12 Castles Where You Can Have Your Own Royal Wedding

Located just 30 minutes from Edinburgh, Scotland, this 600-year-old castle is known to locals as “Scotland’s greatest keep,” perhaps due to its magnificent and historical design. Built from 30,000 tons of ashlar stone, Borthwick Castle is one of Scotland’s largest and most well-preserved medieval fortifications, and wedding celebrations here are completely bespoke. As an added bonus for history buffs, the castle has been hosting weddings since 1458.

A couple has plenty of options for their wedding day, such as holding their ceremony on the top floor, known as the “Garrison,” where an arched ceiling and dome-shaped entryways exude intimacy and romance, or having it outdoors, with a stunning view of the castle as a backdrop.

Located in Fiesole, Italy, less than a 30-minute drive from the center of Florence, Castello di Vincigliata is a beautifully restored medieval castle that is perched among the foothills of the Tuscan Valley. A wedding here will be unique and customized entirely to the couple's liking — whether they've dreamt of a ceremony in the castle’s well-manicured garden and terrace, or dinner by candlelight in the courtyard.

In the event of inclement weather, the castle’s many interior rooms provide a still stunning alternative.

The 35-room Joslyn Castle, located in Omaha, Nebraska, was built in 1903 with Kansas silverdale limestone and has beautiful details like stained glass, mosaic tile, and wrought-iron throughout the property. With a guest capacity ranging from 80 to 125 – depending on where on the property the event is held – a wedding can take over the first two floors as well as the surrounding grounds outside.

Couples can choose to just have their ceremony on the grounds or to hold their reception at the castle as well. Either way, a wedding there will certainly be as extraordinary as the venue itself.

Nestled on 1,200 acres in Gloucestershire, England, Sudeley Castle is as romantic as it is rich in history. Ruins dating back from the 15th century surround the castle’s property, providing a stunning backdrop for a couple’s wedding day. What was once the home to Queen Katherine Parr, the wife of King Henry VIII, is now the home of Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe, who helps preserve the castle and its surroundings. And it is because of her preservation efforts that weddings here are made possible.

At Sudeley Castle, you can choose from one of three outdoor sites to hold your wedding, depending on your guest count, all with fantastic views of the structure itself. If you prefer to get married inside the castle, consider the private library: decorated in rich tapestries and antiques, this room has a 25-person capacity and offers an intimate and memorable wedding reception.

This 800-year-old castle can be exclusively yours for your wedding day — that’s 350 acres of land overlooking Ireland’s spectacular Lough Corrib lake for you and your guests to enjoy. The property can accommodate 164 of your closest friends and family, and the castle’s 83 bedrooms will allow your guests an unforgettable overnight experience.

On your wedding day, you’ll have unlimited access to areas such as the stunning Victorian garden, scenic lakeside pathways, and the estate’s many outdoor activities. Hold your ceremony in the Drawing Room and your reception in the Oak Hall — and don’t forget to explore the grounds for a perfect photo opp.

If you’re looking for the epitome of a fairy-tale wedding, this luxe 19th-century castle that sits on the edge of the Loire Valley is undoubtedly the right place. Your 120 guests will marvel at the neo-Gothic structure’s five floors and the impressive decor in each of its 23 suites, and will have exclusive access to the castle’s 72 acres of gardens and woodlands.

For a couple looking to go above and beyond, Chateau de Challain offers add-ons like fireworks, a jazz band, or an artist who will paint watercolor portraits of the special day. When the wedding night comes to a close, guests can simply head back to their room, as this castle also serves as a bed and breakfast.

Located just 15 miles from Denver, Colorado, this castle sits on 17 beautiful acres and offers unbeatable views of Bear Creek’s crystal-blue waters. And hosting a wedding here is actually a great omen for a marriage — a portion of every event at the castle goes to the Step 13 program, which helps aids the homeless.

Your 150 guests can enjoy the castle’s grounds for your ceremony, and celebrate your reception in a custom tent. Although Dunafon Castle is stunning year-round, its wedding season begins in May and ends in October, so be sure to plan your date accordingly.

One of Scotland’s largest castles, Stirling Castle is a striking, centuries-old structure that exudes charm and royalty, and there are a number of locations within the castle to host your event.

Consider a ceremony or reception in the restored Great Hall, where your 300 guests will feel enchanted while admiring the stunning arched ceiling, and for cocktail hour, sip and celebrate in the Queen Anne Garden, which offers up Scotland’s beautiful countryside as a backdrop.

This 15th-century castle is a highly regarded place for royalty to get married — depending on how loosely you’d like to use the term “royalty.” Celebrities like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had their wedding celebration at Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano, and the castle has been used in a number of films.

And it's famous for good reason: this castle, located in the town of Bracciano, outside Rome, sits on the shores of volcanic Lake Bracciano and has unbeatable views of the Mediterranean. At Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano, your wedding can be as intimate or as grand as you’d like with a capacity of 1,000 guests, and for your special day, you can take advantage of the numerous locations indoors and out.

Constructed from 1926 to 1929, this castle in Gloucester, Massachusetts was designed to look like a castle from Rome’s Renaissance period. Overlooking the Atlantic, Hammond Castle offers a unique ambiance to those looking to hold a wedding in an atrium that doubles as an indoor oasis.

Inside Hammond Castle, you’ll find not only this tranquil sanctuary, but other captivating rooms like the Great Hall and the Renaissance dining room, all available for guests to enjoy. Ceremonies and receptions can be held indoors or outdoors for up to 120 guests — but note that if you’re considering an indoor reception, it will be a more intimate affair, with a maximum of 90 of your closest friends and family members.

Located on the shores of Lough Dromoland near Shannon, Ireland, is the Dromoland Castle, a 16th-century structure enveloped by 450 acres of perfectly manicured greenery. Its lavish interiors allow wedding guests to feel like royalty themselves, and on your wedding day the castle’s staff will ensure that every detail is perfectly executed.

Hold your reception at the Kincora Gallery, which boasts an impressive staircase that will make the bride and groom's entrance unforgettable. And if that’s not enough of a “wow” factor for you, you’ll be delighted to know that Dromoland Castle offers one of their on-site falcons to fly overhead at your ceremony to deliver the rings. 

Though it's technically not a castle, the Lyndhurst Mansion will certainly fool you into thinking otherwise. Overlooking the Hudson River, the mansion’s 67 acres with sprawling views sit just 30 minutes from the bustling streets of New York City.

But the site will trick you once more into thinking you’re in a faraway country with its Gothic Revival architecture and its stately grounds. Ceremonies can be held in a variety of places, but consider the great lawn, with the mansion itself as an idyllic backdrop. Your 220 guests will celebrate with dinner and dancing at the Carriage House semi-permanent tent, which can be decorated entirely to your liking.