French Phrase
C'est un mariage de destination.
Meaning
It means 'It's a destination wedding' – a wedding that takes place away from the couple’s usual home, often in a scenic or exotic location, with guests traveling to attend.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to describe the style of a wedding you’re planning, talking about a wedding you attended, or explaining why travel arrangements are needed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estunmariagededestination.
C' (ce) contraction
The pronoun 'ce' contracts to 'c'' before a vowel or mute 'h', as in 'c'est'.
être (est)
The verb 'être' in third‑person singular present tense, meaning 'is'.
Indefinite article 'un'
Used before masculine singular nouns to indicate 'a' or 'an'.
Noun 'mariage'
Means 'wedding'; masculine noun.
Preposition 'de'
Links the noun 'mariage' to the complement 'destination', meaning 'of' or 'for'.
Noun used as adjective 'destination'
Here 'destination' functions like an adjective, describing the type of wedding.
🗨In Conversation
Quel type de mariage avez‑vous choisi ?
What type of wedding did you choose?
C'est un mariage de destination.
It's a destination wedding.
✕Common Mistakes
c'est un destination mariage.
Word order in French places the noun before the descriptive phrase; the correct order is 'mariage de destination'.
c'est un mariage à destination.
While understandable, the idiomatic phrase is 'mariage de destination'.
c'est un mariage du destination.
The preposition should be 'de', not the contracted 'du' (de + le).
↔Alternatives
Nous organisons un mariage à l'étranger.
We are organizing a wedding abroad.
C'est un mariage à destination.
It's a wedding at a destination.
C'est un mariage hors du pays.
It's a wedding outside the country.
Cultural Tip
Destination weddings have become popular in France, especially in Provence, the French Riviera, or even overseas locations like Bali. The expression 'mariage de destination' is a relatively recent borrowing from English; older speakers may prefer 'mariage à l'étranger' or simply describe the place (e.g., 'un mariage à la campagne'). The phrase works in both casual conversation and more formal planning contexts, but keep the tone friendly when speaking with friends and slightly more formal when speaking with vendors.