Catholic Wedding Requirements for France

Here below are documents you will need if you plan on marrying in France. 

1. Formal letter from your home priest giving permission for the wedding to be performed in the church you selected __________________.

This letter is required by the French Diocese, it shows you have received the OK to marry in a foreign country, in a different church than your parish.  It should certify that your priest knows you and allows you to get married at the French church of XXX and note also the date. The letter must be on your parish's letterhead.

2. You must secure through your priest a letter from the Bishop of your parish stating the same as in # 1 and the text should also be written on letterhead.

The Bishop's permission to the wedding is one of the most important requirements for the French Diocese. It certifies there is no impediment to marrying in the French Church of XXX and also include the date. 

3.Your Priest must also state in the letter that all  PRE CANA procedures have been completed, and should include the certificate (if a certificate was done) that state you attended  premarital classes.

4. The original prenuptial inquiry form must be issued by your home priest and be on church letterhead. The prenuptial inquiry form is a signed questionnaire with church seals/signatures. It must be stamped by the local Bishop's office (NOT just your priest).

A PRENUPTIAL INQUIRY is issued by the archdiocese of your city/town. In the prenuptial inquiry the priest will need to include dates, general religious data and relevant details to your marriage.  Your priest completes the questionnaire stating it has been approved and you will sign it at the end as final approval. The document will be sealed by the Bishop. 

5. Send your certificates of baptism, first communion and confirmation  with your Prenuptial inquiry form and letters mentioned in # 1, # 2 and must also be stamped by the local Bishop's office.

All these documents must be received in France in order to have the Catholic wedding performed in the location you selected.  Ask your Parish priest or home church for the certificates of the sacraments. You can obtain copies but in this case the copies must bear the official seal of the parish church. 

6. Original of the civil wedding certificate since the wedding in France can only be performed if a civil wedding has already taken place.

7. If one of you is not Catholic a  "Permission of mixed religions" document is needed.

Generally this document is issued by the local Bishop of your country. Ask your Parish Priest.

All the documents mentioned (excluding # 6) MUST be  stamped by the Bishop's parish office.

COPIES OF YOUR DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE SENT TO US VIA FAX.

You will be asked to send all ORIGINALS to a specific address by your wedding planner.

TRANSLATIONS

We are happy to translate your documents for an additional fee.

NOTE: The French Diocese has final say on granting official permission for your wedding in France and will do so after receiving your paperwork.

Euroevents and Travel cannot approve religious documents.

FOLLOWING OUR INSTRUCTIONS WILL HELP MAKE YOUR WEDDING GO MORE EFFICIENTLY.

Catholic requirements** The above refer to a couple that has never been married previously. If you have been married and divorced in the Catholic church and have not received an official annullment a Catholic wedding is not possible.

Pre Cana documentation should not be done prior to 3 months, as they will expire after this time.