FRENCH AMERICAN WEDDING: ANY ADVICE?

Hello, First off Congratulations! Second, Breath and try and have fun. I have Officiated several weddings where the couple had a ceremony here in the states and then another abroad. It is more common then you would think, since it is cheaper for two to travel then several. Yes, the paper work is going to be a hassel but it would but regardless. My suggestion would be to get with the US State department and the foreign embassy or consulate of the country you are considering getting married in. I also would suggest going to this website they offer legal advice: www.weddings-abroad-guide.com/wedding-in-france.html ... Also you could Google: weddings in France and there are several websites that could possibly help. I hope this has been some help. Look at it this way you are going to have two celebrations. Good luck and remember to have fun!!!

Hi Frenchy!

Congratulations on your engagement! I just wanted to say hello and to let you know that if you do plan on having another ceremony in France or want a photographer for and celebrations in France, I'd be happy to work with you. I live in Germany so depending on where in France you'd be, it's not too far of a car trip.

Best of luck with the planning!

I go any where in the world www.medinaphotography.com

Hi and Congratulations....!!!

If you will need here in USA to get a cake at very good price, check in Wedding Wire Artistic Cakes zip code 92708 all of the main products I use for my cakes are French, I am located in Orange County

Good look...!!!!

Hi! I'm Swiss/Armenian and grew up in California and my Fiancé is Lebanese... AND we now live in Switzerland and have family and friends literally all over the world! We never liked the splitting up the wedding option so we decided to start planning in Switzerland since that's where we met and live, therefore was the most neutral location (family wise)... this is when I slowly started to realize, I've always wanted a sunny summer wedding, near an ocean... ocean... impossible in Switzerland and sunny... you have to try your luck! After months of panic and confusion I decided to test the waters with a Southern California wedding... everyone was open to it since most people would have to travel anyway... FINALLY after ALL the Tourture... we decided to have the wedding in Southern California and hired a wedding coordinator who I met over the holidays... I was there to choose the venue and then we will coordinate via email and phone... ANOTHER PROBLEM...

My fiancé will probably have a hard time getting legally married in the states while on vacation... AAHH! So we decided to do the civil wedding... you know... European style at the courthouse with whoever is in Switzerland at the time followed by a little dinner in a local restaurant... Next issue... I started feeling bad that we were doing something in Cali & in Switzerland... both "my places" so I decided that we would do a "homecoming" in Lebanon after the honeymoon which will most likely be somewhere in the Middle East to make it easier to "come home" so that the non-travelling members of his family could also have a mini celebration...

Civil marriage... in Switzerland... small dinner for whoever is in town

The actual wedding... Southern California for EVERYONE with the ceremony, dress & cake...

A "Homecoming" in Lebanon with his fam. & friends... again very small dinner...

What brought me to the solution that suited me was first imagining what I always wanted from my wedding day... that is the wonderful fiancé, sunshine, water, all friends and family together, a tasty cake, an amazing dress, and for everyone to be happy and feel like their side of the family was treated fairly... besides... they don't have that wonderful "wedding spirit" in Europe like they have in the states... and you get more for your buck in the States...

The Swiss part is just the paperwork and the homecoming is just nice )

sorry it's such a long post... I'm getting there and trying to show you that you are not alone...

Hi, congrats on your engagement and upcoming wedding. I am going through a similar situation, I am originally from Haiti but now I am a US citizen and I reside in the US while my fiance is residing in Haiti. I have started his paper work, so I have planed the wedding to be next year hoping that everything will be done by spring 2010. Now, we have decided that our wedding would be in Haiti because his family resides there and a lot of my kins and family also reside there. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you have fun on that day and that you are satisfied because the families and friends of one of you will have to travel, unless you take the different weddin ceremony option that the other person suggested....

I am married to an english man and we had 2 weddings and went through the exact same thing you are! I planned a fabulous british infused wedding here and we had one in England as well. So.....I know exactly what to do!!

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Congratulations!!