Flight
New Orleans is testing nonstop flights to Paris, brilliantly convenient if they stick. For those traveling from elsewhere, if you cannot get a direct you will often connect in London Heathrow - if this is the case, give yourself a little extra time to connect - that airport is extremely large & busy, & usually requires external bus rides, re-check through security etc. Hard to retro-fit a massive airport into an ancient city, so a lot of these 5,000+ year old cities like London, Rome, etc. will have piecemeal airports, with one runway here, another there, & you need to hoof it or take transport between gates. Give yourself a breather. Again, unless you want the forced excuse to buy yourself new clothing in Europe (been there), we highly recommend putting anything specific that you need for the wedding in a carry on. Black pants and a white t-shirt for bopping around town are pretty easy and inexpensive to replace morning of, your custom fit tuxedo and prescription contact lenses, less so.
Travel Note
Paris is like New York City - you can easily hail a cab or order an Uber, but honestly the best way from point A to B is often the metro. We will be taking the subway often, including on our wedding day. It may seem intimidating at first, but as someone who does not speak French and is easily overwhelmed by maps, Sarah promises that even she figured it out within a ride or two. The routes are color coded, stops clearly labeled, and - just like New Yorkers - if asked not-rudely the French are happy to help point you in the right direction. Our suggestion is to buy a pre-paid metro card (they sell them in various configurations, 24 hours unlimited, week long, by number of rides etc.) and then it's as simple as swiping your pass when you enter the station. Personally we like the unlimited rides for a set time frame best, so if you get lost/need to exit back out to another side of the station it doesn't cost you a ride, and you never have to worry about being out.
Travel Note
Showing proof of being fully vaccinated is no longer required to enter France (but honestly, if you're attending a doctor's wedding, you should be). Additionally, the river cruise company does state that they require proof of vaccination to board, so if you plan on joining us for the welcome party, please be sure to bring your CDC card. In Europe in general masking was more common even pre-Covid, so you may see it, especially on crowded planes and trains etc. As a U.S. citizenship holder, you do not need to apply for a France Visa! You are allowed to travel to France for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a Visa, as long as your U.S. passport is valid for at least 3 months after your planned return to the United States. If you are a US Diplomat or Official, US Permanent Resident, or hold a US Visa, you will need a French Visa which is easily applied for online. Do so at least 8 weeks out. From November 2023, Canadian citizens may need to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver before travelling to France or any of the other Schengen countries - I think you may scrape by arriving in October, but if you travel around Europe after the wedding and come back to France to fly home, you may find yourself "entering" France in November - check your embassy website, looks like it's online and fast/no waiting period.
Travel Note
Due to the very small number of guests as well as wildly varying arrival & departure dates for everyone, we will not be able to set a standard hotel block up and we do not anticipate everyone staying in the same place! We have provided a few options below with clickable links, all pretty close to a great landmark, our ceremony, reception, or after party start point. Paris is also full of metro stops, so nothing is too far of a walk if you are near a station. Please feel free to deviate from these options! There are also Airbnbs with multi-bedroom options for families and groups, very budget friendly cozy Parisian hostels, as well as extremely high end options, if you're inclined!
Hotel
This is where Erik and Sarah will be staying for the wedding week! Walking distance to the ceremony and even closer to the reception restaurant. It is old and cozy and decidedly French, with a one-suitcase-sized rickety elevator and lots of wallpaper.
Hotel
Not into "old and cozy?" Check out The Snob Hotel, which is phenomenally cool. Slightly farther away from the reception venue (but again, metro), this place is streamlined with marble bathrooms that will feel more American. Despite the name, it is also often lower priced than many of its equals and surrounding competitors. Impossibly chic vibes and one of Sarah's favorites.
Hotel
For our Marriott friends (points, baby), this gorgeous spot is in the Marriott Bonvoy family. Located behind the Louvre gardens, it's a bit farther from the ceremony, but in a great location to stop and refresh on the way to the after party. I can't think of a prettier Fall walk than around this area - although it is often sold out. Feel free to check around for all the loyalty brand options.
Hotel
If you're independent (bless you), this spot is near the Eiffel tower - a little bit away from the day-of wedding locations but still very doable and would be a phenomenal area to stay in Paris in general. Many rooms have views of the tower, which sparkles after sundown.