Destination Wedding Timeline: From Engagement to “Oui”
The ring sparkles on your finger, your heart is full of dreams, and you’ve chosen to celebrate your love in France – what an exciting time! While planning a destination wedding might seem overwhelming right now, don’t worry. Breaking down your destination wedding timeline into manageable steps makes the process both enjoyable and achievable. As you embark on creating your perfect French celebration, we’ve organized this comprehensive timeline and checklist to guide you through each phase – from venue selection to your final “oui!” Whether you’re envisioning a château celebration or a Provençal vineyard reception, this guide will help you transform your wedding dreams into beautiful memories.
18-12 Months before your Destination Wedding: Getting Started
How soon do you plan a destination wedding?
Start planning your destination wedding around 12 to 18 months before your desired date. The early planning phase begins with creating a vision and budget for your celebration. This timeline allows you to secure your preferred wedding venue, wedding planner, research local vendors, and account for essential costs like travel and accommodations. Starting early is especially important when planning a wedding in France, as the premium French wedding venues and the best wedding vendors often book more than a year in advance, and you’ll need extra time to coordinate international logistics.
How to choose between destination wedding planners?
Finding the right wedding planner in France represents one of your most crucial early decisions. The ideal destination wedding planner should bring a combination of local expertise and international experience to your celebration. They should possess intimate knowledge of your chosen region, maintain strong relationships with reputable local vendors, and understand the complexities of planning across different cultures and time zones. Look for a planner who communicates effectively in both English and French, as they’ll serve as your primary liaison with local vendors and venues throughout the planning process.
Check our Selection of Premium Wedding Planners in France.
What is the legal alternative to marriage in France?
Understanding French marriage law early in your planning process proves essential. French weddings involve specific legal requirements that can seem daunting to international couples. You might choose to handle your legal marriage in your home country while celebrating with a symbolic ceremony in France. This approach offers greater flexibility while still maintaining the romance and beauty of a French celebration.
How to decide on a destination wedding location?
Your choice of venue establishes the foundation for your entire celebration. Wedding Venues in France range from historic châteaux and elegant vineyards to modern city hotels and coastal villas. Consider how your venue choice will impact your guests’ experience, including travel accessibility, local accommodation options, and seasonal weather patterns. Many of the most sought-after French venues book up to two years in advance, particularly during the peak season of May through September. When evaluating venues, consider their rental policies, including exclusive use requirements, timing restrictions, and included services.
13-9 Months Before your Wedding: Building Your Dream Team
How do I choose a destination wedding vendor?
The quality of your vendor team will significantly impact your destination wedding experience. When selecting a destination wedding photographer, consider artists who understand the unique lighting and architectural elements of the variety of wedding venues in France. Your chosen photographer should be familiar with capturing both intimate moments and grand architectural details that make French weddings so spectacular. The right wedding caterer becomes especially important in France, where cuisine plays a central role in celebrations. Look for catering teams that can blend French culinary traditions with your preferences, creating menus that delight both local and international guests.
Check our Selection of Wedding Suppliers.
How to choose a wedding design?
Your wedding design should harmoniously blend your personal style with your chosen French setting. If you’re celebrating in Provence, you might incorporate the region’s famous lavender and olive branches into your décor. A Paris wedding might embrace the city’s architectural elegance with refined, classic elements. Work with your florist to understand seasonal availability of local blooms, as this will significantly impact your floral design options and budget. Consider how French design elements can enhance your wedding stationery, from elegant calligraphy to regional motifs.
Check our Selection of Wedding Florists.
How to communicate with wedding guests?
Destination weddings require thoughtful and thorough guest communication. Your save-the-dates should provide more than just the wedding date – include information about the location, travel recommendations, and accommodation options. Create a comprehensive wedding website that serves as a resource for your guests, offering insights into local attractions, transportation options, and cultural considerations. Consider providing information in both English and French, particularly for signs and key documents.
8-6 Months before your Wedding: Fine-Tuning the Destination Experience
Send your wedding invitations
For a destination wedding in France, timing your invitations is crucial for successful planning. Send Save the Dates 10-12 months in advance, allowing guests to block their calendars and start planning their travel. Follow with formal invitations 4-6 months before the wedding
How to plan a three-day wedding?
A destination wedding in France offers the perfect opportunity to create a multi-day celebration for your guests. For your three-day wedding, consider hosting a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, where guests can sample regional specialties in a relaxed setting. Plan activities that showcase the best of your chosen region – perhaps a wine tasting in Bordeaux, a cooking class in Paris, or a boat tour along the French Riviera. These shared experiences help guests connect before the wedding while experiencing French culture firsthand.
What to wear to a french wedding
Your wedding attire should complement both your venue and the local climate. French summers can be quite warm, particularly in Provence and the Riviera, so consider fabric choices carefully. Schedule hair and makeup trials to coincide with planning visits to France, ensuring your beauty team understands your preferences and can adapt to the local environment. This is also the time to select accessories that complement your chosen setting.
5-3 Months before your Wedding: Finalizing Details
How to make guests feel welcome at a wedding?
Create welcome packages that help guests feel oriented and appreciated. Include local maps, emergency contacts, and carefully curated recommendations for restaurants and activities. Consider providing basic French phrases, cultural tips, and a detailed timeline of wedding events. Organize group transportation not just for the wedding day but for any planned activities, making it easy for guests to navigate their French adventure.
What time do French weddings start?
Work closely with your planner to create detailed timelines for each wedding event. French weddings often run later than their American counterparts, with dinner typically starting around 8:00 PM and celebrations continuing well into the early hours. Ensure your vendor team understands their roles and timing, particularly for complex elements like cake delivery or floral installations in historic venues.
RSVP responses
For destination weddings in France, send invitations at 8 months ahead with an RSVP deadline 8-10 weeks before your celebration. This timeline allows international guests to arrange travel while giving you enough time to finalize numbers with vendors, arrange accommodations, and plan welcome activities. For local weddings, a 6-8 week RSVP deadline typically suffices.
2-1 Months before your wedding: Final Preparations
What paperwork do you need to get married in France?
Gather and organize all necessary paperwork, including translations of official documents. If you’re having a legal ceremony, submit required paperwork to the French authorities. Prepare final payments for vendors, considering international transfer fees and currency exchange rates. Create a detailed folder of all contracts, confirmations, and contact information.
Final Confirmations
Review every detail with your planning team, from ceremony timing to menu selections. Create detailed schedules for each aspect of your celebration, including setup times, delivery windows, and breakdown arrangements. Confirm all guest transportation and accommodation arrangements, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
Wedding Week: Guests Arrive and the Fun Begins
Arrival and Setup
Plan to arrive in France several days before your wedding. This buffer allows time to recover from travel, handle any last-minute details, and begin celebrating with early-arriving guests. Use this time to visit your venue one final time, confirm details with key vendors, and adapt to the local time zone. Host your welcome event, allowing guests to begin immersing themselves in the French experience.
Wedding Day: Destination Wedding Day Of Timeline
On your wedding day, embrace the magic of celebrating in one of the world’s most romantic destinations. Trust in your planning team to execute every detail while you focus on creating memories with loved ones. French weddings are known for their joie de vivre – let this spirit of joy and celebration guide your day.
The Ceremony (4:30 PM – 5 PM)
While you ask your guests to arrive at 4:00 PM, the ceremony will only start half an hour later at 4:30 PM, allowing any latecomers to arrive in time. The ceremony usually takes up half an hour of your wedding day timeline. In some cases, especially during the hottest time of the year, the ceremony might start even later, around 5:00 PM. The duration of the ceremony will also vary depending on the type you’re going for. Non-religious ceremonies can wrap up in about 20 minutes, while religious ones can last up to an hour.
Cocktail Hour (5 PM – 7:00 PM)
After your love is crowned official, the event that ensues is the cocktail hour. This will last for an hour tops in typical wedding day timelines. But that’s not the case with French celebrations! Namely, the cocktail “vin d’honneur” in the country can last for much longer, as this is one of the most significant moments of a French wedding. With that in mind, you should include great drinks (champagne is your best bet) and nibbles during this time, and consider adding entertainment to keep your guests on their feet. Cocktail hour in France usually lasts about 2 hours, so plan your timeline accordingly.
Grand Entrance & Dinner/Reception (7:30 PM – 11:00 PM)
It’s time for the grand entrance into the dinner/reception area. This marks the official start of the evening festivities. Like cocktail hour, dinner in France typically takes longer, so give your guests more than enough time to revel in the dining experience, as French food is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before. Wedding toasts should be scheduled during dinner, allowing for heartfelt speeches to complement the meal.
Couple’s Golden Hour Portraits (8:00 PM – 8:30 PM)
As your guests are sitting down, this is the perfect time for you to capture some couple’s portraits. In France, sunlight can last very late, especially during the summer. The golden hour, which offers the most beautiful light for photos, typically occurs around 8:00 PM. Be sure to plan your couple’s portraits during this time to capture that perfect glow.
Cake Cutting & The Party Begins (11:00 PM – 1:00 AM)
At 11:00 PM, the cake cutting ceremony kicks off the evening festivities. Afterward, it’s time for the party to begin officially! Naturally, you’ll start with a by the first dance, but if you’re going for the fully traditional route, be aware that it’s performed between the bride and her father and then the spouse. These dances shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes.
Destination Wedding Timeline: Final Thoughts
Planning your dream wedding in France requires a thoughtful timeline, starting ideally 18-12 months before your celebration. The key to success lies in early preparation: securing your venue, assembling an experienced local team, and carefully coordinating international logistics. Remember that French wedding planners, venues, and premium vendors often book well in advance, particularly during the peak season of May through September. By following this comprehensive timeline and working with trusted professionals, you can transform your vision of a romantic French wedding into reality while enjoying the planning journey. Start early, stay organized, and embrace the unique charm of celebrating your love in one of the world’s most romantic destinations.
