How does a wedding at the town hall take place? The complete step-by-step guide
Antoine SEBILLE14 July 2026The civil marriage is the only union legally recognized in France: no religious or secular ceremony can take place before going to the town hall. Often perceived as a mere formality, it actually follows a precise protocol and requires steps to be anticipated several months in advance. Here, step by step, is how a marriage at the town hall unfolds — from the preparation of the file to the famous "I do" — to arrive on the big day perfectly calm.
In brief: you submit a file at the town hall of the celebration location, you have an interview, the town hall publishes the banns for 10 days, then the ceremony takes place (20 to 30 minutes) in front of the civil status officer and 2 to 4 witnesses. Plan ahead: book your date several months in advance, especially in high season.
Check that you meet the conditions
Before any steps, a few conditions must be met:
Both future spouses must be of legal age (or emancipated minors with permissions).
Neither of them should be already married civilly.
You must be able to marry in the correct municipality.
On this last point, you cannot freely choose any town hall. The marriage is celebrated in the municipality where one of the spouses — or one of their parents — has their home or residence. If you dream of marrying elsewhere, you will need to justify a real connection to the municipality (for example, your parents' residence, with proof).
Prepare and submit the marriage file
The file is retrieved (and submitted) at the town hall of the chosen municipality for the ceremony. More and more town halls offer online retrieval, or even submission — check their website, and especially whether you need to make an appointment.
The required documents vary slightly from one municipality to another, but you will almost always find:
a valid ID for each person (original + photocopy);
a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) of less than 3 months if issued in France, 6 months if from abroad;
a proof of residence or recent domicile;
the witness information (identity, profession, residence);
depending on the situation: additional documents in case of divorce, widowhood, foreign nationality, or the notary's certificate if you are establishing a marriage contract.
Be careful with the timing of the birth certificate. The validity period (3 months) is calculated from the day of the file submission, not the date of the ceremony. If you submit very early, the town hall may require an updated certificate before publishing the banns.
When to submit your file?
The legal minimum timeframe allows for a celebration after a certain time, but the real constraint is the availability of slots. In practice:
count at least one month before the date, often two months depending on the municipalities;
for large cities and high season (May to September), it is common to have to plan 6 months to 1 year in advance to secure the desired date and time.
The good reflex: contact the civil status service as early as possible, even before booking your reception venue.
The earlier you book, the more choice you will have for the time of your ceremony. Slots are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The interview with the civil status officer
Once the file is submitted, the civil status officer has the legal obligation to ensure the free and informed consent of both future spouses. This takes the form of a joint interview, often conducted on the same day as the submission, informally. In some cases, the officer may ask to see each spouse separately. This step is mandatory (unless impossible, or if deemed unnecessary).
The publication of the banns
This is one of the oldest traditions of civil marriage. The town hall displays the banns for 10 days at the door of the town hall where the celebration will take place and at the doors of the future spouses' home town halls. The notice mentions your first names, last names, professions, addresses, and the location of the celebration.
Its purpose: to make the marriage project public, allowing anyone with a legitimate reason to oppose it (for example, if one of the future spouses is already married).
Two rules to remember:
The marriage cannot be celebrated before the 11th day following the publication;
It must take place within the year following the expiration of this 10-day period, otherwise, the file must be redone.
At this stage, you have nothing to do: everything is managed by the town hall.
The big day: the ceremony proceedings
The big day has arrived. The civil ceremony is short — generally expect 20 to 30 minutes — but each step is important. Arrive about fifteen minutes early.
Here’s how it usually unfolds:
Welcome and seating. The future spouses, witnesses, and guests take their places in the wedding hall. An entrance music is sometimes possible.
Opening by the civil status officer. The mayor, a deputy, or a delegated municipal councilor presides over the ceremony and verifies the identity of those present.
Reading of the articles of the Civil Code. The officer reads the articles that remind the rights and duties of spouses (respect, fidelity, mutual assistance, and parental authority if you have or will have children).
Exchange of consents. The key moment: each responds “yes” to the ritual question. It is this consent that unites you.
Exchange of rings (optional). Depending on your wishes and the town hall's rules, you can exchange rings, or even say a few words or vows.
Signing the registers. The spouses, followed by the 2 to 4 witnesses, sign the marriage certificate.
Delivery of the family booklet. The officer officially declares you united and hands you your family booklet.
How many witnesses, and what is their role?
You need a minimum of 2 witnesses and a maximum of 4 (one or two per spouse). They must be adults and do not need to be related to you. Their role: to attest to the sincerity of the union and sign the register. It is also a nice way to honor loved ones.
What you can personalize
The scope for personalization largely depends on the civil status officer and the time available (during peak season, ceremonies sometimes follow one another every 15 to 30 minutes). By planning ahead with the town hall, it is often possible to choose the entrance and exit music, to have a relative intervene, or to add an exchange of vows and rings. Upon exiting, it’s time for traditions: honor guard, throwing petals or bubbles… while checking what the town hall allows (rice and confetti are sometimes prohibited).
After the ceremony
You are now married! In the following days, you can request a copy or extract of the marriage certificate from the town hall. The family booklet will then be useful for many administrative procedures: birth registration of children, proof for administrations, etc.
Many couples follow up with a cocktail reception on the forecourt or in a reserved venue, before a possible secular ceremony and reception.
Important: if you are planning a religious wedding. In France, the religious ceremony can never precede the civil marriage: it is a legal obligation. So remember to obtain your civil marriage certificate (or a copy of the marriage certificate) from the town hall and hand it to the priest - or the minister of worship - before the religious ceremony. Without this document, they will not be able to celebrate your union. Plan ahead: request it from the town hall so you are not caught off guard on the day.
What if the best part begins after the town hall?
The civil ceremony officially formalizes your union, but it is brief and necessarily a bit solemn. The rest of the day — the reception, the evening, the reunions with your loved ones — is where memories are created.
On Livenly, you can animate and immortalize these moments: a digital photobooth to capture smiles right after leaving the town hall, a connected guestbook where everyone can leave their message, and games and activities designed to bring your guests together. This transforms a 20-minute formality into an entire day of shared emotions.
The rules and documents may vary from one municipality to another: always check the exact procedures with your town hall or on service-public.fr. Once the date is set, all that’s left is to imagine a day that reflects you — discover all our ideas on Livenly.