Five of our Favourite Wedding Venues in Yorkshire
As Yorkshire-based wedding videographers and photographers, the team here at Studio Lester has had the honour of working in some truly amazing wedding venues across the county.
In this article, we take a look at five of our favourite Yorkshire wedding venues. Ranging from Victorian masterpieces to rustic barn conversions, if you’re thinking of tying the knot here in Yorkshire but aren’t sure where to do so, here’s just a few of our favourite venues to consider.
Thicket Priory, Thorganby
Until recently, Thicket Priory - situated on the outskirts of York - was used as a nunnery, sealed off from the outside world. Dating back to the 1840s, this grade II-listed building boasts its own chapel, private grounds and 35 en-suite bedrooms, making it one of the county’s most luxurious ‘all-under-one-roof’ venues.
From a photographer’s point of view, few places can rival Thicket Priory. On sunny days, couples can take advantage of the venue’s 18 acre grounds, a private lake and boathouse, with limitless opportunities for romantic portraits and group shots. Thinking you’d prefer a wintery wedding? There are tons of amazing spots inside too - including an epic staircase and ballroom.
The grounds also allow aerial videography - provided permission has been granted from the CAA - meaning that every angle of this stunning venue can be captured from above.
Inside, couples have a number of ceremony rooms to choose from, including the private chapel, which has been lovingly restored back to its former glory. At its heart, a stunning ballroom can be used to host up to 200 seated guests for a hearty banquet, professionally prepared by the venue’s on-site team.
As far as evening entertainment goes, newlyweds are free to hire DJs or live acts, both of whom will be catered for with the venue’s state-of-the-art soundsystem. There’s a fully stocked bar on site, plus a host of pantrys, all of which are kitted out with tea/coffee facilities - perfect for those that need a quick energy boost before getting back out on the dancefloor.
In all honesty, there’s so much going for Thicket Priory that we’d struggle to list everything in one blog post. All we will say is that if you’re on the lookout for a luxury wedding venue with everything under one roof, this should definitely be on your shortlist.
The Orangery, Settrington
Set in the private gardens of Settrington House, The Orangery sits top of the list of Yorkshire’s most exclusive wedding venues.
As it’s not open to the public, The Orangery has a real getaway feel to it, providing a truly continental aesthetic from the comfort of its North Yorkshire base. Complete with its amazing vistas, which include stunning ornamental gardens, a tempietto and millennium fountain, guests may easily believe they’re attending a wedding in the heart of Italy, rather than a tiny village just outside of Malton.
Like Thicket Priory, The Orangery boasts everything you’d ever need on-site. This includes a quaint little church, an impressive indoor space and a small cottage, perfect for bridal parties looking to spend the evening together before the big day.
From a videography/photography perspective, The Orangery offers more than enough. There’s an onsite lake, tons of architecture and private gardens to be taken advantage of, meaning you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to capturing those all important portraits.
Victoria Hall, Saltaire
Situated in the quaint village of Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the outskirts of Bradford, Victoria Hall promises to provide a wedding venue as unique as those that choose to marry there.
Offering a distinct bohemian vibe, twinned with Victorian architecture and pastel tones, the team at Victoria Hall have done a superb job of developing the space into one of Bradford’s most sought-after wedding venues.
With a number of packages to choose from, couples have the freedom of curating a bespoke day that centres around their specific needs and wants. Looking to get married on site? No problem. Fancy taking over the entire building? You got it. Looking to kick back while your band takes to the stage in the hall’s main room? Why not?!
What’s great about Victoria Hall is that whichever package you choose, you’ll get your very own wedding planner to guide you through the entire process. This means that if you’re unsure of who to bring on board as your caterers, or perhaps need a specific layout for your ceremony room, there’s always someone just a phone call away to help you out.
How do we know all this? As Victoria Hall is the venue that Studio Lester’s very own Helen and Alex have chosen to tie the knot at, we have first hand experience in planning a wedding there!
Woodstock Weddings, York
Despite only opening its doors to weddings last year, Woodstock Weddings is fully deserving of its place on the list of our favourite wedding venues in Yorkshire.
Fully licensed to allow couples to get married on site, Woodstock combines the rustic aesthetic typically associated with barn conversions with all the mod-cons of more contemporary venues in one tidy package. This means that while couple’s can say ‘I do’ underneath arching wooden beams, an on-site tiki-bar provides all the Zombies the wedding party will need to get things pumping.
A huge courtyard sits in the centre of the venue, complete with a stunning water feature - offering a great spot for romantic portraits and group shots alike. There’s also a lengthy, private drive leading to the venue, providing a more secluded spot for camera-shy couples that want their photos taken out of sight of their guests.
Unlike other barn venues in Yorkshire, aerial photography and videography is permitted on-site - allowing videography teams to capture the wedding from above. There’s also a private area for both the bridal party and groomsmen to freshen up throughout the day - a nice touch that we’d love to see more venues develop in the future.
Farmer Copleys, Featherstone
Back in 2018 we worked our first ever combined video and photography gig at Farmer Copleys and today it still ranks as one of our favourite venues in Yorkshire.
As the name suggests, Farmer Copleys is situated on a working farm, complete with livestock, open fields and, best of all, a fantastic maize maze - perfect for capturing those golden hour portraits.
As well as offering couples the use of a private dining room and 120-seater barn all year round, the venue’s ‘Oak Tree Field’ is available for just five weddings a year, adding that all-important element of exclusivity. For couples lucky enough to secure the field for their big day, Farmer Copleys works closely with local company PapaKata to provide a range of luxury tipis, which work perfectly as onsite bars or seating areas.
During the wedding, couples and their guests are encouraged to explore the vast grounds in which Farmer Copleys is situated, and will even offer photography and videography teams use of their golf buggy when getting around!
There’s also a separate play area for kids, while the venue’s on-site bar provides plenty in the way of beverages to keep the adults entertained into the night.
Thinking of getting hitched in Yorkshire? Our team of Yorkshire videographers and photographers have worked at some of the region's finest venues, building solid working relationships across the county.
This means that we know the good spots when it comes to capturing those all important photos, and know exactly who to speak to when it comes securing the necessary permissions to use our drones.
If you’re interested in working with us for your big Yorkshire wedding, we’d love to hear from you. And although we’re no longer taking bookings for 2021, our books are now open for 2022 and 2023!