A New Year’s Eve Wedding at Ilkley Winter Gardens, Yorkshire: Black Tie and Confetti at Midnight
As the clocks hit midnight at Ilkley Winter Gardens, the confetti came down over a room full of black tie and dancing, and we didn’t have time to do much except shoot. Stella and Dom’s New Year’s Eve wedding was one of those days when everything just worked: the people, the atmosphere, the dancing and the expressions on everyone’s faces.
Ilkley Winter Gardens: an Edwardian wedding venue in the centre of Ilkley
The King’s Hall and Winter Garden stand on Station Road, directly opposite Ilkley’s train and bus station. The King’s Hall opened in 1908 alongside the town hall, designed by the Leeds architect William Bakewell, and the Winter Garden followed in 1914. It’s still a working theatre and events venue, and both spaces are licensed for civil ceremonies.
The Winter Garden has a glass lantern roof, a curved balcony with its own bar, a sprung wooden floor and a sweeping staircase made for a grand entrance. It seats up to 120 for a wedding breakfast, and the King’s Hall seats up to 240. For a winter wedding that’s ideal: everything happens under one roof, and there’s a dance floor waiting when the evening starts.
Saying yes to New Year’s Eve
I’m not much of a party animal. I haven’t drunk alcohol in a few years, and nights out never seem to live up to those blurry memories of student nights. So when Stella emailed back in May to ask if we were free on New Year’s Eve, our first thought was: that sounds awesome. We’d stayed in for the last couple of years anyway!
From the first time Stella and Dom popped over to chat about their day, we got more and more excited about the possibilities. They are two of the nicest, most fun people you could ask to be around. Every wedding that year had been a pleasure, but we were both certain this one was going to be something special.
Black tie, dancing and confetti at midnight
Maybe it was the festive spirit, but from the moment we started shooting, everything seemed to fall into place. We love a black tie dress code: it makes the whole evening feel like an occasion.
Then came midnight. As the clocks struck twelve and the confetti fell, we were shooting away, trying to catch everything at once. A few minutes later we took a minute out to look through the images in playback on our cameras. Neither of us would have chosen to be anywhere else in the world.
It was a day that made us feel good, not just about being photographers, but about our whole journey over the last three years.
Why we love a winter wedding at Ilkley Winter Gardens
If you’re thinking about a winter or New Year’s Eve wedding in Ilkley, here’s our honest take:
- It doesn’t depend on the weather. Ceremony, meal and party can all happen under one roof, so a cold, dark December day won’t change your plans.
- It suits a sense of occasion. The staircase, the balcony and the glass roof were made for black tie and a big entrance.
- It’s easy for guests. The venue is directly opposite Ilkley station, so plenty of people can arrive by train or bus.
- New Year’s Eve is worth considering. Your friends get a party they’d want to be at anyway, and a midnight countdown is a moment no other date can give you.
Planning your own wedding in Ilkley?
See more on our Ilkley Winter Gardens weddings and Ilkley wedding photography pages, find ideas for winter weddings, browse our Yorkshire wedding photography, or get in touch to check your date.
