Castle Hill Cider is the perfect Charlottesville area wedding venue for large parties if you love a classic look and want both indoor and outdoor ceremony options. Located in Keswick, Virginia, Castle Hill Cider boasts breath-taking views of the Virginia countryside in all four seasons, but I’m partial to the spring and fall colors! Their expansive property offers gorgeous natural landscapes, 600 acres of apple orchard, and an adorable pond if waterside portraits appeal to you. With five different event spaces to choose from, you can design whatever style event you imagine in this versatile, accommodating space. As a wedding photographer, I visit a lot of Virginia wedding venues and love to compile reviews and overviews to help you plan your perfect wedding day with all the expert advice. Here’s everything you need to know to get started planning your wedding at Castle Hill Cider.
Highlights: Castle Hill Cider Wedding Information
- Capacity: 250 to 350 guests
- Rental Cost: starts at $15,500
- Ceremony: indoor or outdoor
- Rain Plan: yes
- Bridal suite/wedding party suite: included
- Location: 15 miles from Charlottesville, VA
- Castle Hill Cider wedding FAQs
Castle Hill Cider Capacity and Layout
The main event space at Castle Hill Cider can host up to 350 guests; however, the base rental fee is calculated for 250 guests, including the necessary tables and chairs. The barn includes a dance floor and full stage, allowing for a live entertainment option. Most couples choose to have their ceremony outdoors, either in the tree grove, the front lawn, or the terrace, and then utilize the main barn for their reception activities. You can also utilize the front lawn for a tented event. Any combination of these spaces can be used to host a large ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception with seamless flow for your guests and no need to have your decorators flip the space.
Rain plan
In the case of rain, Castle Hill Cider has a loft area in the upper level of the barn, framed with tall arched windows. This space can hold your ceremony and keep your guests dry, or you can choose to use the main barn or a tented space as a rain plan.
Getting ready space
Castle Hill Cider does offer an on-site wedding party suite as well as a second area for the other partner and their wedding party. If you have a large wedding party, you may want to consider one partner getting ready on-site and the other using a nearby hotel or Airbnb. The secondary space does get cramped after about 7-8 people. For the average wedding party, both partners can get ready on site comfortably.
Aesthetic
While classified as a barn, Castle Hill Cider has a classic look. The all white exterior and rolling landscapes make for a gorgeous, clean backdrop for your wedding day, regardless of your preference for color scheme and aesthetics. The barn interior has rich wood beams and a black and white dance floor, both well-lit from the huge tinted glass walls, allowing natural light for the early portion of your reception. Many couples choose to use the wood beams for draping fabric and hanging florals, making event design options here endless. The reception space offers plenty of room for seating, dancing, a stage for a live band, and even a lounge area to the side for statement signage or custom entertainment for guests.
Castle Hill Cider Wedding Cost
The rental fee for Castle Hill Cider wedding venue begins at $15,500 for weddings with less than 250 guests. This includes use of any of the event spaces on the property, 20 round tables and 200 chairs. For additional fees, you can increase the capacity of your event to 350 guests and rent the necessary tables, chairs, linens, etc.
There are lots of factors that contribute to the overall wedding cost at Castle Hill Cider, including personal preference on event design, rentals, meal selection, and the vendor talent you choose to hire. People host events of all scales here, ranging from modest cost to luxury. Total wedding costs vary greatly, from an estimated $50,000 to over $200,000. I recommend you discuss the full vision for your wedding and budget constraints with a wedding planner to see if Castle Hill Cider is the right space for your event and budget.
Disclaimer: these cost estimates are derived from what information is currently publicly available (October 2023), and are only estimates. Please reach out to verify cost, availability, and package details.
Wedding Photography at Castle Hill Cider
There’s no shortage of gorgeous, photogenic locations for your wedding portraits on the Castle Hill Cider property. They get beautiful sunsets that peak through the tree-lined drive and white picket fence, flooding the main lawn with golden light. We’ll have access to the shaded tree grove, the classic front lawn, stone terrace, tree-line drive, apple groves, or can take a walk along the pond below the back terrace. Should it rain, we can use the covered front porch, huge windows in the loft area, or perhaps the cover of some large trees if you’re up for a little walk! Plus, the venue will allow you to schedule engagement portraits on the property. My wedding photography packages for Castle Hill Cider weddings begin at $4,900 for 2024 and 2025 couples. Inquire for detailed pricing and availability.
Reviews: Why people love getting married at Castle Hill Cider
There’s so much to love! Castle Hill is known for being accommodating, both the space itself and the wonderful staff who run it. They’ve earned 4.5-4.8 stars across platforms and have won awards from Wedding Wire and The Knot for their hospitality. Reviews feature testimonials from brides, grooms, parents, and guests. They highlight the venue’s beauty, the staff’s work ethic and attention to detail, their flexibility to shift when weather did not cooperate, and many called it their “dream wedding.” This is a local favorite wedding venue option for sure!
Wedding vendors to make your Castle Hill Cider wedding come to life
Lots of work goes into pulling together a cohesive wedding event! These Charlottesville wedding vendors can help you put together your dream wedding. Cost and availability will vary. Please reach out to vendors directly to confirm current information.
Charlottesville Wedding Planners
Charlottesville Wedding Florists
Charlottesville Wedding Caterers
Charlottesville Wedding Videographers
Charlottesville Wedding Rentals
Inquire about your Castle Hill Cider wedding
Ready to learn more about Castle Hill Cider? You can inquire with them directly, or reach out to one of the wedding planners above to learn more about this and other venue options in the Charlottesville area. Happy planning!
More Photos by Photography by Jo at Castle Hill Cider Wedding Venue
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Jo Mahaney is a professional photographer of PhotographyByJo.net based in Staunton, Virginia, specializing in wedding photography. With over eight years of experience, Jo is dedicated to creating effortless, joyful imagery that authentically captures the essence of each couple’s unique love story. She is known for her ability to create meaningful galleries filled with emotion and personal narratives. Jo is not just a photographer; she is an active supporter of her clients, providing resources and guidance to ensure a stress-free experience. From the initial inquiry call to the wedding day, Jo is transparent, open, and ready to get to know her clients to provide the best service possible. Her commitment to her craft and her clients is evident in the glowing testimonials she has received. Jo’s work extends beyond Staunton, covering areas such as Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Lexington, Roanoke, and Richmond. She has also had the privilege of photographing weddings in various locations, including the Outerbanks, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, and even Spain.
