If you’re dreaming of a Château de Chantilly wedding, I get it. The château sits on its own lake about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Paris, surrounded by gardens, forest and some of the grandest stables you’ll ever see. It feels miles away from the city, and it’s a short train ride from Gare du Nord.
I’ve photographed at Chantilly, and it’s a dream of a place to work. Here’s what to know if you’re planning an elopement or an intimate wedding there: how to get there, where you can celebrate on the estate, what affects the cost and how to get the most out of your photos.
Where is the Château de Chantilly?
The Château de Chantilly is part of the Domaine de Chantilly, in the town of Chantilly, north of Paris.
- By train: Direct regional trains (TER) leave from Paris Gare du Nord and reach Chantilly-Gouvieux station in about 25 minutes. From the station, the château is about a 20-minute walk, or you can take the local bus.
- By car: Plan on less than an hour from central Paris, depending on traffic.
- From the airport: Charles de Gaulle airport is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away, which makes Chantilly easy for guests flying in.
Why couples choose a Château de Chantilly wedding
Chantilly has the fairytale look most couples picture when they say “French château,” and a lot of history behind it.
Space to breathe. Compared to a wedding in central Paris, you get room to move, fewer crowds and a lot of green.
The château and Musée Condé. The Duc d’Aumale, a son of the last king of France, filled the château with his art collection. Today the Musée Condé holds the second-largest collection of antique paintings in France, after the Louvre.
The gardens. André Le Nôtre, the landscape architect behind the gardens of Versailles, designed the formal French gardens here in the 1600s. Together with the English garden and the park, they cover 115 hectares.
The Grandes Écuries. The Great Stables are a palace of their own. They’re home to the Musée du Cheval and to horse shows throughout the year.
Wedding venues on the Domaine de Chantilly
The estate opens several of its buildings for private events, so you can choose the setting that fits the size of your wedding:
- The château for a ceremony or dinner surrounded by history.
- The Grandes Écuries, which can host a dinner for up to 580 guests, for a large celebration.
- The Jeu de Paume and the Maison de Sylvie, smaller historic buildings on the estate.
- The gardens for an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour.
- The Auberge du Jeu de Paume, a Relais & Châteaux hotel inside the estate, between the château gardens and the Grandes Écuries. It has private rooms for events of up to 150 guests and a gourmet restaurant, La Table du Connétable.
For an elopement with only the two of you (or a handful of guests), you may not need to book a venue at all. Talk to the estate about what’s allowed for a small ceremony or a photo session in the gardens.
How much does a Château de Chantilly wedding cost?
The Domaine de Chantilly doesn’t publish a price list for weddings, so you’ll need to ask the events team for a quote. These are the things that make the biggest difference:
- The space you book. A dinner in the Grandes Écuries and a small lunch at the Auberge are very different budgets.
- Your guest count, since catering is priced per person.
- The day and season. Spring and summer weekends book up first.
- Your vendors. Plan for a wedding planner, a caterer if the venue doesn’t include one, flowers, music, hair and makeup, and your photographer.
An elopement or a small wedding at the Auberge costs much less than a full estate takeover, and the photos still hav
Planning tips for a wedding at Chantilly
Ask about photo rules early. The estate is private, so confirm with your venue where your photographer can work and at what times.
Work with a local wedding planner. A planner who knows French venues and vendors will save you a lot of back and forth, especially if you’re planning from abroad.
Plan transport for your guests. The train is easy for a day visit, but for an evening wedding, book a coach or cars to bring guests back to Paris.
Check the racing calendar. Chantilly has a famous racecourse, and big race days bring crowds and traffic to town.
Photographing your Château de Chantilly wedding
As an elopement photographer based in Paris, I love how many backdrops Chantilly packs into one walk. A few of my favorite spots:
- The château from across the water. The reflection in the lake gives you that postcard shot.
- Le Nôtre’s parterre. Long lines of water and lawn make the formal gardens perfect for walking photos.
- The Grandes Écuries. The facade is huge and dramatic, and it photographs beautifully in late-day light.
- The English garden. Winding paths, trees and water feel softer and more romantic than the formal gardens.
Late afternoon is a great time to shoot at Chantilly. The light g
Where to stay for a wedding at Chantilly
The Auberge du Jeu de Paume is the place to stay if you want to wake up on the estate. For guests on a budget, staying in Paris and taking the train for the day works well too.
Planning your wedding in France? I photograph weddings and elopements in Paris and the châteaux around it. Have a look at my Paris wedding photography and send me your date.
Château de Chantilly wedding FAQ
Yes. The Domaine de Chantilly hosts weddings and private events in the château, the Grandes Écuries, the Jeu de Paume, the Maison de Sylvie and the gardens. The Auberge du Jeu de Paume hotel on the estate also hosts weddings.
The estate doesn’t publish wedding prices, so ask the events team for a quote. The cost depends on the space you book, your guest count, the date and your vendors.
Chantilly is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Paris. Direct trains from Gare du Nord to Chantilly-Gouvieux take about 25 minutes, and the château is about a 20-minute walk from the station.
Yes, Chantilly works well for an elopement or a very small wedding. Ask the estate what’s allowed for a small ceremony or a photo session in the gardens, and book a photographer who knows the grounds.
The Auberge du Jeu de Paume is a Relais and Châteaux hotel inside the estate. Many guests also stay in Paris and come up by train.
Late spring to early fall is the most popular season, when the gardens are green and the days are long. Fall brings warm colors in the park and fewer visitors.
