Weddings
You enter the Park gates and drive through the undulating, spectacular landscape to arrive eventually in front of a romantic, Victorian Castle.
The Saloon, which lies in the heart of the Castle, is licensed for the civil ceremony. Brides can prepare for their wedding in a bedroom in the Castle. The music begins and the bride walks around the Gallery above the guests, before walking down the sweeping Oak Staircase.
Perhaps over 100 family and friends have been asked, or perhaps it is a small intimate family gathering. It is your dream and your wedding. Highclere Castle has a dedicated wedding co-ordinator to help you plan the day and then to be there throughout the event. The Victorian Library can seat 140 guests. Alternatively, a bride may wish to hold an a small intimate wedding party in the Dining Room, and ask a few more friends to join for dancing afterwards.
Marquee Events
The Library in the Castle can seat up to 140 guests for a Wedding Breakfast. If you wish to invite more guests, we can help you organise marquees adjacent to the Castle to accommodate up to 400 people. The Castle provides a wonderful setting for the wedding ceremony and reception drinks. Even larger marquees are also possible, please telephone or e-mail the Castle Office for further information.
The State Rooms at Highclere Castle
The Castle's State Rooms are perfect for your wedding. They offer elegant reception rooms from the Saloon, with its stunning high vaulted ceiling where the wedding ceremony takes place, to the sumptuous Drawing Room and Smoking Room for wedding reception drinks and canapés. If the weather permits, the Castle lawns provide a beautiful setting for part of the reception. You may wish your guests to enjoy a guided tour of the Egyptian Antiquities Exhibition in the Castle Cellars during the reception.
Evening Buffet
Dancing to a band or a disco can take place in the Saloon after supper. The Highclere chefs can provide a late Evening buffet in the Dining Room during the dancing, which also provides a quieter space for your guests to relax during the evening.
The Castle provides all the catering for your wedding day by its own in-house team, from the Castle chefs to the Banqueting Managers. The choice of menus reflects the fine dining traditions of the Carnarvon family and dynamic creations from executive chef, Paul Brooke-Taylor.
Our staff will help with meticulous preparation, delicious canapés and food, and fine wines.
Location
The Castle is ideally located, within easy reach of London, Bristol and Southampton. It is easy to reach by train, or from the M4 and M3 motorways and is 50 minutes from Heathrow Airport.
There is a wide of accommodation nearby, from hotels and spas to charming pubs and bed and breakfasts.
The Castle is licenced to hold Civil Ceremonies.
A wedding at Highclere will have memories to treasure and be a superb backdrop to all photography.
Personal Photography
Please note that, while personal photography is permitted inside and outside the Castle during wedding celebrations, any pictures taken this way can only be for personal use and may not be published in any way whatsoever.
Civil Ceremonies at Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is licenced to hold civil ceremonies. Details of the registrars can be found on Hampshire Registration Service website: Hampshire Registration Service
A civil wedding ceremony is basically a legally approved marriage ceremony that contains no religious aspects.
A civil ceremony is conducted by the superintendent registrar or deputy and must take place before 6pm but is subject to staffing arrangements at the Registrar’s office.
Banqueting at the Castle
Highclere Castle takes pride in a first class in-house permanent catering team. Working under Head Chef, Paul Brooke-Taylor, the team can boast many years of experience preparing cuisine at the highest levels. Catering for all events at the Castle can be provided by our team, who seek to unite exciting menus with the proud tradition for fine food which has been the hallmark of the Carnarvon family. (It is also possible to bring in outside caterers).
The Castle offers a wide range of menus. Traditional dishes are offered together with seasonal menus and specialties from the Victorian era. Lord and Lady Carnarvon discuss the balance of the menus with the chefs and are keen to buy and source local and seasonal produce. Vegetarian, vegan and other special requirements can also be catered for.
Exclusive Use Venue
The Castle and surrounding Gardens are available on an exclusive use basis for your special day with stunning views across the Capability Brown designed landscape, follies and parkland.
The venue fee is from £15,000 + VAT depending on the season and requirements.
To find out about dates available, please do call or e-mail the office. We would be delighted to see how we can help.
Please telephone the Castle office on 01635 253210 for more details or email theoffice@highclerecastle.co.uk
Castle Online Gift Shop
Why not visit the Castle Online Shop to choose a Special Gift for the Special Day? Shown here is one of three designs of enamel photo frame available from our Garden & Home range. Click here for more.
