Do French Weddings Have Bridesmaids?

If you've recently been invited to a French wedding, you might be wondering if they share many of the traditions of the Western English-speaking world, such as bridesmaids and groomsmen. 

The answer is, that although French weddings are similar in many ways to those taking place in English-speaking countries, they differ quite significantly in many ways, including a complete absence of bridesmaids. 

Are There Bridesmaids at French Weddings? 

No, French weddings do not have bridesmaids. Instead, French couples have témoins or "witnesses" who stand next to them during the ceremonies and sign the wedding registry. They can be of any age or gender and are usually made up of the closest friends and family of the wedding couple. 

While there is a growing trend of couples having bridesmaids in the traditional Westernised sense of the term, the overwhelming majority of French couples marrying today still stick to the témoins designation and tend to pick two or three witnesses each.

Recently, some couples in larger cities or more international settings may choose to incorporate bridesmaids and groomsmen, though this is still quite rare and not part of traditional French wedding customs. This change is often influenced by global wedding trends and may be seen more in younger, cosmopolitan couples.

What About Flower Girls and Page Boys? 

Even though French weddings have no bridesmaids or groomsmen, they do have flower girls and page boys. These roles are traditionally filled by children closely related or tied to the bride and groom in one way or another. 

They tend to be between the ages of three and ten, but there are no hard and fast rules surrounding these French wedding roles. The selection of flower girls and page boys is more about the relationship they share with the couple than a formal tradition. In more modern weddings, these roles may be assigned to older children or even teenagers, particularly if they are nieces, nephews, or close family friends.

What Else Is Different About French Weddings?

There are a number of French wedding traditions that differ from those in the anglicised Western world. For example, there is no wedding cake. Instead, they have a wedding dessert known as croquembouche – a pyramid of caramel-covered, cream-filled profiteroles.

Another well-known tradition is the fact that French couples have two wedding ceremonies. One takes place at the local town hall under the local mayor's stewardship. The other "proper" wedding ceremony (often full of pomp and ceremony) occurs the following day or shortly thereafter.

Other French wedding traditions include gifting the couple a coupe de mariage (an engraved, two-handled shallow silver cup passed down as a family heirloom that the newlyweds may use to toast each other for the first time), wedding receptions lasting until 7 am the following day, and gifting so-called "dragées" (pretty sugar-coated almonds) to each wedding guest symbolising health, wealth, happiness, longevity, and fertility.

French Weddings Traditionally Omit Bridesmaids

In short, there are no bridesmaids (or groomsmen) present at French weddings. Instead, témoins (witnesses) stand next to the happy couple during both wedding ceremonies and sign the wedding registry. 

While other French wedding traditions mentioned above differ considerably from Western weddings, there is still a place for young flower girls and page boys/ring bearers.

It's important to note that although modern trends are gradually influencing French weddings, the essence of the French wedding traditions remains very much rooted in their cultural history.