Your questions, my answers
The questions I am asked most often before a first conversation. If yours is not here, write to me.
Is a celebrant-led ceremony legally binding in France?
No. In France only the civil marriage at the town hall (mairie) is legally binding. The celebrant-led ceremony comes afterwards, on the same day or later, wherever you choose. That is what gives it complete freedom of form, place and tone.
Can the ceremony be on the same day as the town hall?
Yes, that is the most common arrangement: the mairie in the morning or early afternoon, then the ceremony at the reception venue. It can also be on another day, for example so that family travelling from abroad can be there.
Can the ceremony be in more than one language?
Yes. I celebrate in English, French and German, and can mix languages in one ceremony when your families do not all share one. This is common for international and Franco-German couples in Strasbourg and Alsace.
How long does the ceremony last?
A wedding ceremony usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes. A PACS celebration, a vow renewal or a naming ceremony, around 20 to 30 minutes.
How does the preparation work?
A first conversation with no commitment, then two or three meetings to build your story, and a discreet questionnaire sent to your family and friends. You receive the text well before the day: nothing is said that you have not approved.
What if it rains?
We plan a fallback with your venue from the start: a hall, a barn, a marquee. The ceremony stays the same; only the place changes.
Do you celebrate ceremonies other than weddings?
Yes: PACS celebrations, vow renewals, naming ceremonies and funerals. Each is written for the occasion, with no religious element.