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Waldhotel Tropfsteinhöhle
Restaurant and rooms right next to the cave entrance. Also the right place for a wedding party or birthday cake.
To the WaldhotelSay “I do”, 30 metres underground
Candlelight, dripstones and a chamber of rock: couples have been getting married in the Wiehler Tropfsteinhöhle (Wiehl Dripstone Cave) since 2002 – civil ceremonies, deep inside the mountain.
Why
A ceremony room like no other.
Most couples marry at a registry office, in a castle or in a garden. They marry where it is beautiful – and yet many weddings look alike. In the Wiehler Tropfsteinhöhle it is different: your wedding venue lies about 30 metres underground, surrounded by dripstones that have been slowly taking shape for millennia. There is no second place like it in the region.
The light is soft and warm, the sounds are quiet. This gives the ceremony a calm you rarely find elsewhere. Your guests listen to you, look at you and are completely present in that one moment.
There is also a practical advantage: in the cave it is around 8 °C all year round. There is no rain to upset your plans and no summer heat to make a suit an ordeal. The ceremony takes place whatever the weather is like above.
And last but not least, there is the memory. The place where you said “I do” becomes something special in your stories and in your photos – for you, your family and your friends. “We got married 30 metres underground” is not a sentence you say every day.
Your day
Your wedding day in 7 steps.
This is what your day could look like. You agree the exact order and times with the Wiehl registry office and the Waldhotel.
Step 1
Arriving at the Waldhotel
Your guests arrive at the Waldhotel Tropfsteinhöhle at Pfaffenberg 1. Free parking is right at the hotel. There is time for a first welcome, a photo in front of the entrance and for everyone to arrive in peace before heading down.
Step 2
26 steps down
After 26 steps you are already 7 metres underground, and then it continues down to the deepest point. The way down is part of the experience: daylight stays behind, the air turns cool and damp, and with every step it grows quieter. Your guests go down together with a guide.
Step 3
Ceremony at the deepest point
At a depth of about 30 metres the ceremony table awaits. The Waldhotel staff prepare the venue festively, and the Wiehl registry office conducts the ceremony like any other wedding – only in the rock. Throughout, you and your guests are accompanied by the venue’s staff.
Step 4
Back up and drinks reception
After the vows you climb back up together. You toast the occasion with a glass of sparkling wine or another drink of your choice. If you wish, the Waldhotel can arrange a small canapé buffet. This is the moment for congratulations and the first group photos.
Step 5
Photos in the woods and wildlife park
Right next to the cave begins the Wiehl wildlife park, which is free to enter all day. Forest paths, beech trees and meadows offer wedding photos in daylight – a lovely contrast to the candlelight underground. Allow about half an hour for this.
Step 6
Reception at the Waldhotel
Afterwards you celebrate at the Waldhotel Tropfsteinhöhle, just a few steps away. The hotel offers rooms of different sizes, a set menu or buffet, and planning from a single source. According to the information so far, up to 150 guests fit in the house. (provisional)
Step 7
Overnight stay
If you do not want to travel after the celebration, simply stay: the Waldhotel offers accommodation for the couple and guests. According to the information so far, for wedding celebrations of 20 or more people at the hotel, the night in the bridal suite is a gift from the house for the couple. (provisional, to be confirmed by the venue)
Facts
The most important facts.
So that you can tell straight away whether the cave suits your wedding, here are the key data. Anything still to be confirmed by the venue is marked “provisional”.
- Official wedding venue
- since 2002
- Depth
- approx. 30 m
- Temperature
- 8 °C
- Dates
- Registry office
| Cave usage feeprovisional, plus registry fees | €110 |
|---|---|
| Guests in the cave | on request |
| Reception in the hotelguests, provisional | up to 150 |
Details marked “provisional” are to be confirmed by the venue.
Date
Step by step to “I do”.
Step 1
Contact the Wiehl registry office
You register your marriage with the Wiehl registry office and name the dripstone cave as your preferred venue. You can reach the registry office on +49 2262 99-243 or 99-248.
Step 2
Contact the venue
At the same time, call the Waldhotel on +49 2262 7920. There you agree guest numbers, schedule, drinks reception and the celebration. Also ask about the usage fee (€110, provisional).
Step 3
Prepare your documents
The registry office will tell you which documents you need to register your marriage. It is best to ask early so that nothing is missing.
Step 4
Fix the date
The cave is available for weddings on fixed dates, so far Tuesday and Friday mornings and on individual special weekends. (provisional, as of October 2026)
Step 5
Plan ahead
Popular dates are taken early. Allow several months of lead time. (provisional)
Tips
Well prepared for going underground.
Dress and suit
At 8 °C a stole, bolero or jacket over the wedding dress is advisable. For the groom, a suit in a thicker fabric is a good idea. After the ceremony you go back up, where it is immediately warmer.
Shoes and steps
The way leads down 26 steps and further downwards, and the floor can be damp. Flat or sturdy shoes are more comfortable than high heels. If you like, bring your dress shoes and put them on only down below.
Train and hem
The floor is damp and uneven in places. Gather a long train or have a companion carry it. A dress with a shorter hem is practical here.
Photographer
The light in the cave is warm but subdued. A photographer with a fast lens and some experience in dark rooms will take the best pictures here. Talk to the venue beforehand about what is allowed. (provisional)
Older guests
The stairs are a challenge for people with limited mobility, and the cave is not accessible for wheelchair users. Ask the venue in advance how this can be solved, and allow time for the way.
Flowers and candles
The venue prepares the ceremony location festively. Your own flowers, candles or decorations are only possible by arrangement: the dripstones must not be touched and space is limited.
For your guests
Ask your guests in the invitation to wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes. A short note saves discussions on the day itself. With warm jackets the ceremony is more pleasant for everyone.
Time
What stone tells us about time.
The limestone you walk through formed around 390 million years ago. The dripstones grow only about one centimetre in a hundred years; each drop deposits a tiny speck of lime. Much of what you see at the ceremony location was already there before your great-grandparents were born – and will still be there when your grandchildren marry.
For a promise meant to last a lifetime, that is a fitting image. Your vows are not spoken in an interchangeable room, but in a place that makes patience and permanence visible. Many guests will feel this without you having to say a word about it.
Checklist before the date
- Clarify the wedding date with the Wiehl registry office and your enquiry with the Waldhotel as early as possible
- Discuss guest numbers, the celebration and overnight stays with the venue
- Mention warm clothing and comfortable shoes for guests in the invitation
- A stole or jacket for the wedding dress, shoes suitable for steps
- Inform your photographer about the lighting conditions
- Agree flowers, candles and decorations with the venue beforehand
Options
Big, small or just the two of you.
The cave suits very different weddings. A few examples of how couples can use it:
Small wedding with close family
Family and a few friends, a quiet ceremony, then a meal together at the Waldhotel. The venue suits small groups particularly well because the ceremony space is intimate.
Eloping, just the two of you
Just the two of you and the registrar, plus witnesses. This is also conceivable in the cave on request. (provisional)
Anniversary and vow renewal
Renewing your vows or celebrating an anniversary: the place can be something special for this too – on request from the venue.
Pictures
This is what it looks like.
Questions
Good to know.
Can you get legally married in the Wiehl dripstone cave?
Yes. The cave is a wedding venue of the Wiehl registry office, and the first ceremonies took place in 2002. Weddings are held at the deepest point, about 30 metres down. The dates are coordinated by the Wiehl registry office (Standesamt Wiehl).
Who allocates the wedding dates in the cave?
The dates are coordinated by the Wiehl registry office, phone +49 2262 99-243 or 99-248. According to the information published so far, the cave is available for this on fixed dates, such as Tuesday and Friday mornings and on individual special weekends.
How much does a wedding in the cave cost?
So far there is a basic fee of €110 for use of the cave, which goes to the Waldhotel. The registry office’s fees are added to this. The current amount will be confirmed by the venue.
How many guests can come into the cave?
The number of guests for the ceremony is agreed individually with the venue and the registry office, on request on +49 2262 7920. The ceremony location is a chamber in the rock, so numbers are limited.
Isn’t it too cold in the cave for a wedding dress?
It is around 8 °C all year round. We therefore recommend a stole, bolero or jacket over the dress, and warm clothing for guests. The ceremony itself is short, and afterwards it is up to the drinks reception above ground.
Can older guests manage the stairs?
The way in leads down 26 steps, and then continues downwards. The cave is not accessible for wheelchair users. Guests with walking aids or in a wheelchair should ask the venue in advance what is possible.
Can a photographer or videographer come into the cave?
As a rule, yes – please agree this with the venue beforehand. In the subdued light a fast lens helps. There is no binding rule on flash so far.
May we decorate the cave with flowers and candles?
The Waldhotel prepares the ceremony location festively. Your own decorations, flowers or candles are only possible by arrangement with the venue, because the dripstones must not be touched.
Can the wedding reception take place right at the Waldhotel?
Yes. The Waldhotel Tropfsteinhöhle is right next to the cave and offers rooms, a set menu or buffet, and overnight accommodation. According to the information so far, up to 150 guests can celebrate at the hotel.
Can we get married without a big celebration, just the two of us?
This is possible on request: please contact the Wiehl registry office and the Waldhotel. A small ceremony with just your closest circle is easy to imagine in the cave.
Enquiry
Tell us about your day.
Call the Waldhotel on +49 2262 7920. We will discuss your wishes and the next steps. The wedding date itself is allocated by the Wiehl registry office.
More to experience.
These go well with it – and you will find all guided tours with free places under “Guided Tours & Tickets”.
Back above ground
After the tour
Wiehl town wildlife park
Right next door and free to enter: enclosures, forest paths and a climate trail. Run by the town of Wiehl.
More about the wildlife park