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Ceremony and Reception

The Most Romantic Library Wedding Venues in the UK and Around the World

If you and your partner are lovers of literature then what could be more romantic than a library wedding venue for your special day?

Updated on September 28 2022

Kate Anne Photography

A fairytale scene featuring a reception setup amid romantic string lighting, endless rows of books, and elegant decor — Kate Anne Photography

Hands up if you identify with Belle from Beauty & the Beast? She would definitely get married in a library wedding venue, and we don't blame her.

Her love of libraries is infectious and made us see them in a totally new light. They are the perfect wedding venue for book lovers, so we’ve rounded up our favourites from the UK and the rest of the world to inspire you. Book worms, this one’s for you.

So, take your time browsing through our comprehensive list of beautiful library wedding venues and allow yourselves to be excited by the prospect of saying "I do" in the way you have always dreamt of.

The Best Library Wedding Venues for Bookworm Couples

Like love and romance, literature can be a source of happiness for many people. If you and your partner adore reading, then getting married at in a library wedding venue must sound like a fairytale! Well, we're here to tell you that your fantasy doesn't have to be fictional for much longer - here are 17 of our favourites.

PS. If you need some help finding the perfect venue, make sure you read our guide to choosing a wedding venue.

1. Hodsock Priory - Nottinghamshire

The library at Hodsock Priory is full of character and has a range of uses if you marry on-site. It is licensed for ceremonies and provides beautiful views of the famous snowdrop gardens. You can also use the old book room as a quiet area post-ceremony for your guests to mingle in and enjoy drinks. Soft music and wedding entertainment can be set up there too, making it very relaxing.

2. The Swan Hotel - Gloucestershire

Give your library wedding an intimate, cosy feel by hosting it at the Swan Hotel in Bilbury, which can host intimate ceremonies and receptions of up to 24 guests in the library. It’s also a dream place to elope to – the venue can provide witnesses if you want to marry without fuss. Stay on in the picturesque Cotswolds after your wedding – it’s a gorgeous location for a honeymoon in the UK.

3. Dulwich College - London

The Old Library on site at Dulwich College is the perfect location for your library wedding ceremony. Whilst the books are no longer present, the history of the room makes it a great choice for book lovers. The wood-panelled walls give the room a warm, studious feel and the high, vaulted ceiling and arched windows flood the room with light.

READ MORE: The Best Castle Wedding Venues in the UK

4. Queen Mary University of London - London

Queen Mary University is a wonderfully luxury wedding venue in the heart of East London. The Octagon, built in 1887, was originally the college library. It was designed by Victorian architect ER Robson and inspired by the Reading Room at the British Museum.

Not only can you celebrate your wedding in a breath-taking setting, but you can also choose from the signature wedding breakfast menus, aptly named Shakespeare and Wordsworth.

5. Stanbrook Abbey - Worcestershire

This 16th-century, Grade II listed monastery is the perfect setting for a library wedding with lots of dramatic elegance. There’s a range of gorgeous locations for your wedding onsite at Stanbrook Abbey and a cosy library where you can enjoy drinks with your guests – that’s right, a library with a bar. What could be more perfect?

6. Bodleian Libraries - Oxfordshire

The Divinity School at the Bodleian Libraries is a truly incredible setting for a wedding. The ornate ceilings and dark wood furnishings add a grand feeling to any wedding set-up.

Those who have a passion for words will love the fact they are celebrating their wedding at the University of Oxford’s first teaching room and earliest examination hall — you can also visit Duke Humfrey’s library during your drinks reception and see the books in this historic setting.

7. The Old Library - West Midlands

The Old Library is a Victorian-era building that has been faithfully restored to host a range of weddings. Situated in the heart of Birmingham’s colourful and quirky Custard Factory, the Old Library no longer contains books but the beautiful high ceilings and original windows make it an elegant blank canvas for any style of special day. The surrounding areas are perfect for unique wedding pictures too.

READ MORE: Stylish Warehouse Wedding Venues for Industrial Lovers

8. The Signet Library - Lothian & Borders

Elegant reception setup in a grand room with walls of books, a sky light, and large columns — The Signet Library

The Lower Library at the Signet Library, in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town is the perfect setting for your wedding ceremony, whether it’s civil, religious or humanist. After the ceremony, you and your guests can ascend the grand staircase to the Upper Library which can accommodate 50-220 guests for any type of reception from a wedding breakfast to an evening affair.

The Upper Library has a royal seal of approval; King George IV described it as “the finest drawing room in Europe” following his visit in 1822.

Library Wedding Venues Around the World

If you're planning a wedding abroad but still want to book a unique library wedding venue, we have some incredible choices from around the world.

9. Bendooley Estate - Southern Highlands, Australia

A gorgeous reception set up in a rustic room filled with walls of books, exposed wooden beams on the ceiling, and greenery-draped chandeliers — Bendooley Estate

The Berkelouw Book Barn at Bendooley Estate is the perfect choice for literature lovers who are searching for a wedding venue in Australia.

The barn wedding venue has a real rustic feel, with timber beams, iron pendant lights and a huge stone fireplace. If you choose to marry here, the venue is transformed – the shelves are rolled back, creating a beautiful book-lined space, and you can dance the night away surrounded by love stories and great literature.

10. The Library Hotel - New York, USA

A stylish event space lined with a colourful book selection — The Library Hotel

The Library Hotel in New York is home to over 6,000 books. Each of the 60 rooms is adorned with a collection of books relating to the category the room belongs to, which is inspired by the Dewey Decimal System. The boutique hotel wedding venue and you can celebrate on the rooftop, which has views of the New York Public Library.

11. George Peabody Library - Maryland, USA

A fairytale scene featuring a reception setup amid romantic string lighting, endless rows of books, and elegant decor — Kate Anne Photography

The George Peabody Library describes itself as the ‘premiere wedding and event venue in Baltimore’ and it’s easy to see why. Your wedding will take place in a magnificent setting, surrounded by six tiers of cast iron columns, decorative railings, and classical embellishments touched with gold leaf.

In this room, the grand ceiling rises 61 feet from its black-and-white marble floor to the massive skylight that caps the central interior. Whatever wedding theme you want, you’ll find the space to be as flexible as it is elegant.

12. Kansas City Public Library - Missouri, USA

Reception in full swing at a delightful library wedding venue — Kansas City Public Library

This seriously smart wedding venue is the perfect choice for couples looking to head to the United States for their wedding. You can have a rooftop ceremony and host your reception in the library space itself at Kansas City Public Library, or if you want to you can say your vows amongst the books too. Perfect!

READ MORE: The Most Unique Fairground Wedding Venues

13. New York Public Library - New York, USA

A lively event unfolds in a vibrant library wedding venue — New York Public Library

This beautiful library wedding venue is the second largest in America and the fourth largest in the world. If you’re looking for a famous or celebrity wedding venue, it’s perfect. The New York Public Library has starred in classics such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Sex and the City movie. Marry amongst the great love stories, as Carrie Bradshaw planned to do.

14. The Long Room in Trinity College Dublin's Old Library - Dublin, Republic of Ireland

A wonderfully vintage setting with row after row of antique books — Trinity College Dublin

The Long Room in Trinity's Old Library in Dublin gives us serious Harry Potter vibes, and given the sheer amount of vintage ladders, original wooden touches, and real antique books, it's easy to see why! You and your loved ones will be struck by just how grand this space is, with every nook and cranny filled with book after book. What better space for a literature lover to say 'I do'?

READ MORE: Your Guide to having a Harry Potter Themed Wedding

15. Neilson Hays Library - Bangkok, Thailand

A large space inside the library with tall archways, walls filled with books, and tables setup throughout the room covered in books — Instagram/@neilson.hays.library

Here is another classic-looking library wedding venue that has truly stood the test of time! Neilson Hays Library in Thailand's capital is as timeless as it is beautiful. It was granted 'Historic Landmark' status by the Association of Siamese Architects in 1986, an undeniable testament to its grandeur. Why not host your dream destination wedding at this remarkable library?

16. Boston Public Library - Massachusetts, USA

A long reception table and gold Chiavari chairs, decorated with peach and white florals with a wall of books in the background — Boston Public Library

The Boston Public Library in Boston, Massachusetts, doubles as an enchanting library wedding venue. The venue has so many event space options within the library that couples can customise their special day to suit their style and tastes.

Their Guastavino and Boylston rooms are perfect choices if you really want the experience of a library wedding. They also have a stunning courtyard that would be perfect for a drinks reception.

17. State Library Victoria - Victoria, Australia

An interior photo of three levels of archways and balconies, on which a bride and groom stand separately at a distance — State Library Victoria

The last chapter of our tour of the best library wedding venues brings us to State Library Victoria in Australia. This opulent venue has been welcoming book lovers and soon-to-be newlyweds alike since the 1850s, and now you have a chance to be part of its fabled history. Just imagine mixing and mingling with your guests besides those stunning pillars. The stuff of fairytales!

If you love that idea, you’ll definitely love our round up of the best wedding venues from TV and film – find out if your favourite wedding venue has been in the spotlight.