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Discover the dynamic world of modern weddings, where every detail plays an essential role in creating a unique day, in line with our article "Celebrating Every Moment."
Between traditions and contemporary trends, today's couples navigate a varied landscape to create celebrations that are uniquely theirs.
It is true that weddings 20, 30, or 50 years ago are nothing like today's weddings, which are guided by trends from the United States and English-speaking countries, with celebrations sometimes lasting several days, often organized by the bride and groom themselves rather than their parents.
And yes, the average age of marriage is rising in France. People no longer marry at 20 to live together, but rather around 40, with an average age of 39.1 for men and 37.5 for women, according to the latest data from INSEE.
For around 20 years, France has also seen the arrival of the first wedding planners, specialists in weddings and organization, ready to do everything to ensure you have the best day of your life and take care of all the tedious tasks involved in preparing for this fabulous day.
As a wedding planner since 2016, I invite you to dive into this diverse world, where every choice and every preparation contributes to creating a memorable experience.
Begin planning a wedding
We know that planning a wedding and all the preparations involved can be a stressful time, and that many people have never planned a wedding before.
So it's perfectly natural to feel lost. Especially considering the 240,000 weddings in 2024, you are certainly not the only ones...
To start off gently, I suggest we look at the very first steps to take once the marriage proposal has been made. There's nothing like taking advantage of these first moments to think about what you want for your wedding and enjoy these magical moments that you wish could last forever.
1. Start by taking care of your engagement ring.
Ensure it is the correct size and find something to store it in when you are not wearing it. Avoid contact with water and clean it regularly.
2. Also, do your initial research for inspiration.
You may have been dreaming about your wedding for many years, but only in a superficial way, without going into details such as the decorations.
You may also have an idea of the style of dress you are looking for, without having any specific details in mind. Now might be the time to start defining the outline of your wedding, drawing inspiration from social media and wedding blogs, for example.
3. You will also need to draw up your initial guest list and set your wedding date and budget. These are some of the essential steps you need to take to properly prepare for the rest of your journey.
The section"Steps to a successful start to your marriage"will guide you through other initial milestones as you begin your journey toward marriage.
Pre-wedding steps
Once you have established the fundamentals, let's explore together the pre-wedding events, which also require specific attention and organization.
The pre-wedding stages include all the events leading up to the wedding, such as the marriage proposal, the engagement party, the bridal shower, and the bachelorette party (EVJF) or bachelor party (EVG), which play an essential role in preparing for your big day.
– The " marriage proposal " marks the beginning of the adventure, a magical moment when a love story takes a new direction.
– The " engagement party " brings family and friends together to celebrate this commitment, sharing joy and congratulations.
– The " bridal shower " (a shower of gifts for the bride-to-be) offers the bride a moment of togetherness with her loved ones (men and women), punctuated by games, gifts, and shared memories.
– The " EVJF"or " EVG " are fun getaways before the big day, symbolizing the transition from one life to another with close friends. They are increasingly taking place abroad, with destinations in Europe offering services dedicated to this purpose.
The formalities
To get married in France, you must appear before the mayor in order for the marriage to be legal.
You must therefore meet certain conditions in order to get married and comply with the legislation in force: you must be of legal age, you must not be related, you must not already be married, either under French law or under foreign law, and you must give your free and informed consent to the marriage. However, each future spouse may be bound by a civil partnership (PACS), whether or not it is entered into with the other future spouse.
You cannot get married wherever you want. The future spouses must contact a municipality with which at least one of you has a lasting connection. This can be your municipality of residence (or at least the municipality of residence of one of you) or the municipality of domicile or residence of a parent of one of you.
Marriages are most often celebrated at the town hall, but the law of November 18, 2016 authorizes the mayor to perform the ceremony in any municipal building located within the municipality.
It is important to note that, despite popular belief, it is not mandatory to get married in front of the bust of Marianne and the portrait of the President of the Republic. Similarly, the tricolor sash worn by the elected official is not mandatory but is rather a traditional custom.
However, marriages may only be performed by an elected official, a civil registrar, and by the civil servants who assist them (Article L.21 22-32 of the General Code of Local Authorities).
Deputies are civil registrars by law and therefore do not need to be delegated by the mayor to perform their duties. However, municipal councilors may only perform the duties of civil registrar if delegated by the mayor, in the event that the mayor or his deputies are unable to do so.
In this section, we will cover all the formalities involved in getting married in a civil ceremony, from the places where you can get married to the documents you need to gather for your marriage file, as well as the publication of banns, the ceremony itself, the rights and duties of spouses, and the different types of marriage contracts.
I will talk to you in detail about choosing your service providers and the importance of having a reverse schedule and a plan for your day in the section, " The Steps to Organizing a Wedding ."
Destination wedding
Adestinationwedding refers to a wedding that takes place in a location other than where the bride and groom reside.
Instead of getting married close to home, couples are choosing a specific destination, often somewhere exotic, to celebrate their union and create priceless memories.
These destinations can be idyllic beaches—there are some beautiful ones in Europe—historic sites, authentic vineyards, trendy ski resorts, or other inspiring places.
In addition to celebrating the wedding, couples and their guests often have the opportunity to enjoy a destination for a vacation in a different setting or for their honeymoon.
However, destination weddings can be more complex to plan than traditional weddings due to distance, cultural differences, and the associated logistics.
The stages of organization
Organizing a wedding, like organizing any event, requires rigor and organization. It also requires months of preparation, from 10 to 12 months before 2020. Today, the duration of preparations is increasing to 12 to 24 months due to the postponement of wedding dates, which is overwhelming reception venues.
As with any event planning project, preparing for a wedding requires following certain crucial steps.
The first steps are already described in the previous section, " Starting to plan a wedding ." This involves choosing the date of the event, the location, the style, and the budget.
The next step will be to implement the action plan, which will take the form of a reverse schedule.
Next comes the search for service providers who will make your celebration a unique and memorable event (reception venue, caterer, photographer, videographer, DJ, children's entertainment, car rental, concierge service, etc., depending on the list you drew up at the outset).
Project management includes all stages of wedding coordination as well as details to be found and prepared (choosing outfits that will make you look your best, wedding rings, guest gifts, the cake, the dance, the wedding night, etc.). It also includes preparing your ceremonies and the formalities mentioned above.
You also need to consider the communication aspect, including your choice of announcement, invitations, save-the-date cards, and thank-you cards.
You can also create a website or blog to communicate with your guests, from the juiciest details of your story to all the logistical information about the day.
The penultimate step will be preparing the decorations that will embellish and enhance your reception venue, including floral arrangements, delicate stationery for the big day, your guest book, your wedding box, and more.
Finally, the last part of your preparations will be devoted to planning the schedule for the big day and sorting out the final details, such as choosing music for important moments, drawing up your seating plan, and publishing the banns. This is also the time to do your hair and makeup trials, schedule your groom's appointment at the barber's, and pick up your outfits, accessories, and wedding rings.
I will talk to you in detail about choosing your service providers and the importance of having a reverse schedule and a plan for your day in the section,"The Steps to Organizing aWedding."
Why hire a wedding planner for your wedding?
A wedding planner offers the valuable advantage of relieving the bride and groom of the stress associated with planning their wedding, taking care of the logistical and operational details and leaving you free to relax and enjoy the journey to your wedding day.
Thanks to his expertise, he guarantees a smooth execution on the big day, while adding a creative and professional touch to transform the couple's ideas into a magical and memorable celebration.
The services and fees charged by wedding planners can vary considerably depending on the geographical area (for example, in Paris or the south of France, wedding planners' rates will be higher), the level of support required, and the reputation and experience of the wedding planner themselves.
I will tell you more about about the profession of wedding planner and its history, its role as the conductor of a wedding, and all the advantages of hiring this professional for a stress-free and smooth wedding.
Eco-friendly wedding
An eco-friendly wedding, also known as a green wedding or sustainable wedding, is a wedding celebration that aims to minimize its environmental and social impact.
The goal is to incorporate practical, environmentally friendly choices such as waste reduction, choosing sustainable and local suppliers, and a nearby reception venue to minimize transportation. This is a key issue given the current environmental context and a priority at VMcom.
Post-wedding steps
Because events surrounding love are not limited to marriage, this section is dedicated to guiding couples through the important moments that follow the wedding celebration.
– The famous"honeymoon" or "wedding trip " is a romantic getaway that marks the beginning of married life. The expression "honeymoon" is a metaphor inspired by ancient practices. People had to drink a honey-based beverage for several days after the wedding to promote fertility and happiness for the young couple. In this section, we explore dream destinations, unique travel ideas, and tips for planning your trip.
– A " wedding anniversary " is an annual occasion to celebrate years of shared love. A romantic way to start the anniversary day is to serve a delicious breakfast in bed or reminisce about the beautiful moments spent together.
– " Renewing vows " is a stage where couples choose to reaffirm their commitment to each other through a ceremony followed by a celebration in a place that is meaningful to them.
This page will soon be updated to make it more informative. In the meantime, see you soon! 👋
XOXO,
Vanessa
