If the only thing you think of when you think of France is Paris, you’re missing out on some incredible potential elopement locations! Between when I first visited Europe when I was 16 and now, having photographed elopements there since 2017, I’ve discovered so many spots across the country that would be perfect to visit on your wedding day.
If you want to feel totally treated on your wedding day, I’d recommend the Côte d’Azur. The French Riviera is an equal balance of luxe accommodations and natural beauty that make every second feel special. Elope here for a mix of cultural experiences, history, and excursions to waterfalls and ocean caves.
Not looking for a Mediterranean getaway? France still has you covered! From the countryside to the capital, I’ve collected my top recommendations in the list below, honed over 10+ years of travel!
(Want the best spots from all over the world? Getting tired of searching? I’ve created an interactive map packed with nearly 600 locations. Click here to go there and use filters like scenery, season, and activity to get personalized results!)
Chamonix, France
Chamonix is definitely most famous for its winter offerings, as its proximity to Mont Blanc—the tallest mountain in Western Europe—offers world-class skiing opportunities. But this mountain town is absolutely gorgeous all year round. Take a gondola up to a higher altitude for a jaw-dropping view in any month, no hiking or athletic skill required. The Mer de Glace is the largest glacier in France and is easily accessible from the Chamonix Valley… and it’s not even the only one! There’s no shortage of beautiful sights to see here or activities to partake in, from paragliding to rafting to relaxing at the spas.
Best for: Mountains, Glaciers, Forest and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping
French Riviera / Côte d’Azur, France
The French Riviera would be an amazing place to elope if you’re a couple that wants nice views paired with an unforgettable experience full of style and luxury. From Cannes to Monaco to Nice to Saint-Tropez, you’ll be spoiled for choices that feel exceptionally special while giving you unbelievably beautiful views the entire time. This area is a fusion of blue Mediterranean waters, French chic, and Italian island amenities. For an elopement and honeymoon all in one, this is an incredible vibe. You can spend your wedding day feeling truly relaxed and like everything has been taken care of and tended to. All you have to do is bask in each other’s presence.
Best for: Mountains, Glaciers, Forest and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping
Paris, France
Paris has lived in the minds of people across the world for centuries for a reason. The “City of Love” makes it possible for you to have the unbelievably romantic European city elopement of your dreams. Spring for a beautiful hotel with a great view and start your elopement morning with croissants and coffee on the balcony, wrapped up in a fluffy white robe. Then stroll through the city together and duck into cafes and art museums whenever the mood strikes. Grab a picnic to go and then rent an electric boat and cruise down the canals together. Sunset wine tastings, the “I Love You Wall” in Montmartre, and nighttime light tours all provide incredible options for getting the mood just right on your wedding day. If you visit in the summer, you’ll run into more tourists and less Parisian-run businesses, as folks tend to travel out of the city on holiday.
Best for: City
Best months to get married here: June to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating
Var, France
The Var is an area that takes up a little over 2,000 square miles and includes not only gorgeous French Riviera towns like Saint-Tropez (the quieter but just as gorgeous side of the coast), but also national parks, countryside views, and literal castles, both restored and in ruins. This is an amazing area to elope in year round, with moderate weather and beautiful scenery no matter when you come!
Best for: City, Forest, Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Camping
Nice, France
Whereas Monaco is more dependent upon its vibe for luxury, Nice brings all of the same beauty with a more laid-back feel in the French Riviera. With white sand beaches and bright, electric blue waters, the shores of Nice are definitely the main attraction. But the town of Nice itself is just as much of an attraction with narrow streets filled with colorful buildings and restaurants and shops tucked into every corner. Before or after your ceremony, you can spend your time lounging near the waves, going to local markets, exploring the views and waterfalls of Castle Hill.
Best for: City, Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Camping
Loire Valley, France
The Loire Valley would make for an excellent elopement location for so many reasons. Not only is it a beautiful and affordable area of France, it’s also only about a 2 hour drive from Paris—making it a great option for getting away for your elopement day and having the option to see the sights before or after! There’s no shortage of historic Chateaus and cathedrals for you to explore that will bring major beauty and fairytale vibes to your wedding day. Taste the local Cabernets the region is known for, canoe down the Loire River, and explore great cities like Nantes and Orléans. These are classic French vibes that are super accessible for international travelers.
Best for: City, Chateau’s
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping
Provence, France
Provence would be a great place to elope if you’re looking for countryside charm, French beauty, and vibes that go from “ski town” to “beach town” all in one region. The fields here are overflowing with grapes, olives, and bright lavender plants, leading to some incredible local flavors. The Verdon Gorge has paddling-friendly turquoise waters set into a stone canyon and has cliffs that would be an absolutely gorgeous ceremony spot. There’s a lot to uncover in this area (check out the French Riviera, Var, Nice, and Gordes for some highlights!) and you could truly have the full experience of everything France has to offer during your elopement here!
Best for: City, Coast, Beach, Forest, Canyon
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Boating, Kayaking
Gordes, France
If you’ve ever pictured getting married amidst the neat, bright purple rows of lavender fields in the Provence region, Gordes may be just the place for your elopement. The Sénanque Abbey here has some of the most iconic ones around. This town sits on a beautiful hilltop and is laden with beautiful stone buildings, well-worn cobblestone streets, and jaw-dropping vistas of the entire valley around every corner. Eloping here would feel like a true, complete getaway into French countryside beauty. To really feel lavish, snag a room at one of the top-notch resorts in the area and let yourself fully relax.
Best for: City, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Annecy, France
This brightly colored and canal-laden town in the French Alps sits right next to picturesque Lake Annecy. You can look forward to bright and clean alpine waters that you can get out on in classic wooden speed boats or by chartering a sailboat. The view from the water between the teal lake and green hills is something you will remember for the rest of your life. The town itself has options for everything from lakeside resort stays to patios to dine on that sit right along the canal. It’s known as the “Venice of the Alps” for a reason!
Best for: City, Lake, Mountains
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating
Dune of Pilat, France
Sand, wind, sea, and sky. The Pilat Dune is the tallest in Europe. Walk along high sandy ridges with the sea spread out next to you on one side and a thick evergreen forest stretching out along the other. The variety of landscapes here makes it a great choice if you want to get a lot of different views in your elopement day… or just want to go somewhere you’ll never see anything quite like again. This is only about an hour outside of Bordeaux by car, which makes it a great thing to incorporate into a wedding here.
Best for: Sand Dunes, Coast
Best months to get married here: May to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Mont Saint-Michel, France
This castle on a hill stands out in the middle of a bay, surrounded by high walls and water. Mont Saint-Michel is actually an abbey, but you wouldn’t be able to tell it apart from a fantasy book location by looking at it—especially when it lights up in the dark and the spire stretches into the night sky. Photographs on the long boardwalk leading up to the castle would give you gorgeous views ot it standing tall in the background, lending your whole elopement a fairytale feel. The inside doesn’t disappoint either, full of stained glass, tall columns, perfect archways, and manicured gardens. What better time to act like royalty for the day than during your wedding?
Best for: City, Island, Coast
Best months to get married here: May to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Pyrenees Mountains, France
If you like the idea of mountains in France for your elopement but don’t really want the crowds or snowy peaks that can come with the Alps, the Pyrenees Mountains may be a great fit. This mini-mountain chain stretches perfectly across the border between France and Spain, connecting the Bay of Biscay and the Balearic Sea. Elope here for thick forests, waterfalls, connections to the Iberian Peninsula, and beautiful weather. You can easily get the best of mountains and sea here!
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Rivers and Waterfalls.
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Want to pick my brain? Now you can! I’ve photographed over 300 elopements around the world and collected hundreds of my favorite recommendations here in this searchable location database. The filter system is designed specifically to make this process as easy as possible and give you results for the exact day you want to have.
Hoping for more hands on help when it comes to picking a location that’s going to make you happy? That’s one of my specialties. I give my clients personalized lists of location recommendations based on what you’ve told me about your vision for your elopement day and my 10+ years of photography and travel experience. Then, after you pick out what you like, I hand-craft itineraries for their entire elopement. See something you want to change? No worries? I’ll keep making changes until we settle on something that you love.
Eloping can be easy. I’m here to smooth the path between you and the elopement you’ve always wanted. If you’re ready to get started, click here to go to my contact form!
