Yorkshire is awesome hey?! You can’t deny it. I’m Leeds born + bred and am a pretty patriotic Yorkshireman – and while I’ve been flown as far a field as Thailand, India and all over Europe to photograph weddings, there’s no place like home!
Yorkshire is the largest county in the UK, spanning almost 3 million acres and is often split into three geographical areas; North, West or the East Riding. The North and East are more rural, and the West Riding is much more urbanised.
Because it’s so big, we’re positively spoilt for choice for wedding venues!
In over a decade shooting hundreds of weddings up and down this stunning county, I’ve photographed at ancient castles, outstanding gastro-pubs, smartly converted barns, in national trust ruins and at funky boutique hotels that make me smile. So I thought I’d take this opportunity to take a tour around the best wedding venues I’ve photographed around Yorkshire to provide some ideas and inspiration (plus any of the links in this post will also link to expanded posts specific to those venues too)
Might be best to grab a mug of Yorkshire tea to get you in the spirit of things too, ’cause this might take a while!
So there’s no better place to start than York – the historic capital of Yorkshire – overlooked by the Monster Minster and famous for the ramshackle 14th century street ‘The Shambles’ (small images above left and right). Within the giant stone walls circling the city are all kinds of interesting and ancient spots to host a wedding. The one I’ve photographed most at are weddings at The Merchant Adventurer’s Hall (main image above) – a medieval guildhall that was one of the most important buildings in the medieval city, but I’ve also photographed fab weddings at the ancient Bedern Hall, St William’s College – a listed stripy tudor building around a hidden quadrangle, originally build to provide accommodation for priests attached to chantry chapels at the nearby York Minster – the Hospitium – another ancient building in the grounds of the Museum Gardens by the ruined Abbey – and weddings at The Merchant Taylors Hall – another historic guild hall, for the less adventurous and those into fabrics. ;)
Meanwhile, in my hometown of Leeds there are plenty of fab venues within easy reach of this bustling metropolitan Northern powerhouse. In the city centre I’ve papped civil ceremonies overlooked by the wise owls at Leeds Civic Hall and the Leeds Town Hall (above left and right), and often these affairs end up at interesting gastro-pubs such as The Foundry, the Midnight Bell or The Crossed Keys in Holbeck, or at the funky, alternative former-church-cum-arts-space LeftBank in Hyde Park.
Within a 15 minute drive of the centre, The Mansion at Roundhay Park (main image above) is an 1800’s Grade II listed building set in over 700 acres of gorgeous parkland, overlooking lakes and woodland.
Heading out of Leeds you’ve got Woodlands Hotel (above left, looking misty) – a country house again not far out of Leeds on the way South to Gildersome – and the Hansel & Gretel looking stack of Holdsworth House out near Halifax (above right).
A new favourite of mine is the wedding venue Denton Hall (main image above), a country house on the river Wharfe between Otley and Ilkley, overlooking the Chevin. It’s a gem of the North Yorkshire countryside and a wonderful wedding venue whatever the season.
South of the city of Leeds you’ve got Oulton Hall (above left) – an 18th century mansion, spa and 27 hole golf course – and Waterton Park (above right) – a spa with an old hall on its own island, accessible via a bridge!
Then another of my favourites, heading out towards Harrogate and Knaresborough is Goldsborough Hall (main image above) – a 17th-century country mansion with royal connections, set in 12 acres of landscaped grounds (famous for their seas of snowdrops and daffodils). Clare who runs the place is also a star, and they’ve recently added a lovely conservatory to the wedding set-up they run there.
Heading away from Harrogate you’ve got the country house wedding venue Rudding Park (above left) a listed Regency building with a modern state of the art spa, stunning golf course and a 19th Century Chapel.
In the direction of Wetherby, you’ve possibly The best Yorkshire barn wedding venue Priory Cottages (above right) – in the Rawlings family’s working farm, and set around a courtyard, flanked by modern cottages and an ancient 12th century priory.
From Wetherby, just past the picturesque village of Linton, is another Spa & country house style venue Wood Hall (main image above) – with its pride and prejudice style sweeping drive down to it affording lovely views of rolling Yorkshire.
Heading North into Yorkshire between Leeds and York you pass the elegant Hazlewood Castle wedding venue (above left) – a pet friendly spa, with grand dining rooms and sneaky priest holes (as during the persecution of Catholics provided refuge for priests).
Following on from the Henry VIII priest drama, I’ve photographed at loads of Yorkshire’s Abbey ruins; my favourites being weddings at Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds and weddings at Fountains Abbey up near Ripon (main image above). I’m often amused by the poor attempts made to actually ‘dissolve’ these Cistercian abbeys, as Fountains is still in impressively good nick! Ceremonies are generally held in Fountains Hall, 5minutes from the ruins, which was built largely out of stone from the ruins.
Heading further into the Gods own playground of the Yorkshire Dales, I’ve shot weddings at Bolton Castle (main image above), in my favourite dale Wensleydale (the backwards named village of Castle Bolton!). Not a perfect venue for winter, but stunning banquet hall vibes as you explore the towers and turrets.
You’ve gotta love the rolling drama of the Dales – and another fave spot on the gateway into to the Dales is Swinton Park near Marsham. Even in bleak winter, the hills look fab – as seen in this view down into Askrigg in Wensleydale, before a wedding round the bend at the gorgeous boutique hotel wedding at Yorebridge House in Bainbridge
One of my favourite venues on the edge of Richmond is Middleton Lodge – an extensive Georgian Estate wedding venue, with no less than three wedding venues – a Georgian country house, a former coach house and now the Fig House. It’s been fab seeing this venue expand and slicken up over the years, and it’s always a pleasure to shoot at.
One thing I do love Yorkshire for are the high-end gastro-pubs that also host fab weddings, such as the Angel at Hetton – but two of my favourites are in fact in the same quaint village of Harome, near Helmsley – The Pheasant (main image above) and Michelin Starred wedding yorkshire venue The Star Inn. Both make for a delightful stay away as well as for smaller funky weddings, where a groom in a smart tweed suit wouldn’t go amiss in the Pheasant’s lounge (below left).
If you’re looking for something a bit different, sometimes it’s nice to married in a country home that’s still lived in and run by a family, and a wedding at Newburgh Priory is a great choice (above right) – with a ruined priory in the grounds for you to hide your marquee!
As far as I can tell, East Yorkshire is often a bit of a lesser known spot for weddings, but I’ve recently photographed stunning weddings at Saltmarshe Hall and Carlton Towers (above main image) both near Goole and both absolutely gorgeous!
There are a glut of wedding venues in Burnsall (above left) in Wharfdale – including The Red Lion and the Devonshire Fell in the pretty village itself, Bolton Abbey and the Priests house up the hill, and the Michelin-Starred Devonshire Arms, which has it’s own helepad in case you need somewhere to park your chopper!
If you’re looking for a bit of fun from a wedding venue, there’s nothing more unique than a wedding at the Crab & Lobster – a boutique hotel in the truest sense – a quirky, kooky hotel, decorated with whimsy and adorned with all manor of random trinkets! I mean, they’ve not only got an 7ft yeti who’s dressed in different outfits every time I visit, but there’s also a hidden beer tap that’s free for all those lucky enough to find it – what’s not to love!?
At the other end of the spectrum, there’s class, culture and spectacle with a wedding at the Bowes Museum up in Barnard Castle near Durham – where you can host your wedding in a French-style chateaux surrounded by a World-class art!
Finally, ending our Yorkshire tour coming back towards Harrogate, is the superb wedding venue Ripley Castle (above main image) – a Grade I listed 14th-century country house in the most picture perfect Yorkshire village with an ancient icecream shop, butchers and a pub called the Boars Head.
There are just so many great wedding venues in and around Yorkshire that I can’t name them all! Some venues I’ve been fortunate enough to shoot so often I consider them a home from home.
I hope this list of my best Yorksire wedding venues has given you some ideas and inspiration! Below are galleries specific only to Yorkshire venues, so go top up your brew and have a good browse through! And if you’re looking for a specific venue, please use the search bar and type in the venue you’re after to see if I’ve shot there!
Cheers for looking,
Barnaby x
Hi there – I trust 2019 was good to you! My thirteenth year in wedding photography has been another cracker, travelling up and down the UK joining lovely couples to tell the story of their special day! I still primarily shoot at ...
Last weekend I photographed the wedding of James + Dan at the fabulous Cutlers Hall, an opulent Grade II listed venue, steeped in cutlery-shaped history, in the heart of Sheffield in South Yorkshire. These chaps make a lovely, warm ...
On Saturday I joined Jess + Tom for their relaxed wedding photography at the Northern Monk Brewery in Leeds city centre! It was the first time I’ve shot here, and the Northern Monk Refectory LDS made the perfect location for a ...
On Saturday I joined Emily + Rab for their wedding photography in a marquee on their family farm after their beautiful ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Sledmere in Yorkshire. The beautiful drive through Yorkshire countryside was ...
Last weekend I had the pleasure of joining Eleanor + Alan for their wedding photography at at The Star Inn in Harome, near Helmsley over the North Yorkshire Moors! The Autumn weather on the journey over for this classic Yorkshire ...
Last weekend I joined Alison + Chris for their wedding photography at Lineham Farm just outside Leeds in Yorkshire. I joined the girls for their fun, relaxed morning proceedings at their home in Chapel Allerton, while my wingman Andy ...
On Bank Holiday Monday, I joined Sharon + Gary for their sunny summer wedding photos at Oulton Hall – a beautiful Golf Club and Spa on the edge of Leeds in West Yorkshire! My morning spent with the ladies in their suite was great ...
Last weekend I joined Natasha & Guy for their wedding photography at Carlton Towers near Goole in Yorkshire in the blazing summer sun! And what a gorgeous day it was too! After a relaxed morning with the girls at Tasha’s ...
Last Saturday I joined the gorgeous Hannah + Jonny for their stunning wedding photography at Priory Cottages in Syninthwiate, a beautiful wedding barn on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! I do enjoy shooting at Priory ...
Last weekend we joined Steph + Tristan for their Yorkshire wedding photos in Upper Denby in Yorkshire, at St John The Evangelist Church and a marquee in a field overlooking Denby Dale! While it was yet another of Mother Nature’s 2019 ...
Last Saturday I joined the stunning Emily + Dan for their frankly amazing wedding photos at The Priory in Syninthwiate, a stunning barn and marquee wedding venue on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! I love shooting at Priory ...
Last weekend I joined Kat + Marcus out towards Wetherby and Linton, for their wedding photography at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa! Kat + Marcus are a lovely pair, and while Marcus is a Yorkshire lad, Kat’s from the Philippines! She ...
Last weekend I joined Lindsey + Cal at the lovely Coniston Hotel & Spa for their fun Yorkshire Wedding Photos near Skipton, in the Heart of The Yorkshire Dales! It was one of those unlucky summer days, when a long stretch of toasty ...
Last weekend I joined Janette + Warren for their relaxed summer wedding photos at The Pheasant Hotel in Harome near Helmsley in North Yorkshire! Now there’s nothing quite like an intimate wedding, on a lovely sunny day, at a ...
Last weekend I joined Claire + Matt for their relaxed summer wedding photos at The Pheasant Hotel in Harome near Helmsley in North Yorkshire! This was a wedding I photographed on my own, and it was lots of fun stopping in with the boys ...
Last weekend my wingman Andy & I joined Beth + Andy for their fantastic garden wedding in a ‘Your Marquee’ Pole Marquee Big Top Tent at their mum’s beautiful house in a village just outside York in North ...
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Last week my wingman Andy & I joined Hannah + Dom for their fab wedding at Crow Hill in Marsden – a beautiful former mill owner’s country house nestled in the Marsden Moors in West Yorkshire! It was yet another one of ...
Last Saturday I joined Claire + Mike to shoot their wedding photos at The Priests House near Skipton – a wonderful Grade 1 listed wedding venue nestled in the shadow of the impressive ruins of Barden Tower in the Yorkshire Dales. ...
Mid last year I was asked by my good buddy Joe Stenson if I’d like to join him on second photographer duties at Emma + Josh’s wedding at Hornington Manor. This hidden gem isn’t far from York, near Bolton Percy in the ...
Last Saturday I joined this lovely pair, Felicity + Andrew, to capture their wedding photos at Goldsborough Hall, a fab stately home wedding venue between Harrogate & Knaresborough in Yorkshire. Goldsborough Hall is one of ...
Last Saturday I joined Katie + Adam for their wedding photography at Priory Cottages in Syninthwiate, a beautiful barn/marquee wedding venue on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! This was yet another wonderful Priory ...
Last Saturday I joined Lizzie + Rich for their wedding photos at The Priory in Syninthwiate, a stunning barn and marquee wedding venue on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! I do enjoy a spring wedding at Priory Cottages – ...
Last Saturday I joined Laura + Mitchell for their spring wedding photos at The Priory in Syninthwiate, a stunning barn and marquee wedding venue on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! Now… This was the first wedding at ...
Hi there! I hope 2018 has been a good one for you. It’s certainly been entertaining as my twelfth year in wedding photography! It’s also been eventful for me personally – as I got engaged to my lovely girlfriend ...
