How We Helped Rachel and Travis Plan Their Dream Destination Wedding

• By: Beth
• Updated: 3 September 2026
• 4 min read

Rachel and Travis first contacted us in July 2025, almost a year before their planned June 2026 wedding. They had the idea of travelling overseas for an intimate castle elopement, but they weren't sure how to make it happen.

They had shortlisted several castles that interested them and were looking for our advice on the next steps. We arranged a Zoom call with Séamy, one of Celtic Castles' wedding specialists, where they were able to discuss their options in more detail.

Séamy recalls: "It was lovely to speak with Rachel and Travis. They were interested in an elopement, but were also considering inviting a small number of guests. They liked the option to explore Scotland and England, as well as the possibility of staging an outdoor wedding. We talked through lots of options and gradually narrowed the selection down to a handful of castles that best matched what they were looking for. I was also able to use my experience of working with clients from North America to answer their questions about planning a wedding from overseas".

Following the call, we checked availability for their preferred properties and put some quotes together. As they narrowed down their options, one castle eventually stood out from the rest.

Rachel and Travis's Wedding Plans at a Glance

• An intimate castle elopement
• Flexibility to invite a small number of additional guests
• The possibility of an outdoor ceremony
• A wedding in June 2026
• Support planning from the USA

Choosing Amberley Castle

After considering their options, Rachel and Travis chose Amberley Castle. Set in West Sussex, it provided the romantic and intimate setting they had been looking for.

Its medieval architecture, historic walls and beautiful surroundings created a stunning backdrop for their June elopement, while the thorough package and support from the on-site team made arranging everything from the USA easy.

"I Didn't Really Believe an International Elopement Would Be Possible"

After their wedding in June 2026, I caught up with Rachel and I was so pleased to hear how much they had enjoyed their day.

"My husband Travis and I had a wonderful time at Amberley Castle for our elopement in June! I discovered Celtic Castles on a whim without really believing an international elopement would be possible for us, but the team made it so easy for us to explore options and I am so glad we were able to make our castle dreams come true!"

One of the things Rachel particularly appreciated was being able to explore so many different castle wedding venues before deciding where to get married.

"We loved being able to explore the many locations Celtic Castles had to offer, some of which we would have never found on our own and would definitely love to explore in the future."

For couples planning a destination wedding from overseas, knowing where to begin can often feel overwhelming. Like Rachel and Travis, you can speak with our team by phone, email or video call to explore different castles, discuss your ideas and find a venue that feels right for you.

"Our Day Was Absolutely Perfect"

Once they had chosen Amberley Castle, Rachel and Travis could focus on enjoying their wedding day.

"Amberley was a stunning venue and our day was absolutely perfect. The staff there made our day almost all inclusive which made planning an international event a breeze."

We're so pleased they were able to turn their castle wedding dream into reality and enjoy a truly special day.

Thank you to Rachel and Travis for allowing us to share some photos from their special day.

Planning Your Own Destination Wedding

Planning a wedding abroad can feel daunting, particularly when you're searching for a venue from another country. There are locations to discover, wedding arrangements to consider and plenty of decisions to make before your plans start to come together.

That's where our castle wedding team can help.

Whether you're dreaming of a romantic castle elopement for two, an intimate wedding with a handful of guests or a larger destination wedding with family and friends, we can help you explore castles across Scotland, England and Ireland.

You don't need to have everything figured out before getting in touch. We can talk through your ideas, guest numbers, preferred dates, location and budget, and introduce you to castles that could be a good fit.

Our specialist castle wedding service is completely free and available seven days a week by email, phone or video call.

If you're dreaming of your own castle wedding overseas, we'd love to help you find yours.

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