Wedding at the Château de Versailles: a photographer’s guide
What is really possible at the palace of Louis XIV, and the most beautiful alternatives around Versailles
By Marion Pinel, destination wedding photographer · Updated
The Château de Versailles does not offer weddings in its public listings: its private hire is designed for receptions, dinners and galas, in spaces such as the Orangerie de Châteauneuf (from late May to late October) or the Galerie des Batailles, on request. The most realistic way to marry at Versailles is Airelles Le Grand Contrôle, the hotel on the estate, which can be privatised for up to 42 guests, or a château nearby.
- Location
- Versailles, Yvelines
- Access
- Paris ~16 km
- On the estate
- Le Grand Contrôle, 15 rooms
- Weddings
- On request, very limited
The venue: the palace of Louis XIV
The Palace of Versailles was built from 1661 for Louis XIV, with architecture by Le Vau and Hardouin-Mansart, the Hall of Mirrors completed in 1684 and gardens by André Le Nôtre. It was the royal residence from 1682 to 1789 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
It is one of the most visited monuments in the world, which shapes what is possible for a private celebration.
Where the ceremony and reception take place
The palace’s private hire page lists spaces for dinners and receptions, with prices on request. Among them (dinner / cocktail):
- The Orangerie de Châteauneuf: about 120 / 200, from late May to late October (details).
- The Galerie des Batailles: about 650 / 800, for large galas.
- The Salon d’Hercule and the Salles des Croisades: about 150 to 200 seated.
- Airelles Le Grand Contrôle: the hotel on the estate, 15 rooms and suites, privatised for up to 42 guests; its privatisation page mentions weddings.
The palace does not present weddings as a standard offer. For most couples, the answer is a ceremony in a château nearby and portraits in Versailles.
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 Versailles, these are the places I would build the day around:
The Cour d’Honneur and the gilded gates
The most famous façade in France, best early in the morning before the crowds.
The gardens and the Grand Canal
Le Nôtre’s perspectives for wide editorial portraits, subject to the estate’s rules for photo sessions.
The town of Versailles
Royal stables, avenues and the Notre-Dame district for a calmer session.
Light and timing
The palace faces east over the Place d’Armes and west over the gardens: the Cour d’Honneur gets the morning light, and the gardens glow at sunset. Crowds are lightest at opening time.
In late June the sun sets around 21:55 in Versailles, 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 Le Grand Contrôle or in Paris
- 16:00
- First look in the town of Versailles
- 17:00
- Ceremony in a private space or nearby château
- 18:00
- Cocktail, family photos
- 20:00
- Portraits around the estate
- 21:00
- Dinner
- 23:00
- Cake and first dance
Getting there and where to stay
Versailles is about 16 km west of Paris, 30 to 45 minutes by car or by RER C and trains from Montparnasse and Saint-Lazare.
Airelles Le Grand Contrôle has 15 rooms and suites on the estate; other guests can stay in Versailles or in Paris. For a château wedding nearby, see my guides to Château de Prunay in Louveciennes and Château du Prieuré.
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 Versailles
Can you get married at the Palace of Versailles?
Not as a standard offer. The palace hires out spaces such as the Orangerie de Châteauneuf for private receptions, on request, and the hotel on the estate, Airelles Le Grand Contrôle, can be privatised for up to 42 guests, including weddings.
How many guests can Versailles host?
Depending on the space, from about 20 to several hundred for a dinner, according to the palace’s private hire list; the Orangerie de Châteauneuf takes about 120 seated.
Can we take wedding photos at Versailles?
Portrait sessions in the gardens and the town are possible, following the estate’s rules; check the conditions with the palace before planning a session.
How much does a wedding at Versailles cost?
The palace and Le Grand Contrôle quote on request only.