Nuptials in Paris
 

My boyfriend and I are thinking about eloping in Paris in March or April of 1998. What is the easiest way for US citizens to marry in Paris? Has anyone done this? Please send advice.

There is no easy way to do this because it's a
foreign country--a marriage is a civil contract
recognized by the state/country of your residence,
so if you are a US citizen it would make sense to
get married in the US. Similarly, you must be
a resident of France to get married there --
I believe the minimum time of residency is 40 days.
If you know someone and go to a lot of trouble you
can get a religious ceremony in a French church,
but it will not be legally recognized by the US --
obviously, this doesn't work for elopements anyway.
I believe there are easy, quicky marriages in
Mexico or the Caribbean (like where Michael Jackson
got married).

Agree with above post! Best to obtain a license where you live and make an appointment with the local JP or officiate of your preference. Get married. Then, board a plane and spend your honeymoon in Paris. In the alternative, you could get married and spend your honeymoon someplace incredibly romantic stateside, and spend your first anniversary in Paris (that's what we did). You'll enjoy your visit to Paris much more with lots of preparation and advance planning.

I think you may have chosen a difficult solution. In France, you have to be wed first at the townhall before organizing any religious ceremony. This civil wedding is the legally binding ceremony. So it means you have to be a resident and fill in a lot of paperwork at least two months in advance, plus compulsory medical examination and blood tests. I am French and I went through all this two years ago!
However, it may be possible to organize a religious ceremony in a church, temple, synagogue, mosk, etc... but it won't be a legal ceremony, but just a celebration of your marriage (performed beforehand in the USA). Regards. Joelle.

I agree with the other writers. My husband (then boyfriend) and I looked into this option several years ago. He has family in France, and although that makes it a little easier, we were still put off by the red tape. It's quite complex but if you are really determined, contact the French Tourism office (900) 990-0040 and they can get you all of the details.
Good Luck.