10 Reasons I Love… Irnham Hall

I know you shouldn’t have favourites but I’m going to come out and say it… Irnham Hall is my favourite local wedding venue.  I’ve photographed so many weddings there over the years and feel excited every time I drive through those iron gates. In fact I love it so much, I got married there myself!

If you’re looking for a fantastic Lincolnshire wedding venue to host your special day, read on to find out why I love it so much…

1. The Setting

As a wedding photographer, the most obvious reason to start with why I love Irnham Hall is plain to see…. it’s just so beautiful! The first thing you’ll see when driving into the grounds is the house itself, dating back more than 600 years it’s an absolute stunner. To top it off it has its own private lake, rustic walled garden and is surrounded by acres of rolling countryside and ancient oak trees.  Wedding ceremonies can take place in the adjoining church or the venue’s own orangery, with a reception to follow inside the walled garden and summer house. I personally love the gardens and quirky corners for photographs, coupled with the great hall it’s just a photographer’s dream.

2. The Walled Garden

After the grandeur of the Hall itself, the Walled Garden is a lovely, intimate space to hold your wedding reception. The Summer House can hold up to 150 guests and if it’s a warm day, you guests can sit outside and relax in the garden. I love the way the rustic charm of this garden so much, it’s always immaculate but still full of character. Full of quirky nooks and crannies to explore for photos and packed with beautiful flowers in Summer. How much more romantic could it be!?

3. The Church

Irnham Hall is a great choice if you’re after a church ceremony without wanting to travel between venues. The Church of St Andrews is a pretty Norman building and has been on the same site for around 1000 years. History aside, it’s 100%  photographer-friendly with both resident vicars allowing discreet, natural coverage of your ceremony.

4.  Indoor & Outdoor Ceremonies

If church weddings aren’t for you, you can have a civil ceremony inside the Hall’s own orangery. Oh and if it’s warm weather you’ve also got the option to celebrate outside too!

5. The Hall

It goes without saying that the Hall itself is the jewel in the crown of this venue. A stunning 600 year old house which is breath-taking inside and out. If you’re having an autumn or winter wedding, the interior of the Great Hall is definitely worth a visit for some couple photos.

6.  The Accommodation & Pub

There are several cottages in the village where you can stay for your wedding, all of them lovingly decorated and within walking distance of the Hall. This is really handy if you’ve got guests coming from far away and particularly useful for making sure you’re not late to your wedding ceremony! The Griffin Inn has been recently refurbished and serves a selection of food and drink. Again, it’s within walking distance of the Hall and Church so can be a great meeting point for guest arrivals on the day of your wedding.

7. The Team

This is a big one…. the owners Jamie, Leila and their team are absolutely fantastic. Everything about weddings at Irnham Hall is focused around family, and by the end of your wedding you’ll feel like part of the family too. These guys are not your typical wedding co-ordinators, they are genuine, caring people who want you to have the best possible day. You don’t need a toastmaster with Jamie around.

8. Dog Friendly!

Yep, if you’re a dog person like me you can invite your pooch along to your wedding too! Enough said.

9. Night Photos

You’ve not seen anything until you’ve seen Irnham Hall at night! This place is adorned with fairly lights everywhere you look, it’s just so romantic. I can’t  shoot a wedding at Irnham without ending the day with a signature night shot, here’s a couple of my favourites…

10. My Own Wedding Experience

When it came to choosing the venue for our own wedding there was only ever one contender. We wanted a small, romantic wedding with civil ceremony in a place that felt homely and personal, so of course it had to be Irnham. I’ve photographed more than 200 weddings in all sorts of venues across the region and could only ever imagine getting married here for all the reasons above. I’ll write more about my experience as a bride sometime soon, but would just like to say thank you again to Jamie, Leila and the team for giving us the best day ever, you’re amazing x

Picture by Olivia Johnston