Wedding at Vaux-le-Vicomte: a photographer’s guide
The château of Nicolas Fouquet and the gardens of Le Nôtre, an hour south-east of Paris
By Marion Pinel, destination wedding photographer · Updated
Vaux-le-Vicomte is the 17th-century château built for Nicolas Fouquet by Le Vau, Le Brun and Le Nôtre, in Maincy, about 55 km south-east of Paris. The privately owned estate lists weddings among its private hire options, with receptions in its state rooms such as the Salon des Muses and the Grand Salon, from private dinners of 2 to 50 guests to receptions of 50 and more. Prices are on request.
- Location
- Maincy, Seine-et-Marne
- Access
- Paris ~55 km
- Gardens
- By André Le Nôtre
- Guests
- From 2 to 50+ indoors
The venue: the château that inspired Versailles
Vaux-le-Vicomte was built between 1658 and 1661 for Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV’s superintendent of finances, by the architect Louis Le Vau, the painter Charles Le Brun and the gardener André Le Nôtre. Fouquet’s famous party of 17 August 1661 led to his arrest, and the same team went on to build Versailles.
The estate is privately owned by the de Vogüé family, who open it for private events.
Where the ceremony and reception take place
The estate’s private hire page lists lunches, dinners, receptions, galas and weddings. According to its receptions page:
- The Salon des Muses: a painted salon for a private dinner.
- The Antichambre d’Hercule: for a cocktail or an intimate dinner.
- The Grand Salon: the oval salon under the dome, for receptions.
- The gardens: Le Nôtre’s parterres, canals and perspectives for photos and outdoor moments.
Private dinners are for 2 to 50 guests and receptions from 50 guests. Prices are on request from the events team.
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 Vaux-le-Vicomte, these are the places I would build the day around:
The Grand Salon and its dome
An oval salon with a painted dome for the most majestic portraits of the day.
Le Nôtre’s perspective
Parterres, basins and the long axis to the Hercules statue: the widest editorial frames, best in the evening.
The moats and the forecourt
Stone, water and the entrance gates for arrivals and group photos.
Light and timing
The château looks south over its gardens, so the perspective is lit from the side at the end of the day, with long shadows over the parterres. In summer, the estate holds candlelight evenings, a reminder of how beautiful it is at night.
In late June the sun sets around 21:55 near Melun, 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 nearby or in Paris
- 16:00
- First look in the gardens
- 17:00
- Ceremony on the estate
- 18:00
- Cocktail, family photos
- 20:30
- Golden-hour portraits in Le Nôtre’s gardens
- 21:00
- Dinner in the salons
- 23:00
- Cake and first dance
Getting there and where to stay
Vaux-le-Vicomte is about 55 km south-east of Paris, around an hour by car, near Melun.
There is no accommodation listed at the château: guests can stay in Melun, Fontainebleau or Paris. Nearby, see my guide to Château de Nainville, where I have photographed.
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 Vaux-le-Vicomte
Can you get married at Vaux-le-Vicomte?
Yes. The estate lists weddings among its private hire options; contact its events team for your project.
How many guests can Vaux-le-Vicomte host?
According to the estate, private dinners are for 2 to 50 guests and receptions from 50 guests.
Is there accommodation at Vaux-le-Vicomte?
No accommodation is listed on the estate; guests stay in Melun, Fontainebleau or Paris.
How much does a wedding at Vaux-le-Vicomte cost?
Prices are on request only.