Fairy-tale weddings found in Prague

With all the castles and chateaus peppered throughout the country, the Czech Republic is in no shortage of romantic venues for weddings. Still, most weddings take place in rented halls or upscale restaurants as they are more realistic for budget-conscious couples in terms of location and price.

The Chateau Svatý Havel, however, offers the romantic fairy-tale environment that allows every bride to feel like a princess for a day and is ideally located in Prague 4, allowing the wedded couple to have their cake and eat it too.

"Wedding ceremonies at our chateau are an unforgettable and romantic experience," said Ivana Peterková, general manager at the hotel. "We offer the castle environment and the unique experience of getting married in a 13th-century chapel."

With an experienced wedding coordinator and seasoned chef at the couple's disposal, everything from the ceremony to the first breakfast as husband and wife can be provided by the hotel. While summer weddings have the option of holding ceremonies and receptions in the beautifully manicured gardens, winter weddings at the hotel are just as magical, Peterková said.

"We have many different options inside the hotel for winter weddings that can be coordinated and arranged according to the bride and groom's wishes," she said.

During the frigid winter months, it's ideal to seek out an indoor location that can be used for the whole day, said Eva Keilwerth, coordinator for White Agency wedding planners, who has planned many castle weddings throughout the Czech Republic.

"Having a ceremony and reception at the same place is ideal, so we often recommend magical castles or hotels because it keeps guests from getting wet and cold," she said. "Castle winter weddings are known for their fairy-tale atmosphere. The bride and groom often choose to travel by horse and carriage to the ceremony."

Chateau Svatý Havel offers carriage rides to the breathtaking chapel, where the couple can choose from either a religious or civil ceremony. From there, the newlyweds can adjourn to the castle-like hotel for their reception.

"We provide menus and dinner parties and seating arrangements at the wish of the couple," Peterková said. "Our chef is available to our clients to listen to their suggestions and offer his advice. We also offer many other table arrangements in our main dining hall, not just the typical round tables that are normal at Czech weddings."

The hotel's chef has drafted many sample menus that can be used as is for couples or to help give ideas.

In addition to providing such regal settings for the ceremony and reception with onsite catering, the chateau's wedding planner can also can organize a photographer, makeup artist, flowers, transportation, babysitting and wellness pampering.

"We simply do everything a wedding guest wishes - that's what we're here for," Peterková said.

With the same attention to detail, the hotel also takes care of what is possibly the most important part of the whole celebration for every couple: the wedding night.

"A wedding at the castle can also mean spending the honeymoon night in our bridal suite in the castle tower," she said. "We decorate the bridal suite and offer special spa treatments for the couple."

The standard honeymoon suite costs 4,950 Kč, but other services and amenities can be added or purchased as part of a wedding package.

Megan Battista can be reached at
features@praguepost.com