What Are the Different Wedding Styles in France

With its stunning vineyards, magnificent beaches, and spectacular ruined castles, France is a country that can accommodate all styles of weddings with ease. But which one is right for you? Should you opt for a classic French wedding with flowing white dresses and plenty of white and rosé wine, or should you eschew traditions in favor of a more relaxed and minimalist celebration?

The key is to choose something that resonates with you—your family, your values, and your everyday life together. If you haven't thought about it yet, here are some popular wedding styles and themes in France today.

Beach Wedding

Whether you're envisioning the sandy dunes of Arcachon or the pristine white beaches of the French Riviera, beach weddings continue to be a popular French wedding style. They don't necessarily have to take place right on the beach. You can simply incorporate elements like driftwood, seashells, and tropical flowers to give your nuptials a more relaxed beachy atmosphere.

Beach wedding themes can also incorporate all sorts of other beach activities, like building sandcastles, surfboards the bride will walk down the aisle with, and cocktails served in coconut shells during your reception.

Bohemian Wedding

Bohemian weddings (or boho weddings for short) are all the rage in France right now. A sense of ease and non-conformity characterizes this wedding style, so leave behind any formality for your big day. Forget strict dress codes too—boho weddings are all about comfort!

Think flower crowns, oversized bouquets, mismatched bridesmaids' dresses, and random decorative elements for your hippie-style celebration. If you're going for this wedding style, chances are you've already chosen an outdoor ceremony venue, which goes hand in hand with the theme.

Classic or Traditional Wedding

Sometimes, you can't beat the classic wedding. This wedding style has endured for centuries for a reason—it's a testament to the ubiquity and timeless beauty of this wedding theme.

As expected, a classic wedding consists of elaborate white dresses (often with veils), and you can choose everything else to play up the traditional ambiance—think bridesmaids in matching long dresses, flower girls carrying small bouquets, formal invitations, an elegant dress code, and a church-based wedding ceremony.

Minimalist Wedding

Some couples eschew the pomp, ceremony, and exorbitant costs of a wedding by making this day the pinnacle of their love, rather than an extravagant celebration in front of hundreds of people.

As you might have guessed, the theme is "less is more," with a small guest list (ideally 50 or fewer), minimal decor, a buffet-style wedding meal, and a preference for an outdoor wedding ceremony.

Rustic Wedding

The woods, fields, and mountains—you love nature and want to incorporate it into your big day. You can do this by opting for a rustic wedding theme where natural elements like twigs, acorns, wildflowers, vines, and burlap are abundant. Think outdoor wedding ceremonies with café string lights highlighting all the natural elements.

Live and relaxed music is also popular at rustic weddings, where the sounds of acoustic guitars, violins, harmonicas, and accordions can take center stage during the ceremony and reception.

Vintage Wedding

If you're a fan of The Great Gatsby or the roaring 1920s, then a vintage wedding style might suit you well. Think elegant flapper dresses, vintage-style parties, and perhaps a 1920s Parisian decor for your ceremony.

After the ceremony, you and your guests can move on to a chic cocktail-style wedding reception, where guests will dress in 1920s attire to enjoy hors d'oeuvres and dance to the music of a swing orchestra.

Choosing the Wedding Style That's Right for You

These are just a few of the wedding styles in vogue in France right now. While there are no right or wrong choices, it's always helpful to sit down as a couple and discuss the styles that resonate most with you while ruling out those that don't.

You can also seek the help of professionals such as wedding planners and event service providers who, together, have decades of experience in the industry and can provide guidance.

And remember, you're not obligated to conform to just one wedding style—you can take elements from each of your favorite styles to create an ambiance and atmosphere that is uniquely yours for your special day. Good luck!