Getting Married in Cannes: Everything You Need to Know
From it’s iconic history as a glamour filled celebrity hotspot, to it’s beautiful blue coastline and Mediterranean views, Cannes in France is a truly luxurious spot to get married. With an abundance of venues to choose from, it’s a great choice whether you want to be in amongst all the buzz, or slightly further out in the tranquil countryside with the ability to dip in as and when you fancy. To help you out with where to start on planning a wedding in Cannes, we’ve listed all the things you need to know before getting things booked.
Why couples choose to get married in Cannes
Filled with luxury and style - A premium spot known for the Cannes Film Festival, the area oozes elegance and is filled with high-end hotels, restaurants and venues for you to choose from.
Beautifully scenic - With a picturesque glistening blue shoreline and sandy beach, it’s the perfect spot for a seaside ceremony, surrounded by palm lined boulevards and sunny Mediterranean views.
Great weather - Cannes impressively has over 300 sunny days a year, and is particularly lovely from May to September time. Plus with a coastal breeze, it’s a really idyllic climate.
Easy to get to - Located just 30 minutes from Nice International Airport, it’s a great accessible choice for a destination wedding in France.
Best time to get married in Cannes
May to October are the warmest and sunniest months of the year in Cannes, however make sure you avoid getting married in May during the Cannes Film Festival, unless you’re willing to pay a real premium.
Types of Ceremony
When getting married in Cannes, you have a few options to choose from:
Civil Ceremony
A legally binding ceremony that must take place in the Mairie, the French Town Hall. If you choose to go this route, at least one of you needs to live in France for 40 consecutive days before the wedding. Documents you will need include:
Valid Passports
Birth Certificates
Certificate of No Impediment to Marry
Proof of Residency in France
Publication of the Banns
Religious Ceremony
In France, a religious ceremony can only happen once you’ve had a civil ceremony first, as a religious ceremony is not legally binding. For this reason, we recommend doing the legal bit at home and then having your religious ceremony in Cannes to keep things as simple as possible.
Symbolic Ceremony
A popular choice for those choosing to marry abroad, a symbolic ceremony isn’t legally binding so requires no paperwork and can take place anywhere. Couples often find this the easier option, and enjoy doing a smaller Town Hall celebration at home prior to the destination wedding.
Popular Cannes Wedding Venues
With everything from luxury hotels and villas, to beach clubs and unique country estates nearby, Cannes has a real variety of wedding venues available. Some of our favourites include:
Le Manoir De L’Etang
A beautiful boutique hotel with a home away from home feel, Le Manoir de L’Etang is nestled in the hills behind Cannes. Positioned in Mougins, a pretty village that was once home to Picasso, the 19th century manor house was originally built by an English lord and lovingly restored and cared for by a renowned architect thereafter. Surrounded by 12 acres of picturesque parkland and manicured grounds, it has endlessly lovely spots for wedding celebrations and photograph opportunities.
Chateau Mandelieu la Napoule
As one of the biggest castles on the French Riviera, Chateau Mandelieu La Napoule is located on the beach opposite the bay of Cannes. Originally built in the 14th century, it is medieval in feel with dreamlike decor throughout the venue space. Their terrace overlooking the sea is the perfect place to get married, followed by a reception in the garden or on one of the panoramic terraces. Their maximum capacity for outdoor weddings is 500, with the indoor spaces being able to host between 70 - 150 guests.
Source: Lucy Till French Weddings
Do you need a planner?
If you’re not fluent in French, then you’re definitely going to want to use a wedding planner. Often you’ll find when booking your venue, they’ll have an in-house planner who can guide you through the whole process. They’ll also be able to help you out with the legalities of getting married, connect you with trusted local supplier, coordinate on the day logistic and ensure you have smooth communication with the Italian authorities.
Travel and Accommodation
Due to Cannes being a popular tourist hotspot, it’s filled with lots of lovely hotels but also gets booked up quickly, especially if there is a local event on. For this reason we recommend block booking hotels near your venue, and considering getting a nearby villa for the main wedding party.
Memorable Cannes Inspired Additions
Boat parties - Embrace the glamour of the area with a cocktail welcome party on a private boat, or host a relaxing brunch the day after the wedding, and enjoy the bay of Cannes from afar.
Fireworks over the sea - Give you and your guests a memorable end to the wedding day by organising fireworks over the sea.
Embrace French tradition - From champagne towers to macaron and croquembouche desserts, the French know how to do a wedding elegantly, so its definitely worth embracing some of their traditions throughout your day.
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