10 Reasons To Get Married At No.3 The Château
Having photographed weddings all over the world I wanted to start sharing some venues I just LOVE. All of the venues I’ve photographed weddings at over the years are impressive and beautiful. Though I just love the heart and soul that No.3 The Chateau has. No.3 The Château is built around those luxury private house vibes with the elegance and visual impact of a classic French chateau. It was restored after being bought by the current owners in 2015, and it is now set up specifically for weddings and events.
It is also located in Salles d’Angles, near Cognac, which gives your guests a brilliant French countryside experience, without feeling cut off from travel routes and local culture. I love doing local activities too like Kayaking on the Charente river when i’m shooting here.
Why No.3 The Château Feels So Special
You get the Cognac vineyard setting
The Grande Champagne vineyards give you a landscape that feels calm, refined, and unmistakably French. That setting affects everything, the arrival, the ceremony atmosphere, the dinner energy, and of course the portraits. It makes it such a delight to photograph here, helps give my images so much soul. So when you add in an amazing characteristic wedding full of wonderful people, its a recipe for something special.
The chateau itself is genuinely characterful
No.3 is a Napoleonic era chateau built in 1805, with a history tied to Cognac distilling. It has the kind of architectural presence that makes your photos feel elevated without trying too hard. All of this history stops your wedding looking for feeling clinical. Again adding soul and character to your wedding as well as giving your wedding guests a truly historic French experience.
It is made for intimate luxury
The venue positions itself as a wedding and events space, and it is often highlighted for intimate luxury celebrations. That means it tends to attract couples who care about experience, design, and a relaxed guest journey. You can see from posts on my instagram and throughout my portfolio how beautiful weddings look here.
The light is a photographer’s dream
No.3 is known for feeling bright and airy in the right areas, which gives you clean, flattering imagery through the day. If you love an elevated look, this ties in beautifully with an Editorial Wedding Photographers approach. The nearby church the Église Saint-Maurice is just incredible to shoot at. Though I’ll talk more about this place later in the post.
It works brilliantly for a full wedding weekend
Many destination weddings in France are not just a day. They sometimes include a welcome evening, a wedding day, and a relaxed send off. No.3 is set up for that perfectly. Wether you decide to have a relaxed small pre wedding event at the venue or take your guests into the gorgeous town of Cognac for a gorgeous French evening. The pool at the venue is the perfect setting for a “post wedding day” get together. External catering can be hired in to feed your guests and everyone can reminice about the day before and relax by the pool. Those extra moments often become your favourite photos, because everyone is present at the wedding and helps people get to know each other who may not already have met.
On site accommodation makes it feel personal
There are six rooms on site, which is perfect for keeping your core group close and making the place feel like home for a few days. This is great for keeping those most important to you close on the days before during and after the wedding. Although I’ve not stayed on site myself, I’ve been around the venue enough times to know that it would be delightful to stay there. It really does feel super homely and will settle everyone in nicely. It also helps your morning prep feel calm and connected, rather than moving from place to place. Its like getting married at home really, though you home is the most amazing French Chateau built in the 19th century.
You have multiple spots for different parts of the day
The venue highlight that there are lots of areas for organising different moments, which is ideal for keeping the day moving smoothly. Also this mixes things up but without moving your guests around all too much. Ceremony in one place, aperitif in another, dinner somewhere with atmosphere, then dancing without much hassle at all.
The ceremony options are genuinely lovely
The venue suggests ceremony options at the front of the venue and around specific features like the pigeonnier area and garden paths. It is the kind of layout that creates a real sense of arrival and occasion for guests. Kind of enchanting really but in a really classy way.
Another option for your ceremony is the nearby walkable church. Église Saint-Maurice is a proper little Charente stone church with a simple, elegant feel. Historically it dates back to the 13th century, was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, then rebuilt in 1664 in a Gothic style and later restored in the 19th century. It’s also listed as a Monument Historique (since 1991). Its got a real wow factor to it and makes for amazing wedding photography as seen in the wedding photos in this post.
Cognac is a brilliant guest experience
For a destination wedding, the guest experience matters. Most couples agree that one of the most important things to them is their guests having the best time. Cognac and the surrounding Charente region offer culture, countryside, and that feeling of being in a proper French story, without the chaos of a major tourist hotspot. I’ve mentioned already that I love to kayak the Charente river and the Hennessy tour is super good too. This all means your guests actually slow down and enjoy the whole experience, which makes the whole weekend feel so good for your guests.
It suits both candid moments and editorial portraits
If you want real moments, No.3 has space for people to mingle naturally and move between areas. If you want portraits that feel elevated, the architecture and vineyard setting give you a strong visual aesthetic. That is the sweet spot between Candid Wedding Photography and editorial style. Everyting happens on site (unless you decide to have the chapel wedding ceremony) so your guests can really sink into the day relax and just have the best moments all day long. I love shooting weddings though shooting all of the “in between” moments is something I love to focus on and often result in being my couples most treasured photographs.
Bonus Reason (11) – The Staff & Planners
The staff here are amazing and I’ve always had the greatest experience with them. Julie and Brad (the owners) have always helped me if ive ever needed anyting or given me support on a wedding day to make sure the photography is seamless. When I bring up Julie and Brad to my coouples on pre wedding zoom calls, couples only ever have great things to say about them. You’ll be in safe hands for sure.
Ive only ever worked along side one wedding planner at this venue and this is highly recommended by the venue and myself is British born Julia of Chatelaine Events. Incredibly helpful on a wedding day, very hands on and works incredibly hard for her couples on a wedding day. She has great reviees and feedback from her couples and will make sure your day runs incredibly smoothly. Julia is locally based too meaning she speaks the language, has amazing contacts and is there if you need anything if you’re not.
Photography and timeline tips for No.3 The Château
Here is what helps your day feel relaxed and photograph beautifully at a venue like this.
Keep portraits short, but intentional
Ten to fifteen minutes in the right light, at the right spots, is all you need. The rest of the time belongs to your people.
Let the venue breathe
Plan a little space in the schedule so guests can drift, explore, and enjoy the setting. Those unplanned moments are often the best frames.
Consider a pre wedding shoot for confidence
If you want to feel totally comfortable before the wedding day, a session in France is a perfect warm up. If the coast is part of your trip, this guide is helpful: Nice Pre Wedding Photo Shoot.
Build your weekend around experience
If you are doing a multi day celebration, think about telling the full story. Welcome evening, wedding day, brunch. Those chapters make the gallery feel complete.
For couples planning a full destination experience, this page is a good overview: Getting Married Abroad.
FAQs for couples planning a wedding at No.3 The Château
Where is No.3 The Château?
It is in Salles d’Angles, Charente, in South West France, in the Cognac region.
What is the setting like?
The venue is surrounded by the Grande Champagne Cognac vineyards, which gives you countryside views and a calm, refined atmosphere.
Does the venue have accommodation?
Yes. There are six rooms on site.
Is it suitable for a wedding weekend?
Yes. The venue is set up for weddings and events, and it is often used for multi day celebrations.
Planning your Cognac wedding
If you are planning a wedding at No.3 The Château and you want photography that feels relaxed, honest, and elevated, I would love to hear about your plans.
For a broader look at coverage across France, you can also visit my destination page here: Destination Wedding Photographers.
Thank you, Stephen, for sharing this beautiful post. I love how you capture the wedding rings in your couples’ photos – they truly symbolize the vows they make to each other. No.3 The Château adds such a personal and elegant touch to every moment.