A wedding at Schloss Schkopau: promises that live on only in memory

Gina and Erik celebrated a castle wedding in July: at Schloss Schkopau, between Halle and Merseburg. They said I do in a celebrant-led ceremony in the castle chapel, where they read each other promises so personal that afterwards they were meant to live on only in memory. Rain arrived in the afternoon, the sky cleared again in the evening, and the party took place in the historic manor house.

The venue: Schloss Schkopau

Schloss Schkopau, long known as Schlosshotel Schkopau and today the Schlossparkhotel Schkopau, is a wedding venue in Saxony-Anhalt. It lies between Halle (Saale) and Merseburg, easy to reach from Leipzig via the A38. Its history goes back a long way: a fortress is first mentioned here in the 10th century, and the keep from that time still stands today. In the 15th century the estate passed to the noble von Trotha family, who rebuilt it as a Renaissance castle. After 1945 it fell into ruin, was restored from 1996 and opened as a hotel in 2001.

There are several options for weddings: you can get married in the castle chapel, which seats about 70, have a civil ceremony in the fireplace room or outdoors, and celebrant-led ceremonies are possible too. Celebrations take place in the manor house, for example, which seats 200 to 250 guests at round tables. There's also the Kavaliershaus, the vaulted Ritterkeller and several smaller salons. The castle is surrounded by a 50,000 square metre park.

The couple and their guests can stay right in the castle, in rooms and suites up to the 160 square metre King Heinrich Suite.

Schloss Schkopau at a glance

• Location: Schkopau, between Halle (Saale) and Merseburg, about half an hour from Leipzig
• Ceremony: castle chapel (approx. 70 seats), civil ceremony in the fireplace room or outdoors, celebrant-led ceremony
• Celebrating: manor house (200 to 250 guests at round tables), Kavaliershaus, Ritterkeller, salons
• Outside: 50,000 m² castle park, a keep from the 10th century
• Staying over: hotel rooms and suites in the castle, 100 parking spaces

Getting ready at the castle

Gina and Erik got ready right at the castle. Gina's dress with its lace sleeves hung under one of the archways before she was helped into it, button by button. Erik tied his bow tie in front of a gilt-framed mirror, and he had help with his collar and jacket too.

A celebrant-led ceremony in the castle chapel

Gina and Erik were married in a celebrant-led ceremony in the castle chapel, among old pews, a red carpet and the colourful stained glass window. At the heart of the ceremony were their promises: the two of them read to each other what they had written for one another, deeply personal and emotional words.

After the ceremony, out in the castle park, they burned the sheets with their promises in a metal bowl while the guests looked on. Not as a farewell, but because these words were meant to belong to them alone: they live on in memory, not on paper. A moment that stays with you.

Couple shoot in the castle park at Schkopau

We didn't have to leave the castle grounds for the couple shoot. By the old stone walls, on the open staircase, at the fountain, in an ivy-covered stone archway and under a weeping willow: within a few metres, the castle park offers completely different backdrops.

Rain in the afternoon, celebrating in the manor house

After the reception in the castle park, rain set in during the afternoon, and part of the programme had to move indoors. That's exactly where a castle with so many rooms shines. The party took place in the manor house, under a vaulted ceiling hung with string lights.

It became a very emotional evening: one speech followed the next, there was laughter and tears, sometimes both at once. In between there were wedding games with a desk bell and signs.

Dancing into the night

In the evening the sky cleared again. In the hall, guests in sparkly costumes performed a dance and pulled the bride onto the dance floor with them. Then Gina and Erik opened the evening with their first dance, and by the time the bouquet was thrown, the dance floor was full.

Tips for your wedding at Schloss Schkopau

• Use the chapel for an intimate ceremony. With about 70 seats it's big enough for family and friends and still close enough for very personal words.
• A rain plan is easy here. With the chapel, manor house, Kavaliershaus and salons, there's an indoor alternative for every part of the day.
• Plan the couple shoot in the castle park. 50,000 square metres of park, old walls and the keep offer lots of different backdrops without leaving the grounds.
• Put your guests up at the castle. Anyone staying on site doesn't have to drive at night, and you can all have breakfast together the next morning.
• Dare to create your own rituals. Gina and Erik burned their promises after their ceremony. Moments like that make a wedding unmistakable, and you'll find more ideas in my tips for an outdoor ceremony.

Planning your wedding at Schloss Schkopau or in the Halle and Leipzig area? Find out more about my work as a wedding photographer in Leipzig and my packages. More stories: the wedding at LAKESIDE Zwenkau, the wedding at Lehmhaus am Anger and the wedding at Herberts Hof.