When I first began to plan my wedding at the end of 2022, I knew I wanted something that felt just as magical as the books my mum read to me when I was little.
The Search for the Perfect Wedding Venue
My now-husband Mark and I searched high and low for wedding venues that felt right for us. Living in Bolton, we were aware we might have to go further afield to find the right backdrop, but we wanted to get married in a place that meant something to us—a place that was not just beautiful and magical.
As confessed castle lovers, we searched for a historical backdrop. We found castles fit for a king (with the prices, I’m pretty sure he still lived there), or the others were dilapidated at best… still with the same royal price tag. So naturally, I gave up the castle dream and looked at more modern traditional venues such as Ribbey Hall, which we booked to look around after a birthday treat at their spa. We looked everywhere, any chance we got, and nowhere was right.
Falling in Love with Sneaton Castle
We’d almost given up on finding the perfect venue, but we finally found it, far away, nestled into the North Yorkshire coast. One day, visiting Whitby, we set off from my parents’ home for a sunny walk to Sneaton Castle for lunch. I obviously couldn’t wait to see the castle that had once been home to the nuns in one of Stacey Dooley’s documentaries.
When we walked past the gatehouse, I thought, ‘I’d love to get married here.’ So that is what we did. After our first visit to the castle to dine in the garden room restaurant, we revisited the castle to look around and confirm if this was where we wanted to tie the knot.
From the chapel to the gardens, reception room, and horseshoe bar, we both knew this was where we wanted to spend our special day together. And as I write this, a few weeks on, I can honestly say it was the right decision.
Choosing Whitby-Based Wedding Vendors
Once we knew we were having a Whitby wedding, we wanted to keep it as Whitby as possible. We’ve spent so much time in the town as a family, and since I found my husband and had my little girl, it became our place to take it slow as a family. So, when it came to choosing vendors, we already had a few places in mind.
Wedding Flowers by The Flower Pot Whitby
A big part of our day was our flowers, and we only had one place in mind: the flower pot. I had walked past that particular flower shop more times than the one in the village I grew up in.
When we met with Tim, we were confident he would create something right for us. The flower choices were mainly left to me, which meant Tim had to work with my vague vision, which was so clear in my head. Still, I could only describe it as bold, wildflowers, a bit like a meadow, slightly ’70s, but keeping it sophisticated. Somehow, Tim knew what I was talking about because they were stunning and, dare I repeat the p-word, perfect!
A Celestial Masterpiece from Gabriella Grace Cakes
Regarding cakes, we went with a recommendation from Sneaton Castle, which was a good one. Gabriella Grace Cakes was a wonder to work with and baked the tastiest and most beautiful-looking cake that tied in with our love for stars and all things celestial.
A Special Thank You to Our Photographers From Gemma Leese Photography
We couldn’t finish our story without thanking Gemma from Gemma Leese Photography and her second photographer, David, who played a special role in our day. Their pre-shoot helped us feel relaxed, making everything feel natural and easy on the day. In fact, even as a couple who usually avoids the camera, we actually enjoyed it, and we now have memories we’ll treasure forever.
Accommodation for Our Guests in Whitby
Due to most of our guests coming from outside Whitby, we knew we had a challenge making sure everyone had accommodations and places to stay during their visit to Whitby for our special day. Being a holiday rental management company based in Whitby, this wasn’t as difficult as we thought. We blocked out our properties and allocated them to some of our guests. For the night before, most of the wedding party stayed at the castle, which made things simple.
We juggled several rooms over the weekend, managing to stay somewhere different each night. The final stop was a real treat—a night at Bagdale Hall Hotel, kindly gifted by my colleagues at Whitby Holiday Rentals. Having written about Bagdale and its history many times, I found it quite something to experience it for myself.
We ditched spoons for a better backdrop at Garden Oasis!
Initially, the plan was to take the groomsmen’s photos at the Wetherspoons hotel where the lads stayed. But in the end, they chose to take them at the Garden Oasis property instead—and it was such a good decision. The setting made for a much better backdrop and tied in beautifully with the rest of the day.
A Day to Remember in Whitby
From the wonderful Whitby weather to the finishing touches on the day, we loved our Whitby wedding more than we could ever have dreamed. A few weeks on, my new husband is already itching to get back to Whitby, where we said I do, because there isn’t any other place we would rather visit when we want to reminisce about the time we said we would love each other forever.