Timeless and Enchanting Thornewood Castle
Holds ceremonies and receptions
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Located in Lakewood, WA, Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens is a historic wedding venue with plenty of character to offer. Situated among four acres at American Lake, this destination comes with many charms, such as its old-growth fir trees and its Gothic Tudor style. The building was originally established in 1908 by Chester A. Thorne. It is inclusive of approximately 27,000 square feet, and it is a unique gem on the west coast. First inhabited as a single-family residence, Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens has since been lovingly restored and opened to visitors.
Thornewood Castle has been graced by the footsteps of presidents and dignitaries, leaving it with a storied past that is sure to add some intrigue. In fact, both Presidents William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt spent the night in the castle's presidential suite. Beyond this, there's plenty more to explore, including the half-acre sunken English perennial garden and the beautiful, recreation-friendly American Lake. From a hand-tiled lakeside patio, you and your guests can even take in sunsets and stars. Inside, Medieval stained glass window insets can set the tone, as can complimentary antique furniture and paintings. There is plenty of space both inside and out, so you will have your preferred option when choosing from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens' many rooms and lawns.
As a private retreat, Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens offers a serene space to celebrate tying the knot with your partner. The 400-year-old Gothic-English Tudor manor is a Wales original, having been transported stateside over 100 years ago. A true fairy tale setting, this destination is perfect for those who love romantic ambiances. Since the castle is a family-run endeavor, you can feel confident that your event will be taken care of with diligence and dedication. At Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens, timeless, precious memories can be made at a wondrous and unforgettable destination.
Veteran-owned Business
25+ years in business
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Guest Capacity
Up to 200
Settings
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Castle
Garden
Historic Venue
Hotel
Park
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
4.4
out of 5.080 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Thornewood Castle is described as a magical and breathtaking wedding venue with picturesque grounds and a stunning indoor space, creating a fairytale-like setting. The attentive and helpful staff, including Brittany, Taylor, Katie, and Kiera, received high praise for their professionalism and communication throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. Reviewers appreciated the unique venue, top-notch service, and the value they received, despite some noting higher costs and limited setup/cleanup hours. Overall, Thornewood Castle was highly recommended for its beauty, historic charm, and exceptional staff that helped create unforgettable wedding experiences.Review photos
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Derek S
5.0
10/22/2025
Thornewood Castle is one of the most magical places you could ever imagine visiting and the honor of having our wedding at this beautiful estate is one myself, my husband, our family, and friends will never forget. As we’re from out of town, being able to work with Brittany throughout the nearly two years of planning from getting the tour set up to the contract review to the measurements of the mantle, was truly fantastic! Working with Taylor and Katie and the entire staff on the wedding day was a major component of what made our wedding go off perfectly, and we are so appreciative of all of their attention to detail, easy communication style, and wonderful engagement throughout the experience. The estate of Thornewood Castle is like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and the magic it brings to an already magical day, is truly indescribable. We are so incredibly appreciative and honored to be able to have held our DnD themed fantasy wedding at Thornewood Castle and are so in awe of the entire experience. Thank you to everyone who made this whole experience so magical and beyond our wildest dreams!!!
Jeff W
5.0
9/02/2025
We had our wedding here a few weeks ago (August 17th!)
Thornewood was fantastic - everyone at the wedding had a blast - the gardens and the castle grounds were spectacular in addition to the indoor space.
The staff was very accommodating and worked out a great layout for everything that we very much appreciated.
I don't know if we could ask for anything more! You'll want to be aware of some of the timing concerns that the property has, but as long as you listen to the timing rules and work with them you should be happy - especially if you go with a day-of coordinator who knows the property well (we went with Callie Holcomb).
Any questions?
STEPHANIE L
5.0
5/10/2025
Great venue! Very friendly, professional and quick to communicate!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 05/10/2025
Thank you Stephanie for the kind words! It was wonderful being a part of your special day....
Congratulations newly weds! We hope to welcome you back in the near future for an overnight stay or anniversary!
Sena A
5.0
1/24/2025
Thornewood Castle is the dreamiest venue you can find in WA.
Not only do they have a true one of a kind venue, the staff will take such good care of you.
The venue:
Pictures honestly don't do justice for the beauty of Thornewood. It's rare to find a venue where you actually want to scale back your decor, because you don't need it and you don't want to cover anything up. Plus the grounds are kept in immaculate condition.
They only hold one event at a time, so you get full indoor/outdoor access, the history throughout this place is obvious and beautiful and there are endless photo spots.
The staff:
The staff was quick to respond and easy to communicate with, they're incredibly nice and so helpful, especially in those stressful days before the event.
Their "day of" staff was wonderful, they worked so quickly and seamlessly, you barely notice them moving things around. We didn't have to do any furniture set up or tear down and all of it was planned out and set up prior to us arriving on the day of. Amazing job.
The value:
The value within this venue is unbeatable. What you get visually for your event, the staff, furniture, linens, crystal decor, indoor/outdoor options and privacy, for the price is shocking in today's wedding market.
We loved our wedding and will happily recommend this venue to anyone who will listen.
Hannah M
5.0
10/08/2024
We had our wedding at Thornewood and cannot recommend it enough! It was the most beautiful venue, and many of our guests even said it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever attended. Kiera was a great help in planning and coordinating our time at Thornewood; staff was present, professional, and helpful. We had the best time. The gardens in August were an absolute dream.
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 10/08/2024
Thank you very much Hannah for your kind review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed ...
your special day here at Thornewood Castle and that you found the staff to be helpful and professional. Providing exceptional service is a high priority, and we're delighted that your experience reflected that. The florals and design for your day were spectacular and dreamy. We hope to welcome you back for an anniversary trip!
Ilona B
4.0
9/08/2024
st got married at Thornewood in August 2024. The venue is incredibly gorgeous and in a great location. The staff here are so responsive and helpful - I would email with a question and get a response back the same day. The venue is pretty flexible with vendors and they didn't require us to use any specific vendor. They don’t allow hard alcohol, but that wasn’t an issue for us since we were planning to go with beer and wine anyway.
Con’s: the pricing structure here. The base prices seem low and fair but then you add guests or hours and the price seemed to skyrocket for us. The price we paid in the end was much more than what we initially thought it would be. We added hours, but the hourly rate was almost an extra $1k per hour after tax (they don’t give you enough hours in the base rate). The venue also doesn’t allow amplified speakers outside except for the ceremony, so speeches were a struggle for our outdoor reception.
Rachel P
5.0
9/06/2024
Very professional and quick to respond, we are so fortunate to have had the Thornewood Staff there to help answer any questions we had or to make and decisions.
We absolutely loved getting married here, great location and beautiful venue. Highly recommend!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 09/09/2024
Thank you Rachel for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a bea...
utiful wedding experience with us and that our team's professionalism and responsiveness met your expectations. It was an absolute pleasure to be part of your special day, and we are so glad you enjoyed the venue. We wish you the best in this exciting new chapter of your life together!
Cashlyn K
4.0
8/01/2024
Such a beautiful space, the staff were easy to work with and very nice. However, maybe not the best setup for getting ready if you’re the bride. My wedding was at 5:30, but doors only opened for me at 4. Due to a mixup with my bnb they allowed me in earlier which was nice. I did my own makeup which they aren’t set up for so we had to drag some tables and mirrors around, so either hire your makeup done or do it somewhere else haha.
Overall, gorgeous setup and location, nice staff, but maybe save the getting ready part for elsewhere :)
Shannan W
3.0
7/17/2024
This is a beautiful location that will transform your day into a fairy tale and make you feel like you are somewhere else and not in Lakewood.
Brittany was great to work with and helpful. But the castle is so strict and really is a nickel and dime venue.
My husband and I had rented the castle rooms for Friday night to allow our daughter and son in law to stay with their wedding party and make it easier for getting ready in the morning. This was also necessary to do for our hair and makeup artists to be able to arrive early enough to do makeup/hair for 7 girls.
If we did not have them staying there the vendor would not of been allowed on the grounds until noon. Our wedding was set for 3pm.
Despite paying a large sum to rent numerous rooms we were still unable to have our planner and her team come early. To do so we had pay an extra fee for our planner to come on the grounds early.
Also despite having rented the rooms for Friday and the adjacent apartments, we still could not take any of the decor, alcohol or anything out of the rooms until 11am or would risk losing our hefty deposit.
This I found ridiculous as it was our wedding happening on Saturday and we just wanted to stage bins or alcohol in the respective areas to avoid running around at 11am plus trying to get ready.
We also had 15 umbrellas that needed to be placed in the yard where dinner would be and these also could not be set up until 11am.
We had a string quartet for guest arrival and cocktail hour but due to the fact they will not allow amplified music our guests could not hear them.
We also asked if we could place tables for dinner on the lawn (lakeside) a specific way to utilize the shade of the trees and were told no. Not sure why.
The castle is in a residential area and the entrance is gated. This was quite an issue. The gate was always locked and guests and vendors had to go through the directory on the call box to be rung in. It would be nice if there was a staff member at the gate, at least during the arrival of vendors and guests to let them in. If I would have known, I could have notified the vendors and guests of what they needed to do to gain access.
The only truly rude person we came in contact with was I believe the security guy named Corey. He was rude to guests, wedding party, planner and myself on more than one occasion. I understand he was there to make sure things were under control but his demeanor was very off putting and unnecessary.
The contract allows for 50 people and then you must pay for each additional 25 guests added. We had 138 guests.
This is truly a beautiful venue but expensive and strict. You also start to feel a bit stressed knowing ALL guests, vendors and your decor must be gone by 10 pm. Therefore you can not truly enjoy the end of the night.
I would say this is a venue for a small wedding 50 or less and anything over that get ready to shell some cash.
Lara H
3.0
4/04/2024
You can’t beat the beauty of this venue. Everyone's pictures speak for themselves. It’s a freaking castle and it’s huge and romantic. However, navigating the venue's strict policies and inflexible staff proved to be the greatest source of stress in all our wedding planning, especially early on. Read on to see how Thornewood’s ridiculous policies can lead couples to throw good money after bad to make their day what they want.
Planning a large wedding here, with 165 guests, turned out to be far more challenging than we anticipated. Despite the assistance of some helpful staff members like Brittany, our overall experience was marred by the castle's rigid rules and regulations. Context: The reason that Thornewood is so touchy about some of these things appears to be that they are in a residential area and they are clearly very concerned with not disturbing the neighbors who are close by. That being said, their policies they use to achieve these ends are very rigid and at times illogical.
One major issue we encountered was with setting up a tent for our outdoor reception. When we initially discussed our plans with the venue ONE YEAR in advance, they assured us that hosting a reception outside with a tent would be no problem. However, when it came time to coordinate the 40' x 60' tent rental, we had a TERRIBLE time. The castle's limited rental hours clashed with the setup and takedown times required by tent rental companies, leading to additional fees and logistical headaches. Thornewood did not seem to anticipate this would be a problem, nor did they offer any helpful solutions until we were at our wit's ends. In the end, they graciously offered to let us pay them a couple extra $500/hour for Sunday morning just to accommodate the tent breakdown.
Music was another area where we ran into trouble. Thornewood's policy only allowed amplified music indoors, except during the ceremony. Despite wanting to have some low-key background music during our outdoor reception, we were told that even small speakers at a conversational volume level were not allowed due to noise ordinances. This meant we had to shell out even more money for a live string quartet, only to find that their unamplified music was difficult for guests to hear during dinner. Our best man checked and was told that yes, a brass band (120 decibels) would be okay but a cell phone speaker (70 decibels) would not. Despite being told we could have speakers outside for the toasts, they made us set them up inside the castle, pointing speakers at our tent. Many could not hear our toasts. :(
Another frustration was the venue's strict rules regarding children. We ended up paying for childcare for 40 kids, fearing that they needed constant supervision to comply with Thornewood. In hindsight, the kids were perfectly content dancing and playing games around the adults.
Despite these challenges, the day of our wedding went relatively smoothly, thanks in large part to our amazing wedding coordinator, Chloe Hix. But I can't help but wish we had been more aware of the difficulties we would encounter at Thornewood. The additional expenses and stress caused by the venue's draconian policies sucked.
Really consider the challenges and expenses associated with hosting your wedding here. While the beauty of the venue is undeniable, it may not be worth the hassle if you want a more flexible, accommodating setting for a larger group, and a more laidback wedding planning experience.
Renée S
5.0
11/01/2023
Beautiful castle and an excellent staff.
Dana O
3.0
10/17/2023
The staff were excellent day of and the venue was stunning. If it were on those two things alone, this would be 5 stars. However, at $10,000 for an 8 hour wedding in Lakewood is just silly. I do think it was over priced and the rules were too rigged. (We paid an additional 275$ for a higher audience count and just lost out on it when folks didn't show. The contract had a clause where any changes to guest count of time within a 30 day window of the wedding resulted in even higher fees. We should have just gambled that more folks wouldn't show or had a vendor that wouldn't make us pay for people who weren't there.)
Elisa S
5.0
10/13/2023
Beautiful venue, staff is very nice and helpful, answered emails promptly and is always very wonderful. It's such an amazing venue and they let you make payments on your event rental cosr. So happy with my decision to book Thronewood for my wedding.
Kat B
5.0
10/13/2023
Thornewoods team was so incredibly easy to work with. They were so communicative when we had questions or issues. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a magical place to get married.
Asia E
5.0
10/13/2023
Great venue, but pricey. And limited hours for set up and clean up. Great staff and beautiful venue!
Simon J
5.0
10/13/2023
Thornewood Castle was the perfect place for our wedding. The staff was incredible to work with - Brittany and Corey took care of every detail and were so helpful. One of the best thing about Thornewood was they provided a list of preferred vendors, these vendors were all 5 star and knew the ins and outs of working at Thornewood. 5/5 stars, if I could give it 6 stars, I would!!
Keiry O
5.0
6/12/2023
Our wedding in May at Thornewood was everything we could have hoped for! The garden was in bloom which provided an excellent backdrop for our ceremony, and the garden area was also shaded by 5 pm so none of the wedding party or our guests were in any kind of direct, hot sunlight.
Thornewood was also excellent to work with, giving us an option A and contingent option B if the weather was not cooperative (which is a must in WA). They were very prompt in answering any questions, and assisted in a very unique setup for the ceremony.
It is possible for guests not included in event guest lists to rent rooms during events, so there is the possibility of seeing others wandering around that aren't part of your guest list. However, Thornewood is very mindful of managing the two in the case this does happen.
All in all, wonderful experience, and we were so happy with our choice!
Jason B
5.0
6/12/2023
Thornewood Castle exceeded our expectations, creating an absolutely unforgettable wedding day. Its timeless charm and rich history provided the perfect backdrop for our celebration. The castle's beauty and intricate details were so picturesque that the venue stood on its own, requiring minimal additional decoration. We were overjoyed to share such a stunning venue with our loved ones. The anticipation from our guests to explore the castle and its grounds added to the excitement leading up to our special day. An additional bonus of the venue is that it doubles as a hotel. Having our families stay overnight at the castle added an extra touch of magic because it extended the celebration and it also made the morning preparations on our wedding day incredibly convenient. Given that Thornewood Castle is located in Washington and because we were getting married in April, rain was a concern. We loved that Thornewood Castle has a goregous indoor and outdoor option. We didn't end up having any rain on our wedding day, but we still decided to get married inside because of how beatiful the castle's interrior is.
The exceptional support and dedication of Brittany, Corey, and Kiera were invaluable in ensuring that our wedding day went flawlessly. From managing the complex aspects of the event to attending to every detail, they effortlessly orchestrated the day, which allowed us to relax and fully embrace the joy of the occasion. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Thornewood Castle for being wonderful to work with and for the role they all played in making our wedding weekend everything we hoped it would be. Their event-planning expertise and genuine passion for their venue were evident. We highly recommend Thornewood Castle and its incredible staff to anyone in search of an extraordinary wedding venue.
-Hayley and Jason
Elizabeth D
5.0
5/25/2023
Thornewood Castle was the perfect venue for our son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. We were so lucky to have perfect weather for the outdoor ceremony in the secret garden but even if that hadn’t happened, the interior is so stunning, that would have been just as lovely. Thank you to all the staff, especially Brittany, for being so professional and helpful in the lead up to the day and on the day itself.
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 05/28/2023
Thank you Elizabeth for such a kind review. We absolutely adored your guests and the smal...
l touches and beauty of the wedding. We hope we get to see you all again in the future!
Mele F
5.0
5/01/2023
Our wedding was magical. Of course you'll see in the other reviews and during the walk through. There's no way it can't be magical. Here's my own personal experience. The night before my wedding, my best friend Christina and I stayed in the castle. We were the only ones there. We had the whole place to ourselves! I didn't know until check in that there's a game room, a TV room and a copy of rose red in every room!! There's also complementary snacks and sodas!!The morning of my wedding, I was back and forth in the main areas in my pajamas. I apologized to the staff, but they assured me that the castle was my home during my booking. Tammy was awesome! Tammy really made me feel comfortable, but she also gave us enticing information and education of the castle. She REALLY turned us into return customers.
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 05/02/2023
Thank You Mele for taking the time to review us. We could not have asked for a better one!...
We loved having you and Christina around the morning of your wedding, it was magical. We are looking forward to having you back someday in the future. We wish you and Rory the most beautiful marriage.
-Brittany, Corey, Kiera, & Tammy!
Morgan M
5.0
10/22/2022
Our wedding was on September 22nd, 2022. Thornewood was very up front about what they could and couldn't do to help with our wedding, as well as rules and policies regarding covid as well as other things. it was refreshing have all the information up front and suggestions for other vendors.
Staff was amazing the day of and helped in so many ways. We are so happy to have had our dream day at the castle.
Marian K
5.0
10/13/2022
My hubby and I recently had our wedding(08.19.22) at Thornewood Castle! This was the best decision we made in celebrating our happiness with our family and friends! The staff was very professional and communicated with us during our entire wedding preparation and until our wedding
day. Thank you Amber and Christian! Thornewood gave us what we were looking for in a venue, wanted a venue; history, style, and class. Thornewood Castle provided us with an endless variety of space, leisure, and photos for our wedding guests! The venue is very large with private gating. Thornewood Castle is one of the only few active castles here in the US and if you plan to stay here or even host an event, it is worth it!!! Thornewood Castle made our wedding day magical with it's majestic and scenic views of its entirety, American lake, and their secret garden! Thank you so much Thornewood Castle for making our special day a truly unforgettable event of our lifetime!!!
Lori S
1.0
7/18/2021
The short version: in the midst of a pandemic, they took our money and didn't let us postpone, cancel, or transfer. A several-thousand-dollar mistake after months of being given the runaround.
It's taken me several months to be calm enough to write this review. We were supposed to get married at Thornewood on February 15. We reserved the space over a year in advance, and paid in fully up front to avoid the hassle of installments.
COVID hit. Our families all live out of state, and severe restrictions to gathering sizes were in place. My mother has an autoimmune condition, so traveling was out of the question. We also did not feel we could have a gathering of any significant size given the unknown risks of the virus.
We reached out to Thornewood to ask if we could bump our date back a year. We were told the date was non transferable and non refundable. We asked for a partial refund since we paid in full instead of just a deposit. They said no. After weeks and weeks of the front desk staff being friendly but unable to give me answers, I got a very terse email, which included a lot of moaning about how hard the pandemic had been on them, and stating that "as a kindness", we could move our date to another available date in 2021, but only if we paid an additional fee of half of the deposit amount for that date! After being unresponsive, this "offer" had an expiration of 48 hours.
I understand that COVID was unforeseen and difficult. But every other vendor we had were understanding and worked with us to come to some sort of arrangement. And again- these folks already had our money, and we got absolutely nothing to show for it.
Avoid this venue at all costs.
eric j
1.0
7/17/2021
If you are military think twice about reserving here. The policy they have against refunding money is archaic. Before you book your wedding with Thornewood please look into Manresa Castle as they have a much more appropriate refund policy; they told me they would consider a refund in the circumstances I have today. We had a military wedding planned @ Thornewood during the middle of the week (read not a weekend at all; we as military could not afford a SAT wedding; now Thornewood has taken all the money and cannot even refund a little) that was cancelled due to guest concerns over COVID-19. Thornewood told me at the time of the reservation that the only reason they would refund money is for COVID-19. So I went forward. That is EXACTLY why this wedding is being cancelled and only because 2021 is better (read we are NOT out of the woods) that should NOT impact the refund like you did for so many other people for the same reason. Why is it that since Thornewood Castle in their judgement (not based on science) that this cancellation DOES NOT warrant a refund like other COVID-19 cancellations. This is a very obtuse way of thinking of this since we did not magically all become well and COVID is solved on JAN 1, 2021. To the contrary we are as a nation and as a state STILL struggling to deal with the pandemic. Also seriously this is a mid week reservation; why not refund part of the money?? I DO NOT RECOMMEND going to Thornewood Castle as they are very obtuse and unbending when a situation like this clearly warrants some form of refund. Military do not have a lot of money but OK if you want to take more from them, then I guess that's how you treat men / women of the military.
Sanghee H
5.0
5/16/2021
My now husband Toney and I searched for the perfect venue for a while. Based on a friend's suggestion we checked out Thornewood. It was breathtaking and felt special. The premise is in a very quiet neighborhood and is perfect for a fairytale ceremony. After the friendly walk through with Christiana, we were set to book the Thornewood Castle! They provided a preferred vendor list; we ended up hiring most of our vendors from that list and very happy. They allow outside vendors as well as BYOB which is a huge plus! We postponed our wedding (due to COVID), and the owner and everyone was very accomodating. The total rent hour @ the venue was 6 hours and we had a very short and sweet ceremony; I would say to consider extending hours. While our wedding was perfect, we could have enjoyed this beautiful venue a bit more by extending an hour or two. Everyone had so much compliments to make about the venue - it was very gorgeous, peaceful, and intimate. Would highly recommend to couples thinking of dream-come-true wedding at a classic & classy venue, this is it!
Yongli Z
4.0
3/22/2021
Such a beautiful place! We booked this castle last year before the pandemic lock down, the planned wedding time is on a weekend in July 2021 - 07/25/2021. Due to the travel ban, I don’t think our parents can make it, so we would love to transfer our contract to someone else whoever is interested in this date for a wedding. We paid over $5500 for this place. Now we would like to transfer it for a much lower rate: $3900 (negotiable). Please let me know if you are interested in this place and this date (07/25/2021). You can either text me or email me, my cell phone number is 281-624-9303, my email address: yongli.zhang520@gmail.com.
Shaylee R
1.0
10/19/2020
Beautiful castle, but brides beware - not only do they already have very hardcore rules and scheduling, if you're a covid bride needing to reschedule but the county says you can have literally anyone in one of their rooms, you're apparently screwed. I called early into the pandemic after reviewing the projected numbers and determining it was unsafe for my family to travel. I wanted a date in Oct2021 (my original date was in Oct2020. After calling multiple times and over a week of waiting, they came back and offered me Jan or Feb 2021. I told them I wasnt comfortable with it, but they told me that was all they were willing to do at that time. I had to call multiple times and go through multiple people for well over a week to even get that done.
After reviewing the most recent reports, the added risk of the flu as well as the prospect of a holiday spike had me calling again. This time, they told me the county says they can have up to 30 people in a room, so there's nothing I can do. Basically, pick 30 people closest to you that you're willing to put at risk. The worst part? NO REFUNDS. AT ALL. Pandemic on? Not our problem.
This venue was a damn near $5000.00 mistake. I was told that I should feel better because "the wedding will be beautiful and you can send people pictures." and "we lost money because we could have booked movies or photoshoots but instead we're hosting your wedding." Seriously guilted into feeling bad because they couldn't book a date they already sold me. Gross. Be sure to read your contract, and know that if the worst happens, they will stand by contract over decency and integrity 100 percent of the time.
As of now, my only option is to keep my date or be out of my money entirely. So I'm keeping my date for now. If I need to cancel, I'll be sure to call the required minimum of 3 times to have a manager call back over a week later to let them know.
Mr G
3.0
1/20/2020
3.5 stars as long as you know what you're getting into...
The venue is amazing, the castle is unique and perfect for a small wedding (we had less than 30). If the weather cooperates, the outdoor garden is perfect for a ceremony.
The castle recommends vendors who have worked there before. The vendors we chose were a pleasure to work with.
The rental prices are on par for unique wedding ceremonies with overhead.
The main reason this is not 5 stars is the way the venue is operated. The castle is family owned (not the original family), and it seems like they are trying to milk more money out of this place than they can. Trying to add an hour at the beginning was an ordeal - despite our willingness to pay the penalty rate in the contract. The staff were not consistent with info (answers depended on who you asked...). As someone who deals with large contracts as part of my career, the Thornewood contract is laughable. In general, this was one of the least pleasant interactions of the whole wedding. With that said, the venue is worth it if you go into the arrangement knowing the owners might be a pain to work with.
Toni S
5.0
1/15/2020
It was beautiful. They were so sweet. The place is amazing. I cannot wait to see the pictures. We stayed their that night too and it was so peaceful and relaxing. Love it her. Will be back for a stay sometime!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 01/30/2020
We can't wait to see the pictures either! We always love seeing photos from the weddings w...
e host. Hope you are enjoying your new life together and we look forward to your next visit.
Sarah S
5.0
1/10/2020
Beautiful venue! We loved our wedding here. It was great that the seating and tables were provided.
Jade H
5.0
10/10/2019
The downsides of this venue is the pricing and the limited hours included in the base price. However, even with those two downfalls, this venue is absolutely perfect. Though you may not be able to get ready at the castle, the staff is amazing, the venue is so gorgeous with many decorations included so you really don't need to worry much about flowers or rental pieces, and the opportunity for amazing pictures are endless! The history of the castle is such a great talking point, and my guests had fun even just exploring the grounds and taking in all the views. I'm so happy we went with Thornewood for our venue!
Megan G
5.0
8/29/2019
Beautiful venue everyone was very open with answering any questions. The wedding and the Castle were a hit on our day! Made for some beautiful pictures
Taryn L
4.0
8/25/2019
Absolutely stunning venue for a wedding. Our ceremony in their sunken garden and cocktail hour on the back patio was beautiful. Our ceremony and reception was perfect, and the two thornewood staff members there all night were so helpful and nice. Only downside is your event is shut down by 930 and everything & everyone has to be out by 10. They include tables and chairs, as well as linens if you choose to use them. Highly recommend using Florablume as your florist if you get married here.
Alexandra C
5.0
7/03/2019
The Thornewood Castle was a dream come true! The moment my now husband and I set eyes on it, we knew it would be the most beautiful place for our wedding. The whole process from picking a date to last minute changes was flawless! We loved how communicative and responsive the staff was and would highly recommend!
Ramon J
4.0
6/01/2019
The venue is amazing. We loved every minute of it. The only gripe I have is the cost for how many hours you get with your booking fee. You can get way more time else where. The other thing was the unreliability of the outlets in the sunken garden. They are not GFI and our ceremony music was delayed and our recessional was not able to be played. Other than that the rooms were amazing and everything else went well! Christian is the best staff member by far.
Samantha D
4.0
5/01/2019
If you’re going for romantic, fairytale wedding and really want to wow your guests with the venue, Thornewood is the place you’re looking for. I knew immediately after our tour that this was the place I wanted to get married, and my guests have not stopped talking about how amazing the venue was. The two staff members we had on site were awesome at helping my day-of coordinator get everything ready. Getting married here was one of the best choices we made in the planning process, and if I had to plan it all again I would choose Thornewood without a second thought.
However, since I know the majority of people reading this will likely be people considering booking, here are some important details you may need to know. Thornewood will be expensive, so prepare yourself. When booking a wedding you start with a 6 hour time block, which has to include setup and teardown (as well as guest arrival and departure). Any additional time you may need will need to be purchased separately in one hour blocks, and it will add up fast. The same thing will happen if you want to invite more than 100 guests (we didn’t do this so I don’t remember pricing or increments). Thornewood is a historical site and is in a private neighborhood, which means you’ll have additional rules and restrictions to keep an eye on (all included and listed in your contract). There are also some restrictions with their kitchen, so make sure to talk to the staff about that BEFORE booking your caterer (or just choose from their preferred list). The venue is also a bed & breakfast, so you may see a guest or two throughout your wedding day (the staff does a great job of making sure they don’t interrupt important moments, but we definitely saw some people coming and going while we were on the dance floor). All of the information you need is in the pamphlet and contract, so make sure to read that thoroughly.
I gave 4 out of 5 stars due to the time block cost as well as some issues we had with the staff the morning of. I still don’t understand only giving couples 6 hours for the whole wedding. No other venue we toured had the same time restrictions, and it meant if we wanted the photos and time with our guests post-formalities then we needed to pay a lot more. The issues the morning of: Both myself and my day-of coordinator checked with them about having the bridal party and hair & makeup artist on site early to get ready (which they gave permission to since we spent the night there), so it was a really frustrating experience to hear people were being harassed at the gate for “being early.” I had my coordinator reach out to the venue to correct the issue, but it was not the best way to start off my wedding day. They also tried to clean the room my bridal party was in while we were all getting ready, which was mildly irritating since we obviously couldn’t clear out.
Overall, we would still book again no questions asked. We knew what we were getting into as far as the price went, and while there were some small issues in the morning they were overshadowed by how BEAUTIFUL the venue is as well as the two staff members who made sure our wedding was perfect.
Rhiannon W
5.0
1/05/2019
They were very accommodating. At first, there was thought to be an event after ours in early January that they thought did not want the Christmas decorations up (we wanted them) and they were willing to leave them and work with us. Ended up all working out, but I thought that was awesome. Staff the day of were super sweet and helpful. My event was a little chaotic, as I was coordinating my own. I was a little hard to pin down and needed a few helping hands, but they made it work and made us feel super welcome. They were very attentive to my needs and faded into the background when things were running smoothly. This venue is absolutely beautiful, and I can't think of one complaint about the venue or the staff. Two very large thumbs up from us!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 01/05/2019
It was our absolute pleasure to help make your day everything you wanted! We wish you many...
happy years together. Thank you for adding to our home's love story.
Avery A
5.0
10/25/2018
My husband and I held our wedding at Thornewood Castle August 2018. I selected Thornewood because I had a vision in mind of an elegant, fairytale, destination wedding in Europe without having to leave WA. Thornewood Castle was stunning and fit our whimsical, sophisticated, Scottish highlands/classic garden wedding theme to a T. The grounds are stunning English garden style, beautiful statues and spectacular architecture and decor inside and out. The location on American Lake was lovely as well. Our guests are still talking about how very beautiful everything was, the garden is just to die for! Inside the beautiful wood, paintings, staircase, fireplace, stained glass windows and statues complete the feeling of being in your own classic fairytale. Plenty of room inside and out, we had a guest count of 130. Leanne was a good contact, responsive and clear and the walkthrough of the venue was helpful. I would recommend having a day of coordinator of your own to help coordinate your event though.
Thornewood is very upfront about what the do and do not allow, we were willing to be ok with only having music outside during the ceremony and their strict start and end times, as the pros of hosting our wedding at this venue mattered more. Be cautious of your guest count/adding extra hours/ knowing that they do not allow you or vendors to be on the grounds before the time you’ve paid for. To others this might be something to consider.
My guests had an amazing time, we are currently gushing over the photos. My husband and I stayed the night at the Castle in the Presidential Suite, the room was absolutely gorgeous with a huge bed, view of the lake, and hot tub bath. Only other note, I have Celiac Dusease, so no gluten, and I am severely allergic to dairy and eggs. For breakfast i was assured that they would make a meal especially for me, but I was served toast, eggs, and yogurt... All in all I still give Thornewood Castle five stars and would highly recommend. It was the most beautiful venue, every place I looked at afterwards completely paled in comparison.
Rachel D
5.0
10/24/2018
Thornewood made our wedding a dream come true! Never felt more like a queen! Stunning interior, gorgeous gardens, and friendly staff! They were amazing!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 10/26/2018
It was our pleasure! We hope you have a happily ever after.
Larissa M
5.0
9/27/2018
The beauty that is Thornewood is impossible to replicate in photos. Not only was this venue absolutely beautiful and magical, but the staff was helpful, cheerful, and punctual. Prior to the wedding, their response was always timely and thorough, and they did their best to accommodate my schedule since we had a destination wedding. On the day of the event, everything was set up on time and in the agreed upon manner, and Thornewood staff was on standby for any of our last minute needs. I would recommend this venue over and over again!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 09/27/2018
We are always happy to help! So glad we had a hand in creating your perfect day. We wish ...
you many years of happiness together.
Karen M
5.0
8/29/2018
Everything was set up exactly how we wanted it and taken down for us at the end of the night. The staff was barely even noticable throughout the wedding day and they we super amazing. The castle was magical. It was literally like a dream and I was so in love with our day. I would do it over and over again at this castle and I would 100% recommend it to anyone wanting to have the perfect wedding day.
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 09/05/2018
It was our pleasure to be part in creating your perfect wedding day! We wish you all the b...
est, maybe you two can come spend an anniversary with us. Thank you for your kind words, they inspire us to keep making magic.
Denise M
5.0
8/23/2018
Professional and great to work with! Our wedding there was breathtakingly beautiful!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 09/05/2018
Thank you! We are pleased that we could help make your wedding beautiful.
Madison R
5.0
8/12/2018
Thornewood was a dream-- the venue was beautiful, staff was helpful, responsive and answered questions promptly. We added two extra hours and wish we had gotten more, the day flew by. We stayed the night of the wedding and they upgraded our suite so that was really nice! They provide groomsmen and bridesmaids rooms for the time you have the venue rented. They have a list of preferred/ recommended vendors, use it. It helps when your vendors are familiar with the venue, Thornewood is also a Bed and Breakfast & part of a neighborhood, so there are several rules and restrictions (nothing unreasonable).
Grace Z
5.0
7/08/2018
We booked Thornewood as our wedding venue a year in advance and made a payment plan! Everything about our wedding day was a dream come true. The castle is amazing!! We got lucky with amazing weather for a June wedding here in Washington. The staff is so friendly and so helpful. Everything about it was perfect. Thank you Thornewood for making our dream fairytale wedding a reality!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 07/08/2018
It was our pleasure to help make your wedding day a dream come true. We hope you have a ha...
ppily ever after!
Veronica P
5.0
6/30/2018
Beautiful venue! Couldn't have been better!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 07/08/2018
Thank you for your kind review, we hope you are having great new adventures.
Lucy S
5.0
6/29/2018
Thornewood is a beautiful venue with staff who really know what they are doing. While the time limitation can be a bit frustrating, I echo other brides' advice to stay there the night before and night of your wedding to ease some scheduling headaches. Those were my only complaints the day of.
We had our ceremony in the rose garden which was perfectly in bloom. The great hall and ball room were excellent locations for our reception. We were forever getting complimented on our choice of venue. If you are hoping to have a wedding that is short and sweet, with competent and involved venue workers, this is the place for you!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 07/08/2018
We are so thankful that you chose to get married here at Thornewood and we wish you and Sa...
m all the best!
Olivia L
1.0
6/12/2018
Very difficult staff to work with, actually pretty spendy for the terrible customer service they offer. Save your time, money and energy and stay FAR away from this place
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 06/26/2018
This person called our office and asked us to refund the money for their upcoming wedding,...
stating that they would like to come on another day and be married for "free". We could not accomodate this demand. They became angry and hung up. They posted this review 30 minutes later.
Nikita W
4.0
5/26/2018
The castle was absolutely amazing so beautiful. We spent our first night as husband and wife in one of the rooms which was nice to just be able to enjoy our whole wedding and then just head upstairs. The only thing I wish they would change is adding that you may arrive an hour before your booked time. They do not allow you to arrive before the time you have booked not even 10min early you have to wait at the gate. which makes it feel like the night/ setting up is chaotic. When we went in for our initial walk through before booking they said it would be plenty of time but we decided to pay to add another hour but even with that it wasn’t. For how much we paid it would be nice if they offered arriving early like most venues do. Other than that, it’s an amazing place our guests were amazed about how beautiful it is you don’t need very many decorations.
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 05/27/2018
Thank you for your constructive feedback, we will pass this information on to our managers...
. We wish you many happy years together and thank you for celebrating with us!
Jeannette B
5.0
5/25/2018
This is a beautiful venue! I loved that we would have a gorgeous ceremony - rain or shine! It was nice weather for the ceremony - but clouded up and rained a bit later. We still got incredible photos. The staff is very friendly and worked to make sure that the entire day fit our vision.
The entire wedding party stayed at the castle that night. Everyone raved about the rooms. A couple of our guests have food allergies and Thornewood accommodated them easily - and their food was delicious, too!
We highly recommend Thornewood Castle and are looking forward to returning for our anniversary!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 05/26/2018
We loved working your event, it was flawless! We can't wait to celebrate your anniversary ...
with you. Thank you for choosing to add to our home's Love Story.
Anonymous
5.0
5/10/2018
Thornewood Castle is a unique and beautiful venue!
I booked this venue because of its charm. After paying I read a lot of reviews and though some are very negative I feel that if you stick with the rules, you won’t have any issues.
They have spaces for either an indoor or outdoor ceremony. We ultimately wanted an outdoor ceremony which in April in Washington State can be a challenge. During our tour the staff asked us to detail a plan A and a plan B which can be adjusted on the day of the event!
We chose the Rose Garden for our plan A and had a beautiful outdoor ceremony. If we had to go with Plan B the Great Hall would also have been a wonderful space!
They provide you with a day of coordinator to get everything set up and vendor deliveries situated.
Our coordinator was Christiana and she was marvelous! I was a bit worried since our wedding started at 3pm and I didn’t get downstairs until 3:15pm but everything was set up and ready for our guests’ arrival!
I would recommend staying the night before your event for a couple of reasons.
First, it allows all the bridesmaids and hair and make-up vendors early access to your room. This helps with the rule that nobody is allowed onsite until your event and for us, that was at 3pm.
Secondly, as a guest you can wander throughout the castle and every room that is unoccupied for the evening is opened so you can explore!
We stayed both the night before and the night of our Wedding which eliminated the last-minute scramble of getting things done and made for a relaxing and amazing wedding day!
I would absolutely recommend Thornewood Castle for a unique, beautiful, and memorable Wedding!!!
Response from Thornewood Castle Inn & Gardens on 05/11/2018
Thank you for taking the time to write such a nice review! We are overjoyed that you had s...
uch a wonderful experience. We hope to see you again for a visit!
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