Typical French Wedding: Who Pays for a Wedding in France?
What does a typical French wedding look like? Who ends up paying on the wedding day in France? We will break down the logistics to a successful, typical French wedding to make that day less awkward. In our guide about a typical French wedding, we will break down who pays for your special wedding day, how to design a successful French wedding, some fun French sayings for your wedding and much more.
How do you say wedding in French?
The French translation for wedding is "mariage".
What to expect in a typical French wedding?
A few months before the wedding, you will receive “un faire-part”. This is a formal printed letter which invites you to the wedding. You don’t need to RSVP (did you know this was French? it stands for “répondez s’il vous plaît” answer please). Funny how that works. France creates the word RSVP, but you don't need to respond for purposes of a wedding.
A huge difference in French weddings is that there are no bridesmaids or grooms, which is very different from weddings across the world.
Traditionally, the bride will wear a white or off-white fancy dress – la robe de mariée. The groom will wear a suit – un costume, or a tux – un smoking.
How about dancing at a typical French wedding? Of course! The French love to dance. So after the meal, everyone will go into another room to dance! I'm sure the dance party will be a late one!
What is a big difference in a typical French wedding?
In France, you’ll have to say “yes” twice (if you'd like to get married in a church). Did you know that religious marriages are not recognized by the French State? As a result, the couple seeking marriage will have to marry in the town hall (La Mairie) before getting married in church. As you can imagine this can be a logistical nightmare! Can you think about having to move your friends and family from place to place. First the town hall, then to a church, then to the reception and even at times a separate dinner venue.
Who pays for a wedding in France or in a typical French wedding?
According to a number of wedding traditions around the world, the bride’s parents normally pay for the wedding. This used to be the same tradition for France, but this is no longer the case! Currently, both the bride’s and the groom’s parents tend to share the cost. This is due to the fact that both of their 'children' are saying "yes" to each other. You can imagine this must have been a huge relief for some parents.
Conclusion for Typical French Weddings
Have you been to a typical French wedding? Let us know if you have any questions or comments. Event Supply Shop has wedding gifts for any occasion around the globe! Shop with us now through out wedding collection to learn more.