Wedding at the Château de Fontainebleau: a photographer’s guide
The house of the kings of France, its private hire spaces, and where to celebrate nearby
By Marion Pinel, destination wedding photographer · Updated
The Château de Fontainebleau, the royal and imperial residence south-east of Paris, hires out its spaces for receptions, cocktails and dinners of 2 to 2,000 guests, but does not present weddings in its offer. Exceptional rooms such as the Salles Saint-Louis or the Galerie des Fastes take about 50 seated, on Tuesdays or in the evening. For a wedding, most couples celebrate at a château nearby and come to Fontainebleau for portraits.
- Location
- Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne
- Access
- Paris ~55 km
- Private hire
- 2 to 2,000 guests
- Weddings
- Not listed in the offer
The venue: the house of the kings of France
The Palace of Fontainebleau was a royal residence from the 12th century to the Second Empire. François I transformed it in the Renaissance, and Napoleon bid farewell to his guard in its Cour des Adieux in 1814. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.
Its courtyards, its gardens and the forest around it make it one of the most photogenic historic sites near Paris.
Where the ceremony and reception take place
The château’s private hire page mentions parties, receptions, cocktails, dinners and private visits for 2 to 2,000 people. Its exceptional spaces include:
- The Salles Saint-Louis: 130 m², about 50 seated or 100 standing.
- The Galerie des Fastes: 110 m², about 50 seated or 100 standing.
- The Salle de Bal and the Galerie François Ier: exceptional openings, subject to conservation rules.
- The courtyards and gardens: for cocktails, on request.
Prices are on request, and access is limited to Tuesdays or evenings. Weddings are not presented as a standard offer: confirm directly with the château.
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 Fontainebleau, these are the places I would build the day around:
The horseshoe staircase
The Cour des Adieux and its famous staircase: the most striking frame, best in soft morning light.
The gardens and the Grand Parterre
Water, clipped lawns and the carp pond for wide editorial portraits.
The forest
Rocks, pines and sand a few minutes away for a wilder, more romantic session.
Light and timing
The château sits in the middle of the forest, so the light is soft and filtered through the trees in the afternoon. The courtyards are quietest early in the morning and on Tuesdays, when the château is closed to the public.
In late June the sun sets around 21:55 near Fontainebleau, 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 at a hotel in Fontainebleau
- 16:00
- First look in the forest or the town
- 17:00
- Ceremony at a château nearby
- 18:00
- Cocktail, family photos
- 19:30
- Portraits in the gardens of the château, following the estate’s rules
- 21:00
- Dinner
- 23:00
- Cake and first dance
Getting there and where to stay
Fontainebleau is about 55 km south-east of Paris, around an hour by car, or 40 minutes by train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon.
Guests can stay in the hotels of Fontainebleau and Barbizon. Nearby, see my guides to Château de Nainville, where I have photographed, and Vaux-le-Vicomte.
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 Fontainebleau
Can you get married at the Château de Fontainebleau?
The château hires out spaces for receptions, cocktails and dinners, but does not present weddings in its offer. Ask the château directly for your project.
How many guests can Fontainebleau host?
From 2 to 2,000 people depending on the space, according to the château; exceptional rooms like the Salles Saint-Louis take about 50 seated.
Where can we get married near Fontainebleau?
Château de Nainville, 30 minutes away, and Vaux-le-Vicomte, which lists weddings in its private hire, are the closest château venues.
How much does private hire at Fontainebleau cost?
Prices are on request only.