Image via WikipediaBy Kimberley Petyt
From the classic Technicolor dance scenes of An American in Paris to more recent films like Moulin Rouge and Amelie Poulain- for many Americans, Paris is the epitome of romance. And what could be a more romantic place to get married? For most couples, after deciding to get married in Paris, the first thing they do is make a giddy, "so crazy this just might work" phone call to their local French consulate, where they are instantly yanked backed down to earth by their first official French "Non": "Mais, mademoiselle! C'est impossible! You must live in France for 40 days before you can marry in France. Impossible! Why are you calling me? Au revoir!!" Click.... And for some couples, that will be that. In a flash they're swept directly to Plan B, their local country club with a Paris themed reception, do not pass Go, do not collect 200EUR...
Some couples, though, will want to see the dream through- they may choose to have a legal ceremony in their own country, and then come to Paris for a symbolic ceremony. Symbolic ceremonies aren't legally binding, but are as romantic and as meaningful as you'd imagine them to be.
