French Vendor Contracts, Deposits & TVA

No English-language resource explains how French vendor contracts actually work. International couples sign contracts written in French, governed by French civil law, containing terms with specific legal consequences that have no direct English equivalent. The word "deposit" alone translates into two fundamentally different French legal concepts with opposite outcomes if either party cancels.

This guide is the reference that should have existed years ago. It covers the contract terms, the deposit types, the tax structure, the payment norms, and the red flags that protect couples from the small number of vendors who operate outside professional standards. For a broader view of vendor costs, see our complete French wedding cost guide. For a broader view of every step involved, see the full planning guide for destination weddings in France.

Key Takeaways

French vendor contracts operate under civil law principles that differ fundamentally from UK and US norms, and the most significant distinction is the word used for your deposit. Arrhes is the default under French law: if you cancel you lose the deposit, if the vendor cancels they return double. Acompte is a binding down payment where neither party can walk away without owing the full contract amount. French TVA applies at 20% on goods including flowers, rentals, and decor, and at 10% on services including catering, photography, and planning. Always confirm whether quotes are HT (excluding tax) or TTC (all taxes included), because the gap across 10 to 15 vendor invoices compounds to €3,000 to €5,000. The typical payment schedule runs 30 to 50% at signing, 30 to 40% three months before, and the balance two to four weeks before the wedding. Every legitimate French business has a verifiable SIRET number.

• Arrhes (the default under French law): if you cancel, you lose the deposit. If the vendor cancels, they return double. This applies unless the contract explicitly states otherwise.
• Acompte (a binding down payment): neither party can walk away without owing the full contract amount. More common in formal vendor agreements.
• French TVA (VAT): 20% on goods (flowers, rentals, décor), 10% on services (catering, photography, planning). Always confirm whether quotes are HT or TTC.
• Typical payment schedule: 30 to 50% at signing, 30 to 40% at three months before, balance two to four weeks before the wedding or on the day.
• Every legitimate French business has a SIRET number. Ask for it. Verify it at sirene.fr or societe.com.

What Should You Know About French Vendor Contracts?

A French vendor contract (contrat de prestation de services) is a legally binding agreement governed by the Code civil and the Code de la consommation. It is not a handshake, not an email confirmation, and not a verbal agreement.

If a vendor does not provide a written contract before accepting payment, that is the first and most serious warning sign. Every professional French wedding vendor, from a solo photographer to a 30-person catering operation, should provide a written contract that specifies: the exact services to be delivered (prestations), the date and location of the event, the total price including the TVA rate and whether the quoted figure is HT or TTC, the payment schedule (échéancier de paiement), cancellation terms for both parties (conditions d'annulation), and what happens in the event of force majeure.

The contract will be in French. This is not a gesture of exclusion. It is a legal requirement. French courts interpret contracts according to French law, and the French-language version governs in any dispute. Some vendors provide a bilingual contract or an English summary, which is helpful for comprehension but does not change the legal status of the French text. A wedding planner or a bilingual friend should review every contract before the couple signs. Google Translate is not sufficient for legal documents where single words carry specific civil law meanings.

Two contractual elements that international couples routinely overlook: the service window (plage horaire) defines exactly when the vendor's obligation begins and ends, with overtime charged beyond those hours. And the deliverables clause (prestations incluses) must list everything the couple expects to receive. A photography contract that says "reportage photo du mariage" (wedding photo reportage) without specifying the number of edited images, delivery timeline, or second shooter leaves the deliverable entirely at the photographer's discretion. Read the deliverables clause as though you are the only person who will ever enforce it, because you are.

What Is the Legal Difference Between Arrhes and Acompte?

This is the biggest distinction in French wedding contracts that international couples do not know, and it has real financial consequences when things go wrong.

Arrhes (pronounced "ar") is a deposit that allows either party to cancel the agreement. If the couple cancels, they forfeit the arrhes paid. If the vendor cancels, they must return double the amount of the arrhes. This is the default under Article 1590 of the French Code civil. If a contract does not specify whether a deposit is arrhes or acompte, French law treats it as arrhes. This is the protective default: both sides have an exit, with a defined financial penalty.

Acompte (pronounced "a-kont") is a partial payment that legally commits both parties to the full contract. Neither the couple nor the vendor can withdraw without owing the full amount. If the couple cancels after paying an acompte, the vendor can demand the entire remaining balance. If the vendor cancels after receiving an acompte, the couple can demand full performance or equivalent compensation. An acompte is not a deposit in the Anglo-Saxon sense. It is an irrevocable commitment.

In practice, most established French wedding vendors use acompte in their contracts because it provides them with greater certainty. This is normal and not inherently problematic, provided the couple understands the implication: once an acompte is paid, there is no walking away without financial consequence. The critical action is to read the contract and identify which word appears. If the contract says "acompte de 50%" or "un acompte de €3,000 sera versé à la signature," you are making a binding commitment. If it says "arrhes de 50%," you retain the option to cancel at a defined cost.

For couples booking 10 to 15 vendors, the cumulative financial exposure across acompte payments of 30 to 50% each can reach €15,000 to €40,000 before the wedding takes place. Wedding insurance for destination weddings in France can cover some of this exposure, but not all policies cover voluntary cancellation. Read the insurance terms with the same care you give the vendor contracts.

How Does French TVA (VAT) Apply to Wedding Vendors?

French TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutee) applies to every commercial transaction in France, and wedding vendors are not exempt from any of the three applicable rate tiers as of 2026. The standard rate of 20% applies to goods, products, and material rentals including flowers, furniture hire, decor items, stationery, and alcohol purchased separately. The intermediate rate of 10% applies to services including photography, videography, planning, catering food service, DJ and entertainment, venue accommodation, and hair and makeup. A reduced rate of 5.5% applies to essential food products purchased directly rather than served, though this is rare in a wedding context. The practical problem for international couples is that some vendors quote HT (excluding TVA) and others quote TTC (including TVA), with no industry standard governing which format appears on initial proposals.

The practical problem for international couples is that some vendors quote HT (hors taxes, excluding TVA) and others quote TTC (toutes taxes comprises, including TVA). There is no industry standard. A photographer might quote €4,000 TTC while a florist quotes €8,000 HT. The couple comparing those numbers as though both are final prices has a €1,600 surprise coming on the florist's invoice (€8,000 plus 20% = €9,600 TTC). Across an entire vendor team with 10 to 15 separate contracts, failing to confirm TTC versus HT on every quote creates a cumulative gap of €3,000 to €5,000.

One question resolves this entirely. Ask every vendor at the quote stage: "Ce devis est TTC ou HT?" (Is this quote inclusive or exclusive of tax?) Get the answer in writing. Build your budget spreadsheet with a TTC column so every number is comparable. If a vendor quotes HT, convert it to TTC yourself before adding it to the budget. This is not a complicated calculation, but it is a calculation that couples must make deliberately rather than discovering it on the final invoice.

A note on the micro-entrepreneur (auto-entrepreneur) regime: some independent French wedding vendors (solo photographers, celebrants, stylists) operate under France's micro-entrepreneur tax regime, which exempts businesses below a revenue threshold from charging TVA. These vendors quote TTC by default because there is no TVA to add. If a vendor says "je suis en franchise de TVA" or their invoice carries the mention "TVA non applicable, article 293B du CGI," this is the reason. It is entirely legitimate. Their prices are simply net of tax.

What Does a Typical Payment Schedule Look Like?

French wedding vendor payment schedules follow a consistent pattern across most categories, though the exact percentages and timing vary by vendor type and contract value.

Based on vendor pricing across the French Wedding Style network, a 50% deposit at signing is the most common structure across French wedding vendors. This is standard market practice, not a red flag. The deposit confirms mutual commitment and allows the vendor to reserve subcontractors, order materials, and block the date against other enquiries.

Venue payment schedules often differ from vendor schedules. Many French wedding venues require a 30% deposit at booking (sometimes 12 to 18 months in advance), a second payment of 40 to 50% at three to six months, and the final balance one month before the event.

Separately, venues charge a security deposit (caution) of approximately €3,000, payable before the event and refundable after a post-event property inspection confirms no damage. This caution is not part of the venue fee. It is held in escrow and returned, typically within 30 days. For more on how French venue pricing and payment structures work, see our dedicated guide.

Payment methods: French vendors accept bank transfer (virement bancaire, the most common), cheque (still used in France, though declining), and occasionally card payment. International couples should use a dedicated currency transfer service for bank transfers to avoid the 3 to 4% exchange rate markup that traditional banks charge. PayPal and similar platforms are uncommon in the French wedding vendor market and often carry additional fees.

What Red Flags Should You Watch for in a French Vendor Contract?

From the 400+ vendors in the French Wedding Style directory, the vast majority of French wedding vendors are professionals who operate transparently. The following red flags identify the small minority who do not, and any one of them should prompt the couple to seek an alternative vendor or obtain professional advice before signing.

No written contract. A vendor who accepts payment without providing a written contract is operating outside French commercial law. Every professional transaction above a modest threshold requires a written agreement. A verbal commitment and an invoice are not equivalent to a contract. Walk away.

Full payment required upfront. A vendor who requires 100% of the contract value at signing, months before the event, is asking for an unusual degree of financial commitment without the milestone-based accountability that a staged payment schedule provides. There are rare exceptions (small-value items, international supply orders requiring advance payment to a manufacturer), but for major vendors (caterers, planners, photographers, florists), full upfront payment is not standard practice.

No cancellation clause. Every professional contract should specify what happens if either party cancels. A contract without cancellation terms leaves both parties exposed. If the vendor cancels, the couple has no defined remedy. If the couple cancels, the financial consequences are undefined and potentially subject to court interpretation. Insist on a cancellation clause (clause de résiliation) that defines the consequences for both sides at different time horizons before the event.

No force majeure clause. Post-2020, every French wedding contract should include a force majeure clause specifying what happens if circumstances beyond either party's control prevent the event from taking place. The definition of force majeure in French law is narrow and specific (Article 1218 of the Code civil), but the contract should still address it explicitly so both parties understand the process.

Vague deliverables. A contract that describes services in general terms ("prestation photographique" without specifying hours, edited image count, delivery timeline, or second shooter) gives the vendor maximum flexibility and the couple no enforceable expectations. Every deliverable should be specific enough that a neutral third party could determine whether it was fulfilled.

No SIRET number. Every legitimate business in France is registered with a SIRET number (Système d'Identification du Répertoire des Établissements), a 14-digit identifier that confirms the business exists legally. The SIRET should appear on the contract and on every invoice. If it does not, ask for it. Verify it at sirene.fr or societe.com. A vendor who cannot provide a SIRET is either not registered (operating illegally) or not a real business. Neither scenario is acceptable for a transaction involving thousands of euros.

The Mistakes That Cost Couples Money on French Contracts

Four recurring errors account for the majority of financial surprises international couples experience with French vendor contracts, and each is entirely preventable with early awareness. Treating "deposit" as a single concept when arrhes and acompte carry opposite legal consequences is the most common. Ignoring TVA across all vendors builds a budget that undershoots actual costs by 10 to 20%, with a florist quoting €8,000 HT invoicing €9,600 TTC once 20% goods TVA is applied. Assuming French contracts work like British or American ones leads couples to apply home-country legal expectations to a system governed by the Code civil with different principles around mutual consent and remedies. Our guide to how contract terms and deposit structures vary by French region breaks this down further. Failing to keep organised records of every contract, invoice, and written communication undermines any ability to enforce agreed terms. Each of these four mistakes is explained in detail below.

1. Treating "deposit" as a single concept. In French law, arrhes and acompte have opposite consequences. Pay €5,000 as arrhes then cancel: you lose €5,000. Pay €5,000 as acompte on a €15,000 contract then cancel: you owe the remaining €10,000. The word in the contract determines the outcome. If the contract is silent, French law defaults to arrhes, but relying on the default rather than reading the contract is not a strategy.
2. Ignoring TVA across all vendors. A budget built from HT quotes undershoots actual costs by 10 to 20%. A florist quoting €8,000 HT will invoice €9,600 TTC once 20% goods TVA is applied. Across 10 to 15 vendors, that gap compounds to €3,000 to €5,000. Convert every quote to TTC before entering it into the budget.
3. Assuming French contracts work like British or American ones. French contract law (droit des obligations) has different principles around mutual consent, implied terms, and remedies. A clause enforceable in English law may not hold the same weight under the Code civil, and vice versa. Have contracts reviewed by a planner experienced in the French wedding market rather than applying home-country legal assumptions.
4. Failing to keep organised records. Every contract, invoice, payment confirmation, and written communication should be stored in a single location. A WhatsApp message agreeing to a specific deliverable has evidential value in French courts if preserved. The same agreement, deleted from a phone, does not exist. Couples working with a full wedding planner in France benefit from systematic record-keeping as part of the service.

Related Articles

These six guides connect directly to the contract and deposit decisions covered above. The vendor team guide provides the broader framework for sourcing, vetting, and booking French wedding suppliers. The florist guide covers seasonal flower availability and pricing structures that affect contract terms. The planner versus coordinator comparison explains which level of professional support is appropriate for reviewing contracts and managing multi-vendor payment schedules. The hidden costs guide identifies the extras that sit outside standard vendor quotes, and the wedding insurance guide explains which policies protect the cumulative acompte exposure across 10 to 15 signed contracts. The currency exchange guide provides the transfer strategy that saves €1,500 to €2,000 on vendor payments.

• Building your French wedding vendor team: the complete guide
• Working with French wedding florists: costs and seasonal guide
• Planner vs coordinator vs day-of manager in France
• Hidden costs of a destination wedding in France
• Wedding insurance for a destination wedding in France
• Currency exchange and paying French wedding vendors

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my French vendor cancels on me?

The outcome depends entirely on whether your deposit was arrhes or acompte. If arrhes: the vendor must return double the amount paid. You paid €3,000 in arrhes, the vendor cancels, you receive €6,000 back. If acompte: the vendor is legally obligated to fulfill the contract or provide equivalent compensation. In practice, this means either sourcing a replacement at their cost or refunding the full amount plus any damages the couple can demonstrate. In both cases, the remedy is defined by the contract and French civil law, not by informal negotiation.

Can I negotiate French vendor contracts?

Yes. French vendor contracts are proposals until both parties sign. Payment schedules, cancellation terms, deliverables, and pricing are all negotiable. The deposit percentage, the payment milestone dates, and the cancellation penalty timeline are the three most commonly negotiated elements. A wedding planner experienced in the French market negotiates these terms routinely and knows what is standard versus what is vendor-favourable. Couples negotiating directly should focus on clarity (ensuring every deliverable is specified) rather than price reduction alone.

Do I need a French lawyer to review my wedding vendor contracts?

For most couples, no. An experienced bilingual wedding planner who works in the French market can review standard vendor contracts and identify non-standard terms, missing clauses, and unfavourable conditions. A French lawyer (avocat) is warranted for very high-value contracts (€30,000 and above with a single vendor), complex multi-party agreements, or situations where a dispute has already arisen. For a typical destination wedding with 10 to 15 vendor contracts in the €1,000 to €20,000 range each, a planner's contract review is sufficient.

What is a caution (security deposit) and when do I get it back?

A caution is a refundable security deposit held by the venue against potential damage to the property during the event. The typical amount is approximately €3,000, though it varies from €1,000 at smaller properties to €5,000 at premium estates. The caution is paid before the event (usually with the final venue balance) and returned after a post-event inspection, typically within 15 to 30 days. If the venue identifies damage, the repair cost is deducted from the caution before the remainder is returned. The caution is not part of the venue rental fee. It is a separate deposit that should appear as a distinct line item in the venue contract.

What does HT and TTC mean on a French invoice?

HT stands for hors taxes (excluding tax). TTC stands for toutes taxes comprises (all taxes included). The difference between an HT and TTC price is the applicable TVA rate: 20% for goods (flowers, rentals, décor) or 10% for services (photography, catering, planning). A photographer quoting €4,000 HT will invoice €4,400 TTC (€4,000 plus 10% service TVA). A florist quoting €8,000 HT will invoice €9,600 TTC (€8,000 plus 20% goods TVA). Always confirm which format applies to every quote and build your budget in TTC to avoid cumulative surprises.

Is it safe to pay a French vendor by bank transfer?

Bank transfer (virement bancaire) is the standard payment method for French wedding vendors and is safe provided you verify the vendor's identity first. Confirm the SIRET number, verify the bank details match the business name on the contract, and retain the transfer confirmation for each payment. Use a specialist currency transfer service rather than a traditional bank to avoid the 3 to 4% exchange rate markup. Never send payment based on bank details received by email alone if they differ from what appears on the contract, as business email compromise fraud exists in every market including the French wedding industry.

Never sign a French vendor contract without understanding whether your deposit is arrhes or acompte. That single word changes your cancellation rights entirely. For a full picture of how contracts fit into vendor team logistics, return to our complete guide to building your French wedding vendor team.