How to Plan the Perfect Shangri La Paris Elopement

Centrally located in the 16th arrondissement, the ultra-exclusive Shangri-La offers some of Paris’s most dazzling Eiffel Tower vistas.

It’s almost mind-boggling how ideally situated the hotel’s private terraces are when you’re after jaw-dropping pictures with the Iron Lady as your backdrop.

Exclusive terraces lend themselves to charming elopements.

Thanks to its gorgeous ballrooms on the first and second floors, the Shangri-La Paris will also accommodate weddings & events from intimate to extravagant.

Expect a palace-level service from the moment you set foot into this iconic French venue.

You can only legally get married in France through a civil ceremony which typically takes place at the local city hall—the so-called Mairie.

As a foreigner, you must show proof of French residence and a marriage application. And then expect loads of administrative paperwork and other hoops to jump through. It’s a part-time job to figure this out.

Instead, most foreigners opt for a symbolic ceremony in Paris. It’s similar to a traditional intimate wedding, except not legally binding. 

Importantly, you can personalize your ceremony in any way you want: pick your elopement venue, the religion (or non-religion), an English-speaking officiant, favorite readings, outfits style, and duration.

The traditional sense of eloping suggests hurriedly running off to get hitched without telling anyone.

However, a Paris elopement never feels rushed. Instead, it’s a super-romantic getaway that can be as private or public as you wish. Inviting friends and families to witness the fun festivities is acceptable and encouraged.

We have our own—admittedly lengthy—definition of what a Paris elopement is … and it goes something like this:

At some point in the day, two people will hold a symbolic ceremony at a beautiful public or private location around Paris, France.

The guest count is low by design and typically ranges from 0-20 invitees—mainly family and close friends. A Paris officiant will preside over your ceremony.

Eloping in Paris means skipping the elaborate local wedding with large-scale reception. Still, there is no reason to forgo classic wedding traditions that appeal to you.

You decide whether to wear a wedding gown, carry a bridal bouquet, arrange a First Look with your photographer, walk the aisle, exchange vows and rings, pop a Champagne, and do the first kiss as newlyweds.

As one of Paris’s premier proposal and wedding planners, we are local experts with unparalleled vendor connections and know-how. That means we can often pull off fabulous celebrations for our couples, even on short notice.

If you can imagine it, we can typically make it happen. Popular requests for elopement-related services include photography, video, beauty services, floral design, officiant, luxury cars, suite embellishment, musicians, and wedding bouquets, …

Our rates vary with your specific elopement requirements, but please assume approximately 15% of the total budget. Reach out to Chantelle for a personalized quote.

We recommend reaching out to us as soon as possible.

Unlike a Paris couple photoshoot, where you’ll mainly interact with one artist, a Paris elopement—notably at the venerable Shangri-La Hotel Paris—necessitates meticulous coordination with and availability of an entire vendor team.

Yes, book a private car driver when you intend to do a couple photoshoot before or after your elopement. You choose between a drop-dead gorgeous Rolls-Royce Phantom, a vintage car, or a roomy Mercedes van.

Time is indeed money on one of the most memorable days of your lives, and a personal driver will save you bundles of time (and stress) in a busy city such as Paris.

Using WhatsApp, you or your photographer‘s associate can continuously update the driver with live location updates and instruct him where to meet you. As a result, you won’t have to wait for an UBER (they cancel on you frequently in Paris) or a taxi.

But there’s more: when you invest in a private car with a driver, you should expect the following additional benefits:

• Protect your belongings. You can securely leave your wallets and phones in the automobile, which results in peace of mind and, ultimately, more flattering pictures (i.e., you avoid pocket bulging);
• Free up your hands since you can leave the props you are not using in the car;
• Stay comfy and warm in the winter (nothing beats being able to jump in a heated vehicle after a winter sunrise shoot);
• It should be reassuring that your driver will pick you up and drop you off at the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris—one thing less to worry about.

After booking with us, you’ll immediately receive a confirmation with your requested Paris elopement package, date, and starting time(s). Our resident expert elopement wedding expert, Chantelle, will reach out to you to kick preparations into high gear.

Booking with us is straightforward: a retainer payment (50% of your overall Shangri La Paris elopement package) and a signed contract reserve your preferred date, starting time(s), and artists.

We accept all major credit cards. If you choose to pay your balance in cash, it is due on the day of the intimate wedding.

It’s sometimes just not possible to keep your appointment despite best intentions.

We’ve seen it all, from airport disruptions and canceled flights to visa issues, strikes, health, pregnancy, job conflicts, and a host of other problems.

Yet, when you officially book your Shangri La Paris elopement with us, we will lock in all key vendors (photographer, cinematographer, beauty artist, driver, etc.) for your date.

We ask you to communicate with us in real-time to help find a solution (or reschedule) if necessary.