County Durham is a stunning and historic part of North East England, offering a beautiful mix of countryside, castles and charming market towns. From the breathtaking Durham Cathedral and iconic Durham University to the rolling hills of the Durham Dales, the county is packed with picturesque locations that make for incredible wedding backdrops.
Our 2025 Wedding Report found that the average cost of a wedding in County Durham and the rest of the North East area is £20,415, which is slightly less than the UK average at £20,822. It’s also quite a lot more than couples in the neighbouring North West pay on average, which is £18,408. Despite this, 4% of couples choose County Durham as the location to host their wedding, which just shows how much love there is for the area.
So many regions of County Durham are absolutely beautiful. With its rich history, stunning landscapes and fantastic range of architectural styles and venues, it’s no surprise that the county is becoming an increasingly popular wedding destination. Whether you’re looking for a grand castle wedding fit for a royal, a rustic barn celebration miles from city living or a modern venue steeped in luxury, County Durham has something for every couple, no matter your taste or budget.
Because County Durham has everything from wide open countryside to charming seaside towns, the themes and trends across the county are varied.
Many trends tend to lean heavily into the area’s history and natural beauty, which means couples love to get married at historical venues, such as castles or stately homes.
Rustic countryside weddings are hugely popular, with barn and gardens a particular favourite among couples in the North East, who use fairy lights and natural decor to bring a relaxed yet stylish feel to their big day.
To help keep costs down, couples in the area are choosing to have smaller, more intimate weddings. This means they spend less not just on a smaller venue, but also on everything from catering to florists. Some of those savings are then dedicated to making sure their wedding is truly memorable, such as through the inclusion of interactive elements like live-cooking stations and photobooths.
County Durham offers a wide variety of wedding venues, whether you’re after a grand historic setting, somewhere deep in the rolling countryside or a stylish venue with modern amenities.
County Durham is famous for its history, which is celebrated at Beamish open-air museum. And you can incorporate that local history into your wedding by choosing a castle or manor house for your big day. Lumley Castle Hotel is an iconic 14th-century building which has so many fairytale settings. The Croft is an elegant and magical Grade II listed building with beauty at every turn. There’s also Lartington Hall and Beamish Hall, two stunning and grand manor houses that let you celebrate in absolute luxury.
The area is often celebrated for its landscapes and natural beauty, and many venues capitalise on that to make sure you have a truly picturesque place to tie the knot. Runa Farm is something of a hidden gem, with rustic charm perfectly combined with class to make sure you have the perfect day. Brinkburn Northumberland is a 19th-century barn and 12th-century church nestled within enchanting woodland. And you’ll find The Hidden Oak within 200 acres of fabulous gardens that make for some of the most amazing wedding photos you could hope for.
Many venues around County Durham also reflect the varied and colourful culture you’ll find in and around the area, making sure you have a wedding day none of your guests will ever forget. Venues like The Bowes Museum, Forum Theatre and National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool, have bags of character and help you inject some of your personality into your wedding day.
There are also plenty of affordable venues around the county, so you can have your perfect wedding even if you don’t have a huge budget. Some fantastic affordable venues include Derwent Manor Boutique Hotel, The Hub and Dolphin Centre.
The average cost of a wedding venue in County Durham is £5,293, which is more than £600 less than the UK average of £5,945. It’s also less than couples pay on average in the North West of England at £5,623 and Scotland at £5,685.
While County Durham is a popular wedding location, it’s less competitive than major cities like London or Manchester, meaning you may not need to book quite as far in advance as you do elsewhere. That being said, you still want to make sure you secure your number one venue in plenty of time, with many venues requiring a lead time of between 12 and 18 months. This could even be two or more years if you’re looking to book a particularly popular venue, or if you’d like to get married during peak wedding season or at the weekend.
If you’re flexible about the wheres and the whens, you’re likely to find somewhere as little as six months ahead. By doing this, there’s also a great chance that you’ll pay less for your big day, too.
With everything from the wonderful coastline to the rolling hills of the North Pennines, the weather across County Durham can vary depending on where you are. However, you’ll find it’s typically in line with the weather across the rest of the UK.
Spring (March – May) is a beautiful time for weddings, with blossoming flowers and fresh greenery making for stunning countryside settings. Hardwick Hall-Durham Country Park is a huge favourite among locals, known for its jaw-dropping landscape and pristine gardens. Temperatures during the spring range from 9°C (48°F) in March to 15°C (59°F) in May, with some April showers more than possible.
Summer (June – August) is the most popular wedding season in County Durham, with temperatures between 16°C (61°F) and 21°C (70°F). With long daylight hours and warmer weather, it’s perfect for outdoor weddings in Durham’s gardens and countryside estates, such as Wynyard Hall and Rushpool Hall.
Autumn (September – November) is when the area transforms, making it a gorgeous time for a wedding. Temperatures range from 15°C (59°F) in September to 8°C (46°F) in November, and the autumnal colours create a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos, whether you’re in one of the region’s quaint villages or somewhere close to the coast.
Winter (December – February) is a lovely time to get married in the area, with many of County Durham’s historic venues and country houses offering warm fires, twinkling lights and an intimate atmosphere. With temperatures between 2°C (36°F) and 6°C (43°F), winter weddings in County Durham are cosy and atmospheric, especially at venues with big indoor spaces, like Bowburn Hall Hotel and Whitehouse Peterlee.
County Durham is well connected, making it easy for wedding guests to travel to and from the region.
For guests flying in, the closest airport is Newcastle International Airport (NCL), which is just 40 minutes from Durham by car or train. It offers flights to and from major UK and European destinations, making it convenient for international guests.
For those travelling by train, Durham Railway Station is on the East Coast Main Line, meaning there are direct trains from London, Edinburgh and other major UK towns and cities. A train from London Kings Cross to Durham takes around three hours, making it an accessible option for guests travelling from the capital.
For guests who choose to drive, County Durham is easily accessible via the A1(M), A19 and A690, providing straightforward routes from Scotland, the North West, Yorkshire and beyond. Because so much of the county is sprawling countryside, road is often the most convenient way to get around, so bear this in mind if a large portion of your guests rely on public transport to get around.
County Durham has a fantastic selection of places to stay, from luxury boutique hotels to all the tried-and-tested budget chains. Many hotels also have their own event spaces, making them a great choice for a place to get married. Hotels such as Blackwell Grange Hotel, The Manor House Hotel and South Causey Inn all make for lovely wedding venues, with rooms right upstairs so you and your guests don’t have to go far after a long day celebrating.
