Saying it out loud is not an obligation and yet, almost all mayors do it when addressing spouses and guests. At issue: two confusing articles of law. We’ll explain it to you.
In civil weddings, the mayor is often expected as the solemn master of ceremonies, guarantor of the Civil Code and official emotions. Its role seems clear: welcome the bride and groom, recall the articles of law, obtain consent, and proclaim the couple’s union. But over time, mayors have adopted a habit that goes unnoticed during civil weddings, as it has become established in custom, but which in reality should not take place.
Because in the midst of exchanges of consent and tender smiles, certain mayors begin to publicly announce information that the spouses had not necessarily planned to share with the whole room. And this custom, although widespread, is based on a confusion between two articles of the Civil Code. In other words, it’s not as obvious as you might think.
The revelation concerns… the professions of the bride and groom. Yes, it is not uncommon for the registrar to read everyone’s profession out loud in front of the assembly. And this can sometimes create small moments of uneasiness: the husband who boasted of being financially comfortable or of being a real estate whiz to his father-in-law is heard saying “looking for a job” in front of his stunned guests. Another scenario: the future bride, a “biological engineer”, could overshadow her husband’s profession… But in reality, nothing obliges the mayor to this public reading. Article 34 of the Civil Code requires that professions appear in the written marriage certificate. On the other hand, article 75, which governs the ceremony itself, does not provide for this information to be given in front of the audience. Hence the confusion and possible embarrassment for couples who prefer to remain discreet.
Some municipalities now choose to pass this stage in silence, to avoid transforming the solemn moment into a moment of unease. As is often the case, the Civil Code provides a framework, but it is local practice, and the sensitivity of the mayor, which decide the atmosphere of the ceremony. Brides and grooms who do not want to expose their private lives or remain discreet about their profession can also specify this to the mayor in advance, in their file.
