We love York! We may be biased because we live here! But in our humble opinion, there is no better backdrop to your wedding day than this historic and totally awesome city.  There is so much choice with regard to great venues.  Whether you want a more traditional venue steeped in history and maybe a mystery, contemporary and modern, or a rustic barn – York has so much choice for couples looking to tie the knot.

As an award-winning Wedding Photographer, Andy gets to shoot all over the UK and Europe, and working with him (and being married to him) I can guide you through some of the best venues to get married at in York.   To see more of Andy’s work and check his availability for your wedding day, click here.  Andy would love to be your York wedding photographer. Andy shoots 99% of your day in a natural documentary style – this means things aren’t staged or awkward poses pulled. You can just get on with having the best day of your lives and he’ll capture it all!

If you happen to be looking to add wedding videography  then we also offer this too – a perfect compliment to your photography!

York wedding venues – which will you choose?

1. The Normans – York Wedding Venues

If you are looking for a rustic barn wedding with all the contemporary twists then look no further than the Normans. A converted 18th-century farm that has been lovingly restored and tailored perfectly to weddings.  These guys nowhere it’s at and have thought of everything.  Large open spaces, perfect decor and lighting – it really is a dream.  There is the main ceremony barn, a large extra barn space to host your reception, party and dancing and lots of outside space and fire pits as well as snugs!    This really is a stunning venue and the hosts are beyond amazing! Click the link to out more about The Norman’s wedding photography.

2.York Maze – York Wedding Venues 

Just 3 miles outside of York, are the wondrous grounds of York Maze.  Only open for weddings in April, May and June as the rest of the year it’s filled by families fully engrossed in getting themselves lost in the maze and enjoying the attractions on offer.  Crazy as it sounds, this venue is the perfect backdrop to your big day.  Away from the tourist attractions, there are a range of timber and brick barns for your use, and even play areas for your younger guests (but I’m sure you can use too if the urge takes you!)  The barns are fully licensed for civil ceremonies, seating up to 200 people.     There is even the opportunity for guests to camp over should you choose it, I would!  You get full reign and can go as mad on decor as you wish!

3.The Hospitium – York Wedding Venues

Another central city venue is the Hospitium.  If you like a historic feel, then this is your place – a unique late Medieval building hidden in the middle of Museum Gardens, overlooking the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey.   Two storeys with arched ceilings, stone pillars, latticed windows, you really do step back in time.   Many couples choose to have their civil ceremony downstairs, their meal upstairs and then back down again for the party.  Drinks receptions can spill out into the outside space in summer, and the museum gardens themselves make for the most stunning of portraits.  The York wedding venue tends to hold around 135 guests for a meal and up to 200 in the evening.  We’ve seen everything here traditional dances to Moroccan belly dancing, psychedelic 60s themes to full-on rock and roll metal weddings. The Hospitium manages to suit them all!  See an example here.

4.Barmby Fields Barns  – York Wedding Venues 

Just on the outskirts of York, Barmby Field Barns is a collection of electric, rustic restored barns that make a refreshing change to the more conventional wedding venues.  Oozing with unique charm and character, the barn seats up to 120 people.  There is a bar area attached that offers cosy fires in the winter, and outside barn areas for drinks receptions in the summer.  There is also an upper floor that acts as a ‘snug’ in the winter months or a room for a rest at other times of the years.  The venue effectively give you three-day hire, enough time to personalise to your taste! See more examples here.

5.Grays Court – York Wedding Venues

Grays Court is the perfect mix of History and luxury, a secluded bolt hole of romantic seclusion nestled behind the Minster in the centre of York.  Built in Tudor times, it is a quirky warren of corridors and rooms that include wood panelled walls that add to the ‘gentlemen’s club’ feel.  Or you can choose from those with more light overlooking the stunning walled gardens with views of the city walls.  The family-owned venue is host to small intimate weddings, preferring those focusing on 50 guests or less.   The food is amazing and Rhiannon, the wedding planner, is a total star!

6. Hornington Manor – York Wedding Venues 

Just outside York, in Bolton Percy, is Hornington Manor.  Set in the grounds of a farm, there are many choices at Hornington Manor as to where to hold your wedding; The gallery has floor to ceiling windows making it a light and modern venue.  For smaller ceremonies, you may choose to use the ballroom in the West Wing that looks over the countryside.  There is also the rustic barn with outside space for summer receptions.  The barn is full of charm with features such as a mezzanine floor, rustic beams, huge wooden double doors that open up to a courtyard. The barn seats up to 150 guests.  You can even hold your ceremony outside in the summer if the British weather is playing ball! This really is a venue full of opportunity, and perfect for making your own mark!

7. Sandburn Hall – York Wedding Venues 

Sandburn Hall near York is a popular choice for weddings as your guests can stay in the same place you are holding your celebration.  In some ways more traditional, but also with rooms full of light and charm.  The Oak framed Grand Hall is fully licenced for civil ceremonies and offers views of the beautiful lakes and gardens.  The Grand Hall is suitable for up to 150 for a sit-down meal and another 50 for the evening.  There are also smaller rooms available for more intimate weddings.   There is now also the white rose garden, where couples can wed in the gardens with this as the perfect backdrop.

8. Wold Top Brewery – York Wedding Venues 

Just a little journey out of York is Hunmanby Grange which is home to Wold Top Brewery.  It really does make for a great wedding space with views across the stunning Yorkshire Wolds.  A wedding venue and a brewery in one! You can choose to utilise the bar and the marquees made available to you for your day, and guests can camp over!  The venue is happy for you to be as creative as you want, and they provide the beer! Barns and beer – what more could you want?

9. The Grand – York Wedding Venues 

A couple of minutes away from the central train station is the elegant Georgian 5 Star hotel, The Grand, previously the Cedar Court Hotel.  This venue really is a luxury, full of charm and character.  You will be given a red carpet treatment if you choose The Grand for your wedding.  You have a choice from the more intimate Chairman’s Suite or the Grand Boardroom for your ceremony.  The hotel offers a range of light and more intimate settings for your guests.  There are plenty of places for creative portrait shots in the venue or Andy sometimes take the couple off for a few minutes onto the streets.  This really makes a great, central, elegant York wedding venue.

 

10. Hazelwood Castle – York Wedding Venues 

Located between Leeds and York, Hazelwood Castle is a magnificent venue for your big day.  The castle provides luxury accommodation and splendid rooms for your ceremony and reception.  Set in 77 acres of idyllic and quiet parkland, it is the perfect get-away for you and your guests.  If you want grand then Hazelwood Castle definitely gives you this.  You really will feel like Lord and Lady for the day.

11.  Merchant Adventurers Hall –York Wedding Venues 

Right in the centre of town is the Merchant Adventurers Hall. The building originates from the mid 14th century, so it’s a real piece of Medieval York!  Updates and additional in 1500s mean there is a Tudor look to parts of the building. Dark wooden beams and panels, leaded windows and an array of wonderful art.  The hall makes for a wonderfully romantic setting for a wedding, especially for history lovers. Wedding ceremonies take place in the Great Hall which can accommodate 20 to 180 people. Smaller ceremonies can be held in the Governor’s Parlour.   Guests then can move to other areas for drinks receptions, returning to the great hall to dine. The evening celebrations take place in the undercroft. Wedding are held at weekends only at the Merchant Adventurers Hall. Easy reach for all your guests and plenty of accommodation in the city centre within easy walking distance. .

12 . Some bonus venues!

And there are some ‘newer’ York wedding venues also work checking out including Villa Farm ,
Woolas Farm,  Woodstock Weddings which are worth checking out for the more barn/rustic feel.
Lodge Farm Weddings,  Salux Yurts.  New to the wedding venue scene is the Boathouse in Bishopthorpe is also offer weddings.

Then there is the 18th Century grandeur of Middlethorpe Hall or the more quirky experience of The Early Music Centre and The National Railway Museum and York Castle Museum.

York has so much choice! With the perfect venue, you need the right wedding photographer.  You can rest assured that Andy would create you photographs that capture you and those who you love as they are.  His style has been described as natural documentary photography with an extra touch of awesome! Read on to find out more!

York Wedding Venues – Wedding Photography by Andy Gaines

He focuses on relationships and how people interact.   I’ll admit, each wedding I see brings tears of joy to my eyes.  He doesn’t direct the day or make you pull uncomfortable poses.   He won’t get in the way, but you can rest assured he’ll be there making sure all the important moments are documented and that you get images that you will treasure forever.

Andy is an award winning wedding photographer from York.  He shoots all over the UK, Europe and further afield but there is nothing he like better than being a York Wedding Photographer and would love to be involved in your day.   You can check out more of his work on his website, Facebook and Instagram.

“Andy was an amazing photographer not only for the incredible photographs he took for us but because of his ability to completely blend in with our guests. It completely felt like he was there as a guest himself rather than to take photographs and we are sure that is why we have the best, most natural (and flattering!) photographs we could have hoped for!”

York Wedding Venues – Award Winning Photography

If I haven’t already convinced you that Andy’s the photographer for you, then may be check out some of his most recent awards including UK Best Documentary Wedding Photographer as named by This is Reportage.  Andy is also a top UK Fearless Photographer and has also won international awards such as  Junebug Weddings ‘Best of the Best‘ Wedding Photographs, amongst others.   It is nice to get awards and realise people in the industry respect his work, but what really matters to him is making sure couples get images they love and that will increase in value as the years go back.

Although he travels anywhere for weddings (no additional costs) there is nothing he likes better than shooting weddings in his home town of York.  Therefore if you are getting married in York and want natural photography, then do get in touch!  Picking the right photographer to capture the start of your new chapter in life together is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.  Andy would love to be your York wedding photographer, get in contact and we will send over our detailed brochure.

Find out more about our York Wedding Films and see examples.

Andy would love to be your York Wedding Photographer.

Get in contact and we will send over our detailed brochure that explains more about our style and approach, as well as a range of photography packages that include unlimited coverage, albums, videography and more!  Looking for something more bespoke? No worries, tell us more and we will happily put together a package to suit you perfectly!