Civil Union is the first compulsory step in marriage! How many witnesses, how to publish his banns, what papers to plan … Here is a guide to know all the stages of the wedding at the town hall.
THE civil marriage is compulsory to be recognized as a married couple in France. Whatever your religion, you will be forced to get married at the town hall before the religious ceremony. Since the separation of the State Church, Only civil marriage is recognized in France. You will therefore have to pass the mayor (or a legal representative) to sign the legal act of marriage. He then commits you, in addition to your life as a spouse, to a common taxation or to solidarity in debt, for example.
Civil marriage, Since this is how it is called, takes place in A town hall room specifically reserved for weddings. Generally, bride and groom choose to addressr at the town hall of the city from which one of them comes from or the couple’s city of housing. The newlyweds can choose the day that suits them, apart from public holidays and Sundays. Of course, in some large cities, it also depends on availability and other couples who have reserved a date before you. It’s a civil statussuch as the mayor or one of his assistants, who takes care of the ceremony.
Traditionally, in France, we publish what we call Wedding “bans”. In fact, it is a question of advertising marriage. This allows anyone to be held informed and to be able to come forward to oppose the union. For example, if one of the future spouses is still married, the parents of a minor husband … Bans must be displayed by the mayor of the town at least 10 days before the celebrationthey are affixed outside the town hall building. The names of the future spouses and their contact details will be included. Without any opposition, banns and non-opposition certificates will be annexed to the marriage file.
Witnesses to declare, bans to publish, papers to provide … Here is a list to guide you in the formalities at the town hall.
- Download your civil wedding file, This depends on the town hall chosen for the wedding
- Original and photocopy of the identity card
- Proof of address or residence
- All information concerning your marriage witnesses (names, first names, date and place of birth, profession and domicile, copy of their identity title)
- Provide a birth certificate published less than 3 months ago (for a birth in France) and 6 months maximum for a birth abroad.
- The marriage contract published by the notary, if you have concluded a
- The family booklet if you already have children
The formalities at the town hall, the publication of the banns, the ceremony of the yes before the mayor are Free for bride and groom. However, if you want to have a marriage contractyou will have to go through the notary box, including the price of around 500 euros. Then, it all depends on what you want to do for your civil wedding … Brunch, restaurant, evening, cocktail, wine of honor, of course the responsibility of the newlyweds.
Less protocol than religious marriages, Civil marriage all the same responds to certain rules. Thus, these are generally The future spouses who enter the room in the room. They settle in the front row, before the civil status officer. The bride is placed to the left of the groom. Witnesses sit next to them. Secondly, there is the nearby family (brothers, sisters and grandparents), then the guests. Upon arrival of the mayor or the deputy mayor, the assembly must get up.
- The civil status officer pronounces a little welcome word
- He reads them Articles 212 to 215 of the Civil Code which detail the duties of the spouses towards each other.
- The mayor then asks if there is a marriage contract.
- Finally, everyone gets up to listen the exchange of sewing consents.
- If there is no religious ceremony, the mayor gives the alliances to the bride and groom.
- The ceremony ends with the signing of the registers by the bride, the groom and then the witnesses.
- Finally, the family book is given to the new spouses.
In small towns, it is sometimes possible to personalize the ceremony by asking a relative to make a speech. But of course, this requires prior authorization from the civil status officer. Also know that The door of the room remains symbolically open : The ceremony is public so that anyone wishing to oppose marriage can do so.
You are free to wear everything you want to get married to the town hall. In general, Short dresses or pants tailors have the coast! This changes a little from the traditional long dress that is reserved for secular or religious marriage.
When civil marriagethe number of witnesses is very supervised. It is calculated for the couple, not by anyone. The minimum is to have two witnesses, and the maximum is 4 witnesses. But you can distribute as you wish, anyway at the town hall, the witnesses sign for the couple and not for one of the two bride and groom. There is only one condition required to witness marriage: they must be major, therefore have more than 18 years or be emancipated. You will have to declare your witnesses when you fill out the preliminary formalities in marriage.
