wedding, which is an all-day affair. The celebrations tend to go on all night, and guests are often invited to a late breakfast or early lunch the next morning. The wedding dinner is usually an intimate affair, with only close friends and family in attendance. The dress code for guests is conservative and classic, with fancy hats and fascinators for women and suits and ties for men.
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Frequently asked questions
French weddings are all-day affairs that tend to go on all night.
The reception includes a long cocktail hour, followed by a hearty fare. The wedding dinner is reserved for select guests. During the dinner, guests often prepare elaborate PowerPoint presentations or give speeches, and the newlyweds may be asked to play games.
The French tend to dress fairly conservatively at weddings. Men usually wear suits and ties, while ladies are encouraged to wear fascinators and Derby-style hats.
Instead of a traditional wedding cake, French weddings serve a croquembouche, which is a pyramid of vanilla cream-filled pastry balls held together with caramel syrup.
Guests are expected to bring cash to donate to the church. It is also customary for guests to throw rice, petals, or napkins at the newlyweds.
