Middlethorpe Hall Wedding venue
Middlethorpe Hall, just south of York, really is a truly idyllic country retreat and a fantastic place for an English country wedding.
Middlethorpe Hall was built in the 17th century as the private manor house for country gentleman Thomas Barlow. The country house and the 20-acre estate has been the home to many historical figures, a boarding school, and a nightclub over the centuries until Historic House Hotels acquired it and then gifted to the National Trust in 2008.
The hall and grounds have been restored and improved to an excellent standard, and Middlethorpe Hall Hotel and Spa is now a stunning example of a luxurious William and Mary house complete with antiques, paintings and extensive, well-maintained grounds.
Now a luxury hotel and Spa, Middlethorpe Hall perfectly combines the traditional country house with modern luxuries of an award-winning restaurant and boutique spa to make a beautiful wedding venue.
With three options for ceremony spaces, Middlethorpe Hall is ideal for medium-sized ceremonies and more intimate weddings. The 17th-century dovecote in the walled garden has space for 20 standing guests for a garden wedding, the larger Barlow room seats up to 56, and the upstairs sitting room is perfect for intimate weddings. There is an option for whatever wedding vibe you want to achieve.
The beautiful walled gardens have so many lovely sections separated by archways, a tunnel of pears, and have features such as fountains and secluded seating so you can easily get lost for a while if you want to escape the rest of the guests!
Stretching out at the back of the house, the manicured lawns overlooking the ha-ha are vast and feature an amazingly tall tree.
Middlethorpe Hall has won me over! It is well and truly one of my favourite small wedding venues in York!
Katie and David's September wedding at Middlethorpe Hall
Katie and David had planned a larger wedding reception for their big day, but unfortunately, the dreaded virus came along and dashed those plans. So, still eager to say “I do”, they held a wonderful little wedding instead.
Arrival of the guests to the drawing-room
The guests gathered in the stunning drawing room which with such high ceilings feels very spacious and not at all oppressive, while the antique furniture and paintings filled the room, so it didn’t feel too big for such a small party – the room exudes elegance. The way the light comes in through those enormous windows is fantastic!
Ceremony in the Barlow room
David, the groom, and the guests made their way outside to the Barlow room where everyone was seated in a covid safe manner. All guests had their temperature scanned before they were allowed in, and there was plenty of hand sanitizer, and lots of ventilation, the staff had really made an effort to make it as covid safe as possible.
Katie, the bride, arrived holding a summery bouquet with her dad in a beautiful black Rolls Royce wedding car. The colour scheme was blue and yellow – lovely and summery – with Katie’s sister in a bright yellow bridesmaids dress, and all the men wearing yellow socks and blue suits.
The Barlow room has a decorated ceiling and roof light which adds interest and let in lovely natural light to the ceremony.
The ceremony was being live-streamed to guests who couldn’t attend, and after a reading, ring exchange and the vows… the officiant announced that Katie and David were finally married!
Champagne reception
After the wedding ceremony, we took a pleasant and leisurely stroll through the courtyard and walled gardens and had photos before arriving on the lawn for a champagne reception.
Bride and groom portraits in Middlethorpe Hall gardens
With such a beautiful backdrop everywhere we turned, Middlethorpe Hall is a fantastic place for wedding photos. And that tree is breathtaking!
Group photos
The weather was lovely, as September often is, and everyone had a great time. I had been pre-warned that Katie’s family were jumpers… and I was not disappointed! Even Katie’s sister in law joined in with the active springing while holding a five-month-old baby.
It certainly goes to show that even a small wedding of only 12 people can be fun and entertaining with the right attitude! And David and Katie’s families all had fantastic attitudes – it was such an elegant yet fun intimate wedding-day! Congratulations and best wishes to the bride and groom.
Fantastic York wedding venue
If you are planning to get married in York, like an elopement, destination wedding, or even if you are local and want an idyllic countryside wedding location to wow your family and friends, Middlethorpe Hall is an amazing wedding choice. The staff are experienced and can help with your wedding planning, they have lots of wedding packages available, and there really is nowhere so close to York that is such a picturesque place to tie the knot at your dream wedding.
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