Castle Hill Inn Weddings | The Best Newport Venue

History of Castle Hill Inn

The name “Castle Hill” has been associated with this Newport mansion property for centuries, likely due to a Narragansett Indian Tribe earthwork that resembles a castle. Alexander Agassiz, a well-known marine biologist and oceanographer, was a previous owner of the estate. It started out as his summer home and was even a de facto World War II naval base.

Of course, these days the property serves as a luxurious wedding venue with an award-winning restaurant. The mansion itself, sitting on a small hill set slightly back from the water, is sort of the iconic part of a Castle Hill Inn wedding.

Newport is about 40 minutes from Rhode Island’s capital city, Providence.

Venue Vibe and Features

Castle Hill Inn is an upscale, waterside wedding venue; it offers stunning views of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s situated at the southwest tip of Newport, safe from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Overall, a Castle Hill Inn wedding might be for you if getting married on the water’s edge is high on your list. Beyond that factor, however, is this one: it’s fancy. It is, after all, a historic estate and inn in Newport RI.

Here are some of the great features of Castle Hill Inn:

The Lawns

The Lawns at Castle Hill Inn are a Newport attraction on its own. If features excellent views of Narragansett Bay, peace and quiet, and plenty of space and convenience (such as Adirondack chairs) for a relaxing atmosphere.

Castle Hill’s “vast green lawns” are broken up into a couple of areas. The main one, nearest the chalet terrace reception tent, is big and open. It has a beautiful patio on the water side, which is where your outdoor wedding ceremony would take place.

There’s a second lawn that I’ve visited at Castle Hill Inn, a short walk across the parking area from the main ceremony lawn. Though this part is “landlocked,” it’s still beautiful in its own right. Well manicured gardens in this area are great for wedding photos with your wedding or bridal party.

Minus the hotel aspect, Castle Hill Inn is similar to CT wedding venues Branford House and Eolia Mansion with its waterside ambiance.

Top-Notch Catering and Service

Catering and service are definite points of pride for Castle Hill Inn. Seriously, the time I worked at this wedding venue, I was blown away by how well the staff operated. Seasonal work is popular in Newport, but the Castle Inn staff took their professions very seriously.

For one thing, there were just so many of them. This is very reassuring considering that any kind of issue can arise during your cocktail hour or reception.

(And one more thing about Castle Hill Inn catering: the food is delicious!)

Castle Hill Lighthouse

Adding a historical charm to Castle Hill Inn as a wedding venue is Castle Hill Lighthouse. It’s southwest of the inn, giving great panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and local water bodies. Technically, the lighthouse sits on public land adjacent to Castle Hill Inn. It’s one of a few lighthouses in Newport.

To get there, ask the Castle Hill Inn wedding staff about giving you (and your photographer) a golf cart ride. As expected, Castle Hill Lighthouse is particularly beautiful for wedding photographs during sunset. Consider it a romantic photo location for just the two of you.

I don’t recommend bringing your entire wedding party given the distance and the walk (it would somewhat treacherous in wedding attire; think of it as an easy hike). Factor this into wedding planning and you won’t be disappointed on your special day.

Keep in mind that lighthouse visitors have as much right to be there as you do, similar to some of the public land wedding venues in Connecticut (e.g., Branford House at Avery Point and Eolia Mansion at Harkness). This generally isn’t a problem!

Parking and Hotels for Castle Hill Weddings

Once again, Castle Hill Inn and Ocean Avenue are at the southwest coast of Newport. The venue has plenty of onsite (valet) parking, though you’ll probably want to consider shuttle/bus service.

Like Newport Vineyards, Castle Hill Inn is far enough from downtown that you won’t really be dealing with traditional Newport traffic and noise at the venue itself. This certainly adds to the “dream wedding” ideal.

Regarding places to stay, you’ll have plenty of options for guest accommodations near Castle Hill Inn:

Room Blocks at Castle Hill Inn

Room reservations at Castle Hill Inn operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. The rooms have the usual basic amenities; some have upgrades like a balcony or fireplace.

Hotels Near Castle Hill

Several more suitable hotels can be found near Castle Hill Inn (as well as the other Newport wedding venues in town):

• Brenton Hotel
• Mill Street Inn
• Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa
• Newport Bay Club & Hotel
• Club Wyndham Long Wharf

My photos in this post show a groom getting ready at Club Wyndham Long Wharf before his wedding at Castle Hill Inn.

The hotel actually consists of several buildings on Washington Street, not too far from downtown Newport.

The bride and groom got ready in separate buildings, then we met up for their first look. After that, their wedding party joined them on a shuttle bus for the ride to Castle Hill Inn.

If Newport is what you’re after, then Castle Hill Inn simply cannot be beat!