How to Plan an Intimate Elopement Overseas

Thinking of eloping in a romantic destination but not sure where to start? Here’s everything you need to say I do abroad.

Thinking of eloping in a romantic destination, but not sure where to start? First things first, think about the setting that best reflects the two of you as a couple. Do you love beach vacations? Are you adventure seekers? Is experiencing food and culture an interest you both share? As planners based in Paris, we’re naturally biased and think that the City of Lights is the perfect place to elope. The advice below is specific to having an elopement in France, but the questions apply to any destination outside your home country.

Q. Can I get civilly married in the elopement destination?

The administrative process of getting married in France differs from the one in the US, with the civil ceremony being completely separate from the religious ceremony. Unlike in the U.S., where couples can be legally married by a justice of the peace, a member of the clergy, or even a friend who has been ordained online, only a local official from the city hall can celebrate marriages. This means that if a couple chooses to also be married in their place of worship, they are obligated to have two ceremonies. This means that international couples must be legally married before having their religious or symbolic ceremony in France.

Q. What language do they speak and what are the cultural difference in the elopement destination?

In addition to the language barrier, there can also be cultural barriers to overcome when dealing directly with local service providers. In France, for example, not all wedding vendors are fluent in English and the response time is rarely as quick as it is in the U.S.

Q. What are the wedding traditions in the elopement destination?

Wedding traditions vary greatly from country to country. A fun way to mark the day is to include a local tradition into your elopement. In France, couples often have a pièce montée instead of a traditional tiered wedding cake. The pièce montée can either be with cream-filled pastry puffs or French macarons, arranged in the shape of a pyramid shape.

After you’ve picked your destination, it’s time to get started on the planning. It’s important to think about your vision and what matters the most to you. Is it having a meaningful exchange of vows? Picking an incredible location for the ceremony? Understanding your priorities will be helpful when it comes time to choose your wedding vendors.

Planning a destination elopement yourself can be a fun experience to share with your fiancé, but isn’t the point of eloping to lessen the work and stress of planning? Hiring an experienced, local wedding professional can be a saving grace. They speak the language, have an insider’s insight into the wedding market, venues and vendor services. In addition to local knowledge, they provide helpful advice and assistance with:

Facilitating the booking process with venues and vendors

Saving time on research and negotiation with vendors

Providing advice on do’s and don’ts, traditions and trends

Creating and staying within your budget

Designing an atmosphere and decor that correspond to your style

Coordinating all of the vendor logistics on the day

It’s important to think about your vision for your day and what matters the most to you.

Overall, a wedding planner allows you to be stress-free before and during the wedding so that you can enjoy the entire planning process and especially your big day.

Whether you pick Paris or Phuket, with a planner or DIY, your destination elopement will be an unforgettable trip!

Visit feteinfrance.com for more information. Established in 2006, France Fête in France is the most experienced wedding planning agency in Paris specializing in luxury weddings and events in France for international clientele. Both of our principal planners are American and speak fluent French. They have planned over 300 events in France over the past 11 years.