There’s something incredibly special about getting married in France. Beautiful architecture, long summer evenings, incredible food and the opportunity to turn your wedding into a few days away with the people you love most.
For couples travelling from the UK, though, choosing a French wedding venue isn’t only about finding somewhere beautiful. Location matters too. How will your guests get there? Is there accommodation nearby? Can you fly, take the Eurostar or even drive from the UK?
As a UK and France wedding photographer, I’ve put together some of my favourite French wedding venues for couples planning a wedding from the UK — from the wild coastline and historic châteaux of Brittany to the Loire Valley and the glamour of the French Riviera.
Château Wedding Venues in Brittany
Brittany is sometimes overlooked when couples begin searching for wedding venues in France, but I think it’s one of the most beautiful options — particularly for couples travelling from the UK.
It has a slightly wilder, more romantic feel than some of the better-known wedding regions, with historic towns, dramatic coastline, beautiful countryside and some incredible private estates.
It can also be surprisingly easy for guests to reach. Brittany Ferries runs routes from the south of England to ports including Saint-Malo and Roscoff, while flights into Rennes, Nantes and Brest can make travelling relatively straightforward depending on where your venue is located.
Château de Beaumanoir
If you’re dreaming of a romantic French château wedding surrounded by countryside, Château de Beaumanoir is exactly the sort of venue that makes Brittany so special.
The historic architecture and beautiful grounds create an elegant setting without feeling overly formal, making it particularly lovely for a relaxed destination wedding where guests can settle in and enjoy the surroundings.
From a photography perspective, venues like this offer so much variety. The château itself creates a beautiful backdrop for portraits, while the surrounding gardens and countryside lend themselves perfectly to natural photographs throughout the day.
For UK couples, its Brittany location also makes it much more accessible than travelling all the way to the south of France.
Perfect for: Romantic château weddings, relaxed celebrations and couples wanting a quintessentially French setting without travelling too far from the UK.
Château Ville Voisin
Château Ville Voisin offers another gorgeous setting for a wedding in Brittany, with the kind of architecture and grounds that immediately give a wedding that unmistakably French feeling.
For couples travelling from Britain, choosing a venue in Brittany can make a destination wedding feel much more achievable for guests while still giving you the experience of marrying abroad.
It’s also a region that lends itself beautifully to a slower wedding weekend — arriving a day or two before, spending time together, celebrating the wedding and perhaps continuing into brunch the following morning.
Perfect for: Intimate destination weddings and relaxed multi-day celebrations in the Breton countryside.
Château Wedding Venues in Normandy
Normandy is another brilliant region to consider if accessibility from the UK is important to you.
With ferry routes connecting the south coast of England with Normandy, some guests can bring their own car rather than needing to fly and hire one when they arrive.
It also has that beautiful combination of historic architecture, countryside and quintessential French villages that makes it such a lovely backdrop for a wedding.
Château de Carsix
Château de Carsix is a beautiful historic estate in Normandy and a wonderful option for couples wanting the full French château experience.
The architecture has that timeless quality that works particularly beautifully for wedding photography, while the grounds give plenty of space for an outdoor ceremony, drinks reception and portraits.
Normandy is also one of the easiest regions of France to consider if you have lots of guests travelling from southern England, particularly for anyone who would rather drive than fly.
Perfect for: Elegant country weddings, larger celebrations and couples looking for a French château that remains relatively accessible from the UK.
Château Wedding Venues in the Loire Valley
If your vision of a French wedding involves grand châteaux, manicured gardens and beautiful historic towns, the Loire Valley is difficult to beat.
Often described as the Valley of the Kings, this part of France is famous for its extraordinary châteaux and has a wonderfully romantic feel.
For guests coming from Britain, the Loire can usually be reached via flights into nearby airports or by travelling through Paris and continuing by train or car.
Château de Jalesnes
Château de Jalesnes is the sort of venue that immediately feels like a proper French château wedding.
With its beautiful architecture and expansive grounds, it offers a setting where your entire wedding can feel like an escape into the French countryside.
It’s particularly lovely for couples who want to make more of the occasion and spend several days with their closest friends and family rather than having everyone arrive and leave on the wedding day itself.
From a photography point of view, the combination of the château, gardens and surrounding landscape gives so many opportunities for both documentary photographs and more editorial portraits.
Perfect for: Multi-day château weddings and couples who want their guests to really experience a few days in France.
Château de la Bourdaisière
Located in the Loire Valley, Château de la Bourdaisière is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has the elegant, romantic atmosphere so many couples imagine when they begin planning a wedding in France.
The château itself is full of character, while the gardens provide a gorgeous setting for outdoor ceremonies, drinks receptions and photographs.
It’s also within reach of Tours, making the Loire Valley relatively straightforward to incorporate into travel plans from the UK.
Perfect for: Garden weddings, elegant outdoor celebrations and couples drawn to classic French château style.
Wedding Venues on the French Riviera
For something completely different, the South of France offers sunshine, Mediterranean views and a much more glamorous feel.
And while a château can be beautiful, I don’t think couples need to restrict themselves to châteaux when looking at venues in this part of France. Villas, domaines and historic hotels can be every bit as special — particularly around Nice, Cannes and Antibes.
Direct flights from several UK airports into Nice also make the French Riviera surprisingly accessible for guests.
Which Part of France Should You Choose for Your Wedding?
The right region really depends on the type of celebration you’re imagining.
If making the journey as easy as possible for UK guests is important, Brittany and Normandy are definitely worth considering. Ferry connections make both regions particularly convenient and they still offer the beautiful architecture, countryside and food you’d expect from a wedding in France.
For the classic château experience, the Loire Valley is difficult to beat.
And if your dream is sunshine, sea views and a more glamorous Mediterranean atmosphere, the French Riviera and South of France offer something completely different.
Whichever region you choose, I’d always encourage couples to think beyond the wedding day itself. One of the loveliest things about marrying in France is having the opportunity to slow everything down — perhaps drinks the evening before, the wedding itself, followed by breakfast or a relaxed gathering the next day.
It turns your wedding into an experience for everyone rather than simply one day.
Looking for a Wedding Photographer in France?
I’m a UK wedding photographer working across both the UK and France, photographing weddings in a natural, timeless and relaxed way with a subtle editorial influence.
France is also particularly special to me personally. My husband is French, we have family in Brittany and we celebrated our own civil wedding in France, so it’s a country I know and love spending time in.
My approach combines documentary photography with gentle direction when it’s needed. I want you to be able to enjoy your wedding rather than feeling as though you’re spending the day posing for photographs, while still creating beautiful portraits that feel considered and timeless.
I photograph weddings throughout France, including Brittany, Normandy, the Loire Valley and the South of France.
If you’re planning your wedding in France and feel connected to my work, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.
