As a country, the UK is well known for it's historical buildings, and none of these is more magical than a castle. If you want a romantic fairytale wedding day, then a castle wedding venue is the perfect place to tie the knot. From tall stone turrets to Gothic architecture and banqueting halls, having a castle wedding is the ideal way to feel like royalty on your special day.
A castle wedding venue is just the thing for you if:
- You want a fairytale wedding
- You're a big fan of history
- You don’t want to do a huge amount of decorating
- You would like unique photo opportunities
- You're flexible with your ceremony times
Castle Wedding Venues in Northumberland - Frequently Asked Questions
Can we have our civil wedding ceremony at a castle venue?
Most castle wedding venues in Northumberland will have a civil ceremony license, enabling couples to be legally wed in one of their rooms or in the grounds. If you want to marry in the castle grounds, be sure to check that the venue has an outdoor ceremony license too. If your chosen castle venue aren't able to hold civil wedding ceremonies, then you can always enquire about having your wedding ceremony at a registry office or having a humanist ceremony, prior to having your wedding celebrations at the castle.
Can castle wedding venues in Northumberland facilitate religious ceremonies?
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! You may find that if your castle venue doesn't have a church or chapel on site, then there may be one not too far away. Be sure to ask your chosen venues when enquiring about religious ceremonies to find out if this is a possibility.
Is it easy to find castles in Northumberland that will be wheelchair accessible?
If you need a wheelchair friendly wedding venue, then you may be surprised by how accessible castle venues can be. Due to most castles in Northumberland being local tourist attractions, it’s 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.
How much will it cost to hire a castle for our wedding venue?
It is surprising that castle wedding venues in Northumberland can certainly be affordable. Even huge palaces and historical monuments don’t always need a royal wedding budget, so it’s always worth enquiring. If you’re on a tight budget and want to save money on your castle wedding in Northumberland, then opting for a midweek package or marrying in an off-peak season is a brilliant way to cut costs.
Do castle wedding venues in Northumberland have limitations on decorating?
If you're hoping not to do too much decorating at your wedding venue then a castle in Northumberland is perfect. After all, they’re often sumptuously decorated in the first place. With incredible artwork, hanging tapestries, candelabra and suits of armour, castle decor is hard to replicate. However, as they’re often listed buildings, there may be restrictions as to how you can decorate. There may be limitations on hanging decorations, with many castles unable to allow paper confetti at all.
What themes work for a castle wedding venue in Northumberland?
A classic fairytale wedding theme works wonderfully for a castle venue. Think horse-drawn carriages, ball gown wedding dresses, shimmering chandeliers and deep red roses 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 Northumberland often have recommended entertainers such a falconers and dancers that are ideal for this, and your guests will certainly enjoy a tasty medieval feast.
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!