BE INSPIRED
The 5 Most Romantic Castle Wedding Venues
BE INSPIRED
The 5 Most Romantic Castle Wedding Venues
BE INSPIRED
Incredible Castle Wedding Venues
If being princess for a day is high up on your list of bridal priorities, then what better way to channel your main-character energy than by hosting a super-romantic castle wedding?
From turreted towers to soaring Disney-worthy spires and everything in between, castle settings make for nuptials that will go down in history – and in the memories of your guests for a lifetime. Here are 5 of the most romantic fairytale castle venues across the UK where you and your very own prince charming can say ‘I do’…
The newly refurbished bridal suite at Walworth Castle has had an amazing makeover and is perfect for pre-wedding pamper photos and first night as a married couple luxury.
WALWORTH CASTLE, COUNTY DURHAM
Set amid beautiful rolling countryside, with striking stone towers and an abundance of original period features, 12th-century fortress Walworth Castle is the archetypal fairytale castle.
While it wears its handsome heritage with pride, it also offers a contemporary wedding experience for modern couples, with plenty of options. Couples can exchange alfresco vows beneath the trees in the woodland ceremony space or in Lady Palmer’s Pavilion.
However, if you’d rather tie the knot indoors, the ballroom offers a classic big-day canvas, while Cardinal’s Court is one of the venue’s most distinctive celebration spaces, with a glass ceiling highlighting the building’s exquisite stonework.
Or if you’re seeking serious atmosphere, the castle’s dungeon provides a truly unique setting for intimate vows or a candlelit private dinner for smaller nuptial gatherings.
Another highlight of this magical Darlington castle is its freshly refurbished Bridal Suite. Once the slumber pad of King James VI of Scotland and I of England before he became the first king to unite the two countries’ thrones, the super-luxe quarters now unite newlyweds on their wedding night, with its tower bedroom, stand-alone bath, his-and-hers showers, separate living room and bridal dressing room. There can be few better places for you to enjoy your new status.
The castle and its grounds are also home to an array of comfortable guest rooms and luxe lodge and cottage accommodation, ensuring that there’s space to host members of your guest list.
The County Durham venue is throwing open its substantial doors to American couples seeking an historical English castle wedding setting for their big day. Steeped in centuries of romantic local lore, today it provides an unforgettable backdrop for both intimate elopements and grander-scale destination weddings. So, what are you waiting for? Take your love transatlantic here!
CARLOWRIE CASTLE, WEST LOTHIAN
Nestled in a 32-acre estate just a half hour’s drive from the Scottish capital, Edinburgh and crowned with tourelles and turrets galore, the enchanting Carlowrie Castle has the fairytale factor in spades. Built in 1852, the current castle stands upon a site with Jacobean foundations, hinting at a tempestuous past full of patriotic romance.
Today though, engaged lovers will be drawn to the exclusive-use venue’s free rein and generosity of space: with space for 275 diners at the wedding breakfast and a capacity for a 450-strong reception, it’s primed for a wedding bash of epic proportions.
There are an array of celebration spots to make the most of inside: the airy blank canvas of the orangery can hold 100 loved ones, and is ideally located for summer celebrations to spill out onto the lawn and grounds, the Piano Room can act as a speakeasy or DJ space, and the glamorous Marble Room is an ideal chill-out zone, while the Library Bar will keep everyone refreshed throughout the festivities.
If your guest list rises north of 100 though, the marquee – with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the castle and its lawn – comes equipped with a spectacular marble-topped bar, boutique restrooms, chandeliers and LED lighting, making it fit for your very own royal court.
When the party winds down, your VIP ladies- and gents-in-waiting can join you for an exclusive slumber party, as the castle is home to nine sumptuous bedrooms. The five-bed Gate Lodge and Stables with seven luxury en-suite guest rooms offer further accommodation.
LULWORTH CASTLE, DORSET
Built upon its own private 1,000 acres, the rustic-yet-imposing symmetry of 17th-century seaside hunting lodge Lulworth Castle creates a dramatic scene for dream big-days. After all, if it was good enough for Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivienne Leigh’s honeymoon, it’s good enough for us.
Exclusively yours for the day, you’ll find the raw textures of the castle walls make for a mesmerising backdrop for both vows and wedding breakfasts. The unadorned stonework also offers an exciting canvas for stylish couples to dress with flower installations, draped fabric and pillar candles.
Should you want to say ‘I do’ in a religious setting, the castle’s estate has its own private Chapel of St Mary for Catholic nuptials, while the historic St Andrews Church is a mere stone’s throw away.
Fine dining is a highlight of choosing to host a big day here. Foodie brides and grooms can choose between the venue’s two premium catering suppliers: Dorset Fine Dining, which serves up local farm-to-table fare with fusion twists, and Molecular Magic, which plates up exquisite, creative canapés and courses.
However, perhaps the even great draw for couples to this extraordinary seaside castle is the incredible photo opportunities, with newlyweds captured in and outside the photogenic castle, frolicking across the verdant Lulworth Estate, as well as the iconic nearby Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
Couples who wed here are given exclusive access to these two breathtaking Jurassic Coast’s landmarks, which will offer timelessly beautiful backdrops to memories that will last a lifetime – both in the mind and their wedding album.
BAMBURGH CASTLE. NORTHUMBERLAND
From one coast to another, couples in the north can enjoy a magical big day at Norman fortress Bamburgh Castle, which stands sentinel over the icy North Sea shore.
Home to 1,400 years of history, its vast scale makes it ideal for convivial evening receptions for up to 200. However, couples looking to go small can also plan the micro-wedding of their dreams.
There’s an array of ceremony options, from the castle’s magnificent King’s Hall, with its grand portraits, teak ceilings and minstrels’ gallery to the stone vaulted Keep Hall for intimate vows in front of 15 guests.
Meanwhile, for brides and grooms keen to say ‘I do’ in the open air, the Battery Terrace offers sweeping views of the Northumberland coastline – and potentially a glimpse of leaping dolphins! The castle’s wall-walks and terraces are also an ideal setting for loved ones to mingle with post-vow drinks while the photographer capture romantic portraits of the newlyweds on the sands below.
The castle’s Victorian Stables have been converted with traditional tiles, brass fittings and twinkling fairy lights, to create space for a cosy evening shindig of up 60 reception-goers. However, should the numbers rise above this limit, the celebration can spill out into a marquee on Bamburgh’s Castle Green, with redwood flooring, chandelier lighting, a bar and catering tent.
Whatever your big-day proportions, you can add the Marry & Stay package to your wedding booking, meaning you can spend your wedding night in your own enchanting castle-tower apartment with a bottle of champagne and sweet treats.
HENSOL CASTLE, VALE OF GLAMORGAN
Within easy reach of Cardiff, 17th-century stronghold, Hensol Castle has a whole lot of history – while its foundations date back to 1419, the Gothic stately home’s interiors, crenelated facade and estate have been updated by each owner since. Now a family-run affair, it plays host to many lovers’ dream big days.
Couples can make the most of the 650-acre estate’s lush grounds by tying the knot under the charming bandstand. Indoors, the opulent Oak Room, with its wood panelling, period fireplaces and arched windows – offering views of the 15-acre lake – is ideal for vows that make the most of this period setting.
On summer afternoons, guests can easily be kept entertained while couples venture off on their shoot with champagne in the courtyard, croquet on the lawn or, should rainclouds gather, with cocktails around the drawing room’s roaring fire.
Meanwhile, the couple’s shoot will truly be the stuff of fairytales: from golden-hour portraits shot on the lake’s pontoon to images captured on the castle’s sweeping staircases, there’s not a corner of Hensol Castle and its grounds that isn’t photogenic.
From getting ready in the castle’s dedicated East Tower dressing rooms to waking up to breakfast the morning after in the orangery with your nearest and dearest, the exclusive-use castle and its 23 bedrooms allows you to do your day your way.
And even better, Hensol Castle’s dedicated team of experts will be on hand to help, ensuring that every little detail of your dream day goes to plan without a hitch – true the royal treatment.
