marriage
Marriage in France combines civil law requirements with long-standing social traditions. A legally valid marriage must be performed by a civil authority, while religious or symbolic ceremonies have no legal effect on their own. Vocabulary around marriage is stable and widely used, and many traditions have specific, well-established terms.
Legal framework of marriage in France
A marriage is legally valid in France only if it is celebrated in a town hall by a mayor or deputy mayor. This civil ceremony is mandatory, even if a religious ceremony also takes place.
Key legal points:
- the civil ceremony takes place at the mairie
- at least one of the spouses must have a connection to the commune
- witnesses are required
- the ceremony is public by law
Examples:
- Ils se marient à la mairie.
They are getting married at the town hall. - Le mariage civil est obligatoire en France.
Civil marriage is mandatory in France. - La cérémonie a lieu à la mairie du domicile.
The ceremony takes place at the local town hall.
Religious ceremonies may follow the civil ceremony but have no legal standing.
Examples:
- Ils se sont mariés civilement le matin.
They got married in a civil ceremony in the morning. - La cérémonie religieuse a eu lieu l’après-midi.
The religious ceremony took place in the afternoon.
Words for bride and groom
The basic vocabulary for the people getting married is straightforward.
Common terms:
- la mariée bride
- le marié groom
- les mariés the married couple
Examples:
- La mariée porte une robe blanche.
The bride is wearing a white dress. - Le marié attend devant la mairie.
The groom is waiting in front of the town hall. - Les mariés saluent les invités.
The couple greet the guests.
After the wedding, the terms change.
Examples:
- C’est son mari.
He is her husband. - C’est sa femme.
She is his wife. - Ils sont mari et femme.
They are husband and wife.
Engagement and preparations
An engagement exists socially but has no legal value.
Common terms:
- les fiançailles engagement
- les fiancés the engaged couple
- la demande en mariage marriage proposal
Examples:
- Ils ont annoncé leurs fiançailles.
They announced their engagement. - Il a fait sa demande en mariage.
He proposed. - Les fiancés préparent le mariage.
The engaged couple are preparing the wedding.
Buck’s night and hen’s night
French has specific terms for pre-wedding celebrations.
The traditional expressions are:
- l’enterrement de vie de garçon buck’s night or bachelor party
- l’enterrement de vie de jeune fille hen’s night or bachelorette party
These are often abbreviated in informal speech to:
- un EVG
- un EVJF
Examples:
- Ils organisent un enterrement de vie de garçon.
They are organising a bachelor party. - Elle part en enterrement de vie de jeune fille à Lyon.
She is going to Lyon for her hen’s night. - Son EVJF a duré tout le week-end.
Her bachelorette party lasted all weekend.
These events typically involve friends, games, costumes, and travel.
Wedding ceremony vocabulary
Several fixed terms are used during the ceremony itself.
Key words:
- le mariage marriage
- la cérémonie ceremony
- les vœux vows
- l’alliance wedding ring
Examples:
- Le mariage a lieu samedi.
The wedding takes place on Saturday. - Ils échangent leurs vœux.
They exchange vows. - Les alliances sont en or.
The wedding rings are gold.
Witnesses and family roles
Witnesses are legally required in a French civil wedding.
Key terms:
- le témoin witness
- les témoins witnesses
- la famille family
- les invités guests
Examples:
- Chaque marié choisit un témoin.
Each spouse chooses a witness. - Les témoins signent le registre.
The witnesses sign the register. - La famille est réunie à la mairie.
The family is gathered at the town hall.
Marriage regimes and legal consequences
French law provides several marital property regimes, which determine how assets are managed.
Common regimes:
- la communauté réduite aux acquêts default shared property regime
- la séparation de biens separation of property
- le régime matrimonial marital regime
Examples:
- Ils ont choisi la séparation de biens.
They chose separation of property. - Le régime matrimonial est précisé avant le mariage.
The marital regime is specified before the wedding.
Changing the default regime requires a notary.
Examples:
- Ils ont consulté un notaire.
They consulted a notary. - Un contrat de mariage a été signé.
A marriage contract was signed.
Alternative legal arrangements
Marriage is not the only legally recognised partnership in France.
Common alternative:
- le PACS civil solidarity pact
Examples:
- Ils sont pacsés.
They are in a civil partnership. - Le PACS donne certains droits.
The civil partnership gives certain rights.
Unlike marriage, the PACS does not involve a ceremony equivalent to a wedding.
Wedding celebrations and reception
After the ceremony, a reception usually follows.
Common terms:
- la réception reception
- le vin d’honneur pre-dinner drinks
- le repas meal
Examples:
- La réception a lieu dans un château.
The reception takes place in a château. - Le vin d’honneur commence à dix-huit heures.
The drinks reception starts at six. - Le repas dure plusieurs heures.
The meal lasts several hours.
Summary
- marriage in France is legally valid only through a civil ceremony at the mairie
- la mariée and le marié refer to bride and groom
- buck’s and hen’s nights are l’enterrement de vie de garçon and l’enterrement de vie de jeune fille
- witnesses and a public ceremony are legally required
- marital property regimes affect financial arrangements
- alternatives such as the PACS exist alongside marriage
