Wedding at Château Bouffémont: a photographer’s guide
A 19th-century château on the edge of the Montmorency forest, twenty minutes from Charles de Gaulle airport
By Marion Pinel, destination wedding photographer · Updated
Château Bouffémont is a 19th-century château on the edge of the Montmorency forest, about 30 km north of Paris and 20 minutes from Charles de Gaulle airport, fully renovated in 2012. It is hired exclusively for weddings of up to 150 seated and 200 for the cocktail, with terraced gardens and 9 suites sleeping up to 30 guests. The best months are May, June and September.
- Location
- Bouffémont, Val-d’Oise
- Access
- Paris ~35 min · CDG ~20 min
- Rooms
- 9 suites, up to 30 guests
- Guests
- Up to 150 seated
The venue: a château on the edge of the forest
Château Bouffémont was built in the 19th century on the edge of the Montmorency forest and was home to the Marquise de Preignes and to Baron Empain. Its current owner renovated it entirely in 2012 (the château).
Set in about 5 hectares with gardens on three levels, it combines a classical façade, bright salons and the calm of the forest, close to Paris and the airport.
Where the ceremony and reception take place
According to its weddings page and French Wedding Style, the château offers:
- The terraced gardens: a ceremony and cocktail for up to about 200.
- The terrace: 170 m², for drinks facing the park.
- The salons: about 300 m² inside, including the Grand Salon and the Salon des Anges, for a seated dinner of up to 150.
- The suites: 9 suites sleeping up to 30 guests.
The château is hired exclusively. French Wedding Style lists recommended caterers only, no curfew, and exclusive hire from €8,500 in peak season for up to 150 guests.
Photo spots to plan for
When I prepare a wedding at a venue, I study its layout, its orientation and its light beforehand, so that the day flows without anyone waiting for photos. At Château Bouffémont, these are the places I would build the day around:
The gardens on three levels
Steps, balustrades and lawns for the ceremony and wide portraits.
The edge of the forest
Tall trees and soft shade for relaxed couple portraits in the last hour of light.
The salons
Moulded ceilings and big windows for getting ready and indoor portraits.
Light and timing
The château sits on a slope at the edge of the forest, so the gardens get warm afternoon and evening light while the forest edge offers shade in summer.
In late June the sun sets around 21:55 north of Paris, and around 19:35 by the end of September.
A wedding day here, hour by hour
An example timeline I would suggest for a late-June wedding:
- 14:00
- Getting ready in the suites
- 16:00
- First look on the terraced gardens
- 17:00
- Ceremony in the gardens
- 18:00
- Cocktail on the terrace, family photos
- 20:30
- Golden-hour portraits at the edge of the forest
- 21:00
- Dinner in the salons
- 23:00
- Cake and first dance
Getting there and where to stay
Bouffémont is about 30 km north of Paris, around 35 minutes by car, and 20 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. The Bouffémont-Moisselles station, on the line from Gare du Nord, is 2.5 km away.
The 9 suites sleep up to 30 guests; others can stay near the airport or in Paris. Nearby, see my guide to Château de Champlâtreux.
Editorial wedding photography in Paris
See a wedding at the Ritz Paris and a wedding at Château du Prieuré, and my guides to the Ritz Paris and Château de Nainville, where I have photographed.
Paris wedding photographer →Questions about a wedding at Château Bouffémont
Where is Château Bouffémont?
At 8 rue Léon Giraudeau in Bouffémont, in the Val-d’Oise, about 35 minutes north of Paris and 20 minutes from Charles de Gaulle airport.
How many guests can Château Bouffémont host?
According to the château, up to 150 seated and 200 for the cocktail.
Can guests stay on site?
Yes. The château has 9 suites sleeping up to 30 guests.
How much does a wedding at Château Bouffémont cost?
French Wedding Style lists exclusive hire from €8,500 in peak season for up to 150 guests. Check current rates with the château.