This fairytale 17th century castle at Bolsover is a magnificent location for your wedding. Commanding an incredible hilltop setting with views across the Vale of Scarsdale, Bolsover Castle gives you a choice of four rooms licensed for civil ceremonies. Two are proudly located within the Little Castle, built by Sir Charles Cavendish in 1612. With its high walls, towers and turrets this picturebook building is just like a medieval castle in miniature. A stone staircase leads to Bolsover Castle”s stunning Jacobean interiors. At its center lies the Star Chamber where couples can exchange their vows witnessed by up to 50 guests. With an elaborate carved fireplace, ornate wooden panelling and impressive blue ceiling with stars gilded in gold leaf, it is an incredible setting, perfect for your wedding photography. The atmospheric Pillar Parlour, also within the Little Castle, can seat 30 guests. For larger ceremonies, couples can choose between the retired Stables or the Riding House which has a magnificent oak beam roof. Built by Sir Charles’s son William in 1630, the Riding House was once put into use by Sir William to train his horses in the art of menage, a kind of ballet for horses, where they elegantly circled, leapt and knelt. Able to handle 200 guests for a ceremony, this large and unconventional room looks spectacular when styled for an evening dinner dance, when it can host 175 guests. The Outer Courtyard is able to hold a marquee for larger parties and is a wonderful area for your wedding group photography.
This 17th-century love palace was originally intended by Sir Charles to be a retreat to an imaginary golden age of chivalry and pleasure. But the finishing touches added by his son integrated symbolic and erotic wall paintings, a charming garden for lovers complete with bowers, secluded seats and Venus fountain – and of course his impressive Riding Range for his horses – which became one of the most famous in Europe. The garden at Bolsover Castle has been lovingly restored by English Heritage is still perfect for lovers’ trysts today and makes a wonderfully romantic backdrop for your wedding photography. We recommend you hold you wedding ceremony as early in the day as you can to allow the maximum amount of time for your wedding photography at Bolsover Castle. The Castle has so many excellent locations for your wedding photography your wedding photographers will want to make as many romantic couple portraits as the time allows. Early summer and early autumn weddings with the perfect sunset over the Vale of Scarsdale will allow for a dramatic set of portraits after your wedding breakfast if timed well.
