Six of the best rustic wedding venues around York
One of the great things about being a wedding celebrant in York is that I’m a stone’s throw from the countryside. And this means lots of gorgeous, unusual wedding venues - think rustic barns, quirky glamping destinations and lush green fields.
I love barn weddings so much, we had one ourselves! I feel farmyards have a natural, unpretentious beauty which not only results in great photos, but also a relaxed vibe which spreads to your guests. Also, the majority of these venues are family farms and so you’re practically guaranteed personal treatment.
I’ve handpicked some of my favourite rustic wedding venues around York, based on my years of experience as a wedding celebrant here in lovely Yorkshire.
Happy wedding planning, Rachael xx
Photograph by Little Sixpence Photography
Photography by Little Sixpence Photography
White Syke Fields
White Syke Fields is a super cool rustic wedding venue. It has two different barns: the Piggery, which is smaller, light and airy and perfect for ceremonies and smaller wedding receptions, and the Wheelhouse, which is much bigger. One of the major plus points of a barn wedding is that the acoustics are fabulous, meaning your every word carries across to your guests, ensuring they don’t miss a thing!
Its outside space is gorgeous too, with a covered patio for drinks and a beautiful lawn decorated with festoon lights. Plus, it comes with a flock of very curious chickens!
The flexibility of this venue makes it perfect for personalised celebrant-led wedding ceremonies - and for post ceremony drinks outside!
Photography by Jono Symonds
Woolas Barn
Woolas Barn wedding venue is a hidden gem. Based around a working farm, owners James + Fiona held their own wedding there - so it’s really special to them! One of the things I love about barn weddings is how passionate the owners are: it’s never just a wedding venue or just a job; to them it’s home.
Wedding ceremonies take place in the lovingly restored former stables, which ooze rustic charm from their traditional Yorkshire brickwork. As with other Yorkshire farm venues, you can make it your own with carefully chosen flowers and decorations, but the essential backdrop is so beautiful you can’t go wrong.
Photograph by Hannah Shearman
Photograph by Hannah Shearman
Woodstock Weddings
Woodstock Wedding Barn is an ultra modern countryside wedding location just a few miles outside York. It has a flexible space that can be used for ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and dancing, as well as an upstairs snug. Outside, it has a beautifully landscaped courtyard with water feature - the perfect place for welcome drinks and wedding photos.
I’d recommend this venue for anyone who likes the countryside feel of a barn wedding with all mod cons, as it has been refurbished to a very luxurious standard!
I loved delivering a handfasting ceremony in this intimate wedding barn, with the sun on my back and the beautiful view across the fields behind me. A perfect spot for a Humanist wedding ceremony!
Barmbyfield Barn
Barmbyfield Barns, Pocklington
Ok, I’m biased… this is where we got married! We were looking for a rustic wedding venue, and we found it! We were attracted by the amazing range of spaces, both outdoor and in. We originally planned to have an outdoor wedding, beneath a big old tree, but we were reassured that we could move to the beautiful old brick-built barn if the weather was inclement (which it was)! We also loved how Barmbyfield Barns is really a series of barns, so you can have a big room for dining and dancing, a separate ceremony barn and a more intimate snug for your bar. As a bonus, this wedding venue has pretty swanky toilets - no portaloos here!
Photo by Mark Pursglove
Wold View Farm
This East Yorkshire wedding venue has plenty of wow factor - as you rumble along the country lanes you are greeted by fields of golden corn! Perfect for golden hour wedding photos. As a celebrant, I was blown away by the ceremony barn, which is such a gorgeous mix of rustic and modern. They have a covered outdoor bar area with seating, so you can enjoy the countryside even if it’s wet - and owner Daniel makes a wicked cocktail! Wold View Farm is a particularly good wedding venue if you have children attending, as the outdoor space is all fenced in so little people can run wild and be entertained with lawn games while their parents enjoy the undercover bar. There’s on site accommodation available too, so you can get ready on site and crawl to bed at the end of your wedding ceremony.
Old Pasture Park
Old Pasture Park is a fairly recent addition to York’s enviable list of unusual wedding venues. Situated in the pretty village of Stillingfleet, it’s about a twenty minute drive from York so it’s pure countryside! If you’re an outdoorsy couple, keen to have your wedding surrounded by nature then Old Pasture Park is for you. This lovingly tended campsite is the perfect spot to pitch a marquee, and have an outdoor wedding ceremony with their beautiful lake in the background. Recently they have added two shepherd’s huts, so you can have a romantic first night together as a married couple. As if that’s not enough, grower and florist Caroline is part of their team, so they can provide British blooms for your wedding flowers, grown on site. These blooms make a great backdrop for photos too - your wedding photographer will love you if you pick this venue!
If you’ve found the perfect wedding venue for your personalised, Humanist wedding ceremony it’s time to book your wedding celebrant!
Reach out now to discuss your dream wedding. We’ll talk, I’ll make suggestions that match your values and personalities, and together we’ll craft a wedding that feels right for you both.
