Hampton Castle

Given as a royal wedding gift in 1427, Hampton Castle has had weddings in its story ever since.

For two days, the whole castle is yours. No other couples, no interruptions and 25 bedrooms for the people you never want to say goodnight to.

Hampton Castle specialises in multi-day weddings, with exclusive use of the castle, all the bedrooms for two nights, and food and drink for 50 guests. The castle holds up to 120 day guests and a further 50 in the evening, with additional day guests priced at £150 per person.

The arrival. Hampton Castle stands in a 600-acre Herefordshire estate, landscaped in its time by Humphry Repton and George London, and painted by Turner. The arrival is part of the occasion: a gatehouse, a 200-metre drive lined with trees, and a 600-year-old drawthrough at the end of it.

The night before. Your celebration begins in the Arkwright Wing. There is a bar in one of the county's oldest brewhouses, a dining room, a games room and a private courtyard, with dinner for everyone staying in the castle.

The ceremony. Exchange vows in the 600-year-old Chapel, with pews, ornate stained glass and a painted ceiling, or outdoors in the Central Courtyard, framed by topiary with views back down the drive. Both are licensed for civil ceremonies and seat up to 120.

The reception. Drinks and canapés in the Library, which has a secret door of its own and steps down to lawns with views over the estate. The Grand Ballroom was designed in the 1750s for exactly this: floor-to-ceiling mirrors, a decorative ceiling, chandeliers and tall windows that fill the room with early evening light. It seats 120, with room for a further 50 in the evening. Catering is in-house throughout, and couples are invited to a complimentary tasting for two.

The bedrooms. 25 castle bedrooms for the people you never want to say goodnight to. Sleeping 54, every one inside the walls. No cottages, no converted barns, no annexe. This is not a hotel: every room is exclusively yours, with roll-top baths, four-poster beds and views over countryside, gardens or courtyards, including a ground-floor accessible ensuite. Breakfast is served in the formal Dining Room the next morning.

The photographs. The castle grounds offer a wide array of settings for couples photographs, including access to the neighbouring Hampton Gardens for couples photography: water features, island pavilions, a waterfall and a 160-year-old Wisteria Arch, with the Gothic Tower at the centre of the maze giving panoramic views of the estate.