In France, a Catholic religious wedding can legally only take place after the civil ceremony at the town hall, never before. That constraint means both ceremonies need to be planned together from the start, especially since preparation timelines differ significantly between the town hall and the parish.
The marriage preparation course (CPM)
Most dioceses ask couples to complete a preparation course, often called a CPM, which can take the form of several evening sessions, a full weekend, or one-on-one meetings with a priest or a mentoring couple. The course covers the sacrament itself, preparation for married life, and sometimes practical topics (children, faith, commitment).
Documents typically required
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Recent baptism certificate (less than 3 to 6 months old depending on the diocese)
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Confirmation certificate if received
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Proof of completing the marriage preparation course
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Copy of the civil marriage file or proof that the town hall has published the banns
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Canonical file completed with the parish's referring priest
Timelines to plan for
Plan on roughly 9 to 12 months between first contacting the parish and the ceremony date, to complete the preparation course, gather documents, and book the church, especially in high-demand parishes during peak season. Some dioceses set a minimum, non-negotiable lead time between registration and the ceremony.
Fitting the civil and religious ceremonies together
The legal order is fixed: town hall first, church second, either the same day or a different date depending on the couple's preference. Many couples run both on the same day to simplify guest logistics, with a tight window between the two ceremonies; others prefer to space them out by several weeks to keep each event lighter.
Contact the parish as early as possible in your planning, even before finalizing the date: the priest's and church's availability can constrain your date choice far more than any other vendor's does.