Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Wedding News: Couple to Wed in US First, Then France

By Benge Nsenduluka, CP Reporter Friday, April 25, 2014

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will reportedly wed in the U.S. prior to their wedding in France to avoid potential legal issues.

The Hollywood power couple will still exchange vows in France on May 24, however, they have now made plans to have a civil ceremony in Southern California first because French law reportedly requires a 40-day residency before any wedding can take place. One party is expected to reside in France for a little over a month in order to fulfill French legal requirements.

"Typically, the U.S. recognizes citizens getting married in France, but dealing with a foreign government and paperwork could be a nightmare," a source told RadarOnline.com.

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"So just to make sure it's legal, Kim and Kanye will first be having a civil ceremony in Southern California," the insider revealed.

Kardashian, who recently scouted potential wedding venues just outside of Paris, is based in Los Angeles while West, who owns a home in Paris, is often between L.A. and New York.

"Kim and Kanye were unaware until recently that France required a residency requirement prior to marriage," another source said. "Kanye has an apartment in Paris, but he doesn't live there full-time."

West, 36, proposed to Kardashian, 33, in October and they are currently in the midst of wedding planning. The ceremony will mark West's first marriage and the reality TV star's third.

"A religious ceremony has to be performed after a civil ceremony, never before," the French Embassy in Washington D.C. explained. "The minister, priest or rabbi will require a certificate of civil marriage before any religious ceremony takes place."

The couple, who began dating in 2012, will reportedly fly out 200 close friends and family to France via private jet ahead of their big day. Invitations have already been sent and the planning is close to be finalized.

Kardashian recently spoke about her big day and insisted that contrary to reports, the wedding will be relatively small.

"We're having a super, super small, intimate wedding. As we go along, we're realizing we want it to be smaller and more intimate than people are imagining and thinking," Kardashian told Seacrest on his KIIS FM radio show on Feb. 25.