Marrying in Alsace
Of all French regions, Alsace looks the least French. Half-timbered houses, flower-filled window boxes, Gothic spires and Germanic village names create a landscape unlike anything south of the Vosges. Strasbourg is a short TGV ride from Paris, and the wine, food and hotel infrastructure is strong.
Weddings follow the Route des Vins along the eastern slopes of the Vosges, from Marlenheim in the north to Thann in the south. The most photographed stretch passes Colmar, Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Kaysersberg, a cluster of medieval villages. Behind them the foothills climb through pine forest to castle ruins, and below them the Rhine plain runs to Germany.
The table is the most specific in France. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Cremant d'Alsace lead the wines, and choucroute garnie, baeckeoffe, tarte flambee and foie gras give a menu unlike any served south of the Vosges.
The seasons
- Best
- Shoulder
- Peak
- Quieter
5 Star view Our reading of the wedding year, from the months below.
- Best months
- June, July, and late September to October
- Shoulder season
- May and October to November
- Peak season
- July and August
Summers are warm and sunny and winters cold, with reliable snow in the Vosges. June and July bring long evenings and green vines. Late September is harvest. October, with yellow and orange vines against half-timbered fronts, is among the most atmospheric wedding months in France. Christmas markets from late November are busy and complicated, so the season ends by mid-November.
Daylight and sunset
The bar runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month. A ceremony is usually timed an hour or two before the sunset shown.
Calculated From the coordinates of Alsace, local time, for 2027.
Ramadan and Eid
For couples and guests who observe them, the dates to plan a wedding around.
| Year | Ramadan | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 8 Feb to 8 Mar | 9 Mar | 16 May |
| 2028 | 28 Jan to 25 Feb | 26 Feb | 5 May |
Calculated From the Umm al-Qura calendar. The observed dates follow the sighting of the moon and can fall a day either side.
The areas of Alsace
Colmar and the central Route des Vins
The most photographed part. Colmar is the most complete medieval town in the region, and its Petite Venise quarter is among the most reproduced images in French tourism. This zone holds the most chateau and domaine venues.
Strasbourg and northern Alsace
The regional capital and TGV hub, with a Gothic cathedral and the Petite France canal quarter. It suits a city wedding in private salons or townhouses. The wine road around Obernai and Barr sees fewer visitors.
The Vosges foothills
Forested hills behind the wine villages, with ruined castles above the vineyards. Haut-Koenigsbourg, a restored imperial castle, can host events.
Southern Alsace (Mulhouse and the Sundgau)
Quieter than the Colmar corridor. Mulhouse is an industrial city with strong museums, and the Sundgau is farming country with carp ponds. Demand and wedding infrastructure are both limited.
What venues are like
Wine domaine
A working estate with a courtyard and a cellar in a wine-road village. A courtyard hosts the ceremony and estate Riesling and Gewurztraminer accompany dinner.
Château
Either a medieval hilltop castle, several of which host events in part, or a classical country house in one of the larger wine towns. The logistics differ widely.
Hotel venue
Small hotels in converted historic buildings in Colmar, Eguisheim and Kaysersberg. A buyout gives an operating base that smaller domaines cannot match.
Airports and transfers
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- Paris Orly (ORY)
- Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE)
- Bordeaux Merignac (BOD)
- Marseille Provence (MRS)
- Lyon Saint-Exupery (LYS)
- Nantes Atlantique (NTE)
- Toulouse Blagnac (TLS)
- Paris Beauvais (BVA)
- Angouleme Cognac (ANG)
Strasbourg is reached from Paris Gare de l'Est by TGV, with Colmar a short run south. From London, Eurostar to Paris connects onward. The A35 motorway runs the length of the plain.
Marrying legally in France
Civil marriage in France is held at the town hall, in public, before the mayor or a deputy, and a religious ceremony may not come before it. At least one of the couple, or one of their parents, must have a home or an established residence of at least one month in the commune on the day the banns are published. Two foreigners with no home in France can marry only at the consulate of one partner's country or in an overseas collectivity.
- 1After one month of residence in the commune
File with the town hall
Both partners attend to lodge the file at the town hall of the chosen commune, with original identity documents, proof of address dated more than one month earlier, birth certificates (under 6 months old if issued abroad; apostille or legalisation may be required), sworn translations, and where asked a certificate of custom and a certificate of celibacy.
- 2Ten days of banns, then the prosecutor's review
Banns and hearing
Banns are posted for 10 days and the wedding cannot take place before the 10th day after publication; it must take place within one year after that period ends. The registrar hears the couple, usually together, and alerts the prosecutor to any serious sign of fraud, who has 15 days to allow or oppose the marriage.
- 3The day
The civil ceremony
At the town hall in a room open to the public, before the mayor or a deputy, with the couple's witnesses. The mayor may use another communal building, which the prosecutor may oppose.
- Residence
- 1 month in the commune before banns
- Banns
- posted 10 days
- Where
- town hall, open to the public
- Religious ceremony
- never before the civil marriage
Already married at home?5 Star view
French law allows only the civil ceremony to carry legal effect, and a religious marriage must not be celebrated before it. Many couples therefore marry in their own country or at a town hall and hold the blessing or celebration at the venue; a ceremony with no legal effect needs none of the steps above and the venue and planner arrange it.
Who needs a visa
Travelling from the United Kingdom
British passport holders visit France without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen area. The passport must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. The European Union's Entry/Exit System registers fingerprints and a photograph at the border on a first visit.
Other nationalities
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals need no visa. Other nationalities check with the French embassy or consulate in their country. Overseas departments and territories have their own entry rules; check with the French embassy.
Reference service-public.gouv.fr: Marriage in France (F930, read 2026-10-21). gov.uk: France entry requirements (travel advice, read 2026-10-21). European Union entry rules for visa-exempt visitors (EES, ETIAS) and European Commission implementing decisions on multiple-entry visas for Saudi, Bahraini and Kuwaiti nationals. Checked 21 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the authority that will marry you before you book.
Accommodation
French elegance meets Germanic comfort in half-timbered village hotels, vineyard guesthouses and converted Renaissance manors.
At the table
Alsace has the heartiest cooking in France. It draws on Germanic tradition and pairs with outstanding white wines.
Tarte Flambee
A thin flatbread baked in a wood-fired oven with creme fraiche, bacon and onion, served by the round. An easy sharing dish for a wedding evening.
Choucroute Garnie
Sauerkraut braised in Riesling with smoked sausages, ham hock and belly. A centrepiece for an autumn or winter feast.
Baeckeoffe
Marinated lamb, pork and beef layered with potato and onion, sealed in a terracotta pot and baked for hours. It now appears at wine-estate dinners.
Kougelhopf
A buttery yeast cake baked in a fluted mould, with raisins and almonds. The emblematic pastry, served at brunch or as a light dessert.
What planners tell couples
Getting There
Strasbourg has fewer direct UK routes than larger French airports. Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, shared by France, Switzerland and Germany, has direct London flights.
Christmas Market Season
Strasbourg's Christkindelsmaerik, the oldest in France, runs from late November to Christmas Eve. Hotels fill from mid-November, so a winter wedding needs very early bookings.
Route des Vins Driving
The wine road passes many villages. A private minibus tour is a signature guest experience and far better than driving between tastings.
Cross-Border Exploration
Alsace borders the Black Forest and the canton of Basel. Both suit guests who stay extra days.
