Celebrating a wedding in Europe has always had a fairytale feel, but in recent years, a particularly enchanting trend has captured the attention of many couples: getting married in restored abbeys or monasteries. These architectural gems, steeped in history, spirituality, and timeless beauty, offer unique settings for an abbey wedding, an intimate and deeply symbolic ceremony.
A French abbey wedding can take place among vineyards in Burgundy, in the serenity of Provence, or in the heart of Normandy. Monastic spaces that once housed religious communities have been carefully restored to host private events without losing their original essence. The imposing stone naves, enclosed gardens, and medieval cloisters offer an incomparable setting for a ceremony that unites the sacred and the romantic.
Belgium, for its part, captivates with its understated elegance and its abbeys nestled in peaceful, green landscapes. Many of these buildings have been transformed into exclusive spaces where you can celebrate an abbey wedding with all the charm of history and the comforts of today.
This article will explore some of the most outstanding venues for a restored abbey and monastery wedding in France and Belgium, as well as the practical and symbolic aspects of choosing this type of setting. If you’re looking for great and original ideas to celebrate your big day, read on—we promise to impress you.
You can start by whet your appetite with the ruined monasteries in Europe for a charming wedding.
Let’s get started!
Abbey Wedding: Abbaye de Sénanque – Provence, France
This abbey is located in a secluded valley surrounded by lavender fields. It is a 12th-century Cistercian gem.
It is remarkable that some areas of this abbey house monks, but other areas are open for special events like a wedding.
If you’re wondering what an abbey wedding is like, I can tell you that here, they are intimate and deeply spiritual, ideal for all those who value silence, history, and connection with nature.
Here you can celebrate your religious ceremony, hold spectacular outdoor receptions, enjoying the authentic beauty of the abbey and the scent of lavender that permeates the air, and enjoy accommodation, albeit limited, in nearby rural cottages. This is great so the whole family can stay with you for that special night without having to add extra worries, which is always a relief.
Abbaye de Royaumont – Île-de-France, France
Located just 45 minutes from Paris, this abbey is one of the best-preserved in all of France. Founded in 1228 by Saint Louis, this Gothic abbey combines medieval architecture with modern gardens—quite a spectacle for an abbey wedding, don’t you think?
Currently operating as a cultural center, it offers venues for both civil and religious weddings, elegant receptions in the Gothic refectory with capacity for up to 200 guests, and best of all, accommodation in its former monastic cells, converted into rooms for more than fifty people.
This way, your wedding will breathe history and allow you to become a part of it, making your day even more special.
It also offers customized banquet menus prepared by local chefs and optional services such as wedding coordination, floral arrangements, and live music.
Abbaye de Fontfroide – Occitania, France
In the south of France, near Narbonne, lies this perfectly preserved monastic complex surrounded by vineyards. Founded in 1093, it is one of the best-preserved private abbeys in Europe and offers complete packages for luxury weddings.
Civil or religious ceremonies can be held in its Romanesque church, receptions in the former refectory or in the formal gardens, and stunning outdoor banquets with nighttime illuminations can be held.
It offers its own catering, based on local cuisine and locally produced wines, and accommodation in a guesthouse within the complex.
You can also have photo shoots in areas closed to the public—without a doubt, a perfect location for an abbey wedding.
If you’d like to celebrate your wedding in France, it’s essential to learn about its most iconic traditions, and we’ll share them with you here so you can take note.
Abbey de Villers – Walloon Brabant, Belgium
The ruins of Abbaye de Villers offer a magical setting for weddings with a mystical and cinematic feel. Although largely in ruins, it has been adapted to host private events such as outdoor weddings, spectacular photoshoots, and cocktail receptions in its restored gardens.
Although not an active religious space, the venue offers several outdoor areas for exchanging vows, cocktail parties among historic walls, and covered areas such as the Foudre Room for formal receptions.
You can bring in an external caterer, and they have local companies specializing in decoration and logistics for heritage sites.
An extra worth mentioning is the possibility of organizing private visits and cultural tours for guests on the wedding weekend, which will ensure everyone is amazed by this wedding in an abbey with so much to offer.
Abbaye de Maredsous – Namur, Belgium
The Abbaye de Maredsous, still inhabited by Benedictine monks, is located on a green hill in southern Belgium and is known for its craft beer and cheese.
It offers a more traditional approach, with the possibility of celebrating wedding masses in its neo-Gothic church. Receptions can be held in the visitor center, equipped with large banquet halls or in open-air tents overlooking the surroundings.
Among their services, they offer catering with artisan products such as the aforementioned cheese and beers produced at the abbey itself.
In addition, they also offer rooms for you and your guests, and activities such as pottery and baking workshops will keep your guests entertained and provide them with a spectacular memory of this abbey wedding.
They collaborate with local photographers for sessions in the gardens, cloisters, or old library, where photos will be captured that will showcase the love and history united in this wedding at a Belgian abbey.
Abdij van Leffe – Dinant, Belgium
Famous for giving its name to one of the world’s most recognizable beers, Leffe Abbey is located on the banks of the Meuse River, in the picturesque town of Dinant.
The building has been carefully restored and now serves as a museum and cultural events center.
For an abbey wedding, it offers a unique atmosphere that blends religious tradition with an iconic brewing heritage. It has renovated historic spaces for civil ceremonies and private receptions, especially in its banquet hall overlooking the river.
You’re allowed to hire external caterers or those specializing in Leffe beer pairings. A guided tour of the abbey and a private tasting are offered as a pre- or post-event experience. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a better idea when celebrating your wedding at an abbey than this: history and beer in one.
As for accommodation, some boutique hotels in Dinant collaborate to offer both accommodation and transportation to guests, undoubtedly an extra convenience for everyone.
Of course, we know that organizing a wedding is always a complicated task, and if you want a destination wedding like this, it becomes a task for specialists. Therefore, always count on the best professionals. Ask us!
Contact us and let yourself be surprised; she’ll take care of everything; she’ll make your wedding just the way you want it.