Should you plan your castle wedding in the summer or winter? Any bride or groom should feel like a queen or king on their wedding day, but having a castle wedding can make it feel all the more real. Hosting your ceremony here gives you the chance to create your own piece of history at a storied venue that likely dates back centuries. But, which season is best for your dream castle wedding? In this post, we explore some of the reasons why you might favour a summer or winter wedding at such a magical venue.
Summer
One of the main benefits of hosting your wedding in a castle is the privacy that comes with having the building and grounds to yourself for the entire day. In the summertime, you can really make the most of this fact, by hosting different parts of the celebration in different areas. For instance, you might have the drinks reception and a live music performance in one of the gardens, and your wedding breakfast in an outdoor marquee. There is always more flexibility with a summer ceremony, and a private castle is the perfect place to enjoy this freedom.
In addition, you’ll no doubt want to capture as many perfect pictures from the day as possible, and if you’re hosting a castle wedding, the building is likely to provide the backdrop for the formal photos. While you can of course get dramatic pictures in the evening (thanks to the beauty of modern technology), hosting a summer wedding will give you more opportunities to capture outdoor snaps of the grounds and all of the special people present on your wedding day. This is a surefire way to ensure the beauty of your venue lives long in the memory.
Winter
You would be forgiven for assuming that a castle may not be the most inviting venue to host a wedding in the depths of winter – but this is a common misconception. In practical terms, the thick walls of a castle act as excellent insulation, and these venues that have been transformed into modern event spaces will always be well equipped to fight off the frost in the colder months.
Aesthetically, grand, old-fashioned castles can really come into their own at this time of year. As the natural light fades in the afternoon, turn to flickering candelabras to provide a romantic and enchanting atmosphere within which you’ll be able to live out your childhood fantasy of starring as your very own fairytale princess or prince. Plus, lots of castle venues have their own accommodation options, meaning you won’t have to worry about braving the conditions to get to a hotel after the last dance.
The verdict
Ultimately, there’s never a ‘bad’ time to book a castle as your wedding venue, since these buildings are adaptable to deal with the changing conditions throughout the year.
However, if you’re planning on spending a lot of time outdoors and really soaking up the beauty of the castle’s grounds and gardens, opt for a summer celebration to make the most of the natural light throughout the day. This way, you can have the best of both worlds, and still enjoy the magical ambience of its candle-lit interior after the sun sets. This is particularly important for couples looking to host a sustainable wedding, since spending more time outdoors in the natural light can go a long way to helping reduce the carbon footprint of your celebration.
Whichever season you decide to host your castle wedding in, you’re sure to enjoy the ceremony of your dreams in this most magnificent setting.
