Guide · Weddings in Paris

Getting married in a château near Paris: what it is like and how it looks

The châteaux on the outskirts of Paris are among the most sought-after settings for a destination wedding. Here is what to know before choosing one, and how the day looks through an editorial eye.

What the day is like

A château near Paris usually offers the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and portraits all in one place, with gardens and façades that work as a backdrop. The key is the order of the day: the ceremony, cocktail hour and portraits have to fall when the light is good, and everything else is arranged around them.

What is legal and what is not

A civil wedding that is legally valid in France normally requires about 30 days of residence in the commune. That is why many foreign couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at the château. Details are in our guide to getting married in Paris as a foreigner.

Season and light

The season decides the light: in summer there are many hours of sun and in winter the day is short. There is more in our guide to the best time to get married in Paris.

How it looks

These photographs are from an editorial shoot at Château de Nandy, staged with a couple and guests to show how a wedding looks in this kind of venue.

Bride tossing her bouquet in front of the Château de Nandy facade during an editorial shoot near Paris

Bride in a lace gown and veil in the gallery of the Château de Nandy

Couple embracing on the gravel at Château de Nandy, editorial shoot near Paris

Groom in a tuxedo on the staircase framed by red curtains at Château de Nandy

Intimate portrait of the couple with a pearl veil in the château gardens

Black-and-white kiss of the couple among white flowers, editorial wedding shoot in France

Three groomsmen in tuxedos seated beneath an antique portrait, black and white, Château de Nandy

Portrait of the groom in a bow tie seated by a château salon window

Banquet table with baby’s breath and candles in the gardens of Château de Nandy, editorial shoot

Portrait of the groom in a tuxedo against a red curtain

Groom fastening his jacket by a window, black and white, Château de Nandy

Wedding Editorial Project · Château de Nandy

The photographs on this page are from an editorial shoot, not a real wedding. Legal requirements are approximate: confirm them with the mairie.