Now, I’m a little biased when it comes to this particular wedding venue, namely because I chose to hire it for my own Big Day in 2017. Since then, I have had the absolute pleasure of being booked as the wedding photographer for multiple couples who have also chosen a Hargate Hall wedding.
So read on to see me rave about this unique wedding venue and to gush about one of the fabulous couples who picked me to provide their wedding photography and chose Hargate Hall as the top venue in their wedding planning list. It’s one of my favourites too!
Hargate Hall: a Country House in the Peak District
The Hargate Hall wedding venue is close to the Spa town of Buxton in the gorgeous Derbyshire countryside. The main building is surrounded by green and trees with its own spacious grounds which include a summer house for outdoor weddings (weather permitting!) and a marquee which can be hired for larger events to host the wedding breakfasts or any other meals which might be included in your wedding planning, especially as it includes a kitchen for your chosen caterer to use. There’s also plenty of space in the Hargate Hall gardens for outdoor games for guests as well as ample room for an adult sized bouncy castle (this was the best investment I made at my own wedding!)
Wedding Ceremonies in a Traditional Setting
Built in 1899, Hargate Hall has retained many of its appealing and elegant historical features. Dark wood panelling, an original fireplace and colourful stained glass windows frame the main hall which wedding planners usually pick for their ceremony. The space can then be adapted to host the wedding breakfast or cleared to make space for a dance floor and the evening do.
A Home Away From Home
One of the best features a Hargate Hall Wedding has is that you hire the whole wedding venue which includes self-catering accommodation housing up to around 70 people from Friday afternoon until the Monday morning. Not only is this great for family and friends who might be travelling from far away, but it also gives couples a great base for their wedding preparations on the morning of their wedding day. Hairdressers and make up artists can come to you! It cuts travel time and relieves the pressure of packing up the morning after the Big Day, especially if you’ve enjoyed a lot of champagne during the celebrations!
An Ideal DIY Wedding Venue
Hiring Hargate Hall for the whole weekend means that you have the time and space to put your personal mark on everything with the help of family and friends. From the ceremony room to the grounds, this family-run venue encourages couples to source, bring and organise all of their own food, drink, decorations and entertainment to create a truly personalised wedding day. The venue has plenty of options for you to use as well in your DIY wedding planning (Read about my DIY Wedding Ideas). For example, the entrance has a permanent bar you can stock with your favourite booze (no corkage!) but if you don’t want the headache, the owner’s son is now offering his horse box bar with a selection of everyone’s favourite liqueurs and local beers on tap at an inexpensive price.
A Hargate Hall wedding gives couples a truly versatile DIY venue where you can make your wedding a unique and extended celebration. As a wedding photographer, it’s always exciting to be booked for Hargate Hall wedding photography because every event is surprising and completely personal to the couple.
Heather and Pete’s Hargate Hall Wedding
I was very excited when Heather and Pete booked me as their wedding photographer for their wedding at Hargate Hall. Did I mention that it’s one of my favourite wedding venues???
The whole wedding party arrived on the Friday evening and settled into the self-catering apartments within the venue itself. When I arrived on the Saturday, Pete and his groomsmen were finishing off setting up the ceremony room and bar ready for the main event, having started decorating the wedding venue the evening before.
Bridal preparation in the apartments
I made my way to the apartment chosen for the Bridal preparations and started the day with Heather and her bridesmaids. They were busy having their hair and make up done by Emma from Absolutely Flawless whilst enjoying a glass of Cava.
Civil Ceremony and Humanist Ceremony
Heather and Pete chose to have their civil ceremony on the first floor landing – one of the two licensed indoor spaces Hargate Hall have to offer – before making an entrance into the main hall with the rest of their friends for a humanist celebration by Sophie Colligan, surrounded by fairy lights and autumnal coloured flower garlands.
Wedding Breakfast in the Main Hall
The caterer, Vanilla In All Seasons, transformed the main hall into a dining hall while the bride, groom and guests enjoyed a glass of bubbly and some nibbles in the garden before returning to sit down for a delicious three-course meal.
The main hall was then once again changed to prepare and make way for the ceilidh band Heather and Pete had organised. This got everyone on the dance floor for the first dance. While some were throwing themselves into moves like The Flying Scotsman, others were chilling and enjoying a few jäger bombs in the self-catering accommodation.
How can I describe the day? Fun. Fantastic. Party Central. Full of personal touches and entertainment. I love going back to this truly special place. Hargate Hall is such a versatile wedding venue and I can’t wait for the next couple to book me so I can make more additions to my Hargate Hall wedding photography collection.
If you are getting married at Hargate Hall, I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch
