Imagine a wedding shaped entirely around your vision. Gilford Castle Estate is a private Victorian Scottish Baronial house set within mature woodland and ornamental gardens on the River Bann in Couty Down. We host a limited number of weddings each year, shaped through close collaboration with you and those you trust. The house and grounds are available only for exclusive use. Your celebration will be our sole focus. This isn’t a venue you book. It’s a private home that you inhabit throughout your celebration.
Choose your setting
The flexibility of the estate means you can design a ceremony that reflects your vision. Choose to exchange your vows in one of our intimate and elegant spaces in the castle or the grounds. Our gardens host ceremonies of up to 150 guests. Our three courtyards each cater to different types of weddings, including small groups of up to 30 people, intimate gatherings of up to 80 people, and congregations of up to 120 people. You may opt to host your guests within the castle’s period rooms, which host up to 70 people.
The flow of the day
After your ceremony, the celebration unfolds naturally across the castle’s reception rooms and gardens. There’s time for photographs among the trees, conversation in the courtyards, and the unhurried unfolding of the afternoon. As evening falls, you move into the adjoining glass-fronted marquee, designed as a natural extension of the house itself. It opens onto the grounds to maintain a connection to the landscape while ensuring warmth and comfort as the night deepens.
Dining and provenance
Dining sits at the heart of the celebration. We work with you and our catering partners, Yellow Door and Olive & Vine to create a bespoke menu that celebrates exceptional Northern Ireland produce like Mourne beef, Strangford seafood, Armagh apples, and ingredients drawn from farms and coastlines across the region. Menus begin at £120 per person, with full customisation available.
Overnight stays
The castle’s ten-bedroom suites accommodate up to 22 guests overnight, with a gorgeous breakfast served the following morning. This extension transforms the wedding into a genuine gathering.
The difference
What sets Gilford Castle apart is this commitment to exclusivity and intentionality. Your celebration becomes woven into the ongoing story of a historic home, tended by people who understand that weddings matter because the love they celebrate matters.
The estate is fully licensed and available for exclusive-use bookings year-round.
Exclusive use | Limited weddings each year | Fully licensed
For more information visit www.gilfordcastleestate.com
