Paris has no shortage of beautiful spots to get married, ranging from the free and casual to the insanely luxurious and over the top. Here are a few of my favorite spots:

Chapel Expiatoire

If you can get past the morbid origins of this chapel (it’s the burial place of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI), this neoclassical domed chapel is a gem and one of the most popular locations for small Paris weddings and elopements. The architecture is unmistakably French, the huge dome makes for beautiful acoustics for a small vocal or orchestral group to perform during your ceremony, and the walled garden surrounding the chapel is stunning for portraits. Plus you get the luxury of being isolated from the public, which is rare in a busy city like Paris.

Musée des Arts Forains

This vintage carnival museum looks like a step into the past, and your wedding guests can be seated alongside a working human-powered carousel or surrounded by circus performers like jugglers, fire breathers, acrobats, and aerial silk artists, with snacks of cotton candy and fresh popcorn handed out as midnight snacks. The carnival rides and games can still be used, making for a once-in-a-lifetime reception venue no one will ever equal (or forget!) It is a larger venue, suitable for 200+ guests.

Les Ombres

The perfect solution for Eiffel Tower lovers. This gourmet restaurant is located on the roof of the Musée Quai Branly, less than a block from the Eiffel Tower, and the outdoor terrace offers one of the most stunning views of Madame Eiffel you can find, day or night. Inside, the restaurant is surrounded by walls of window so you can dine safely inside year round without sacrificing your view.

Lapérouse

This restaurant’s unique history makes it a very popular spot for newlyweds for over a centuries. Legend has it that new grooms used to bring their brides (and mistresses) here for a lover’s dinner, and the ladies would scratch their diamond rings against the mirrors to ensure that the diamond was real! To this day, the staff welcomes new brides and grooms to test their rings on the vintage mirrors adorning the walls. They also have a special private room just for newlyweds.

Seine Wedding Cruise

Tour boat company Bateaux Parisiens offers boats for rent for private events, including full dinner, dancing, and bar services. Your boat can cruise up and down the Seine, viewing Paris at its most beautiful. There are also small houseboats available for rent via Paris Attitude for elopements or very small groups.

Champ de Mars

The long public garden stretching out from the base of the Eiffel Tower offers a number of options for wedding ceremonies, including a large covered stone gazebo for big wedding parties, and a small semi-private landing tucked just beside the base at the top of a small waterfall. The best part about this option – it’s free! If you don’t mind the possibility of tourists stumbling onto your ceremony, there are some beautiful spots here that you can visit again and again with each trip to Paris you take.

Churches

For those longing more a more traditional venue, both the American Cathedral and the American Church offer ceremony services.

Hotels

There are a number of hotels that offer beautiful venues and views of Paris. This is the most convenient option, as you and your guests can party all night long while dining on some of the finest quality food in Paris and have a short commute back to your room when your feet grow tired. My favorites are *Hotel Crillon (Starwood Collection), Shangri-La, Four Seasons George V, and Plaza Athenee (Dorchester Collection).