Wedding photographer in Senlis

Senlis is one of the most sought-after towns in Oise for weddings: the 12th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral, the town hall at the heart of the cobbled old town, medieval alleys and Gallo-Roman ramparts. The town also sits at the exact centre of a triangle of reception venues I know by heart, Pontarmé 10 minutes away, Ermenonville 15 minutes, Chantilly 20 minutes. I've been photographing in Senlis for 10+ years: town hall, religious ceremonies, couple sessions in the pedestrian streets and receptions in the Valois castles.

Notre-Dame de Senlis cathedral ceremonies: diocesan authorization to obtain 30 days ahead. I know the rectory and liturgical constraints (no flash, limited movement, side-aisle framing), we prepare all of it together beforehand.

Couple sessions in the old town: cathedral forecourt, rue de la Tonnellerie, ramparts, jardin du Roy. Cobblestones, shaded alleys, stone facades, everything you need for timeless portraits in natural light, especially in late afternoon. At Lina and Cherif's wedding, while guests were heading to the Château de Pontarmé for the cocktail, we did the couple session on foot in the pedestrian streets: twenty minutes walking as a duo in these alleys often gives the album more than an hour of forced poses.

I work regularly at Senlis town hall. In September 2023, Ophélie and Vincent said yes there in the beautiful old ceremony room (wood panelling, chandelier, mural painting), before the Saint-Martin church in Borest and the reception at the Domaine de Monceaux. Logistics tip: the centre is pedestrian, you park at a distance, rather on the church side, and we build it into the schedule from the start.

Around Senlis, I return to the same Valois castles every season. Pontarmé, 10 minutes away: Jennifer and Eddy's first look in the rotunda in September 2024, Alice and Allan's winter wedding under the Christmas wreaths in December 2025. Ermenonville, 15 minutes: Coralie and Prince among the Gothic ruins of the park in September 2024. Chantilly, 20 minutes: Manon and Kevin at the Racecourse facing the Belle Époque stands in May 2024. The Ferme de Maubuisson in Verneuil-en-Halatte and the Abbaye Royale du Moncel complete the area.

The detail that brings me back: the end-of-day light on the stone of Senlis and the nearby castles. If your schedule allows a fifteen-minute sunset break, we take it, it is often the best series of the day.

Ceremony in Senlis then reception at a nearby castle: it is the most common pattern here and I know the routes to the kilometre. I arrive before the couple at every stage, day-before presence available, photo + video duo coverage with my team.

Senlis is one of France's best-preserved royal cities: it is here that Hugues Capet was elected King of the Franks in 987, at the royal castle whose remains adjoin the Jardin du Roy. The 12th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral (one of France's first Gothic cathedrals), Gallo-Roman ramparts and cobbled medieval streets of the historic centre complete the setting. For weddings, the combination of cathedral, pedestrian streets and garden offers three radically different photographic backdrops within 500 metres, a density few French cities can claim. 20 minutes from Chantilly, 45 minutes from Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle.