Wedding at Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre: a photographer’s guide
A 19th-century château inspired by Maisons-Laffitte, in a 42-hectare park thirty minutes north of Paris
By Marion Pinel, destination wedding photographer · Updated
Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre, also known as Château de Franconville, was built between 1876 and 1882 by Hippolyte Destailleur for the Duke of Massa, inspired by Mansart’s Maisons-Laffitte. Set in a 42-hectare park 30 minutes north of Paris and 15 minutes from Charles de Gaulle airport, it is hired exclusively for weddings of up to about 340 guests, with 11 bedrooms sleeping 34.
- Location
- Saint-Martin-du-Tertre, Val-d’Oise
- Access
- Paris ~30 min · CDG ~15 min
- Rooms
- 11 bedrooms, 34 guests
- Guests
- Up to ~340
The venue: a château inspired by Mansart
The château, also known as Château de Franconville, was built between 1876 and 1882 by the architect Hippolyte Destailleur for the 3rd Duke of Massa, on the model of Mansart’s Maisons-Laffitte. It later served as a sanatorium from 1929 to 1992, and is registered as a historic monument.
Today it is a private venue in a 42-hectare park, with a grand ballroom, a monumental staircase and salons overlooking the park (the château).
Where the ceremony and reception take place
According to French Wedding Style, the main spaces are (seated / cocktail):
- The Grand Ballroom: about 220 / 440, with its terrace (160 / 250).
- The Red and White Salons: about 85 / 160 each.
- The Grand Entrance Hall and the staircase landing: about 110 seated, for a dramatic dinner.
- The esplanade, the pond terrace and the park rotunda: for the ceremony and cocktail.
The château is hired exclusively and offers wedding packages. French Wedding Style lists hire from €18,900 in peak season, with 11 bedrooms sleeping 34.
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 Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre, these are the places I would build the day around:
The grand staircase
A monumental stone staircase for the most dramatic bridal portraits.
The façade and the esplanade
A Mansart-style façade for arrivals, the group photo and wide portraits.
The park and the pond
Old trees, the rotunda and the water for relaxed portraits in the evening.
Light and timing
The château stands on a hill in open countryside, so the esplanade and the park get long, warm evening light. The ballroom and salons are lit by tall windows.
In late June the sun sets around 21:55 north 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 bridal suite
- 16:00
- First look on the grand staircase
- 17:00
- Ceremony on the esplanade or in the park
- 18:00
- Cocktail on the ballroom terrace, family photos
- 20:30
- Golden-hour portraits in the park
- 21:00
- Dinner in the Grand Ballroom
- 23:00
- Cake and first dance
Getting there and where to stay
Saint-Martin-du-Tertre is about 30 minutes from Paris and 15 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
The 11 bedrooms sleep 34 guests, including a bridal suite; others can stay near the airport, in Chantilly or in Paris. Nearby, see my guide to Château de Champlâtreux.
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 Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre
Where is Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre?
Allée de la Fontaine au Roy in Saint-Martin-du-Tertre, in the Val-d’Oise, about 30 minutes north of Paris and 15 minutes from Charles de Gaulle airport.
How many guests can Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre host?
According to the château, up to about 340 guests; the Grand Ballroom seats about 220.
Can guests stay on site?
Yes. According to French Wedding Style, 11 bedrooms sleep 34 guests, including a bridal suite.
How much does a wedding at Château de Saint-Martin-du-Tertre cost?
French Wedding Style lists hire from €18,900 in peak season. Check current rates with the château.