Howsham Hall Wedding Photographer
A Jacobean hall beside the River Derwent, a short drive from York.
Photographing weddings at Howsham Hall
Howsham Hall is a Grade I listed Jacobean country house in the village of Howsham, beside the River Derwent and on the edge of the Howardian Hills, about eleven miles north-east of York. It has grand rooms, around eighty acres of grounds and the kind of quiet privacy that lets a wedding day unfold at its own pace.
The photographs on this page are from a winter wedding I photographed here, with the Christmas tree up and gold chairs lined up beneath the chandelier. The hall’s great bay windows glow at night, and a couple standing in the lit doorway makes a lovely closing frame.
It features in my top ten Yorkshire wedding venues, and it’s an easy drive from my home in Wharfedale, so I’m there from the start of the morning.
About Howsham Hall
The house dates from the 17th century, when it was built for Sir William Bamburgh, and it was a family home for well over three centuries before becoming a boarding school. Since 2017 it has been a wedding venue, hired exclusively, so the house and grounds are yours for the day.
It’s licensed for civil ceremonies, indoors in the Great Hall or outside on the front lawn in warmer months. Dinner seats up to 96 in a single room or 150 across the Drawing Room and Main Hall, and up to 150 guests can join you in the evening. There are twelve bedrooms, including a bridal suite, for your closest family and friends.
A wedding day at Howsham Hall
Mornings here are a gift for photography. The bedrooms have character and soft window light, and one of my favourite detail shots is a wedding dress hanging on a gilded mirror against botanical wallpaper.
Walking down the aisle in the Great Hall is a moment of real grandeur: tall columns, a grand fireplace, a chandelier overhead and polished boards underfoot. Afterwards there’s the lawn in front of the house, where the Jacobean front makes a backdrop that tells you exactly where you were.
As the light fades the windows start to glow. I always try to step outside with the two of you for a few minutes after dark, because the house lit up from the lawn looks completely different from anything you’ll get in daylight.
Why couples choose Howsham Hall
- It’s yours alone. Exclusive use means no other guests, and the whole house becomes part of your day.
- Grandeur without stiffness. Columns, chandeliers and fireplaces, but it still feels like a home.
- Beautiful in winter. A Christmas tree, a chandelier and glowing windows make a December wedding really special.
- Your people can stay. Twelve bedrooms keep the party together and make the morning after part of the weekend.
Questions couples ask
Is Howsham Hall licensed for weddings?
Yes. It’s licensed for civil ceremonies in the Great Hall, or outside on the front lawn in warmer months.
How many guests does Howsham Hall hold?
Dinner seats up to 96 in one room or 150 across two, and up to 150 can join you in the evening.
How much does a Howsham Hall 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 Howsham Hall?
Yes, on their own or alongside photography. See my Yorkshire wedding videography, or browse York weddings and nearby Birdsall House.
Nearby venues and areas
Planning a wedding elsewhere? See all my Yorkshire wedding photography or browse every venue I’ve photographed.
