North Yorkshire Wedding Venues
Are you planning a North Yorkshire wedding?
North Yorkshire is a cosmopolitan county and an ideal location for your dream wedding. Though there are several cities within it – Middlesbrough, York, Harrogate, Scarborough, and Northallerton to name a few, it still retains a sense of beauty and character. Without a doubt, North Yorkshire is one of England’s most scenic counties – with the majority of the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors within its boundaries, around 40% of the county is covered by National Parks. As such, it is a beautiful and picturesque landscape in which to exchange your vows and gather with friends and loved ones for your wedding day. It’s the ideal place to work as a North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer with so much choice for couples to choose their perfect venue.
My style as an North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer
There are so many different things to think about when it comes to choosing a North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer – capturing memories that will last a lifetime is an important decision after all. Typically, there are three main types of wedding photography that tend to be found – reportage, traditional, and contemporary, and so when booking, it’s helpful to specify what you’re after. Ultimately, regardless of what you opt for, I look to ensure you are relaxed and have an enjoyable experience in front of the camera and that together, we produce images you love!
Where is the Best Wedding Venue in North Yorkshire?
There are so many things to consider when looking to get married in North Yorkshire. It’s impossible to tell you where the best place is to get married as each venue has its own unique quirks. What suits you as a couple, may not be someone else’s first choice. While the sheer number of venues can be overwhelming, your choice is likely to depend upon several factors.
For example, firstly, it’s important to consider the location of the venue you’re after – whether you need it to be accessible by public transport for those coming from afar or whether you’re willing to spend a bit extra on taxis if the evening ends up being wilder than expected!
Secondly, it’s also essential to take into account the number of guests you’d like to attend – some venues are happy to cater for smaller weddings while others have a minimum capacity limit. Of course, if you’re looking to throw an extravagant affair, you need to look closely into the maximum number allowed at each venue – including whether this will affect the table layout possible inside each space.
Last but not least, there is also the nagging issue of price – fortunately, there are so many different venues across North Yorkshire and as such, there is a place to suit every budget. When you think about your dream wedding, what theme do you envisage? Glamorous, modern, traditional, outdoors, or something entirely unique? You’re bound to find something to suit this theme and stay within your budget too.
Speaking of which, it’s time to move on to explore just some of the different North Yorkshire wedding venue options available!
The Best North Yorkshire Wedding Venues
This is my guide to some of the most popular wedding venues in North Yorkshire.
Birdsall House
https://birdsallestates.co.uk/weddings/
Built in 1540, Birdsall House is a spectacular and decadent building with lavish grounds, offering the perfect backdrop for your big day. While the building started off as a Tudor manor, the family later converted it to a much grander Georgian style house, which it remains today. It’s a unique venue in that the team inside is still led by the family who have called the place home since it was first built! The venue itself is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) in North Yorkshire, only 40 minutes East of York and an hour from Leeds. For your wedding day, you have exclusive use of the house and gardens to ensure total privacy – whether you’re looking for a small, intimate wedding in the Little Temple or a more extravagant banquet in the Ballroom, their events team will work with you to ensure it’s a day you remember for the rest of your life.
Carlton Towers
Nothing quite prepares you for your first sighting of Carlton Towers. Set in 205 acres of parklands, Carlton Towers is a national hidden treasure that provides a fairy-tale location for an unforgettable wedding day. As you first pass through the stone gateway, you travel along an elegant tree-lined avenue before you first capture a glimpse. With its striking clock tower and immaculately manicured lawn, its front entrance is reached by broad stone steps upon which photographs of the happy couple will highlight the best features of the venue. Inside, all the staterooms at Carlton Towers are licensed for weddings – the Venetian Drawing Room, for example, features opulent décor with double-height windows and crystal chandeliers. The Picture Gallery, meanwhile, allows you to wed in front of a wonderful collection of oil paintings and artworks. Alternatively, if you are seeking a more intimate ceremony, the Card Room is nonetheless stunning, with exquisite artistry and attention to detail throughout.
Camp Kàtur
https://www.campkatur.com/wedding.php
Are you looking for an alternative wedding venue? One that will give you and your guests an unforgettable experience, different from a traditional wedding? Camp Kátur provides the perfect magical setting to achieve this! Set within the natural beauty of a 250-acre English Country Estate, it is an all-in-one Camping & Glamping village with pop up venue hire options to suit your needs. This venue can cater for as little as 10 people up to 1,500 people making sure that nobody is left out. There are several spaces on-site to choose from including a woodland ceremony, glamping meadowland, a rustic barn, or the orangery pavilion. Should your guests have free time during the day, there is an array of activities for them – including an outdoor Eco Spa, a Nordic BBQ cabin, and different outdoor adventures for them to pursue. With minimal restrictions, the events team are open to your wacky ideas and encourage you to let your imaginations flow to make your dreams come true.
Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate
https://www.cedarcourthotels.co.uk/hotels/harrogate/weddings
Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate is a grade II listed building that features magnificent function suites with elegant period features and breath-taking views of the famous 200-acre Stray parkland; the perfect classical backdrop for your big day. Its well-groomed gardens complement the building to provide the picture-perfect setting for photographs of your special day. The hotel itself is licensed to hold civil ceremonies and has numerous locations in which to say: ‘I do’. Inside, whether you opt for the Cedar or Rowan Suite, both are spacious and feature impressively high ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows to ensure natural daylight streams through; the rooms boast impressive character and radiate regal opulence. To ensure your big day goes as planned, a team of professionals will be on-hand every step of the way, nothing is too much trouble at this world-class venue.
Crab & Lobster
https://crabandlobster.co.uk/weddings/
With ivy archways, fountains, landscaped gardens and terraces, North Yorkshire’s award-winning Crab Manor and the Crab & Lobster restaurant promises a fairy tale wedding in an idyllic and memorable setting that’s guaranteed to take your breath away. Located in the Manor House is a beautiful conservatory that is licensed to hold civil ceremonies. Alternatively, should you wish to have your wedding ceremony elsewhere, including a church, this venue is happy to cater for the remainder of your day. Rest easy knowing your guests will be welcomed to Crab Manor with a red-carpet drink and canapé reception. As the day progresses, the Crab’s Executive Head Chef offers a wide selection of dishes that will have been individually designed for your wedding breakfast to tantalise your guest’s taste buds and have them raving about it for years to come. To wind down in the evening, guests can enjoy one of twenty individually designed rooms with access to a communal hot tub and sauna, located in the tranquil courtyard of the eighteenth-century Georgian manor.
Crathorne Hall Hotels
https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/crathornehall
This stunning hotel, built in the early nineteenth century, acts as a brilliant backdrop in which your magical day can unfold. With 15 acres of private grounds, featuring stunning views over the Leven Valley, and 37 guest bedrooms, there is plenty of space for the happy couple and all your guests. Your wedding breakfast should be one to remember and Crathorne Hall Hotel caters to this need enabling the happy couple to design a bespoke menu alongside their head chef. For the evening, the venue also offers a private gin bar to help the celebrations get into full flow! The evening celebrations can continue in the Hotels range of period rooms, suiting different capacities and each with unique features. All have brilliant period charm and an ambient, warm atmosphere in which to celebrate. Through it all, Crathorne Hall Hotels specialist team dedicate themselves to working alongside you in order to design the most spectacular day for you to remember.
Danby Castle
Your special day deserves only the grandest of settings so why not celebrate your special day in a fourteenth-century castle? Danby castle has evolved greatly over time – for example, the southern half of the Castle was converted into jury rooms and a court. The Court Room is now available to hire as a ceremony room for intimate and romantic candle-lit weddings. The Jury Room, on the other hand, is used for registrars and celebrants to meet with couples for their interviews prior to the ceremony. Couples can also retire to the Jury Room once the ceremony is complete for a moment alone before meeting their guests for a drink’s reception. While this is taking place, guests are invited to wander around the fourteenth-century castle ruins and take in the views over the Esk Valley from the lawn. When the evening draws in, Danby Castle boasts an authentic wooden beamed barn which presents an ideal location to let the festivities continue, full of charm and character to celebrate your love.
Dower House & Spa
https://dowerhouse-hotel.co.uk/
Situated on the edge of the picturesque market town of Knaresborough, the Dower House & Spa is easily accessible from both York and Leeds, as well as the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Licensed for civil ceremonies, there are a variety of rooms available in which to host your memorable day! The Swaledale, for example, fits up to 25 guests while The Terrace holds up to 30. Alternatively, for a larger wedding, the Storm Restaurant seats up to 85 people and The Nidderdale up to 112 people. In order to get ready for your wedding day, Dower House also offers a pre-wedding spa treatment so you can relax and enjoy being pampered. The spa includes a pool, jacuzzi, crystal steam, herb saunas, ice fountain, and a foot spa, as well as a variety of treatment options such as a massage or facial. To end the evening, enjoy one of 29 individually styled en-suite bedrooms. If you fancy something different, opt for the private cottage on site – hidden in the gardens away from the bustle of the hotel, this cottage has its own separate entrance and guarantees you and your partner privacy!
Eden Barn
Renovated for their own daughter’s wedding in 2015, Eden Barn is a gorgeous and lovingly restored venue. The building itself is a traditional 200-year-old Westmorland stone barn that radiates an aura of rustic elegance – from the giant chandeliers to vaulted ceiling to the exposed stone wall – it’s charming! Further, set within 100 acres, Eden Barn is surrounded by picturesque scenery and wedding day photograph opportunities. There is also a hand-thatched gazebo outside and landscaped grounds. While you’re busy capturing the day, guests can enjoy the character and charm of Cumbria’s Upper Eden Valley. Finally, as a family-run business, the owners are keen to emphasise their philosophy – they believe weddings should be relaxed, fun, enjoyable to arrange, and personalised to you and your desires. If that’s something you’re on board with, get in touch with them to arrange a package and discuss how they can help make your dreams a reality!
Gisborough Hall Hotel
https://gisborough-hall.com/weddings
Set against the backdrop of the Cleveland Hills and Guisborough Forest, Gisborough Hall is one of the most romantic venues in North Yorkshire. Within this venue, there are plenty of spaces in which to exchange your vows, each with their own character. The Longhull Room, for example, boasts a grand fireplace, country house décor, and views over the countryside, fit for up to 36 guests. Alternatively, The Madoc Suite ballroom features grand décor, chandeliers, and a romantic sweeping staircase that is bound to impress your nearest and dearest. For ceremonies and dining, this space can fit up to 200 guests. Further, if you’re struggling to decide between inside or outside, opt for the Glass House – a light and airy space with windows everywhere and views over the rose gardens, suitable for up to 80 guests. Finally, new in 2020, you can opt for an outdoor ceremony and exchange vows surrounded by nature. Whether you’re looking for an intimate setting or a grand affair, inside or outdoors, the team at Gisborough Hall will work with you to make a magical day that you and your partner will cherish forever.
Grinkle Park Hotel
https://www.classiclodges.co.uk/our-hotels/grinkle-park/weddings/
Located within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Grinkle Park is a hidden gem and the perfect backdrop for the most important day of your life. Set within 35 acres of its own parkland and a 3,000-acre estate, Grinkle Park Hotel is an elegant baronial country house that cannot fail to impress. With a long and impressive driveway, lush gardens, a tranquil lake, and woodland surrounds, there are ample opportunities for photographs. Stepping inside, you will find high ceilings, a Victorian interior, and large windows that allow copious amounts of natural light to cascade through the venue. Not only is the venue impressive but its food is world-renowned and the team at Grinkle Park pride themselves on creating great food, complemented by great service. If none of the popular menus suit your tastes, they are happy to discuss other options to ensure the day goes as you dreamt. With all the excitement of the day behind you, relax in their bridal suite together. Meanwhile, guests can choose from one of several rooms on-site named after elements of the beautiful countryside that surround it.
Hackness Grange Hotel
https://hacknessgrangehotel.co.uk/weddings/
Hackness Grange is Scarborough’s best independently owned luxury venue and, as such, is the perfect site for a romantic, magical wedding day. Set within 17 acres of private grounds, the venue is surrounded by woodland, bordered by the River Derwent, and boasts a charming lake nearby leading to flawless scenery and a picture-perfect setting. Nearby, St Peter’s Church is a stunning Grade I listed building if you wish to have a religious setting for your vows before coming to the Hotel for your celebrations. The hotel building itself is a nineteenth-century Georgian Manor house. The main function room inside, The Johnstone Suite, holds up to 170 guests seated and up to 200 for your evening’s party. You can also hold your civil ceremony or partnership ceremony here if you wish. When the events of the day wind down, the Hotel offers 28 ensuite bedrooms for guests, with a mix of family rooms, twins, doubles, and the Honeymoon Suite, included in all packages.
Hazlewood Castle
https://www.hazlewood-castle.co.uk/
Hazlewood Castle is a luxurious North Yorkshire wedding venue and hotel which has 1,000 years of history and is set in 70 acres of beautiful countryside. Located halfway between Leeds and York, Hazlewood is able to accommodate large scale weddings in its impressive Grand Hall and function rooms including the Old Dining Room and State Drawing Room. There are impressive views over the countryside and gardens which are ideal to host drinks and canapes after your wedding ceremony. This unique venue also features a 13th Century Chapel which is full of atmosphere for ceremonies and, for the summer months, a Woodland Wedding Venue which includes a pagoda in which to hold outdoor weddings. For you and your guests, there is a also luxury spa on site to pamper yourself before or after your wedding day and plenty of rooms for friends and family to stay overnight. If you want a distinctive location for your wedding with the romance and history of a ‘castle’ then Hazlewood would be the ideal choice.
Howshall Hall
https://www.dine.co.uk/venues/howsham-hall/weddings/
Just 15 minutes from York, Howsham Hall is the ultimate wedding venue. Licensed for Civil Ceremonies, The Great Hall within is a sight to behold. With glorious views across the countryside that surround the house, it’s the picture-perfect backdrop to exchange your vows. When the time comes for reception drinks and canapes, the front lawn provides an even greater 360 view of the Great British countryside. After, your Wedding Breakfast will be served in the Drawing Room, an elegant space with original features and an ornate fireplace. As the evening progresses, make your way to the riverside terrace adjoining the bar to party the night away with your guests on the dance floor. Overall, 250 guests can be accommodated in a marquee in the grounds or up to 96 for a seated meal in the Drawing Room, 160 if the Great Hall space is used too. If needed, there are twelve guest bedrooms available to book with space for up to 28 guests in total.
Merchant Taylors’ Hall
https://www.merchant-taylors-york.org/
Set in the heart of York, against the city’s ancient walls, the Merchant Taylors’ Hall is an elegant and beautiful Grade 1 listed fifteenth-century venue, steeped in history. With medieval beams, dangling chandeliers, a roaring fire, and a magical atmosphere, it makes for an unforgettable day. Inside, there are three different spaces to hire, accommodating anywhere from 40 to 120 guests. There is also a lovely garden in which to take photographs after the main event. While there is not a specific catering company working on-site, their preferred caterers are each hugely experienced in creating a wide choice of menu styles at prices that suit your budget – whether you’re looking for a buffet, banquet, or set meal, you can enjoy delicious food and drink while taking in the luxurious surrounds. What’s more is that as a registered charity, all income generated from weddings is either reinvested into the maintenance of this historic building or given in grants to projects involving York’s youth!
Ox Pasture Hall
https://www.oxpasturehallhotel.com/
Once a former country farmhouse, surrounded by outbuildings and barns, Ox Pasture Hall is today a super luxurious, warm, welcoming, friendly country house hotel. It is set within seventeen acres of picturesque countryside within the renowned North Yorkshire Moors National Park and lies just 2 miles from the seaside holiday resort of Scarborough. With a sweeping driveway and landscaped gardens, arriving at the venue feels like walking into a film set. For your big day, opt for the Dovecote Suite, a purpose-built function room. Alternatively, if the weather is working in your favour, the venue is licensed to hold outdoor wedding ceremonies. After the festivities have started to wind down, you and your guests can enjoy one of 32 en-suite bedrooms within three different areas of the hotel, each offering different views. Should your guests wish to stay around the area after the wedding, there are plenty of opportunities to go walking, cycling, and mountain biking nearby, as well as delightful walks along the Yorkshire Coast and neighbouring Forge Valley – make the weekend fun and enjoyable for all!
Ripley Castle
From the moment you arrive, it is clear that Ripley Castle, a beautiful Grade I listed fourteenth-century country house, reflects the quintessential essence of Yorkshire romance. With a winding grand staircase, stain-glass windows, candelabras, and historic portraits on the walls, the entrance makes for a perfect spot to take an elegant picture of you ascending the stairs with your dress cascading down the staircase. Inside, six of the castle rooms are available to view, including the Library, the Drawing room, the Knights Chamber and the Tower room. Speaking of which, the latter mid-sixteenth century tower is also a notable location as it features original panelling and boasts a fine plaster ceiling, making for a beautiful backdrop. Finally, you should make use of the extensive gardens and lakeside for a pre-wedding photoshoot. The kitchen garden and orangery with pavilions date back to the 1800s and make a stunning backdrop for romantic pictures as a happy couple.
Rudding Park
https://www.ruddingpark.co.uk/your-perfect-day-yorkshire-weddings-at-rudding-park/
Situated a mere three miles from Harrogate, Rudding Park offers extensive facilities over 300 acres of parkland, guaranteed to impress your guests. Make use of either their civil ceremony room, within Rudding House itself, or if the weather is good to opt outside and wed in the beautiful Kitchen Garden, enjoying garden games such as Boules and Jenga post-ceremony. For the ultimate insta-worthy wedding shot, take a rowing boat across to Love Island and enjoy some alone time, toasting to your first moments as a married couple. Once the day’s festivities draw to an end, your guests may enjoy booking an extra few days to enjoy what’s on offer – there are 6 and 18-hole golf courses as well as a driving range. If golf isn’t their thing, every book lover can find solitude curled up in a bubble chair in Rudding Park library. With your own personal Duty Manager on hand for your special day, relax and let Rudding Park take care of it all.
The Old Deanery
http://theolddeanery.co.uk/weddings/
This beautiful North Yorkshire venue boasts a seventeenth-century, grade II, red star listed building, featuring an impressive façade, idyllic gardens, and a fantastic location, opposite Ripon Cathedral. For your big day, the entire venue and its grounds are exclusively reserved for you and your guests, decorate it how you wish. You can also design your own menu, tailored for your desires. Fortunately, this venue is licensed to hold ceremonies as well. Open up the doors of the Cathedral Dining Room and combine it with the Dean’s Dining Room to make an elegant space for up to 80 guests. Alternatively, for a smaller wedding of up to 20 guests, you can use the Garden room. To end the evening, if some guests need to stay the night, there are 11 bespoke bedrooms within the house atop the stunning grand oak staircase, what a way to make an impression!
York Castle Museum
https://www.yorkvenues.org.uk/our-venues/york-castle-museum/
Perfect for history buffs and culture vultures, York Castle Museum is Grade I listed venue in the heart of York. Formerly the site of York Castle, built-in 1068 by William the Conqueror, the museum today houses an extraordinary collection of social history items. On-site, there is also a reconstruction of a Victorian street, Kirkgate – a unique and quaint setting in which to host your own splendid historic dinner with room for up to 70 guests on the ‘main street’. Alternatively, buffet receptions can be arranged for receptions with a larger number of guests. Should you also wish, you can host your hen party in the museum too! Activity sessions allow you to try-on replicas of historic wedding costumes and create delicious Victorian-inspired recipes in the kitchen studio with your best friends for a unique and unforgettable day.
York Racecourse
https://www.conferenceandeventsyork.co.uk/weddings.html
“When two hearts race… both win!” York racecourse is a unique venue with extensive grounds, stunning facilities, and homemade catering on-site. For your big day, you can opt for a red-carpet arrival with canapés and chilled prosecco, followed by a delicious three-course wedding breakfast made by their award-winning caterers who use quality, local produce. In the evening, when the celebrations are in full swing, York racecourse offers either hot or cold buffets and a DJ to dance the night away. There are a few different room options in which to host your day, with a range of suites available and the option of wedding in the Parade Ring Restaurant should you wish. To help make planning simple, you can choose from either their silver, gold, or platinum package to suit your budget or get in touch to create a tailored package, specialised just for you.
Summary
This list is not exhaustive by any means – there could easily be hundreds on this list! Instead, the preceding list is just to give you an idea of some of the variety available.
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