How I Pulled Off My Dream Wedding in Paris, France

Hi friend!

So, picture this: we're on our way to Asheville, freshly engaged just a few hours earlier, when I turn to my then-fiancé and say, “What if we got married in Paris?” Nine months later, there we were, heading to Paris, France, with 35 of our closest friends and family, ready to tie the knot in the City of Love. Crazy, right?

Why Paris?

Why Paris, you ask? Well, let me tell you, Paris has had a special place in my heart since my first visit at 21. It rained the entire time, but I was absolutely smitten. I’ve visited countless times since, and the city’s charm even inspired my floral business, Amelia’s Flowers. When I suggested getting married there, Taylor, who had never even been to Europe, took a leap of faith. Talk about love, huh?

The Planning Process

Planning a wedding overseas might seem daunting, but for someone who plans travel for fun, it was an exciting challenge. Plus, having one of my best friends as a wedding planner was a godsend. She was thrilled to help, and we were ready to conquer Paris!

Setting the Date

Billie Holiday said it best: "April in Paris." I knew I wanted a spring wedding, and April turned out to be perfect. We chose April 9th, which felt a bit risky due to potential chilly weather, but the weather gods smiled upon us. We were blessed with the perfect day. It’s like Paris itself was giving us a warm hug.

Finding the Perfect Venue

Believe it or not, part of why we wanted to get married in Paris was to save money. Sounds crazy, right? But it’s true! I wanted to get married in a public park, so the venue cost was a whopping zero dollars. We chose Square du Vert-Galant, right next to the Pont Neuf. This park, with its beautiful willow tree and serene views of the Seine, was a favorite spot of mine. We just had a few friends “reserve” the area by occupying it early. Voilà!

Capturing the Magic

For capturing all our special moments, we turned to our talented friends, a wonderful photographer, and a videographer. We agreed to cover their travel and lodging in exchange for their services. This worked perfectly, and it felt good to support our friends. Plus, who doesn’t love a good barter system?

The Budget

Weddings can be pricey, especially in Paris, but here’s how we managed our budget without breaking the bank. Knowing what a wedding in Nashville would cost, I realized we could spend the same amount or less for a full weekend in Paris, creating even more memorable moments. We ended up spending around what we would have spent on a wedding in Nashville which included covering some friends’ and family’s travel costs. We could have easily spent half that and still had a magical wedding. We justified the cost because it was for four days, not just eight hours. Now that's a bargain!

Venue and Catering

Since our ceremony was in a public park, it was free. For the night before the wedding, we rented a friend’s flower shop, L’Arrasior, for a get-together. It was so special to drink wine and snack on French cheese in such a picturesque setting. Friends hit up the local market for cheese, crackers, and wine within the budget I gave them. They totally killed it. For the post-ceremony dinner, we rented a riverboat, cruising the Seine for three hours with a perfect view of the twinkling Eiffel Tower. It was the dreamiest way to end the most wonderful night of my life.

Travel and Accommodation

We decided to rent an Airbnb for ourselves and three other couples. The rest of our friends and family booked hotels nearby. To make things easier on the big day, we rented a driver service to shuttle everyone to the ceremony location. Sounds smooth, right? Well, here’s the twist – a protest decided to pop up right in the square we were staying at. We ended up having to walk a few blocks to get to the cars. Imagine us, dressed to the nines, dodging crowds and chanting protestors. It definitely made for an interesting and memorable walk!

Décor and Personal Touches

We kept the décor simple but elegant. The natural beauty of the park, river, and Paris itself didn’t need much embellishment. We added a garland to the lamp post we were standing in front of, and I had a beautiful bouquet made by our friends at L’Arrasior. The park’s charm really did most of the work.

Sweet Details

It’s the little details that truly made our wedding special. Here are a few that stood out:

Musical Magic

I wanted to have music playing at the park while our guests waited. Whitney, my friend and wedding planner, found a street accordion player weeks before who graciously agreed to come play at our wedding. He was amazing and even dressed up for the occasion! It made the experience even more magical and Parisian.

Honoring Omi

To honor my grandmother, Omi, who passed away and shared my love for all things Paris, we spread rose petals in the Seine. Whitney said some sweet words in her honor. It was a beautiful and touching tribute that meant the world to me.

Tips for Planning a Wedding Abroad

Planning a wedding abroad might seem overwhelming, but with a few tips, it can be a breeze.

Ask for Help

I’m very thankful to have so many friends who work in the wedding industry and were willing to help me. My first tip? Ask for help! It’s totally doable to plan everything yourself, but on the day of the wedding, have someone in charge of the details so you can relax and soak in every moment.

Get Creative and Don’t Sweat the Details

Get creative and don’t sweat the small stuff! Our ceremony in a public park had moments I didn’t anticipate, like the strangers who “attended” our wedding simply by being in the park. We had at least 75 onlookers at our intimate ceremony. Instead of freaking out, I embraced it. It ended up being even more special with everyone stopping to watch and respect our little ceremony.

Ready for Your Parisian Wedding?

Pulling off a wedding in Paris was a dream come true and an adventure we’ll cherish forever. The combination of the city’s natural beauty, careful planning, and personal touches made it an unforgettable experience. If you’re dreaming of a destination wedding, I hope our journey inspires you to take the plunge and create your own fairytale.

So, ready to plan your Parisian wedding? Trust me, it’s worth every effort!

Feel free to ask me any questions about planning a wedding in Paris, and I’d be happy to help. Cheers to love and adventure!

xx Mattie