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When couples begin to think of marriage, their thoughts turn to romance and ambience. More and more couples are opting for a “destination wedding”. A destination wedding is simply that. The couple chooses an exotic locale, and the vows and honeymoon are done in the unique locale.

While this is an incredibly romantic thought, a couple must take care to consider that the expense it requires and the travel impact is not too great on their closest family and friends. The activities available at the location of the venue should offer appropriate activities for all guests who attend. A diving wedding at a Red Sea Resort may not be appropriate for guests 55 and older who have never even snorkelled.

TIP: Research all activities of the location to ensure you do not have a week of very bored guests.

If you still think you and your fiancée are the perfect candidates for a destination wedding then read on….
France and its offers Without a doubt, France is among the first locations to come to the minds of couples who are planning a wedding. When one thinks of France and romance, the Eiffel Tower and Parisian cafes instantly come to mind. Big or small, Paris can satisfy your most romantic dreams.

Do not be limited by choosing that which is most well-known when planning a wedding in France. Explore all possibilities, let your mind wander to a wine country villa in Provence or candles twinkling on the ski slopes of a chateau in the Loire Valley.

The French Riviera offers the epitome of romance as you stroll lazily through the gardens of a fairytale wedding castle like Château de Robernier where you will spend your honeymoon in the majestic bedrooms of past royalty and charming villages overflowing with delicious, fresh produce.

The legal bits….

Before planning a wedding in France, you must be familiar with French marriage laws. At least one person of the couple must establish residency 40 days before the couple plans to wed. They will show proof of residency through a utility bill in their name along with a birth certificate translated in France, a passport, French National ID card, or driver’s license. You will also be required to file a declaration of celibacy to show you are not legally married to another, and to ensure you are over the age of 18. Following the collections and filing of these documents will be a 2-week processing period. When the marriage bans have been published, the couple is free to wed, legally, in France.

Jumping over the red tape
Clearly it may not be feasible to establish residency in France if you are employed and working in a different country. Residents of other countries can still have a destination at the beautiful venues France has to offer. Among the best choices for the couple planning a wedding in France is to have their legal wedding in the country in which they live. This can be done as a technicality at the Justice of the Peace office without the romance and emotion of the wedding ceremony. The wedding ceremony is reserved for the destination venue. While the couple is “legally” married, they do not begin to live as husband and wife until after the wedding ceremony.

If you are not a particularly “religious” couple, there is a less common option for destination weddings in France. If you have a close friend or official in your home town who is willing to travel to France, the symbolic ceremony can be performed by your friend. When the couple returns to the home city, a quick trip to the local court clerk will fulfill the legal ceremony as a technicality. Please take care to check with the venue regarding requirements of the officiate performing the ceremony of a wedding in France.

If you have decided a destination wedding is for you and your fiancee, then you must choose a wedding planner who is an expert in the special challenges that come with pulling off an unforgettable wedding in a foreign country. Arguably the most sought after destination planner is Magali Dunkwu from La Jet Fete. Her first destination wedding was her own! After the time and energy she put into the planning of a large wedding on site in a foreign country, she had increased her event planning profession with special knowledge that she could offer to other couples. “The wedding itself was a fun and definitely an unforgettable experience for us and our guests,” Magali explained. She knew she had found her purpose in life.

Things to remember
Destination weddings are difficult to manage, and they require extensive experience in event planning, travel requirements, personal knowledge of the countries and venues that you offer, and the laws of both the home country of the couple and the wedding laws of the destination wedding site.

All of La Jet Fete’s employees are multilingual and they offer destinations from around the world. By choosing a destination wedding in France, you have shown you are a person who wants only the best. La Jet Fete is among the best, and they offer a wide variety of personal experience and the ability to communicate effectively. When planning a wedding in France, take care to choose well-informed and highly experienced planners who specialize in exotics destinations.