Think about where you’d like to go
When you’re imagining your elopement, does it take place in a city or the countryside? Is it on a mountain,beach or a little village? This question will be crucial for your elopement planning, since it will determine where you should start searching for places to elope, like venues or hikes you could take for your ceremony.
Pick a date
Don’t forget to take into account that crowds can be VERY heavy in some tourist places in France, so plan accordingly. Try to avoid the summer months, if you’re planning on eloping in a popular tourist area of France (Paris, Bordeaux, Provence, French Riviera, Dordogne). In general, you should try to consider weekdays, since they will also be less crowded. Don’t forget that you can have your ceremony one day, and plan a whole trip afterwards to take pictures in other parts of France.
Find more information about travel visas
You don’t want to be stuck at the last minute with everything paid for and not being able to make it to France. Contact your embassy or an agency specialized in visas to sort everything out first. Travelling to France is usually very easy, since it is the first tourist location in the world. Be sure that you have everything you need, before planning anything further.
Book your accommodation
Once you’ve found your area and date, you can start looking for accommodations that you will like. Don’t forget to check websites like AirBnB, HomeAway and Booking.com to find the best possible options. You can even select luxury rentals on AirBnB!
Find a place to exchange your vows
Some accommodations, especially exclusive rentals, will have a beautiful place for your ceremony. It could be a garden, a little nearby forest or a nice hike atop a mountain or a beach. However, there are some that don’t offer this option. You can, therefore, check out hikes nearby to pick your favorite and start planning your day accordingly.
Book your other vendors
Florist, officiant, decorator, private chef, dress designer, wedding rings…these are all things you will need to take care of, while planning your elopement in France.
Plan your travel
If you’re dreaming of travelling around France, then you can plan a whole road-trip across the most beautiful places in France. Renting a car is easy and will allow you to go from one place to another very easily. Try to plan at least three weeks to see everything there is to see, or at least 10 days to see the essence of France. My pick is Paris, Normandy, Brittany, Bordeaux, Dordogne, Lot, Provence, Alps and back to Paris.
Book your photographer
Elopement photographers are generally booked six-12 months in advance, so try to contact your favorite ones as soon as you have booked your date, travel and accommodations. Choose your photographer based on what you can see on his/her website and his/her experience in shooting weddings in France. Local photographers are preferable, since they won’t need a permit to work in France (which can be extremely hard for foreigners to get).