In a beautiful and dramatic setting such as Highclere Castle, your wedding day could be a real life experience as glamorous and magical as any depicted on Downton Abbey.
As a country, the UK is famous for it's historical buildings, and none of these is more spectacular than a castle. If you want a unique fairytale wedding, then a castle wedding venue is the ideal place to get married. From gothic fortresses to ivy-covered towers and feasting halls, having a castle wedding is the perfect way to feel like royalty for your big day.
Most castle wedding venues in Berkshire will have a civil ceremony license, allowing you to get married legally in one of their rooms or in the grounds. If you want to marry in the castle grounds, then contact the venue to check they hold a license for outdoor ceremonies. If your chosen castle venue doesn’t have a civil ceremony license, then you can always enquire about having your wedding ceremony at a registry office or having a humanist ceremony, before hosting your wedding reception at the castle.
Many castles have a chapel or church on site, which is where its inhabitants would have religious services. This means that you may be able to have a religious wedding ceremony without leaving the castle grounds! If you are unable to find the right castle wedding venue with a chapel or church on site, then do have a look as there may be some near by. When discussing your wedding with your preferred castles, be sure to find out if having a religious ceremony is possible at that specific castle in Berkshire.
If you are looking for a wedding venue that has easy access for wheelchairs, then you may be amazed to know how accessible castle venues can be. Most castles will be a tourist attraction in their local area and is therefore important that wheelchair users can be accommodated. There may be areas of the castle that are steep or unsuitable. Be sure to ask your venues ahead of time if accessibility is top of your priorities list.
Castle wedding venues in Berkshire can be surprisingly affordable. Even huge palaces and historical monuments don’t always need a royal wedding budget, so it’s always worth enquiring. If you are looking to save money on your castle wedding and are having to stick to a budget, then opting for a midweek package or marrying in an off-peak season is a brilliant way to cut costs.
If you're hoping not to do too much decorating at your wedding venue then a castle in Berkshire is perfect. After all, they’re often sumptuously decorated in the first place. With their hanging tapestries, stunning artwork and beautiful candelabra, a castle's decor is truly unique. However, as they’re often listed buildings, there may be restrictions as to how you can decorate. You may not be able to hang decorations or bunting, and many castles will not allow paper confetti.
A classic fairytale wedding theme works wonderfully for a castle venue. Think horse-drawn carriages, ball gown wedding dresses, beautiful roses and glittering chandeliers and you have the perfect castle wedding theme.
If you’re a history lover, then a medieval wedding theme is also perfect for a castle. Castles in Berkshire often have recommended entertainers such a falconers and dancers that are ideal for this, and a heavenly medieval banquet will certainly give your wedding guests something to remember your special day.
We also find that Christmas is the perfect time to have a castle wedding, as castles are often richly decorated for Christmas with candles, trees and traditional touches. Take advantage and have a beautiful winter wedding in a castle!
Elaine has over 8 years of experience working with wedding venues, and advises many of the top hotel and venue brands on their wedding marketing. She has a deep understanding of statistics that can accurately predict the online populaity of a particular venue and she is happy to share that knowledge with wedding couples and venues.
