OUTDOOR WEDDINGS AT HOLDSWORTH HOUSE
In addition to five indoor wedding ceremony rooms, Holdsworth House in West Yorkshire offers you the unique chance to get married outdoors, May to September. There are three outdoor areas: the pretty Colonnade Courtyard, the beautiful gardens and NEW FOR 2026 the Barn Courtyard.
On your wedding day if the weather forecast is poor, there's no need to worry. We always hold a ceremony room on standby just in case, and we'll move everything and everyone indoors in plenty of time.
BARN COURTYARD WEDDINGS
New for 2026: Barn-style Weddings
The Barn Courtyard ceremony space is where rustic romance meets open-air elegance.
Across the paddock from the main house, the Barn Courtyard was once a working stable and tack area. This lovingly restored courtyard, next to the original barn, offers a stunning backdrop for a wedding ceremony. The feels are rustic and relaxed with barn wedding vibes that are bang on trend. And remember, at Holdsworth House you also have 33 bedrooms, a restaurant, gardens for photos, award-winning service, Farmhouse Treatment Rooms and parking, all onsite!
BIG OR SMALL BARN WEDDINGS IN YORKSHIRE
The Barn Courtyard at Holdsworth House is ideal for small or big barn wedding ceremonies. If you want your guests to sit outside, in a horseshoe configuration, you can invite up to 120. If you'd prefer your guests to sit 'indoors' beneath the covered barn, area, we can seat up to 100.
RUSTIC BARN VIBES
With its exposed beams, original stone walls and flagged floor, the fomer stable area of the Barn Courtyard exudes rustic character that's perfect for a festival theme wedding or drink reception. The spacious courtyard is a natural sun trap by day, with shelter provided by the adjoining barn wall and outbuildings. From the Barn Courtyard, guests get a lovely view of the hotel and the rolling hills beyond – a picture-perfect Yorkshire backdrop.
BARN CEREMONY styled your way
The Barn Courtyard is a space you can truly make your own. Keep it simple and boho chic with swathes of draped fabric, lanterns, and twinkling fairy lights, or go all out with floral installations around the pillars.
For 2026 & 2027 Weddings
We're still developing the planting schemes and pathways, but we're happy to discuss your ideas now for 2026 a barn-style wedding.
The Barn Courtyard offers flexible seating options for guests, using the outdoor courtyard and the undercover barn area. Whichever layout you choose, your entrance will be an unforgettable, romantic walk from the hotel through the paddock with its tall summer grasses and fruit trees.
AN OUTDOOR GARDEN WEDDING AT HOLDSWORTH HOUSE
The Best Country House Backdrop in Yorkshire
Holdsworth House has repetedly won Best Hotel Wedding venue in Yorkshire. It's easy to see why; the backdrop ofour Jacobean manor is simply divine.
The gardens at Holdsworth house are stunning and each year we create a display of pretty annuals, bedding plants and hanging baskets. Mature, raised borders along with over 50 tree species create a wonderful display (and privacy) in every direction. The Sunken Parterre garden bursts with tulip bulbs in spring and the clematis on the house facade is awash with pink flowers from around May onwards.
The Garden Gazebo is where your garden ceremony takes place. It is fully licensed by Calderdale Registrars for outdoor marriage/civil partnerships for up to 120 guests.
Your guests will be seated on comfortable New England-style, folding garden chairs, which are positioned to create an aisle.
After the ceremony, enjoy the gardens and terraces for your drinks, canapes and photos. Play your favourite wedding music through our sound system or you can hire live musicians to entertain guests.
Feel free to dress the Garden Gazebo and chairs in whatever style you wish (excluded from the package).
AN OUTDOOR WEDDING IN THE COLONNADE COURTYARD
A Private Hidden Gem at the Heart of Holdsworth House
The beautiful and historic Colonnade Courtyard is nestled snugly in the centre part of the hotel. It features an outdoor fireplace, large candle-filled lanterns and floral borders. Yorkshire stone flags line the ground and a pillared porch offers the covered ceremony area that is required by law.
At one end of the Courtyard is a double doorway leading to the tree-lined driveway – this is how the bridal party enters the aisle in a ceremony.
The Courtyard is perfect for small and intimate weddings and seats up to 60 guests. There is additional standing room, allowing up to 80 guests altogether. Wedding ceremonies last around 20 minutes which is manageable for most guests.
At dusk the Courtyard is even more dramatic as the lights, lanterns fireplace are lit.
