With the wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle just days away, everyone is going Royal Wedding crazy. We thought we would jump into the royal wedding watch by checking out some of the South’s best castle wedding venues. These special homes, some historic, some newly created, make beautiful backdrops for weddings, engagement parties, and bridal photography sessions for any bride, and let’s face it, every bride, no matter how urbane, wants to feel a bit like a princess on her wedding day.
We can’t start any southern castle list without the world famous Biltmore, the sprawling 8,000 acre estate of George and Edith Vanderbilt. Nestled in the mountains of Ashville, North Carolina, the Biltmore is more than a tourist attraction. The venue hosts amazing weddings at various locations on the grounds all year long.
The Biltmore, Ashville, NC
http://www.mcc-realestate.com/hotel-collection/
Falkenstein Castle, Burnet, TX
https://www.facebook.com/falkensteincastleburnettx/
Falkenstein Castle is located in the Hill Country area of Texas just northwest of Austin. The Bavarian-style castle is reminiscent of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. The original castle created by King Ludwig the II was to have a companion castle in Falkenstein whose design was never completed. Upon touring Neushwanstein on 1995, Texans Terry and Kim young discovered the designs and persuaded the former Neuschwanstein museum director to share those plans with them. The Youngs returned to Texas and began construction on Falkenstein.
Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA
https://www.kesslercollection.com/mansion/
Located in the historic district of, the Mansion on Forsyth Park sits at the edge of the famous district. The 18,000-square-foot Victorian-Romanesque, redbrick and terra-cotta mansion offers couples an opulent wedding locale steeped in history.
Rhodes Hall, Atlanta, Ga
One of the last remaining mansions on Peachtree, Rhodes Hall combines a Victorian Romanesque Revival aesthetic with modern home design of the 20th century, for a classic wedding venue that has the elegance and opulence you’d expect from a castle with contemporary amenities.
Pierce Castle, Decatur, MS
https://www.piercecastlems.com/
Pierce Castle began as a dream of a young couple who married and settled the property following the war in 1945. The couple’s children completed the castle in 2008 and decided to share their parents’ dream with couples just starting their lives together. The castle which is near the Oka-Itsu-Pyah Falls in eastern Mississippi boasts a secluded cabin on Chunky Creek where many couples spend their first night as a married couple together.
Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA
http://www.louisianaoldstatecapitol.org
One of the most interesting buildings in the state, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, now serves as a museum and event venue. The Neo-Gothic medieval-style castle sits high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, and has the most beautiful kaleidoscope stained glass windows and dome under which countless brides have been photographed.
Coral Castle, Homestead, FL
One of the most unique castles in the south is Coral Castle of Homestead, Florida. This south Florida landmark is actually a sculpture garden carved from more than 1,100 pounds of coral rock.
The Sterling Castle, Shelby, AL
Located in Shelby, Alabama between Montgomery and Birmingham, this venue was once a private residence in which Victor and Misty Binkerd raised their children. Now empty nesters, they decide to share the home they loved with young couples who wanted to celebrate their love in royal style.
The Castle on Stagecoach, Little Rock, AR
https://www.castleonstagecoach.com/
Noted as the only castle wedding venue in Arkansas, The Castle on Stagecoach is a Little Rock mainstay for weddings and special events. The venue can accommodate both indoor and outdoor events, and even offers horse drawn carriage delivery to the altar.
