Birdsall House Wedding Photographer
A hidden gem near Malton: a historic family home with gardens that catch the evening light beautifully.
Photographing weddings at Birdsall House
Birdsall House is a historic family home about four miles from Malton in North Yorkshire. The Willoughby family have lived here for centuries. Today James and Cara Willoughby open the house and estate for a small number of weddings each year. It has elegant rooms, lawns, lakes and the ruins of a medieval church, with a quiet, private feel that suits a relaxed country wedding.
Even after more than fifteen years and more than 500 weddings, it’s still exciting to discover a new venue, and Birdsall is a hidden gem. Binita and Will chose it for their summer wedding, bringing both of their heritages together with two ceremonies in one day. You can see their day in Binita and Will’s Birdsall House wedding, and I would happily return tomorrow.
Travel and accommodation are included in every collection, so I’m there from the start of the morning, however early it begins.
About Birdsall House
The house began as a Tudor home for the Sotheby family, on the site of an old monastic settlement. It passed to the Willoughbys when Thomas Willoughby married the heiress Elizabeth Sotheby. Later came 18th-century state rooms and Victorian additions by Anthony Salvin. Today it’s Grade II* listed.
For weddings you have exclusive use of the house and estate from the day before to the day after. The Ballroom and the Dining Room each seat up to 150 for a ceremony, the Oval Room 60, and the Little Temple, overlooking the lakes, just 10. St Mary’s Church in the parkland seats up to 200, and you can also marry outside by the old church ruins on the front lawn.
Wedding breakfasts can be held in the Ballroom and Oval Room together, or in a marquee beside the Verandah overlooking the gardens. The old Victorian kitchens are now an underground, speakeasy-style bar for the evening. There are six bedrooms in the house, including the bridal suite, and more guests can stay at Langton Hall, two miles away.
A wedding day at Birdsall House
Binita and Will’s day showed just how much variety there is here. Their first ceremony was indoors, in front of a candlelit fireplace, with red petals scattered across the floor. Afterwards their guests lined the gravel outside the house for a shower of petals in the sunshine.
Portraits were on the hillside below a little domed temple among pink and purple flowers, and on the striped lawns. Inside, a spiral staircase with deep blue walls made a beautiful spot for a quiet portrait. The speeches, beneath gilt-framed paintings, brought plenty of laughter and a few tears.
At the end of the day, the long gravel drive and the front of the house caught the last of the sun, perfect for one final portrait.
Why couples choose Birdsall House
- It’s a real family home. The Willoughbys live here, so the house feels personal and lived in, not like a hotel.
- Three days of exclusive use. The day before, the day itself and the day after are yours, so setting up and saying goodbye are never rushed.
- So many places to marry. State rooms, a parkland church, a little temple and the ruins on the lawn give you options for any size of wedding and any weather.
- Beautiful evening light. The gardens and the drive catch the late sun, so it’s worth saving a few minutes before dark.
Questions couples ask
Is Birdsall House licensed for weddings?
Yes. Civil ceremonies can take place in licensed rooms in the house, including the Ballroom and Dining Room (up to 150 each) and the Oval Room (up to 60). St Mary’s Church in the parkland is also an option.
How many guests can Birdsall House take?
Up to 150 for a wedding breakfast in the house, or up to 300 seated in a marquee on the lawns.
How much does a Birdsall House wedding photographer cost?
My full-day photography collection is £1,750 and full-day film is £1,500, with travel and accommodation included. See prices for what’s included.
Do you film weddings at Birdsall House?
Yes, on their own or alongside photography. A mini film can be added to any photography collection for £500 (half day) or £750 (full day). See my Yorkshire wedding videography.
Weddings at Birdsall House
Nearby venues and areas
Planning a wedding elsewhere? See all my Yorkshire wedding photography or browse every venue I’ve photographed.
