Top 10 French Wedding Traditions To Add To Your Celebration

At Julie & Romeo Wedding France, one of the things we love most about planning weddings for our international clients is introducing them to unique and elegant French wedding traditions. These might be fun and new concepts that can be seamlessly incorporated into their ceremony or reception.

Whether you’re hosting your event in a romantic Château or incorporating a French twist into your celebration, these timeless wedding traditions add sophistication and personality to your big day.

We work with many international couples who want their wedding to feel unique, so infusing a few French traditions is one of our favourite ways to make the day truly special. After planning unique and memorable weddings in France for over 8 years, we have a vast array of knowledge and inspiration we can share with you. So here are 10 popular French wedding traditions that you could consider including into your big day—and yes, some of these are our personal favourites!

1. Traditional Wedding Favours – Les Dragées

A beloved French wedding tradition is gifting les dragées to guests. These are almond and chocolate-coated sweets, traditionally given in sets of five. These favours are usually elegantly presented in small boxes or bags and can be personalised with ribbons and custom name tags. These favours can be designed to match your wedding colour theme and aesthetic and will visually enhance your overall reception tablescape. 

Each dragée symbolises a wish for the couple’s future: health, happiness, longevity, fertility, and wealth. Incorporating this tradition into your wedding is a thoughtful way to thank your guests with a sweet treat while adding a classic French touch to your celebration. If your family loves to get involved with the preparations ahead of your big day, then this is the perfect way to include them, by creating these packages in a fun pre-wedding activity.

2. The Lavender Toss

In Provence, it’s customary for guests to throw lavender at the newlyweds as they exit the ceremony. This fragrant alternative to rice or petals is not only visually stunning but also symbolises love.  This tradition not only adds a romantic touch but also creates stunning photos that add a romantic purple hue to your newlywed ceremony photos. 

It’s one of our favourite traditions for couples wanting to add a French countryside feel to their wedding. Plus, the scent of lavender makes the moment even more magical!

3. The Pièce Montée

No French wedding is complete without the iconic pièce montée (also known as croquembouche). This traditional wedding dessert—a towering stack of caramel-glazed profiteroles—is a spectacle in itself and will be the centre of attention. Choose unique or personalised flavours or colours to make this dessert stand out. 

If you dream of those chic evening flash photos in your second dress outfit, standing beside your croquembouche just makes the photo! 

If you want, you can use a ceremonial sword at your wedding reception to cut your croquembouche with. As the bride and groom, when you cut into the pièce montée it is a symbolic gesture of your marriage and union. It’s also the perfect opportunity to involve both of your families as sharing the dessert represents the joining of two families into one.

We definitely believe that including a statement croquembouche into your reception will make for an unforgettable moment and unique wedding photos.

4. Champagne Traditions: Sabering and Towers

For a dramatic and celebratory moment, consider the French tradition of sabering a champagne bottle. This custom, where the bride or groom (or even your sommelier if you prefer) opens a bottle of champagne with a saber, is said to bring good luck to the couple. It’s a fun way to toast to your new life together and, when paired with live music, adds an energetic French flair to your reception.

To take it a step further, why not include a champagne tower? Watching the sparkling bubbles cascade as the tower is poured is not only visually stunning but also creates a moment your wedding guests will love. Together, these traditions bring an extra touch of luxury to your celebration. Additionally, this can be a great opportunity to engage your wedding party, as they help pour and celebrate alongside you.

5. A Grand Feast

French weddings are known for their culinary excellence, and the dinner during the wedding breakfast is often a multi-course feast featuring the finest local cuisine. From foie gras to artisanal cheeses, the menu is designed to be a gastronomic journey for you and your guest . We love helping couples craft a menu that highlights regional specialties, favourite French delicacies, and sentimental dishes to create an unforgettable dining experience.

When you have worked in the French wedding industry for as long as we have, you can feel confident that we have personal connections and working relationships with the top chefs and artisan bakers that craft only the best dishes for you to enjoy. 

And don’t forget to include the wine pairing for each course. This is another wonderful way to elevate the experience and pay homage to France’s rich wine heritage. Think about planning a wine tasting trip with your fiance or families before the big day to find the exact wines you’ll be serving to your guests. 

6. Late Night Onion Soup

If you are planning an all-night party for your guests, then you will need to provide snacks or a late night meal – hours of dancing will get you tired and hungry!

A classic French wedding tradition involves serving onion soup late at night or in the early hours of the morning. This comforting French dish is often served after hours on the dancefloor and celebrations and is looked forward to by your guests. This warm and hearty way to refuel your guests before they call it a night is also a time to reconnect and spend time with each other while enjoying a tasty and heartwarming snack. It’s a fun and delicious way to add a touch of French cuisine to your wedding, and we love how it creates a cosy moment during the celebration.

7. Elegant French Attire

French weddings are synonymous with understated elegance, and this extends to the couple’s outfits during the day. French brides often choose chic, minimalistic gowns paired with a delicate veil or hair accessory, while grooms opt for timeless black suits for a black-tie aesthetic. 

The bride and groom’s attire traditionally sets the tone for the aesthetic and vibe of the day itself. Whether you’re aiming for a church wedding or a grand outdoor event, elegant French attire ensures that you and your wedding party reflect the aesthetic of the day. Our top tip to ensure your guests understand the theme of the day is to write a little about the venue, style and vibe your wedding will be in your invitation. This way guests can dress appropriately, for example black tie or summer garden formal. 

Incorporating French-inspired fashion into your day is a lovely way to channel the effortless style France is known for.

8. Château Hospitality

One of the hallmarks of a French wedding is the impeccable hospitality. Hosting your wedding at a Château not only provides a breathtaking backdrop and luxurious accommodations for your guests but also allows everyone to feel pampered and experience impeccable service within a stunning setting. From private tours of the property to personalised wine tastings, the overall experience and 5-star attention to detail will make your day feel extra special.

Château’s often provide everything from ceremony spaces to dinner settings, simplifying logistics for couples when you can get married and host your reception at the same venue. The atmosphere created by these historic venues brings families together in a setting that feels intimate yet grand, making it ideal for weddings of all sizes.

9. The Historic Civil Ceremony

In France, couples are required to have a civil ceremony at the local town hall before any religious or symbolic ceremony takes place. While this may not always be possible for international couples, including an element of this tradition—like signing a keepsake marriage certificate or exchanging personal vows during the reception—can be a meaningful nod toward this French wedding tradition.

This civil ceremony tradition reflects the importance of family and legality in French culture. Even if you’re married abroad, incorporating a symbolic element of this tradition can add depth and sentiment to your big day.

10. Late-Night Entertainment

French weddings often go well into the early hours of the morning with live music, dancing, and late-night treats like crêpes or cheese boards keeping guests happy. We love creating an energetic and exciting atmosphere with entertainers and musicians, outdoor lounge areas, and a midnight dessert table to help your guests celebrate well into the night.

With the right mix of music and entertainment options available, every member of your family will feel included. From magicians to fire performers, acrobats and dancing performers, if you want your wedding to be talked about for years to come, think outside the box when it comes to your entertainment. You can make your reception as lively or relaxed as you want by incorporating opera singers or an upbeat DJ.

Why We Love Adding a French Twist

Infusing these wedding traditions into your celebration is a beautiful way to reflect your French surroundings while making your wedding uniquely yours. At Julie & Romeo Wedding France, we specialise in helping couples add these traditions seamlessly into their day, whether it’s a full French-style wedding or simply incorporating a few traditional touches.

Here in France, we are known for more than just our elegant wedding venues—we pride ourselves on making every guest feel cared for. From exquisite tailor-made menus to impeccable hospitality and personalised service, we go above and beyond to ensure your families experience the magic of France. By hosting your destination wedding in France, you’ll already be guaranteed this French flair will be incorporated into your wedding!

Plan Your French-Inspired Wedding

Ready to bring the romance, elegance, and style of French wedding traditions to your celebration? At Julie & Romeo Wedding France, we’re here to curate every last detail of your wedding so it’s truly exceptional and one-of-a-kind. If you want to work with expert wedding planners that know how to bring your dream luxury wedding to life, contact us today to start planning your perfect French wedding.

Photgraphy by:
Dearfiore Photography 
Manda Razaf Wedding
Sophie Epton Photography