Nowhere does fairytale castle venues like the UK. Sweeping staircases, historic ballrooms, beautiful gardens and centuries of stories create a setting that simply can’t be recreated in a modern venue.
For us, music is part of that magic too. Castle wedding venues lend themselves beautifully to live music, whether that’s a singer accompanying your ceremony, a string quartet during drinks, or a live band taking you into the evening.
If a fairytale setting is part of your wedding vision, here are some of our favourite castle – and palace – wedding venues around the UK.
Achnagairn Castle, Scottish Highlands
Just outside Inverness, Achnagairn Castle is a wonderful choice for a Scottish castle wedding. The spectacular vaulted ballroom can take you right through from your ceremony to your wedding breakfast and evening celebrations, while the grounds provide plenty of opportunities to head outside for drinks and photographs.
Music is almost essential in a setting like this. Classical soloists and duos work beautifully earlier in the day, before a ceilidh band brings a distinctly Scottish feel to the evening celebrations.
Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire
Set at the foot of the Malvern Hills, Eastnor Castle is perhaps exactly what you picture when you think of a fairytale castle wedding. You can opt for a traditional church wedding, an outdoor blessing overlooking the beautiful Herefordshire countryside or a civil ceremony within the castle itself. Afterwards, drinks can be enjoyed on the terrace before moving inside for dinner and celebrations.
It’s a particularly lovely venue for live music, with everything from a string quartet or harpist on the terrace to evening entertainment working naturally amongst the grandeur of the castle.
Burghley House, Lincolnshire
Technically a grand Elizabethan house rather than a castle, Burghley House absolutely deserves a place on this list. One of the grandest houses of the 16th century, its extraordinary interiors and history give weddings here a real sense of occasion.
There are several beautiful spaces to use throughout the day, including the Bow Room for ceremonies, the Rose Garden for summer drinks and the Orangery for your evening reception. For music, the scale and history of Burghley suit classical musicians wonderfully, while the Orangery lends itself well to a smaller live band or DJ Live set for the evening.
Ashridge House, Hertfordshire
Once home to Henry VIII and Princess Elizabeth, Ashridge House brings together royal history and seriously impressive architecture. One of its most memorable features is the sweeping staircase in the Main Hall, which creates an incredible backdrop for a wedding ceremony. Alternatively, you can have a blessing in the beautiful onsite Chapel.
From there, celebrations can move through the historic rooms and gardens, with the Old Library opening onto the Italian Gardens and grand spaces including Repton Hall available for your wedding breakfast.
Chiddingstone Castle, Kent
Chiddingstone Castle is on the smaller side compared with some of the venues on this list, but that makes it a lovely option if you want the grandeur of a castle without your wedding feeling overwhelmingly formal.
The castle and grounds are exclusively yours for the day, with ceremonies available in spaces including the Great Hall, Orangery and South Lawn. For an intimate celebration, you can dine within the castle itself, while larger weddings can make use of a marquee in the grounds.
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
And finally, not a castle but a palace, and a rather spectacular one. Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
For weddings, there is an incredible choice of spaces, from the Orangery and Marlborough Room to the Great Hall and Long Library. The Palace and its 2,000 acres of parkland and gardens also provide almost endless opportunities for wedding photographs. It’s hard to imagine many places where live classical music feels more at home.
Creating the Soundtrack to Your Castle Wedding
A spectacular venue deserves music to match. From the moment your guests arrive to the final song of the evening, live musicians can help your wedding feel every bit as atmospheric as its surroundings.
At Wislocki Music, we provide exceptional professional musicians for weddings across the UK, from harpists, string quartets and classical ensembles to contemporary musicians and evening entertainment. If you’re planning a castle, country house or palace wedding, get in touch with our team and let us help you find the perfect musicians for your celebration.