Whitworth Hall Estate and Deer Park Wedding - Spennymoor - Emma and Jack

A brand new venue!

Not just for me, but for the venue itself, as this is only their 9th wedding! However, you wouldn’t know it, because the staff at Whitworth Hall look like they have been doing this for years. The day was smooth, well organised and well communicated, especially with me, so my hat goes off to them.

First, as I usually like to do, I will talk about the couple, as let’s face it, it’s all (mostly) about them. Emma and Jack were fantastic. I love to attract relaxed, easy going couples that take each thing as it comes. No stress, no worries, chill. Luckily for me, Emma and Jack were just that. And like them, their friends and family followed suit. All lovely, happy and friendly. Granted, this is what I would expect from any wedding, but it certainly was in this case, and it makes the whole day so lovely.

Moving swiftly on to the incredible wedding venue of Whitworth Hall Estate and Deer Park. I had been looking forward to this wedding since Emma and Jack booked me for it. To give you some background, the venue was originally just a hotel until it closed in 2021. However, the estate was acquired by The Apartment Group — a leisure operator — which signalled plans for significant investment and redevelopment of the hall and grounds. Their stated ambition: to make Whitworth Hall “a major regional destination with a unique luxury offer.” The planned repositioning aims to lean heavily into weddings, events and luxury stays. So with that brought a wonderful glass walled function room would accommodate up to 112 guests with views of the Deer Park. They also built a new chapel room, which would host the ceremonies. They really wanted to bring the outdoors in, so the chapel has a glass wall that looks onto a small waterfall and the gardens. Needless to say, the transformation is stunning, and I am so happy I had the opportunity to shoot there. I cannot wait to return!

If you have never heard of Whitworth Hall, I’d recommend checking them out! The estate is near Spennymoor, on the outskirts of Durham, known as Whitworth Hall Country Park. It includes a historic mansion, Whitworth Hall (Grade II listed), a deer park, a lake, and a Victorian walled garden (which reportedly contains England’s most northerly vineyard).

Whitworth Hall Estate is considered a unique wedding venue because it blends historic charm, natural beauty, and purpose-built modern spaces in a way few venues can match. The estate’s resident herd of fallow deer makes Whitworth Hall instantly distinctive. Couples can marry and celebrate within a 73-acre parkland where deer roam freely. The combination of lakes, woodland, historic walls and wildlife gives the venue a setting that feels both elegant and enchanted. We had a lot of fun getting photographs with Emma and Jack feeding the deer. It is something truly unique that other wedding venues cannot match!

One thing I will also mention about this place is that it’s BIG! Emma was getting ready in the accommodation, which is around a 5 minute walk from the Whitworth Hall itself. This doesn’t sound like much, but when you need to go back and forth between the venue and bride prep, and considering I am on my feet all day, it has taken its toll! Bride and Groom prep was a very relaxed affair for both sides. Something I am seeing more and more of is handwritten letters written between the bride and groom. Emma and Jack had written letters to one another, and although I obviously didn’t read them, I imagine they are reassuring and comforting on a day that can be overwhelming. They also bring laughter and tears, which can only be a good thing!

Once the make up was finished and everyone was ready, Emma finished getting ready in the bridal suite in Whitworth Hall. The room is exquisite and perfect for the finishing touches of the wedding dress.

The ceremony took place in the newly built chapel, which had a lovely backdrop of the Victorian gardens. Emma and Jack celebrant Paul (Paul the Wedding Celebrant) who was fantastic. He not only delivered a beautiful service but also told wonderful, meaningful stories about the bride and groom. It was as if they were on that old TV show, This is Your Life. Paul seemed to know everything about them, which brought laughter and tears to the guests listening. It was truly lovely that the service was so personal.

Post ceremony, after the group shots and general mingling between guests, we went into the Deer Park to feed the, well, deers! This is such a unique and fun experience for a newlywed couple. My job was easy, just to photograph Emma and Jack as they fed the deer. It brought a lot of laughs, and they had a great time. We had around 20 minutes before moving on to the wedding breakfast, and post this, the evening drew in for one last shoot with just me, Emma, and Jack. Once the sun was down, it was party time!

I can’t wait to shoot at Whitworth Hall again. It was such a delightful venue, and I think it will become even more popular. Well done to all those involved!

The venue - Whitworth Hall Estate and Deer Park

From a wedding photographer’s point of view, Whitworth Estate is one of those venues that just makes life easy — in the best possible way. Everywhere you turn, there’s another beautiful backdrop waiting for you, whether that’s the sweeping drive, the open parkland, or the quiet woodland paths tucked away around the estate. It means couples get a huge variety of photos without ever having to rush off somewhere else, and everything flows naturally throughout the day.

The light at Whitworth is also a big win. The open spaces give you lovely soft light for most of the day, and if it’s bright, there’s always dappled shade under the trees that works perfectly for relaxed portraits. Inside, the big windows keep things bright and airy, so even ceremonies and speeches look clean and natural in photos. Whatever the weather, Whitworth always seems to deliver something beautiful.

One of the absolute highlights — and something couples never forget — is the deer. It’s not unusual to see them wandering through the grounds, especially later in the day, and when they appear during couple portraits, it feels downright magical. From a photographer’s point of view, those moments are unbeatable: totally natural, a little bit wild, and incredibly special. You can’t plan it, you can’t fake it, and that’s precisely what makes those images so meaningful.

On a practical level, the whole place just works. There’s plenty of space for getting ready in the morning, everything runs smoothly as the day moves from one part to the next, and the staff are calm, organised, and genuinely lovely to work alongside. That relaxed atmosphere filters through to everyone — especially the couple — and it shows in the photos. Whitworth Estate has that rare mix of stunning scenery and easy-going elegance, which is exactly what you want on a wedding day.

Suppliers

Bride & Groom - Emma and Jack - @ems.gallagher & @jmgallagher94
Venue - Whitworth Hall Estate and Deer Park - @whitworthhall
Photographer - Colin Jones - @colinjonesphoto
Celebrant - Paul the Wedding Celebrant - @paultheweddingcelebrant
Makeup - Tara - @tarashentonmua
Hair - Abbie - @abbieholyoakmua
Flowers - Meadows and Mulberry Weddings - @meadowsandmulberryweddings
Dress - Marrime Bridalwear - @marrime_bridalwear
Suit - Skopes - @officialskopes
Pianist - Mark Thompson Wedding Pianist - @markthompson_weddingpianist
DJ - Marvellous Disco - @marvellous_disco