8 BEST GOTHIC WEDDING VENUES IN THE UK
Luke Thompson
- Creative Director -
It should take 4 minutes to read this article
You've got your black wedding dress sorted. Now you need the venue to match.
We've selected 8 of the greatest wedding venues for a Gothic or alternative wedding that the UK has to offer. Take a look and see if they inspire you…
8. CASTELL COCH
Looking for that Dracula-inspired wedding destination, but in the UK, rather than the wilds of rural Transylvania? Castell Coch is exactly what you're looking for.
Set deep in the beech woods of South Wales, this gothic castle is adorned with circular towers straight out of a darkly romantic fairytale.
Inside the castle walls lie an opulent banqueting hall and a curious octagonal drawing room. Inside this room is a fireplace decorated with a depiction of the Three Fates: ancient Greek goddesses who span, measured, and sliced the thread of life...
7. CRAIG-Y-NOS
How many wedding venues can claim to have featured on TV's Most Haunted? Well Craig-Y-Nos is one such place: a castle inhabited by the restless ghost of a wronged opera singer, and the ideal place for a truly Gothic wedding.
This castle contains a Grade I listed opera theatre for your ceremony, so you can emulate the resident spectre on your wedding day, perhaps with a Gothic ball gown to match.
It's also a very dog-friendly location, which means you won't run into any problems if your best man tends to wander about on all fours.
6. CARNGLAZE CAVERNS
Delve into the stygian depths of Carnglaze Caverns for a wedding on the shores of an ancient subterranean lake.
This is the perfect location if you want a wedding that's more Lovecraft than Twilight.
Your ceremony would take place in a deep underground cavern illuminated with hundreds of candles. The placid blue-green waters of the natural lake reflect the light of the candle flames around the chamber, making this cthonic venue less dark and more magical than you might expect.
And with the cavern's natural acoustics, your wedding music will sound amazing!
5. TUTBURY CASTLE
Would you like to be married at midnight, in the floodlit ruins of an 11th Century castle, while pipers and harpists serenade you and your guests? If that sounds heavenly, then Tutbury Castle will fit your bill perfectly.
One of the few places in the UK to offer midnight Gothic weddings and handbinding ceremonies, Tutbury Castle is a gorgeous old ruin overlooking the hills of Derbyshire.
Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here several times, and the ghost of a Tudor noble is said to haunt the ruined halls (and may even appear during your ceremony). All in all, Tutbury Castle has everything you could ever want for an impressive Gothic wedding.
4. BEACON CRAG
A grand guest house perched on a cliff edge overlooking the tempestuous seas of the Atlantic Ocean, Beacon Crag is the ideal venue for a wind-swept wedding that would make even Emily Bronte jealous.
A secret gem of southern Cornwall, Beacon Crag is perfectly set up for a marquee cliff-top wedding. The sound of the breaking waves coupled with the isolated Victorian guesthouse makes this venue one of the most excellent and dramatic places for a Gothic wedding in the UK.
And because of its out-of-the-way location, if your wedding night is clear you can take a romantic walk under a glittering blanket of stars...
3. HOUSE OF MAGIC
Hidden away in the centre of London is a place of wonder and enchantment where those looking for a truly theatrical Gothic wedding may find their heart's desire.
Boasting such previous guests as Alexander McQueen, Lady Gaga, and Rik Mayall, the House of Magic is more than just another wedding venue. Featuring haunted tours, an enchanted garden, and an adult magic show all in a secretive location (they even blindfold you so you don't know where you're being led), the House of Magic is a great choice if you're looking for a splash of theatrical drama in your Gothic wedding.
2. DUNNOTTAR CASTLE
Dunnottar Castle perches high above the North Sea on an outcrop of rock in some of the most awe-inspiring scenery that Scotland has to offer.
One of the best things about getting married in Scotland is the price: it's cheap (for a wedding), and offers the chance to elope.
And for lovers on the run from overbearing families, what could be a better experience than tying the knot in secrecy deep within the walls of a ruined medieval castle, while the sea crashes on the shores far below?
This is truly an amazing option for a bride and groom who love the romantic, Gothic aesthetic.
1. BODMIN JAIL
Want a Gothic wedding in the UK but can't stand castles?
Then how about saying your vows in an old building where criminals were hanged, and where ghosts wander the hallways, weeping and being generally spooky? It's hard to image somewhere more romantic than this.
The hosts of Bodmin Jail are more than willing to adapt the venue to your chosen theme too. So if you want a Gothic steampunk wedding with a slight flavour of science fiction (maybe a bubbling vial or two), then Bodmin Jail will be happy to accomodate.
Also, every wedding ceremony can be topped off with a tour of the haunted prison halls for that perfect, unforgettable Gothic finale.
STILL LOOKING FOR A GOTHIC WEDDING DRESS?
At Ivory Black we have a fine selection of Gothic wedding dresses. Each dress is made by hand to your measurements, and is created from scratch in our British studio by one of our masterful designers.
