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. Â
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
Last Saturday I joined Vicki + Ben for their fantastic wedding photography at Sandburn Hall Golf Club, near York in Yorkshire! This was my first wedding of 2023 and it was ace to be back in the saddle again, with such a lovely, relaxed ...
Yesterday I joined Hayley + Adam for their Autumnal wedding photography at The Priory in Syninthwiate, a stylish wedding barn on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! This family-orientated couple threw a right ...
Last Friday I joined Fiona + Andy for their stunning wedding photography at The Tithe Barn at Bolton Abbey – a wonderfully restored, ancient barn, overlooking Bolton Abbey in the rolling Yorkshire Dales! My wingman Matt & I ...
Yesterday I joined Finola +Matthew for their wedding photos at Rudby Hall near Yarm, a beautiful stately home wedding venue near Yarm in North Yorkshire! I’ve not shot at Rudby Hall before and it’s a stunning exclusive ...
Yesterday I joined Joanna + Aris for their wedding photos at Goldsborough Hall, a fab stately home wedding venue between Harrogate & Knaresborough in Yorkshire! I joined team bride at their family home in Boston Spa near Leeds, ...
I recently joined the hilarious Geri + Wayne for their wedding photos at The Pheasant Hotel in Harome near Helmsley in North Yorkshire! This wedding was such fun, as this couple were quite the pair! From the moment I met them at their ...
Yesterday I joined Becky + David near Linton in Yorkshire, for their summery wedding photos at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa! It was a scorcher too… one of the hottest days of the year, topping 30 degrees! I felt for the groomsman in ...
Yesterday I joined Grace + Harry for their relaxed Thursday wedding photos at The Priory in Syninthwiate, a stylish wedding barn on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! Readers of this blog will know I’m a huge fan of dogs, ...
Yesterday I joined Lydia + Martin just outside Wetherby in Yorkshire, for their summery wedding photos at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa! It was a scorcher too… the best you could have asked for from a July wedding! (Unless of course ...
Yesterday I joined Nat + Tom for their photos at Cowparsley Weddings in South Stainley near Harrogate, in North Yorkshire. It was a the perfect sunny summers day for a wedding! After relaxed preparations with Nat and the girls at the ...
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Last weekend I joined Bex + Andy for their relaxed summer wedding photos at The Chilli Barn in Otley, slap bang in the an intimate wedding venue in Otley, West Yorkshire, just on the edge of the Otley Chevin Forest Park, overlooking ...
On Saturday I joined Katrusia + Andy for their summer wedding at the Ukrainian Community Centre in Bradford – AKA: “The Ukey Club” I’ve photographed a few Ukrainian weddings now and they’re such fun – ...
Yesterday I joined Emma + Marc for their gorgeous wedding photography at The Tithe Barn at Bolton Abbey – a beautifully restored, ancient barn, overlooking the Bolton Abbey estate in the stunning Yorkshire Dales! My wingman Matt ...
Last Saturday I joined Hannah & Simon for their lovely sunny wedding photos at The Priory in Syninthwiate, a stylish wedding barn on a working farm near Wetherby in Yorkshire! Now I’m a fan of dogs, and this was the most ...
Last Saturday I joined Emily + Charlie for their brilliant wedding photography at Rudding Park near Harrogate in North Yorkshire! Emily + Charlie got together in a whirlwind romance at the start of the pandemic, and their classy yet ...
Last Saturday I joined Danielle + Nicky for their most excellent wedding photos at Rudding Park near Harrogate in Yorkshire! I’ve photographed this family before, at Danni’s brother Ben’s wedding to Kim 6 years ago, ...
Last Saturday I joined the lovely Emma + Keaon for their wedding photos at The Fleece Countryside Inn in Ripponden in the beautiful Ryburn valley in Yorkshire, overlooking the picturesque village of Ripponden. I had a lovely morning ...
I recently joined the lovely Clare + Joe for their wedding photography at The Pheasant Hotel in Harome near Helmsley in North Yorkshire! This was such a pleasure to photograph: a relaxed, funky couple at a relaxed, stylish venue. I ...
Yesterday I joined Sam + Josh for their wedding photos at The Tithe Barn at Bolton Abbey – a beautifully restored, ancient wedding barn, overlooking the Bolton Abbey estate in the Yorkshire Dales! This lovely pair originally ...
Last weekend I joined Georgina + Oliver for their wedding photos at Denton Hall – an exclusive country house wedding venue overlooking the beautiful Ilkley moors, opposite the Cow & Calf in Wharfedale, in West Yorkshire. ...
On Saturday I joined Sophia + Sammy for their wedding photos at Goldsborough Hall, a fab stately home wedding venue between Harrogate & Knaresborough in Yorkshire! It was such a lovely Spring day, with the daffs starting to show ...
Last Friday I joined Maria + Gary for their wedding at one of York’s best kept secrets, Howsham Hall – an exclusive, Downton Abbey style wedding venue, just 14 miles north east of York, in North Yorkshire! Built in 1610, ...
Last Saturday I joined Amy + Simon for their wonderful (snowy!) wedding photography at Bunny Hill Farm near York! Now these guys originally enquired with me all the way back in November 2018 for a big day originally penned for May ...
Last weekend I joined Ruth + Joe for their wonderful winter wedding photography at Hornington Manor. I’ve shot here a few times recently (and at their new sister wedding venue The Oakwood at Ryther too) and it’s a fantastic ...
