10 Wedding Destinations in France other than Paris
Instagram is filled with couples in their wedding finery and the Eiffel tower in the distance. I can’t argue that Paris is the best romantic destination to get married. But having lived outside of the capital city and traveled throughout this magnificent country, I think there are a number of alternatives that will take your breath away for a destination wedding in France.
Let’s start in the north in the super cute town of Honfleur in the Normandy region of France. A few hours from Paris, this coastal destination is a picture-perfect port city with its rows of historic and colorful buildings, sounds of the ocean and wonderful wedding venues. Famous artist like Monet and Boudin and Courbet have been inspired by this very important medieval port.
From the coast to France’s mountains-Chamonix is another top pick for a wedding destination. A year round playground of outdoor activities popular with English and Americans, Chamonix will take your breath away. A valley city surrounded by the Alps and the infamous Mont Blanc, not only is it modern and has everything for weddings but filled with history and charm.
A little west and we arrive at another beautiful spot in a town of 5000 people called Ribeauvillé. Located on the Wine Route, between the vineyards and mountains, half-way between Strasbourg and Mulhouse. The main street and its picturesque neighboring streets are lined with 15th- to 18th-century buildings and are scattered with Renaissance fountain-decorated squares. The vineyards, which surround the area, have been in existence since the Middle Ages. A great backdrop for a wedding with an excellent climate!
Biarritz; an elegant seaside town on southwestern France’s Basque coast, has been a popular resort since European royalty began visiting in the 1800s. It’s also a major surfing destination, with long sandy beaches and surf schools. The beach is sandy and a view of the Bay of Biscay would be a lovely venue for your wedding.
“Lavender land” is my next suggestion for an alternative destination. Where is Lavender Land you ask? It’s the area north of the French Riviera (Nice, St.Tropez) in the Luberon Mountain ranges. I can’t pick just 1 town in this spectacular area with the scent of lavender in the air but here are a couple suggestions of out of the way stunning places. Cucuron, Uzès and Gordes.
And a final area I think is worth considering for your romantic French wedding is the Minervois area with fields of poppies and the charm of southern France. Try Caunes-Minervois with its ancient abbey as a photo stop, Roquebrun with its cliffside medieval homes, or Lagrasse.
Of course, the time of year you want to have your wedding might determine the final location but the purpose here is to show you that there are beautiful spots all over France worth wedding planning consideration and probably a lot cheaper for your venue and your guests.
