The Best Barn Wedding Venues in Yorkshire
Barn wedding venues are ubiquitous in Yorkshire. They’re the relaxed wedding venue option, ideally suited to couples who want a relaxed vibe to their day. But which are the best barn wedding venues in Yorkshire? And which underrated and up-and-coming barn and farm weddings may have escaped your radar? Let’s dive in.
Rustic Barns vs. Purpose Built Wedding Barns.
Not all barn wedding venues are made equally. On the one hand, there are rustic wedding venues that are converted from old working farm buildings. They have plenty of character, charm, and texture. They’re very much the type of wedding barn suited for your super-informal wedding vision. On the other hand are purpose built wedding barns. These are modern wedding venues with purposefully designed spaces for the different parts of your day. They often have separate spaces for your ceremony and your reception, and maybe even another space for the evening entertainment.
Modern venues are much more likely to have modern facilities too; real toilets, rather than a toilet block, for example. Rustic barns have a warmth and charm to them, often very suited to festoon lighting and candles. Purpose built wedding barns, however, are typically more bright and airy as they often have expansive glazed areas to bring light in.
Whichever you prefer, you’ll also often find a combination of the two. Let’s start with one such example, The Normans just outside York.
The Normans, York
The Normans is just a few miles outside of York city centre, and very accessible from the A1 and A64. It’s a fantastic venue that blends the old with the new, making it characterful, but very functional in its use of space. Owner and co-ordinator, Oliver, is also a real gem of the wedding industry in Yorkshire. Nothing is too much to ask of him, and he’s such a lovely guy too – exactly the type of person you want to run your wedding day!
The Normans has a rustic wedding barn illuminated by a fabulous fairy light curtain that makes a stunning back drop to your ceremony. There are break-out spaces, plenty of nooks for inclement weather, multiple bars, and all the while remaining very friendly underfoot to any elderly or unsteady guests. The reception space is purpose built and well appointed, accommodating plenty of guests for big celebrations. Even more helpful is the addition of on-site accommodation for the wedding couple, as well as plenty of rustic backdrops for wedding portraits and photos. Highly recommended!
Thirsk Lodge Barns, Thirsk
Thirsk Lodge Barns definitely deserves its spot on the best barn wedding venues in Yorkshire list. It’s another blend of the old and new, offering huge amounts of space for celebrations of all sizes. Starting with the accommodation, there is a sizeable and characterful farmhouse for morning preparations, with further accommodation in the Laundry Cottage for those couples who wish to keep first looks to the aisle. The ceremony barn is beautifully rustic, offering authentic features as well as plenty of natural light. Substantial break-out spaces with plenty of sofas and quiet areas are perfect for those who need to retreat at any point during the day.
The wedding reception room is purpose built and wonderfully light and airy. There’s no shortage of space either, with plenty of room for even the largest numbers of guests. And whether you intend to go all out on decorating the venue or not, there’s either plenty of scope for making the venue reflect your vision, or it stands alone beautifully as it is.
Hutton Wandesley Stables, York
I sing the praises of Hutton Wandesley Stables to anyone who will listen. It’s such a well kept secret and without a doubt one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Yorkshire. If you’re looking for a beautiful walled garden venue in Yorkshire, Hutton Wandesley Stables should be right up there at the top of your list. There’s plenty of comfortable self-catering accommodation on site for your most important family and guests. And depending on the size and vibe of your wedding, you have multiple options for your ceremony: either outside in the gardens for large ceremonies, or in the greenhouse or cutting garden for more intimate ceremonies, or in the botanicum barn for winter weddings.
The barn is purpose built and excellently appointed to make things accessible for all your guests. But the real allure of this stunning wedding venue in York is the walled garden. Owner, Sasha, has transformed this space into the most beautiful space for elegant weddings and it makes for fantastic wedding portraits too.
To see a real wedding at Hutton Wandesley stables, check out Stacey & Tom’s wedding.
The Tithe Barn, Bolton Abbey
You’ve no doubt already heard of the Tithe Barn at Bolton Abbey if you’re on the hunt for one of the best barn wedding venues in Yorkshire. And with good reason, there’s no other countryside wedding venue quite like it. The Tithe Barn is a historic, traditionally built barn like no other in the Yorkshire region. The Tithe Barn is huge, so make sure you have plenty of guests to fill it. The candle chandeliers and complementary fairy lights help retain the rustic barn aesthetic and atmosphere. Views over Bolton Abbey and the Devonshire estate provide a stunning, distinctly Yorkshire backdrop for your wedding. As night draws in, there is ample dance floor space to get the party started.
Chilli Barn, Otley
I’ve shot so many weddings at Chilli Barn over the years, and no two have ever been the same. This rustic barn wedding venue near Leeds is suited to mid-size weddings as it is, but with the flexibility to increase numbers when you add on tipis or marquees in the grounds. The food is the real stand out feature of the venue. The food has been flawless every single time I’ve shot a wedding so it’s a perfect choice for foodie couples.
The Chilli Barn benefits from being right in the heart of Otley Chevin, a stunning location for wedding portraits. Head up to the top of the Chevin for broad views across the Wharfe valley from the cliff tops. Or head down into the forest for cosy intimate wedding portraits in the woodland. It’s an incredibly flexible venue for indoor or outdoor ceremonies. It has the ability to scale up the space to include more guests, or simply to enjoy the outdoor space.
One of my favourite real weddings at Chilli Barn, is Marianne and Tomas’s wedding. Check it out for inspiration.
Riverlands, Faxfleet
Riverlands oozes rustic charm but offers creature comforts and accessible features too. The ceremony barn is a charming rustic brick barn, and in my opinion one of the best wedding barns in East Yorkshire. Riverlands is a compact venue so ideally suited to mid-size, to large mid-size weddings. It would equally suit a more intimate wedding without feeling like you’re in a space that’s too large. There’s on-site accommodation with farmhouses, shepherds huts, and camping options too – did someone say, festival wedding!? There are nods to the farming heritage of the wedding venue too, with playful textures and materials, and of course the bright red tractor.
Lodge Farm, Cundall
A relative newcomer to the options for wedding barns in Yorkshire is Lodge Farm Weddings. Lodge Farm is an amazing wedding venue in North Yorkshire that offers everything you could possibly need for your wedding day. Plenty of on-site accommodation and preparation space means you won’t need to worry about transport options. The ceremony barn is a tall brick barn with plenty of character to suit a relaxed wedding ceremony. The courtyard space is ideal for outdoor drinks receptions with plenty of space for mingling and live entertainment too. The reception barn is suitable for large weddings and features rustic texture and materials whilst still being suitably modern in its amenities.
There are comfortable break-out spaces too for when you want to get away and have a breather from all that socialising! The grounds are huge and there’s so many options for wedding portraits. The treelined woodland walk is whimsical and truly beautiful, but there are also huge views across the North Yorkshire landscape, as well as country lanes to take advantage of that are beautifully lit at golden hour.
Check out this real wedding at Lodge Farm Weddings, Cundall for more barn wedding inspiration.
White Syke Fields, York
Finally we come to one of the absolute best wedding barns in Yorkshire, White Syke Fields just outside of York. It’s a generous wedding venue that provides a blank canvas to make your day your own. This is definitely not a purpose-built barn, it retains so much character, and the spaces are voluminous, so go crazy with your decorations and guest list! There’s a number of options for your ceremony too. From the bright separate ceremony barn, to outdoor ceremonies surrounded by apple trees and overlooking the pond. There’s no end to the options for portrait locations either. A short stroll away and you’re in the fields, or take a wander through the woodland, or down the country lanes. Everywhere you look is a wonderful backdrop and I can’t recommend White Syke Fields enough if you’re looking for a working farm wedding venue near York.
Check out Leander and Chris’s wedding at White Syke Fields for some real wedding inspiration.
The Best Barn Wedding Venues in Yorkshire
The best barn wedding venue in Yorkshire is of course the one that feels right for you. Whether you’re planning an intimate wedding with just your closest family and friends, or a large wedding with 100+ guests, there are lots of wedding barns for you to choose from around Yorkshire. Rustic, converted or still working farms offer the most authentic experience for relaxed weddings. Nothing beats the texture and lived-in feel of a well worn, historic barn. But if you like creature comforts and brighter spaces, a modern, purpose-built wedding barn might suit you best. Whichever you choose, barn weddings suit couples who like a more relaxed feel to their day, which suits my style of photography as I love shooting barn and farm weddings.
If you’re planning a barn or farm wedding in Yorkshire, get in touch as I’d love to find out more about your plans.