A Tennessee castle that served as the backdrop for Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video is setting the stage to become the ultimate wedding venue. Mike Freeman, the owner of Castle Gwynn, plans to open the castle as a wedding and honeymoon destination, tapping into the narrative once set by the pop star's Romeo-and-Juliet romance tune.
In an effort to truly share his vision, Freeman is eager to give lovebirds the chance to marry in the same spot that enchanted millions of Swift's fans. "It's a dream come true, and I've had so many people share in the dream that have made it happen," Freeman told WKRN. Sprawling over 40 acres, the castle's grounds have long been close to Freeman's heart, with his own love story deeply interwoven into the property's history.
Freeman's dedication to Castle Gwynn extends back to his high school days when he began drafting plans for his dream castle. After acquiring the necessary land, Freeman and his wife Jackie brought the fantasy to life, embracing nearly four decades of continuous construction and enhancement. The North Tower, an area of particularly intricate design with a kitchen encased in 60 brick arches, is a testament to their lifelong endeavor, as mentioned by ABC4.
As Castle Gwynn prepares to open its imaginary doors to real-life couples, Swifties can look to fully come full circle – engaging in the narrative sewn by Swift's "Love Story." "If you are a full Swiftie, that is kind of like your dream deep down," Swiftie Nick Williams elaborated in his interview with WKRN. Such testimonials underline the venue's unique appeal, bridging fan fantasies with real-world "I dos." The castle's wedding venue section is still under construction, but Freeman has envisioned it complete with a medieval ballroom and dining hall to enchant couples on their special day.
Freeman's aspirations for the castle are not only rooted in architecture but in the joy of sharing it with others. Yet, while the dream inches closer to reality, there is no official opening date set for Castle Gwynn's wedding venue. He expressed to WVLT his hopes to open it within the next year or so. Until then, Swift fans and romantically inclined couples will have to wait to have their fairy-tale moments within the castle that once housed the fantasy of a country-turned-pop princess.
