10 Quirky Wedding Venues in Newcastle and the North East of England

I've written and updated this article several times on my blog, being a Newcastle photographer with 11 years of wedding photography experience I have been privileged to shoot at many wonderful and quirky wedding venues across Newcastle, Northumberland and the whole North East of England.

I feel it's time to update this list as over the last couple of years the wedding industry has been going through a great change and several of the wedding venues sadly either no longer exist or they have now diversified away from weddings.

If you're a bride and groom planning your wedding then I hope you'll find this guide helpful.  Do let me know if there are any others that you rate and if you are looking to book a shorter wedding photography package please do get in touch, I shoot weddings with 2-4 hours coverage and I'm an expert and sweeping in, capturing the moments and sweeping out, leaving you to enjoy the rest of your day and just a few weeks later, you'll have images you can treasure forever

My Top 10 Quirky Wedding Venues in North East England

1. St Mary's Lighthouse 

You can't really get anywhere more quirky than getting married in a Lighthouse! At St Mary's they cater for smaller weddings and obviously you're going to have to have it at a time when the tide is out, but can you imagine the wedding portraits with the lighthouse in them? They'd be beautiful.

Find out more about St Mary's Lighthouse.

2. Guyzance Hall

This is an amazing place, you get the whole place to use as your own for the entire weekend and family and friends can stay in cottages based around the Hall. The views are amazing, the staff are wonderful and it's completely unique.

Find out more about Guyzance Hall.

3. Bamburgh Castle

Cheaper than Alnwick Castle, owned privately and I believe they have amazing service. Bamburgh Castle is certainly the most beautiful location of I think all of the castles.

Find out more about Bamburgh Castle.

4. Chillingham Castle

You want quirky, this place has quirky by the bagful. Named as the most haunted castle in the country it even has it's own torture chamber! The funny thing is that I think when they have weddings it's closed to the public, the gardens are amazing and if you want a ghost or two at your wedding then this is the place.

Find out more about Chillingham Castle.

5. Cuddystone Hall

Now this one nobody even knows about, it's about as remote as you can get. No one will be able to use their phones, it's in the middle of the Cheviot's near Wooler. It's not grand like some of the big halls and castles but it's well worth checking out. 

Find out more about Cuddystone Hall.

6. Gibside Hall

Owned by the National Trust, you can come down the avenue in a horse and carriage if you want the ultimate experience. It's a wedding venue that's steeped in history, rather grand and there's nowhere else like it. Make sure you plan for photographs in the Orangery afterwards. 

Find out more about Gibside Hall.

7. Durham Castle

While you can't actually get married at the castle (as far as I know), what a place to have your reception. The Bishop's Suite featured in the first two Harry Potter movies as the Junior common room - there's something quite magical about shooting amazing portraits in that room. It's simply one of my favourite venues but do be quick to book, as far as I know they're booked years ahead.

Find out more about Durham Castle.

8. As You Like It

I had to include this because it was the place we renewed our wedding vows on our 10th anniversary. It's just outside the city centre so you'll have no problems with getting all of your friends and family into nearby hotels. Just make sure you either travel to Jesmond Dene or Newcastle Quayside for your portraits.

Find out more about As You Like It.

9. Newton Hall

Owned by the same group as As You Like It, this is their Northumberland venue. It has lots of places to put up the family and friends so don't worry about how you'll get everyone there although there's always scope for a vintage bus from nearby Morpeth or even Newcastle. The selling point is that you are five minutes away from the amazing coastline and can have the most stunning wedding images on the beach at Low Newton.

Find out more about Newton Hall. 

10. Eshott Hall

This is one of my absolutely favourite venues to shoot at because it's completely amazing. Like Guyzance the whole Hall becomes yours for the weekend, there are no end of places and spaces for photographs and even in December it's beautiful. If it happens to rain then no problem because the inside spaces are just as beautiful. They also serve great food and are wonderful to work with.

Find out more about Eshott Hall.

Are you searching for a wedding photographer in the North East of England?

If you would like to have a chat with me about shooting your wedding day at any of these venues or even somewhere different just click through to my website, visit my facebook page or email me. 

I offer wedding photography from just one hour and if you email me I'll send you over a copy of my latest pricing brochure.