How to Have the French Wedding of Your Dreams

Having a french inspired wedding means a wedding that's effortless, dramatic, and full of romance. You may not be able to go to france for your wedding, but by having a french inspired wedding, it can feel like you are basically there in the french countryside celebrating your love, just without all the money! This guide is to teach you every single step to creating the french inspired wedding of your dreams!

What Does “French-Inspired” Mean?

A french inspired wedding is all about the aesthetic. It means creating a perfectly curated wedding that feels like you are in france on your wedding day.

What a French inspired wedding looks like:

• Effortlessly elegant

• Romantic but understated

• Refined, never overdone

• Old-world charm

• Intimate and intentional

A wedding in Paris or in the countryside of France would be a magical experience, and you can have that magical experience at your wedding too, by creating a french inspired wedding!

I personally love french inspired weddings because they are a cheaper way of having an actual french, destination wedding in France. It's a cheaper way to have the wedding of your dreams!

Choose a Romantic, Historic-Inspired Venue

French style is about atmosphere, so having a french inspired wedding is all about choosing the right venuw.

Venue ideas:

• Historic estates

• Vineyards

• Gardens

• Stone courtyards

• Manor homes

• Venues with arches and tall windows

Look for:

• Natural light

• Neutral walls

• Texture (stone, plaster, wood beams)

• Indoor/outdoor flow

Choosing the right venu will really help that french inspired feel surround your entire wedding with beauty and grace.

Keep the Color Palette Soft & Neutral

French weddings rarely use bold color schemes, so consider keeping the color palette soft and neutral instead of bold and bright. The french use more neutral colors because it provides a softer feel that any french lover will love!

Palette ideas:

• Cream

• Champagne

• Soft blush

• Dusty blue

• Sage

• Warm taupe

• Muted lavender

Design tip:

• Think layered neutrals instead of high contrast.

Wedding colors may seem like a small detail, but in reality they really make or break the vibe of the wedding!

Embrace French Floral Design

French florals feel organic and slightly undone — never stiff. Try to focus your wedding on bringing out the natural beauty in the flowers, this will help your french florals feel beautiful and romantic.

Bouquet ideas:

• Garden roses

• Ranunculus

• Sweet peas

• Peonies

• Delicate greenery

Styling notes:

• Loose, airy arrangements

• Natural shapes

• Soft movement

• Neutral or monochrome bouquets

Wear a Chic, Timeless Wedding Dress

French bridal style leans simple but refined. Think of something simple and classy, while still beautiful and elegant.

Dress ideas:

• Silk or satin gowns

• Off-the-shoulder styles

• Square necklines

• Subtle lace

• Slip dresses

• Long sleeves with delicate detail

Avoid:

• Heavy beading

• Overly dramatic ball gowns

• Excess sparkle

Think effortless elegance — the kind of gown you could imagine walking through Paris in. The french love style and fashion, so make sure to make your dress french worthy!

Choose Natural, Effortless Beauty

French beauty is famously understated. When it comes to hair and makeup, try not to overdo it. Focus on your natural beauty, just like the flowers, and your natural beauty will shine!

Hair ideas:

• Loose low bun

• Soft waves

• Center part

• Slightly undone chignon

Makeup ideas:

• Glowy skin

• Soft blush

• Neutral lip

• Defined brows

• Minimal contour

Focus on Tablescape Details

This is where French style really shines. The French love beautiful details that have tons of meaning.

Incorporate:

• Linen tablecloths

• Taper candles

• Vintage glassware

• Gold flatware

• Handwritten place cards

• Simple ceramic plates

• Fresh bread on tables

Design tip:

• Keep it romantic but not cluttered.

• Let negative space breathe.

Elevate the Food & Drink Experience

French weddings prioritize the dining experience. for their guests. They care so much about their guests and making it memorable for them.

Ideas:

• Multiple-course dinner

• Beautifully plated meals

• Champagne tower

• Cheese boards

• Fresh baguettes

• Elegant dessert table

• Macarons

Create an Intimate Atmosphere

French weddings feel personal and thoughtful, so try to make the atmosphere of the wedding feel intimate and intentional.

Ways to do this:

• Keep the guest list smaller.

• Write handwritten notes to guests.

• Host a long dinner instead of a rushed reception.

• Focus on conversation and candlelight.

Incorporate Old-World Details

By adding subtle European, old-world details, your wedding can become one step closer to feeling like a french inspired wedding.

Ideas on how to do this:

• Calligraphy invitations

• Wax seals

• Vintage stamps

• Classical string music

• Soft instrumental playlist

• Neutral bridesmaid dresses

Prioritize Romance Over Trends

French weddings don’t chase trends, they chase a vibe and they chase meaning.

We encourage you to:

• Choose timeless over trendy.

• Focus on experience over spectacle.

• Avoid over-the-top decor.

• Let elegance speak quietly.

Add a “French Wedding Checklist”

One super great way to lean your wedding more towards looking and feeling like a typical french wedding would be to make a french wedding checklist. What you can do is, as you are planning, slowly start to check off each part of the checklist, and slowly your wedding will become a french wedding. Doing this will help you plan the wedding of your dreams!

• Neutral color palette

• Loose florals

• Romantic candlelight

• Silk or satin gown

• Understated hair & makeup

• Elegant multi-course meal

• Historic-inspired venue

• Soft lighting

Conclusion:

Every bride and groom deserve to get the wedding of their dreams, and if your dream is to have a french inspired wedding, then this guide will help you accomplish those dreams. All you have to is follow the steps outlined in this article, and get to planning your dream wedding!

Planning and having a french inspired wedding is 100% possible, especially with a guide like this one. Another part of planning a French wedding is to romanticize your wedding and make it feel special. Make sure to read" How to Romanticize Your Wedding Era to learn just how you should be romanticizing your wedding day!

We hope you have everything you need and we hope you feel like the special bride that you are! Go out there are start planning yout french inspired wedding! Good luck!