How to Officiate a Wedding in France

As a Minister of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

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The Short Version

In France, legal marriage happens at the mairie (town hall) — the mayor or a deputy mayor handles the civil marriage ceremony. That’s the only way to get legally married. Your FSM ceremony is the celebration — the party, the vows, the meaningful part. You do the ceremony, the government does the marriage.

This is deeply embedded in French culture — it goes back to the Revolution. Almost every French wedding has two parts: the quick civil ceremony at the mairie, and then the big celebration. Your job is the big celebration.

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You Can Do This

The couple asked you because they want you standing up there — not a stranger, not a professional, you. That means something. Here’s what you need to know:

It’s not as scary as you think. Most ceremonies are 5–15 minutes. The couple does most of the talking (vows, “I do”). You’re the guide.

At a minimum, your ceremony needs two elements: 1. Declaration of Intent — “Do you take this person…” / “I do” 2. Pronouncement — You declare them married

Everything else — readings, vows, stories, jokes, Pastafarian blessings, the whole production — is optional and up to you and the couple.

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Preparing for the Ceremony

1. Get ordained — Get ordained with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Takes a few minutes. The digital credentials come within hours, and the physical package ships in a few days.
2. Talk to the couple — What kind of ceremony do they want? Religious? Secular? Funny? Short? This is their day — find out what matters to them.
3. Write your script — Include the Declaration of Intent and the Pronouncement. Fill in the rest with whatever feels right — personal stories, readings, vows, humor.
4. Practice — Read it out loud at least twice. Time it. Speak slowly — you’ll talk faster on the day.

Ceremony Day

• Bring: Your script (printed), your ordination credentials (a nice touch), and good energy
• The ceremony: Walk through your script. Declaration of Intent → Pronouncement → done. Everything else is gravy.
• Important note: In France, your celebration ceremony must take place after the civil ceremony at the mairie. This is actually a law (Article 433-21 of the Penal Code) — religious ceremonies before the civil marriage are prohibited. Just make sure the couple has done the mairie visit first.
• Relax. You’ve prepared. The couple picked you. Enjoy it.

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How Legal Marriage Works in France

The legal marriage is the couple’s responsibility — they handle it at the mairie (town hall). Here’s what they need to know:

The Civil Ceremony (The Couple’s Job)

Detail	Info
Who performs it?	Mayor, deputy mayor, or authorized city councillor
Where?	Mairie (town hall)
Cost	Free
Witnesses required	2–4 adults (18+)
Waiting period	Banns published for 10 days before ceremony
Residency requirement	At least one partner must have ~30 days residency in the commune
Processing time	4–6 weeks from document submission

Documents Needed

• Valid passport or French residence permit
• Birth certificate (less than 3 months old)
• Certificate of celibacy (certificat de célibat)
• Proof of residence in the commune
• If previously married: divorce decree or death certificate
• For foreigners: certificat de coutume (notarized affidavit of law from home country)
• All documents must be in French or officially translated by a sworn translator

Destination Weddings — A Note

The residency requirement (one partner must have lived in the commune for ~30 days) is a significant consideration for destination weddings. Many foreign couples marry legally in their home country first, then hold their celebration ceremony in France. This is a perfectly normal and common approach.

Your Role

You perform the celebration ceremony — the one at the beautiful venue, with all the guests, the personal vows, the emotion. The mairie visit is quick and administrative. Your ceremony is the event.

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France Tips

• Your ceremony must happen after the civil ceremony at the mairie — this is required by law
• Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013
• France takes laïcité (secularism) seriously — church and state are strictly separated
• The residency requirement can be tricky for destination weddings — plan ahead
• No registration or government approval needed for your celebration ceremony
• France also offers PACS (civil partnerships) as an alternative to marriage — purely administrative, no ceremony needed
• The couple should start paperwork early — the banns publication alone takes 10 days

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Questions?

Contact us. France’s system is clean: the mairie handles the legal side, you handle the ceremony. Focus on making the celebration meaningful — that’s what everyone will remember.

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This page is a helpful guide, not legal advice. Laws change. The couple should verify current requirements with their local mairie.