Wedding at Château de Nainville: a photographer’s guide
A Louis XIII-style château in 28 hectares of woods and French gardens, under an hour south of Paris, by the photographer who has worked there
By Marion Pinel, destination wedding photographer · Updated
Château de Nainville-les-Roches is a Louis XIII-style château in the Essonne, under an hour south of Paris, set in 28 hectares of woods and French gardens. It hosts weddings of about 50 to 150 guests in its salons, with a separate ballroom, symbolic ceremonies in the gardens and free choice of suppliers. The best months are May, June and September.
- Location
- Nainville-les-Roches, Essonne
- Access
- Paris < 1 h
- Estate
- 28 ha of woods and gardens
- Guests
- About 50 to 150
The venue: a château in the French gardens
Château de Nainville stands at the heart of the village of Nainville-les-Roches, south of Paris, restored in the Louis XIII style. From 1954 to 2008 it housed France’s national civil protection school, before becoming a private wedding venue (village heritage page).
Its 28 hectares of woods and French gardens, its brick-and-stone façade and its bright salons make it one of the most elegant château settings within an hour of Paris (the château).
Where the ceremony and reception take place
According to its wedding page, the château offers:
- The French gardens: a symbolic ceremony on the lawns in front of the château.
- The salons: for 50 to 150 guests, for the cocktail and dinner.
- The ballroom: a separate space for the party.
- The columned hall: a luminous space with a chequered floor, perfect for portraits and a rainy-day fallback.
Couples choose their own suppliers from a recommended list. According to Bridebook, venue hire starts from about €6,000.
My favourite photo spots at Château de Nainville
Having photographed at Château de Nainville, I know where the stone, the gardens and the light come together. My approach is editorial: fashion-inspired portraits, real emotion and the architecture as part of the story.
The French gardens
Lawns, clipped borders and the long axis to the façade: the widest frames of the day, stunning from the air.
The columned hall
Tall columns, sconces and a black-and-white floor for editorial bridal portraits, calm at any hour.
The salons
White panelling, parquet and big windows for the getting-ready photos in soft light.
Light and timing
The château sits in open countryside, so the evening light is long and warm over the gardens. The hall and salons are bright all day thanks to their tall windows.
In late June the sun sets around 21:55 south 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 salons
- 16:00
- First look in the columned hall
- 17:00
- Ceremony in the French gardens
- 18:00
- Cocktail on the lawns, family photos
- 20:30
- Golden-hour portraits in the gardens
- 21:00
- Dinner in the salons
- 23:00
- Cake and party in the ballroom
Getting there and where to stay
Nainville-les-Roches is in the Essonne, under an hour from central Paris by car, and around 45 minutes from Orly airport depending on traffic.
Guests can stay in Paris and travel by shuttle, or in hotels around Fontainebleau and Milly-la-Forêt. Around the wedding, take your guests to the forest of Fontainebleau or to Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Editorial wedding photography around Paris
See a wedding at Château du Prieuré and a wedding at the Ritz Paris.
Paris wedding photographer →Questions about a wedding at Château de Nainville
Where is Château de Nainville?
In Nainville-les-Roches, in the Essonne, under an hour south of Paris.
How many guests can Château de Nainville host?
According to the château, its salons welcome 50 to 150 guests, with a separate ballroom.
Can we choose our own caterer?
Yes. Couples choose their suppliers from a recommended list.
How much does a wedding at Château de Nainville cost?
According to Bridebook, venue hire starts from about €6,000. Check current rates with the château.
Have you photographed at Château de Nainville?
Yes. I have photographed at Château de Nainville, from the getting ready in the salons to portraits in the columned hall and the gardens.