Wedding at Thorskogs Slott

A wedding at Thorskogs Slott takes place in a brick castle from 1892 on the Göta älv river, about 40 km north of Gothenburg. The castle is run as a hotel, so ceremony, dinner, dancing and overnight stays can all happen in one place.

That makes it a venue for a wedding that lasts the weekend, from preparations in the room called Karin to breakfast the morning after.

The brick castle on the Göta älv

Thorskogs Slott was built in 1892 by the shipyard owner Petter Larsson, who had started a shipyard on the Thorskog side of the Göta älv in 1865. The architect was Carl Fahlström, and the castle is built in brick in English Renaissance Revival style, close to the Göta älv.

The castle sits at Thorskog 100 in Västerlanda, between Gothenburg and Trollhättan, surrounded by an English park and old forest. From Gothenburg it is about 30 minutes by car, according to the castle, and guests from Stockholm can take the train to Gothenburg with SJ and continue from there.

This guide is written by me, Karin Lundin, a wedding photographer based in Stockholm. Further down the page I share what it is like to photograph here. Get in touch and we will talk.

Ceremony options at Thorskogs Slott

According to the castle, the ceremony can take place in the castle park, in Västerlanda church, in Romelanda church or somewhere else, in which case you arrange the officiant yourselves. Indoors, the castle can arrange the ceremony in Jägarsalen or in the stable. Civil ceremonies can also be held at the castle.

According to the castle, Jägarsalen is a former grain store from the 1600s.

The rooms at the castle

Ask the castle how many guests the Orangery seats with your table plan.

Dinner and dancing take place in the Orangery, where the castle serves a four-course wedding menu under crystal chandeliers. The kitchen is listed in White Guide, the Swedish restaurant guide, and the castle sommelier recommends wines from its own cellar. After the ceremony the toast is held in the castle courtyard, and cake and coffee are served in the salons.

Smaller rooms complete the picture. The Patron’s Dining Room seats up to 35, the Flower Room (Blomsterrummet) seats 16 for a buffet lunch, and the couple can get ready in the room called Karin. The castle also has its own florist.

Prices and planning

The castle publishes no wedding prices, so ask for a quote with your date and guest count, and ask what is included in food, drink and accommodation. Planning meetings are included: two for weddings with more than 70 guests, and one meeting plus a phone call for smaller weddings. Extra meetings cost 500 SEK per hour.

History: from shipyard industry to wedding venue

The site is older than the castle. According to the castle’s own history, the Norwegian king Haakon Haakonsson and Birger Jarl met at Torskebacke, the Norwegian name for Thorskog, in 1249. In 1730 Olof Wenngren started an industrial works there and built a manor where the castle stands today.

Petter Larsson’s son Eskil took over in 1912 and died in 1926, after which the castle was sold and for decades served mainly as a private home. Lena and Tommy Jonsson bought it in 1986, new owners took over in January 2015, and today it is a hotel with a restaurant. Past guests include George and Barbara Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev.

A photographer’s perspective on Thorskogs Slott

My name is Karin Lundin and I am a wedding photographer based in Stockholm. I have photographed weddings at Thorskogs Slott, and here I work with rooms that already carry a mood: the salons with stucco and crystal chandeliers, the old walls of Jägarsalen and the park down towards the Göta älv as a backdrop for portraits. My approach is documentary and quiet, and I move through the day without directing it.

With my background in sociology, I look for the details that often go unnoticed. The light shifts through the day, from window light inside the castle during preparations to the park and the river in the afternoon, and when the candles are lit in the Orangery and Jägarsalen the rooms change character.

For moving pictures of the day, I often work alongside Nordvér Films. Nordvér Films also works in a documentary way, and we plan the day together in advance so both teams can move quietly among the guests. If you want to see how I work, there is a separate page about fine art wedding photography in Sweden.

If you are comparing Thorskogs with other west coast or Stockholm-area venues, my Stockholm wedding venue guide covers castles, manors and city venues around the capital. For broader European destinations, see my European wedding venue guide.

How the day can move between rooms

Practical tips for guests travelling to Thorskogs

Many guests travel some distance to Thorskogs, so a few logistics points help the weekend run smoothly.

Travel from Stockholm. Guests can take the train to Gothenburg and continue by car, or drive the whole way. A transfer bus from central Gothenburg on Friday and back on Sunday lets the guests arrive and leave together.

Travel from Gothenburg. The castle is about 40 km north of the city. International guests can fly into Gothenburg Landvetter and continue by car or transfer.

What to pack. Weather by the river can shift through the day even in summer, so bring a light layer for the evening. For winter weddings proper outerwear matters, and comfortable shoes are worth having for a walk in the park or to the forest glade.

Children at Thorskogs. The park gives children room to move. Discuss specific needs such as cots, high chairs or dietary requirements with the castle in advance.

If you are considering Thorskogs Slott for your wedding, get in touch and we will take it from there.

Key takeaways

• The castle is a hotel with around 40 rooms in the castle and the park buildings, plus a bridal suite.
• Dinner and dancing take place in the Orangery, with a four-course wedding menu under crystal chandeliers.
• The ceremony can be held in the castle park, Jägarsalen, the stable, or Västerlanda or Romelanda church.
• The castle publishes no wedding prices, so ask for a quote early.
• Planning meetings are included, two for weddings with more than 70 guests.
• The castle is about 40 km north of Gothenburg, and Stockholm guests can come by train via Gothenburg.

Frequently asked questions

How many guests does Thorskogs Slott hold?

Ask the castle how many guests the Orangery seats with your table plan. Ask how many guests the Orangery seats with your table plan.

How much does a wedding at Thorskogs Slott cost?

The castle publishes no wedding prices on its site. Ask for a quote with your date and guest count. Planning meetings are included, two for weddings with more than 70 guests, and extra meetings cost 500 SEK per hour.

Is Thorskogs easy to reach from Stockholm?

Guests from Stockholm can take the train to Gothenburg and continue by car, or drive the whole way. The castle is about 40 km north of Gothenburg, between Gothenburg and Trollhättan.

Can the ceremony take place outside?

Yes, in the castle park. In poor weather the castle can arrange the ceremony indoors in Jägarsalen or in the stable.

Do weddings at Thorskogs run for a full weekend?

Many do, since the castle is a hotel with around 40 rooms and a bridal suite. Breakfast the morning after can be served on the terrace, and guests can walk to the forest glade near the castle. Ask the castle what is included and what is booked as an extra.

How far in advance should I book?

Ask the castle about your date as early as you can. I photograph 10 to 15 weddings a year, so book the photographer around the same time as the venue.

More wedding venues

If Thorskogs is not quite the right fit, see my guides to other west coast and Stockholm-area venues: Top wedding venues in Stockholm, Häringe Slott, Rånäs Slott and Ett Hem Stockholm.

If you are planning a wedding, I am happy to talk about how your day could look in pictures. Get in touch and we will talk.