Dreaming of a fairytale day? Then you’ll love these castle weddings

In the UK we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to castle weddings, as there are hundreds of romantic historical venues to choose from. So, if you’ve been dreaming of princess dresses, full-length veils, regal tiaras and more, why not add your very own fairytale castle into the mix, like some of our fabulous real life brides? 

Roshni and Krupesh married under the arches in the Italian Gardens at Hever Castle, Kent. “I found it by chance but when I saw the setting, with the lake, arches and Italian gardens, I knew I wanted to get married there and nowhere else,” says Roshni. “It gave us that feel of being in Italy. All of our guests were in awe of the location and the setting. It’s a beautiful venue and the grounds allowed us to get some incredible shots where the dress was perfect. The setting was also so beautiful that we didn’t really need a theme or decorations.”

Are castle weddings for you?

Castle weddings are perfect for princess brides, as the elegant, traditional setting is a great match for a glittery ballgown or classic A-line. They’re also ideal for dramatic photos in front of grand driveways, on sweeping staircases or in front of large fireplaces with roaring fires in winter. 

You don’t have to be a princess bride to suit a castle backdrop though. Elena and Marcel married at Pörtnerhof Sesslach, a ruined castle in Germany. Their big day had a stylish boho feel, which matched the setting perfectly.

It also doesn’t need to be a big celebration. Amanda and Andrew had an intimate wedding at Dungarvan Castle, Co Waterford. “Due to the pandemic, it was just us with four guests,” says Amanda. “We had a lovely civil ceremony in one of the castle’s atmospheric, stone-walled rooms.”

A venue for all seasons

A castle venue is stunning all year round. For summer weddings look for somewhere with grand gardens. Alternatively, in autumn and winter, cosy wood-panelled rooms, large fireplaces and gilt-edged furnishings are ideal. 

Julie and Paul got engaged at Eilean Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands, so it seemed only right to hold their winter wedding in a castle, too. “We chose Castle Ladyhawke, a beautiful venue with stunning scenery in Western North Carolina,” says Julie. “The colour theme was rich wintery jewel tones,” says Julie. “We also asked our guests to match our colours of burgundy, green, navy and black.”

Dream dresses for castle weddings 

A castle backdrop lends itself to a classically elegant look or plenty of shimmer and sparkle. For sophisticated understatement, Anna Sorrano’s timeless A-lines are perfect. With minimal embellishment and silhouettes that really won’t date, they have a refined feel that suits the historical setting.

Alternatively, if glitter is your thing, this is the time to go for it. Viva Bride’s twinkling tulle ballgowns and lace-covered bodices, decorated with shimmering sequins, are the ones for you. And don’t forget to add an underskirt or two for maximum volume, then complete the look with the perfect princess tiara. Magical!  

Lindsey and Dirk married in Saffelaere Castle, near Ghent. “I wanted a real princess dress and I chose a romantic A-line by Viva Bride,” says Lindsey. “The three-quarter-length sleeves immediately appealed to me and the A-line shape fitted me perfectly. My curves were nicely wrapped up and accentuated where they needed to be accentuated. And, with a princess dress comes a castle. We immediately fell in love with the venue when we went to see it. We also made a special request to hold the reception in the gardens, which were beautiful.”

Castle-worthy decor

One of the benefits of a venue with so much charm and character is that you can keep the decorations simple. Megan and Jonathan married at Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire. “It was so elegant yet understated, and set in a beautiful area of the Forest of Dean.” says Megan.

“The colour scheme was a mix of whites and blues. The bridesmaids wore navy blue dresses and our flowers were a mixture of gysophilia, white roses and eucalyptus. We wanted our day to be quite budget friendly, so we made the hand-tied bouquets ourselves the night before the wedding and had so much fun in doing it. The table decorations were simple round mirrors, two tea lights in holders and a vase with a single rose and eucalyptus.”

Amie and Christian married at Rowton Castle in Shrewsbury in November 2022. “Christian and I love to travel to old venues, such as castles, churches or anything else historic,” says Amie. “We saw our castle venue online before Christian had even proposed. When we got engaged we went to visit and were sold straight away. It’s fabulous and so enchanting. The colour scheme for the winter wedding was soft pinks and whites, and I made my own decorations except for the top table flowers. I didn’t have much of a theme, it was simply elegant and modest.”

King and Queen for a day

Well, we hope we’ve given you some ideas for your dream castle wedding, whether you’re having the full fairytale or something classic and understated. For more advice on choosing the perfect dress to match your venue, chat to our experts online and instore. And, if you're still looking for your castle, make sure you check out our venue suppliers, too. Then, lastly, relax and enjoy being king and queen of the castle for the day! And please do share the photos with us afterwards, we’d love to hear all about it.

Click here for lots more ideas for castle weddings from our brilliant real life brides. Also, for more inspiration, check out our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok accounts.