Wedding at Château du Prieuré: a photographer’s guide
A Louis XVI folie with a lime-tree alley and elegant salons, west of Paris, by the photographer who has worked there
By Marion Pinel, destination wedding photographer · Updated
Château du Prieuré is a late 18th-century Louis XVI folie in Évecquemont, in the Yvelines, less than 40 km west of Paris, in an enclosed 1.5-hectare park. It suits intimate weddings of up to about 70 to 100 guests, with a ceremony on the lawn, cocktail and dinner in the lime-tree alley, and 12 bedrooms sleeping 38 on site. The best months are May, June and September.
- Location
- Évecquemont, Yvelines
- Access
- Paris < 40 km
- Rooms
- 12 bedrooms, 38 guests
- Guests
- Up to ~100 outdoors
The venue: a Louis XVI folie west of Paris
Château du Prieuré is a neoclassical folie built at the end of the 18th century in the village of Évecquemont, above the Seine valley. Its pale façade, peristyle and bright salons look over an enclosed park of 1.5 hectares (the château).
The house is rented exclusively, with its salons, a lime-tree alley, south and west terraces and a gardener’s house. It is a romantic, intimate setting that feels far from Paris while being less than an hour away.
Where the ceremony and reception take place
According to its reception page and French Wedding Style, the château offers:
- The lawn and the peristyle: for the ceremony and drinks in front of the façade.
- The lime-tree alley: about 400 m², up to 100 guests seated for dinner under the trees.
- The orangery salons: about 60 seated, a fallback if the weather turns.
- The Louis XVI salon: an intimate dinner of about 15.
According to French Wedding Style, the château is hired exclusively, outside caterers are welcome, the party can go on until 3 am and there is a three-night minimum in peak season.
My favourite photo spots at Château du Prieuré
Having photographed a wedding at Château du Prieuré, I know where the stone, the trees and the light come together. My approach is editorial: fashion-inspired portraits, real emotion and the architecture as part of the story.
The staircase
A stone staircase with an iron banister and a tall window: the most beautiful bridal portrait of the house.
The grand salon
Moulded panelling, parquet, a gilded mirror and soft light from the arched windows for the couple’s portraits.
The lime-tree alley
Long tables under the trees, dappled light and candles as night falls.
Light and timing
The park is framed by tall trees, so the lawn gets warm evening light while the lime-tree alley stays shaded and cool through the afternoon, which is ideal for a summer cocktail. The salons face the garden and are bright all day.
In late June the sun sets around 21:55 west 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 staircase
- 17:00
- Ceremony on the lawn
- 18:00
- Cocktail in the lime-tree alley, family photos
- 20:30
- Golden-hour portraits in the park
- 21:00
- Dinner under the lime trees
- 23:00
- Cake and first dance
Getting there and where to stay
Évecquemont is less than 40 km from Paris via the A13, A14 or A15 motorways, usually under an hour by car.
The château has 12 bedrooms sleeping 38, including a bridal suite and the gardener’s house, so family and close friends can stay on site. Around the wedding, take your guests along the Seine or to Paris for a portrait session.
A wedding at Château du Prieuré
From the getting ready to dinner under the lime trees, see the whole wedding at Château du Prieuré.
Paris wedding photographer →Questions about a wedding at Château du Prieuré
Where is Château du Prieuré?
At 37 rue d’Adhémar in Évecquemont, in the Yvelines, less than 40 km west of Paris.
How many guests can Château du Prieuré host?
According to French Wedding Style, up to about 100 guests seated in the lime-tree alley and about 60 in the orangery salons.
Can guests stay on site?
Yes. The château has 12 bedrooms sleeping 38 guests, including a bridal suite.
How much does a wedding at Château du Prieuré cost?
French Wedding Style lists exclusive hire from €17,860 in peak season, with a three-night minimum. Check current rates with the château.
Have you photographed at Château du Prieuré?
Yes. I photographed a wedding there, from the getting ready in the salons to dinner under the lime trees.