Why did we choose a civil wedding at Schloss Schreez?
There are some days in life that you never forget. Our civil wedding is definitely one of them. Even today, we still look back on this special day with so much joy – the excitement in the morning, the many emotional moments with our family and friends, and the wonderful feeling of finally saying “I do” to each other.
From the very beginning of our wedding planning, we knew that we wanted a special setting for our civil ceremony. A place with history, charm and an atmosphere where we would feel comfortable from the very first moment. At the same time, it was important to us to enjoy our wedding day in a relaxed way and have enough time for our guests and for creating memories together.
With Schloss Schreez near Bayreuth, we found exactly that place.
We fell in love with it during our very first visit. The historic castle has a wonderful sense of calm and elegance. The beautifully maintained grounds, the stunning castle garden and the lovingly preserved architecture create a truly unique setting for a civil wedding. From the moment we arrived, we had the feeling that something very special was waiting for us here.
Schloss Schreez offers several rooms for civil wedding ceremonies. We deliberately chose the Golden Hall. Its elegant interior, historic paintings and warm atmosphere immediately won us over. This was exactly where we wanted to say “I do”.
Looking back, we could not have imagined a more perfect wedding venue for our civil ceremony.
How did our wedding day begin?
The morning of our wedding began exactly as we had always imagined it – without any rush, without stress and filled with excitement and anticipation.
While the big day slowly began outside, I was able to enjoy the morning in complete relaxation during my bridal styling. For me, this was one of the most beautiful moments of the entire day. It was a time when I could consciously take everything in once again before the celebrations began.
My hair and make-up were created exactly as I had imagined – natural, timeless and elegant, perfectly suited to our wedding and the historic atmosphere of the castle. Step by step, the excitement slowly turned into reality, and with every glance in the mirror, I became more aware that our wedding day had finally begun.
These quiet hours in the morning are still among my favourite memories today. They gave me the opportunity to start the day consciously and truly enjoy every single moment.
Meanwhile, the final preparations were already taking place in the background, so there was almost nothing left for us to worry about. That is exactly the feeling we would wish for every bridal couple.
Why is good organisation on your wedding day so important?
As a wedding planner, I know how many small and big details come together on a wedding day.
That is why it was especially wonderful for me to experience the role of the bride myself for once and simply enjoy the day.
The team at Schloss Schreez supported us incredibly well throughout the entire day. From organising the civil ceremony and coordinating the bridal party to setting everything up and clearing it away afterwards, they took so much work off our shoulders.
Even the reception with coffee and cake was already lovingly prepared, so we did not have to worry about a thing.
And that is exactly what makes such a difference.
When you have an experienced team working quietly in the background, you can fully focus on what truly matters: arriving in the moment and enjoying your time together. Time with your family, the many little moments and, of course, the person you are marrying that day.
We did not have to coordinate any schedules, brief service providers or make organisational decisions. Instead, we were able to experience our wedding day exactly as it should be – relaxed, emotional and full of joy.
Looking back, we can say that this support played a huge part in allowing us to enjoy our wedding day to the fullest.
How did we experience our civil wedding ceremony?
Once all of our guests had arrived, the moment suddenly began to feel very real.
Together, we made our way into the Golden Hall, which we had deliberately chosen for our civil wedding ceremony. From the moment we entered, we could feel the unique atmosphere of this historic room.
The elegant interior, lovingly preserved details and impressive paintings created a truly special setting for our ceremony. At the same time, the room felt wonderfully personal and intimate rather than overwhelming. That balance was exactly what we loved about it.
Surrounded by our family and closest friends, we finally said “I do”.
It was a moment filled with emotion – happy smiles, tears of joy and the wonderful feeling of knowing that a new chapter of our lives was beginning right there.
The personal words spoken during the ceremony made the experience even more emotional and individual for us.
Even today, we still look back on this moment with so much happiness.
What happened after the ceremony?
After the ceremony, we were welcomed with so many heartfelt congratulations, warm hugs and happy faces.
One of the things we especially loved was being able to spend another two hours at the castle afterwards. It meant there was no rush at all.
We could raise a glass with our guests, enjoy meaningful conversations and simply take in the moment.
At the same time, we created so many beautiful memories throughout the castle grounds – in front of the historic façade, on the bridge and in the castle garden. Schloss Schreez offers countless beautiful settings for natural and timeless wedding photos.
It was this relaxed atmosphere that made our wedding day feel so special to us.
We never had to rush off somewhere or keep checking the time. Instead, we were able to be fully present and enjoy every moment – and that is exactly what we would wish for every bridal couple.
How did we experience the drinks reception at Schloss Schreez?
After our ceremony, we made our way into the castle courtyard together with our guests. A beautifully prepared drinks reception was waiting for us there, perfectly complementing the atmosphere of the entire day.
Surrounded by the historic walls, every detail had been thoughtfully prepared. The tables were beautifully arranged, coffee and cake were already waiting, and the drinks had been carefully set out. We especially loved the Schloss Schreez house sparkling wine, which we were able to enjoy with our family and friends as we toasted our civil wedding.
For us, this part of the day was something truly special.
Not only because we finally had time to welcome everyone properly and celebrate together, but also because we did not have to worry about a single organisational detail.
The team at Schloss Schreez had taken care of the entire reception, prepared everything and looked after all the little details in the background. This support made our wedding day feel incredibly relaxed.
Even though I am a wedding planner myself and love organising weddings down to the smallest detail, on our own wedding day I simply wanted to be the bride.
And that is exactly what Schloss Schreez made possible.
We were able to laugh, raise a glass, enjoy time with our guests and create beautiful memories without constantly thinking about what was coming next.
From my perspective, this is one of the greatest advantages of having professional support on your wedding day. When an experienced team works seamlessly in the background, the couple is left with the most valuable thing of all: time for each other and for the people celebrating this special day with them.
What highlights were waiting for our guests at the drinks reception?
It was important to us that our guests felt welcome and comfortable from the very first moment.
That is why we wanted our drinks reception to feel not only relaxed and inviting, but also full of thoughtful details.
One of the real highlights was our Sweet Table.
With great attention to detail, we had cake pops, macarons, cupcakes and small individual cakes beautifully arranged. Not only did everything look wonderful, there was also something for every taste.
The different creations included flavours such as strawberry, lemon, blueberry and pistachio. Many of our guests could hardly decide which sweet treat to try first.
For us, the Sweet Table was much more than just a dessert buffet. It was also a decorative feature that perfectly matched the style of our wedding and attracted plenty of admiring looks.
Why was our giant pretzel such a special eye-catcher?
Alongside all the sweet treats, we of course wanted to offer something savoury as well.
One very special highlight was our individually designed giant pretzel featuring our initials.
It was prepared with a variety of toppings, including cheese, cold cuts and salmon, so there was something to suit every taste.
Even while it was being set up, we knew it would attract plenty of attention – and that is exactly what happened.
Our guests absolutely loved it, and the pretzel was almost completely gone in no time.
It is little personal touches like this that make a wedding day feel even more special to us. They create lasting memories while also making guests feel truly welcome and well looked after.
What role did the floral design play on our wedding day?
Flowers give every wedding its own unique atmosphere.
From the very beginning, it was important to us that the floral design complemented the elegant character of the castle and blended harmoniously into the overall concept.
My bridal bouquet was designed to perfectly match the decoration and accompanied me throughout the entire day. The floral concept was completed by the boutonnieres for the groom and the beautifully arranged decorations.
We especially loved the combination of delicate shades of pink, blue hydrangeas and natural elements.
The colours felt fresh, romantic and timelessly elegant at the same time – exactly how we had imagined our wedding.
Against the historic backdrop of the castle, the flowers looked particularly beautiful and added an extra touch of magic to many of our wedding photos.
Why do our wedding rings mean so much to us?
There are many beautiful wedding rings.
But ours are something truly special to us.
We made our wedding rings ourselves, creating memories that go far beyond the wedding day itself.
Even during this shared experience, we realised that one day we would not simply be wearing two rings.
We would be looking at something every day that we had created together.
That thought is exactly what makes our wedding rings priceless to us.
Even today, whenever we look at them, they remind us of the time we spent making them together – and, of course, of the moment in the Golden Hall of the castle when we placed them on each other’s fingers.
Why was Schloss Schreez the perfect setting for our wedding photos?
When we look back on our civil wedding today, our wedding photos are among our most treasured memories.
The castle offers countless beautiful settings for natural and timeless photographs. Whether in front of the historic façade, on the small bridge, in the castle garden or beside the old walls, every backdrop tells its own story and gives the pictures a very special charm.
What we especially appreciated was having plenty of time. There was no pressure and no strict schedule constantly on our minds. Instead, we were able to stroll around the castle grounds at a relaxed pace, enjoy our time together and create beautiful memories along the way.
Our guests also used this time to chat with one another, enjoy the drinks reception or take photos of their own.
It was precisely this relaxed atmosphere that made the afternoon so special for us.
If you are dreaming of a civil wedding at a castle and also value authentic, timeless wedding photos, Schloss Schreez offers a wonderful variety of possibilities.
Why was releasing the balloons such a special ending?
Before leaving the castle, we wanted to share one final moment together with all of our guests.
That is why we decided to release balloons into the sky together.
As everyone let go of their balloons at the same time and watched them rise, we became especially aware of how many wonderful people had shared this special day with us.
It was one of those moments when you simply stop for a second and try to take everything in.
The laughter, the joy, the hugs and the feeling of experiencing one of the most beautiful days of your life.
For us, it was the perfect ending to our afternoon at the castle.
How did we end our wedding day?
After the wonderful hours at the castle, we headed to an Italian restaurant in Bayreuth in the evening together with our family.
A beautifully decorated table was already waiting for us there, where we could bring the day to a relaxed and enjoyable close.
We were then treated to a delicious multi-course menu that left nothing to be desired.
The evening began with a selection of antipasti, followed by Italian pasta dishes and an excellent scaloppina as the main course.
During dinner, we looked back on the day together, browsed through the first photos on our phones and kept talking about all the little moments that had made this day so special for us.
It was exactly the kind of ending we had imagined for our civil wedding.
What tips would we like to share for your civil wedding?
Our own wedding reminded us once again that it is often the little things that make the biggest difference.
That is why we would like to share a few of our experiences with you.
Take your time.
Do not plan your wedding day too tightly. The hours after the ceremony, in particular, often become some of the most beautiful moments of the entire day.
Enjoy your guests.
Many couples hardly get to spend time with their guests during the celebration. Make a conscious effort to use the drinks reception for conversations, photos together and all those little moments in between.
Trust an experienced team.
When organisational tasks are taken off your shoulders, you can experience your wedding day much more intensely. For us, this was one of the greatest advantages of celebrating our wedding at Schloss Schreez.
Include personal details.
Whether it is handmade wedding rings, a personalised giant pretzel or a Sweet Table featuring your favourite flavours, it is often these little details that make your wedding truly unique.
Allow enough time for your wedding photos.
The most beautiful photos are often created when there is no rush and you can simply enjoy the moment.
Are you planning your wedding and looking for support?
Vendors involved in our wedding day:
Venue: @trauungen_schloss_schreez
Planning: @white.signature.moments
Photography: @fotografie.gottesmann
Florals: @ituepfelchen.mirjampauscher
Sweets: @geyerei_backmanufaktur
Giant Pretzel: @geseeserlandbaeckerei
Hair & Make-up: @haarstudiodoreen
Wedding Rings: @hobbygoldschmiede
Restaurant: @bypaola.bayreuth