Thornbridge Hall

Thornbridge Hall is a grade II listed stately home in the peak district, set in 100 acres of parkland and 14 acres of formal gardens even inch of the place is oozing with personality. Maybe even multiple personalities, the building has had many owners over the years all with different styles and tastes and this comes together in the most fantastic, spell bindingly way. The first thing I noticed when I arrived at Thornbridge Hall was just how many pairs of eyes there are looking at you for the faces calved into the wooden mantelpieces and fire places, to the garden statues whose eyes follow you around as you make your way around the extensive gardens. All of this character means your wedding guests will have plenty to look at and explore on your wedding day, it feels like being on a film set and the mix of styles makes it a fancinating place to wander around.

The Carraige House; a clock towered, glass walled dining hall even boasts a secret underground night club to spring on your guests later in the evening once the party has already been started, again making the experience of being in this venue an adventure in itself.

Thornbridge Hall is a family home and part of the gardens are open to the public, so it isn’t a venue that you can stay in overnight but if you are looking for something with the wow factor, breathtaking English countryside and a wedding venue that is as beautiful and weird as you are… This might just be the place.

Getting ready at Thorn bridge hall

I knew I loved this venue as soon as I saw the suite Ruth was getting ready in, not only is The India Suite huge giving you and your bridal party loads of room to get ready in but the light coming through the huge leaded glass windows was beautiful and it made for an epic start to the day. Having a nice big room to get ready in can really help take the stress out of the morning, with everyone having enough space to relax, take time out and get ready it can really start one of the most important days of your life off with the right tone, plus with loads of space and light you can get some lovely photos of that morning too.

While the Bridal Party had an epic Bridal suite to get ready in, George’s Lads pad downstairs did take the biscuit with a pool table and private bar, the groom and groomsmen had plenty to keep them busy and calm their nerves in the morning. I always think sometimes if the men don’t have much to do in the morning it can let the nerves set in. George and his groomsmen spent the morning greeting wedding guests, playing pool, having a few beers while planning their hilarious and heartfelt speeches. Two perfect wedding mornings running along side one and other.

Thornbridge Hall a wedding venue in Derbyshire

Statue of a bearded man in Thornbridge Hall Formal Gardens

Archway leading onto the back garden of Thornbridge Hall, autumnal trees in the distance.

Two female wedding guests dressed in fancy winter coats chat outside the wedding venue.

Wedding guests arrive on foot back lit by the winter sun.

Wedding guest arrive by taxi wearing a navy blue dress.

The groom laughs as he greets wedding guests outside Thornbridge Hall.

Groomsmen enjoy some beers in the pool room.

A face of an eerie painting reflecting in the bathroom window.

Groomsmen laugh together while writing their speeches.

Groomsmen enjoy the sunlight steaming through the windows while sipping on a beer.

The wedding dress hangs in the hallway of Thornbridge Hall in front of a colourful stained glass window.

Brides red shoes sit in front of a stained glass window.

Bride and her bridesmaids relaxing in The India Suite on the morning of her wedding at Thornbridge Hall.

Mother and sun take some time out together on the bed in The India Suite

The bride and her mother smile and look at a scrap book wedding gift the bride has received from her bridesmaids

Bridesmaid getting her make up done in The India Suite, Thornbridge Hall.

Bridesmaid tell the bride a story as she is having her hair done.

Mother gives her baby some treats at the foot of the bed as the bridesmaids get ready around her.

Bride has her hair done while bridesmaids get ready around her.

Reflection of bride getting her make up done in the mirror.

Mother and child look out of huge leaded window in The India Suit at Thornbridge Hall.

Mother of the Bride laughs while drying her hair.

Brides sits on the floor at a coffee table while writing her speech.

Mother of the bride puts on some earrings.

Bridesmaids partner arrives to pick up his son.

Mother of the Bride smiles as she looks in the mirror

Bridesmaids smile and look on as the Bride begins to get dressed.

Mother of the Bride kneeling on the floor smiling as she helps her daughter into her dress.

Bridesmaids huddle round to watch the instructions of how to fasten the dress on brides phone.

Bridesmaids react to bride wearing her dress!

Bride stands in the window light while putting on her earrings.

Bride stands in the window light and is reflected in the mirror.

The Ceremony

Ruth and Georges beautiful ceremony took place in The Great Hall of Thornbridge Hall, surrounded by stunning Autumnal flower arrangements by the very talented Swallows and Damsons (check them out for some seriously beautiful flowers!). The couples popularity really showed filling the ground floor with guests and then having the rest their friends and family watch the ceremony from balconies over The Great Hall. The ceremony was heartfelt and emotional, with tears and laughter throughout before the couple made their way out of The Great Hall to be met in the back garden by their wedding guests for one of the longest confetti walks I have seen in a while!

After the confetti had been thrown and everyone had had a good old mingle, we grabbed some nice relaxed group shots against the beautiful back drop of the autumnal Derbyshire hills before Ruth and George came for a wander with me through Thornbrigde Halls beautiful manicured gardens to get some lovely relaxed wedding portraits and give them a bit of time out to enjoy each others company of their wedding day.

If you are thinking of having your wedding at Thornbridge Hall there are plenty of different places to hold your ceremony; for couples that want to brave an outdoors ceremony and feel those wonderful Derbyshire manicured lawns underneath your feet as you say I do there is the South Lawn Temple and for smaller indoor ceremonies there is the Music Room or if you are having a bigger winter wedding like Ruth and George you can take advantage The Great Hall and your friends and family watch you for two levels.

wooden calved face in the fire place of The Great Hall

Autumnal flowers dressing the fire place of The Great Hall, Thornbridge Hall.

Guests huddle together to facetime a friend on an ipad.

Sister of the groom laughing while sitting on the front row.

Master of ceremonies greets the wedding guests.

Sister of the groom has tears in her eyes.

First two bridesmaids walk down the aisle.

Sister of the bride walks down the aisle alone.

Two final bridesmaids walk down the aisle.

The groom looks up at his bride making her way to him with tears in his eyes.

Bridesmaids and guests look up as the bride circles them from above

Bride is walked down the aisle by her mother.

The groom greets his bride with a kiss on the cheek.

The bride and groom stand together as they are addressed by the registrar.

Bride and Groom hold hands facing on and other and laughing during the ceremony.

Bride and groom look back at wedding guests as they stand.

Close up of Bride and Groom looking at their rings

Tearful from the mother of the bride, bridesmaids and other guests.

Groomsman holding wedding ring box with tearful eyes

Bride and Groom stand and look at one and other laughing as guests stand an applause.

Mother of the bride with tears in her eyes.

Bride and groom laugh while signing the register.

Bride and groom walk down the aisle together.

Wedding guests form confetti line through stone arched door with the rolling hills of Derbyshire behind them.

Bridesmaid holding her autumnal bouquet.

Grandmother of the Groom waits in the confetti line with her confetti.

Grooms family wear sunglasses and wait to throw confetti at the bride and groom.

Close up of the bridesmaids holding their autumnal flowers.

Bride and groom walk through the stone arched doorway in the garden at Thornbridge Hall

Groom holds his wife's hand up like a prize as he walks down the confetti line

Bride and groom laugh as guests throw confetti at them

Groom trips over and bride folds over laughing.

Bride and groom laughing while confetti is being thrown at them in Thornbridge Hall Gardens, Derbyshire

Groom wipes confetti from his face while Bride laughs.

Bride and groom look at each other laughing.

Groom looks at camera laughing as confetti is till being thrown at them.

Bride laughs as they get to the end of the confetti line.

Confetti gathered in the folds of the brides white dress.

Bride and Groom hug their guests in an outdoor receiving line.

Black and white photo of Bride and Groom receiving guests in the gardens of Thronbridge Hall.

Bride and groom photographed with all of their wedding guests behind them.

Bride and Groom with grooms family casually standing together.

Bride and Groom with brides family, standing together laughing.

Groom steals a kiss from his bride in the walled gardens at Thornbridge Hall.

Bride and Groom stand together laughing in the long grassed gardens at Thornbridge Hall.

Bride and Groom have a quiet moment together in the walled gardens of Thornbridge Hall, Derbyshire.

Tail of wedding dress amongst the autumn leaves.

Bride and groom sit on the walled gardens drinking champagne and laughing.

Bride and groom walk together in the walled gardens

Groom kisses bride in Thornbridge Hall Gardens with the rolling hills of Derbyshire behind them.

The Carriage House

Ruth and George held their wedding reception in The Carriage House an old stable building that has been beautifully renovated and given a glass ceiling and front. On their tables waiting for their guests they had some autumnal flower arrangements, hand calved wooden name places and homemade marmalade!

After the Speeches

After the speeches it was time to get the wedding cake cut and get the party started and Ruth and George didn’t waste any time before they got on the dance floor and started tearing it up.