A surprising trend is emerging in several cities in France. Before saying “Yes!” in front of the mayor, the future bride and groom must now put their hands in their wallets.
Traditionally, a town hall wedding is a public service that the Republic offers its citizens free of charge or for a nominal fee, usually covering administrative costs or small expenses related to the ceremony. However, things are changing for some municipalities. In fact, several town halls now demand a substantial sum of money, which can reach up to 1,000 euros, before proceeding with the celebration of the marriage. This new practice raises many questions and provokes strong reactions from future spouses.
In some cities, even before setting the date, couples are informed of this additional financial burden. This is the case of the municipalities of Cannet in the Alpes-Maritimes, Pontoise in Val-d’Oise, Carrières-sous-Poissy in Yvelines and Autun in Saône-et-Loire. For many, this monetary requirement comes as a shock. Weddings, often seen as an accessible moment of celebration, suddenly become an expensive affair, on top of the costs spent on vendors and wedding planning.
So, reactions vary greatly. Some see it as an unfair barrier which could dissuade less well-off couples from formalizing their union. Others speculate on the reasons for this unusual charge, suggesting that it could be a way for town halls to manage the additional costs of their services or to finance improvements to village halls, for example. Municipal officials, for their part, find themselves between a rock and a hard place. They must balance tight budgets while maintaining quality service to citizens.
But, faced with the increasing costs associated with organizing weddings, some town halls justify this new practice as necessary. In reality, these 1,000 euros are not just an additional expense. It is in fact a deposit. Town halls, faced with numerous reservations canceled at the last minute as well as material damage caused during the festivities, decided to request this sum as a guarantee.
“There are also delays during celebrations, sometimes aggressive behavior, inconvenient parking, or even noisy or dangerous processions”indicated the City of Le Cannet in a press release. “These excesses are also penalizing for the residents, because it reflects a bad image of the city”, added the town hall of Carrières-sous-Poissy. This deposit is then returned to the couples after the ceremony, provided everything goes as planned, with no late cancellations or damages. Enough to clarify things!