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Getting married in a chateau in France

A chateau makes a memorable wedding setting, but French law has rules every couple should know before they book.

The gardens and facade of the Château de Lunéville in Lorraine, France
The gardens and facade of the Château de Lunéville in Lorraine, France. Photo by Sébastien Bloesch on Unsplash.

Time-sensitive. Marriage rules change, and the two official sources below do not agree on every detail. We read them on 11 October 2026. Always confirm with the mairie where you plan to marry and with GOV.UK.

What GOV.UK says

  • You, your partner or one of your parents must have been living in the town where you want to marry for at least 40 days before the ceremony.
  • The civil ceremony must take place before any religious ceremony, and both can be booked through the town hall (the mairie).
  • Contact the town hall at least 6 weeks before the date you want.

What the French government says

  • The ceremony is held at the town hall, in a room open to the public, with the mayor or a deputy, both spouses and witnesses.
  • The commune must be one where a spouse has their domicile or residence. Service-Public says residence means at least one continuous month at the date the banns are published, and a parent’s domicile or residence can also qualify.
  • The banns are posted for 10 days.
  • A religious marriage cannot take place before the civil one.

The two sources differ

GOV.UK gives 40 days and Service-Public gives one month. We cannot tell you which a given town hall will apply, so ask it directly and early.

What this means for a chateau wedding

Because the ceremony the French government describes is held at the town hall, any celebration at a chateau would be in addition to it. We could not find an official source on blessing or symbolic ceremonies, so ask the venue and the mairie what is possible.

Start with what a chateau hotel is, see the regions for where chateaux are, and plan your trip for travel rules.

Questions

Quick answers

Can UK couples marry in a chateau in France?

Service-Public says the marriage ceremony is held at the town hall, in a room open to the public, with the mayor or a deputy, both spouses and witnesses. The ceremony Service-Public describes is the town hall one, so check with the mairie of the commune where you plan to marry what else is possible.

How long must we live in France before marrying?

The two official pages differ. GOV.UK says you, your partner or one of your parents must have been living in the town for at least 40 days before the ceremony. Service-Public says at least one continuous month at the date the banns are published. Ask the specific mairie which rule it applies.

Do we need a civil ceremony before a religious one?

Yes. Both GOV.UK and Service-Public say the civil ceremony must take place before any religious ceremony.

What about a blessing or symbolic ceremony?

We could not find an official source covering blessing or symbolic ceremonies, so we do not give guidance on them. Ask the venue and the mairie.

Sources

Facts on this site come from gov.uk, Atout France, regional tourism boards, UNESCO and the operators named, each listed at the foot of the page. Check dates, prices and entry rules with the provider before you book.