How to Plan a Castle Wedding Fit for a Fairytale

If, when you've envisioned your wedding, you imagine it on a large, lavish estate that's rich in history with sweeping majestic views and luxury amenities, then a castle wedding just might be for you. As it turns out, this kind of wedding isn't reserved for royalty only. In fact, there are thousands of castles and castle-like venues across the U.S. and the world that accommodate all sorts of couples, each with their own luxurious flair. And according to our Real Weddings Study, 13% of couples hosted their reception at a historic home or building, which includes castles. Here's how to host a castle wedding of your own, with advice straight from the experts.

What Is a Castle Wedding?

Castle weddings are most often held at venues or properties that have some historic value or design that very closely matches what would traditionally be described as a castle, explains Deliece Knights-Barnett, founder and CEO of Dhalia Events LLC. "In many cases, we've seen large manor houses, other historic structures and other properties found atop hills or higher ground with stunning views of real estate also be considered castle weddings," she says. "In most cases, it's easy to tell why the locations were selected for the original castle build because of their strategic advantage (based on the view/visibility of the lower landscape from the castle or the relative difficulty to access from potential intruders)." Today, castle weddings are still popular and create incredibly impactful and magical events.

Of course, castles aren't anything new—they've been around since, well, castles have existed, dating back to as far as 3,000 BC. They were, however, completely reserved for royal and noble families for much of their existence. "Today, however, castle weddings are popular amongst folks with many different backgrounds," explains Knights-Barnett, "especially as access to these spaces has become more commonplace and advancements in event production have allowed vendors to more easily produce weddings in these spaces."

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Nowadays anyone can experience a castle wedding, however, they particularly appeal to couples who prefer the aesthetic of period venues. "Most castles have lots of dark elements in their design, either from wood finishes and beams or from the brick and cement work throughout the space," Knights-Barnett explains. "This, while stunning in itself, can be limiting from a design perspective, so couples who like moody and whimsical spaces will gravitate to the overall look and vibe of castles, whereas couples who are looking for a light and airy design for their affairs may not enjoy a castle space as much (unless the majority of the event is held outdoors)."

How to Plan a Castle Wedding

Follow these tips for how to plan—and pull off—an epic castle wedding.

Do Your Research

Before settling on just any castle, make sure you've done your research on the history of this venue and make sure you're on board with what might have occurred within these walls. Additionally, visit potential castle venues and consider their capacity, facilities and logistics, as they may be a little more challenging than other types of venues, notes Samuele Gallorini, founder of Gallorini & Giorgi Events. "Castles, especially in Europe, were built in places that were not easily accessible; they were fortresses, and they had a military defensive purpose; therefore, they are not the most accessible type of venue," she adds.

Before signing the contract, be sure to confirm that the space and flow design feels comfortable to you. "Castles were not typically built with recurring events in mind and were for the use of the owner or families to enjoy as a residence, which means that many of the event spaces, while beautiful, can be disjointed or disconnected from each other, requiring careful consideration and planning when it comes to event flow," says Knights-Barnett. "Further, some of the rooms that may have to be repurposed as ballrooms or reception rooms may be oddly shaped, requiring couples to pick from a small list of floor-plan iterations in the space."

Also, consider the venue's pricing. While the average couple spends $11,200 on their wedding venue, just like any other type of wedding location, pricing for a castle wedding venue depends on many factors. In particular, take note if the venue you're considering is all-inclusive (meaning catering and other services are provided in house), or if you'll need to bring in an outside caterer, and if you'll be paying per guest or a flat rental fee.

Consider Accessibility

Because many castles were built long ago, they may not be as accessible to certain individuals as more modern venues. "While most venues may be able to construct ramps to assist those who need wheelchairs or other ramp-using access, there is not much more that they are able to do to solve space design, especially in cases where the rooms are disjointed and far away," says Knights-Barnett. "Couples who may need assistance in terms of accessibility for themselves or their guests should move through the space during their venue tours and ask as many questions as they can about options to support their needs."

Inquire About Transportation

Ask your venue if they provide transportation across the grounds for portraits. "Oftentimes, castle grounds are more spread out than they may appear, sometimes literally covering hundreds of acres," says Stacie Marshall, photographer and owner of Marshall Arts Photography,Stacie Marshall, photographer and owner of Marshall Arts Photography. "You'll be able to take advantage of more of the available beautiful backdrops if you're able to be transported between the areas." (Bonus points if the venue has a beautiful horse-drawn carriage, but a golf cart can suffice!) If the venue doesn't offer this service, she recommends renting a vintage automobile or carriage.

Determine Your Headcount

Knights-Barnett recommends that couples pay meticulous attention to their headcount. "In most cases, the ballroom(s) and spaces available at castle-type venues are unable to accommodate additional guest counts beyond their stated maximum," she says. "By contrast, many modern venues include overflow options and other solutions to facilitate a variety of headcounts."

Choose Decor Wisely

Many castles don't need much additional decor, as they often provide fairytale vibes as is, however,Stacie Marshall, photographer and owner of Marshall Arts Photography, recommends using large-scale vessels for your florals, such as oversized garden urns." The scale will fit in with the grand size of the venue and won't get lost in the existing decorations in the castle," she says. "For inside weddings, use florals to draw your guests' attention to areas you want to highlight—for example, drape florals and candles across an oversized fireplace mantle or add floral arrangements to crystal chandeliers to draw your eyes up toward embellished ceilings."

Have a Plan B

If you're planning to have your castle wedding outdoors, make sure to have a back-up plan in case of rain. "Many castle venues are known for having large indoor spaces, too, and grand ballrooms can make gorgeous wedding ceremony sites in addition to making the perfect backdrop for your reception," says Marshall. "If your rain plan for your ceremony ends up being in the same location as your reception, make sure you choose another indoor site at the venue for your cocktail hour so that guests are pampered while event staff 'flips the room'--changing the orientation of chairs and bringing in tables to transform the space for your reception."