We’re so fortunate that our beautiful North Yorkshire bridal boutique is surrounded by so many amazing wedding venues.
From dreamy rustic barns and elegant stately homes to chic hotels and even enchanting castles…there really is an abundance of stunning options that each have something truly special to offer.
So, with such big day beauties on our doorstep, how do you choose a wedding venue that’s perfect for you and your partner? As the backdrop to your celebrations, it, of course, requires some careful consideration, and your choice will likely influence a lot of what follows. From the theme and colour palette you pick, right through to the food you serve and the dress you wear!
To help navigate the perfect setting path, we’re sharing how to search for a wedding venue and the key elements to take into consideration when making your decision. Furthermore, we’ve got our top picks of Yorkshire wedding venues and our dream dress suggestion to go with each!
How To Search For A Wedding Venue
Setting out on the wedding venue search can be both exciting and overwhelming as the planning wheels roll into motion and things get oh so real!
You may already have your perfect venue in mind, somewhere you’ve always dreamt of saying “I do”. But, if not, we recommend the following routes to seek out that ideal big day backdrop:
The Internet
Yes, it might sound a little obvious, but a ‘wedding venues near me’ Google search is a smart starting point that will throw up initial options to investigate. Obviously, if you plan to wed away from home or overseas, then do your research on venues in your desired destination.
Online wedding directories are another great tool and will often enable you to search for wedding venues based on location and filter by venue style, capacity, accommodation and the like. Coco Wedding Venues, dedicated solely to big day settings, is a great one to hit up!
Wedding Blogs
Wedding blogs are a fabulous source of inspiration for all wedding elements, including venues! Again, a good way to find what you’re looking for is to use the search tool to bring up weddings in a particular area, e.g. ‘North Yorkshire’. This will likely include real weddings providing a great insight into what celebrations at a specific venue might look like, plus venue spotlight posts, giving more details of their offering, approach and main features.
Some of our favourite blogs include Rock My Wedding, Brides Up North, Love My Dress.
Bridal Magazines
We may live in a digital-led world, but we still love losing ourselves in the pages of a beautiful wedding magazine. Brimming with educational and inspirational articles as well as real weddings galore, you might just find your perfect venue featured here.
We love reading UNVEILED, Belle Bridal, Your Day and Weddings & Honeymoons.
Wedding Fairs & Open Days
For any places that do catch your eye during your initial search, we’d suggest keeping your eyes peeled for wedding fairs and open days taking place there. Such events provide an excellent opportunity to scope out the venue without the pressure of an official viewing. You might also pick up a few local wedding supplier connections while you’re there. Bonus!
Belle Bridal, The Indie Wedding Fair and Brides Up North all host wedding shows in Yorkshire and surrounding areas.
Key Considerations
View the Bunny Hill Weddings styled shoot by Jane Beadnell Photography in full here.
Wedding venue shortlist drawn-up? Then it’s time to whittle down the options by seeing if they live up to your dream setting wishlist. It’s important to point out that the odd compromise might need to be made here and there, but the aim is to get as many ticks as possible in the following boxes:
Budget - It goes without saying that you will need to be able to afford your choice of venue, so once you’ve done those wedding budget sums, stick to your venue allowance. Don’t forget, this will likely include your food and drink costs, and the season and day of the week on which you wish to wed will generally affect the venue price too.
Numbers - Going for a small, intimate affair with just your nearest and dearest? Then look for a venue that will suit that vibe with cosy rooms to prevent the party from feeling lost. Meanwhile, if you’re going all out with a lavish do and long guest list, ensure there’s plenty of space for the ceremony, meal and evening reception to flow with ease.
Style - You will want to pick a setting that aligns with you and your partner and where you can picture yourselves saying your vows. Hipster couple? Look to cool urban venues. Hopeless romantics? A dreamy manor house. Countryside adventurers? A laid-back barn.
Accommodation - Unless tying the knot locally with guests coming from super nearby, accommodation will likely be a top priority. Check how many rooms are available on-site and for how many nights. Also, find out what accommodation is available nearby.
Package - Every venue works differently. Some don’t have packages as such but just charge a flat venue hire fee with other costs, such as catering, on top. Others, meanwhile, might offer curated packages that include food, drink and decor.
Our Top Yorkshire Wedding Venues & Bridal Dress Picks
Bunny Hill Weddings, nr York
Positioned on the edge of The Yorkshire Wolds, Bunny Hill is a wedding barn venue with a difference. Thoughtfully designed to provide a contemporary celebration space, this unique setting beautifully combines rustic features with elegant, modern touches and luxe finishes, including sparkling chandeliers and a silk-fabric-lined ceiling.
LP dream dress pick: Olena by Willowby By Watters
Middleton Lodge, Richmond
Venue image: Gasp Photo Co
Set in 200 acres of stunning North Yorkshire countryside, Middleton Lodge boasts two picture-perfect settings to tie the knot. Choose from the estate’s charming Georgian manor house with beautiful Garden Marquee on the surrounding grounds, or wed in its elegant Fig House set within a magical walled garden.
LP dream dress pick: Serene by Evie Young
Sneaton Castle, Whitby
Venue image: Paylor Photography
If you dream of full-on fairytale vibes for your big day, then this captivating Yorkshire castle takes some serious beating. Recently refurbished, Sneaton Castle offers off-the-scale splendour with its breathtakingly beautiful chapel, complete with impressive domed ceiling, and its wonderfully elegant barn.
LP dream dress pick: Leelee by WToo
The Oakwood at Ryther, Tadcaster
Venue image: Hayley Baxter Photography
A new venue to the North Yorkshire wedding scene, The Oakwood at Ryther offers unbeatable rural charm and stylish elegance in abundance. The Ceremony Hall brims with rustic grandeur, while its Old Grain Store is a spellbinding mix of bare brick walls, exposed beams and an alluring draped ceiling.
LP dream dress pick: 7407 by Stella York
Marquee Garden Wedding At Home
Marquee image: Joe Dodsworth Photography
A top trend for 2022/23 weddings is relaxed, back garden celebrations hosted from the comfort of your own home…or perhaps a relative’s. For those wanting to go down a classic English garden route, nothing beats the setting of an elegant white marquee like the beauties available from Yorkshire-based Wills Marquees.
LP dream dress pick: Petal Aura by Rachel Rose
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