Hazlewood Castle Wedding Photographer
Halfway between Leeds and York, in over 70 acres of woodland and gardens, with cherry blossom in spring.
Photographing weddings at Hazlewood Castle
Hazlewood Castle stands by the A1 and A64 between Aberford and Tadcaster, about 20 minutes from both Leeds and York. It was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, was fortified in 1290, and belonged to the Vavasour family for centuries. Today it’s a Grade I listed hotel in over 70 acres of woodland and landscaped gardens.
I photographed Lucy and David’s Hazlewood Castle wedding, one of my early castle weddings. I took along a bag of vintage cameras, 40 to 80 years old, alongside my digital kit. The castle gave them plenty to look at: carved oak panels, a candle chandelier above a stone staircase, rows of red-bound books and a garden chalkboard listing the ‘Animals of Hazlewood’.
Travel is included in every collection, so I’m there from the start of the morning. Comparing castles? See Allerton Castle, or my York page.
About Hazlewood Castle
Its chapel of St Leonard dates from the 1280s and is Grade I listed in its own right, with stained glass and a Palladian altarpiece. The castle was a maternity hospital during the Second World War and a retreat for Carmelite friars from 1971 to 1996, before opening as a hotel in 1997. Ashdale Hotels bought it in 2008.
The castle is licensed for civil ceremonies: the Victoria Room takes up to 25 guests, the Old Dining Room up to 100, and in summer the Garden Pagoda takes up to 100 outdoors. The Great Hall seats up to 130 for the wedding breakfast, the Flemish Hall suits a drinks reception, and a clear marquee on the lawns takes up to 350. St Leonard’s Chapel is a popular choice for ceremonies too.
A wedding day at Hazlewood Castle
Lucy got ready in a room with old floral wallpaper, which made lovely, soft frames as her dress was fastened. The castle is full of details like that, from carved woodwork to old books and grand staircases, so there’s always something to photograph between the big moments.
Outside, the grounds are just as good. There’s a woodland pagoda beneath the sequoia trees, cherry blossom around the garden pagoda in spring, and lawns and tall hedges for quieter portraits. It’s the kind of place where a short walk gives you a completely different backdrop.
Why couples choose Hazlewood Castle
- A castle with real history. Domesday roots, a Grade I listed chapel and grand rooms, without a long drive to somewhere remote.
- A ceremony for every size. From 25 guests in the Victoria Room to 100 in the Old Dining Room or the Garden Pagoda.
- Room for a big party. Up to 130 in the Great Hall, or 350 in the clear marquee on the lawns.
- Easy for guests. About 20 minutes from Leeds and York, and close to Wetherby and Wood Hall. See more castle weddings.
Questions couples ask
Is Hazlewood Castle licensed for civil ceremonies?
Yes. You can marry in the Victoria Room (up to 25 guests), the Old Dining Room (up to 100) or, in summer, outdoors in the Garden Pagoda (up to 100).
How many guests can Hazlewood Castle hold?
Up to 130 for a wedding breakfast in the Great Hall, and up to 350 in the clear marquee on the lawns.
How much does a Hazlewood Castle 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 Hazlewood Castle?
Yes, on their own or alongside photography. See my Yorkshire wedding videography.
Weddings at Hazlewood Castle
Nearby venues and areas
Planning a wedding elsewhere? See all my Yorkshire wedding photography or browse every venue I’ve photographed.
