West Yorkshire is a beautiful area of the UK and makes up a huge portion of the Northern Powerhouse. It’s known for its picturesque villages, bustling cities, diverse population and vast open countryside. Including Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax and many more, West Yorkshire is a proud and historic region of northern England and makes for the perfect place to get married.
Whatever you’re looking for in your wedding, you’re practically guaranteed to find it in West Yorkshire. Want to feel like royalty by getting married within the grounds of a magnificent castle? Yearn to be immersed in nature with an outdoor wedding miles from civilisation? Excited to fill a luxurious hotel with your loved ones and party the night away while being wined and dined? With so many options available, West Yorkshire is the ideal location for hosting your dream wedding.
According to our 2025 Wedding Report, West Yorkshire remains a top choice for UK weddings, with the majority of local couples choosing to celebrate their big day close to home. Out of all the weddings that take place in the UK, a massive 8% are in Yorkshire, which is 2% more than take place in London. Nearly 9 in 10 Yorkshire couples (88%) choose to stay in the area to get married, which is more than couples from any other region in the country. This is a testament to how proud and loyal Yorkshire folk are, as well as how fantastic it really is to plan a wedding in Yorkshire. The average cost of a wedding in West Yorkshire is £20,306, which is more or less in line with the national average of £20,822. This just shows how perfect a Yorkshire wedding must be.
Couples in West Yorkshire are embracing vibrancy and originality by choosing big and bold colour palettes. While elegant whites, creams and silvers are commonly seen at weddings across the UK, it’s popular for West Yorkshire weddings to be adorned in bright yellows and reds and even deep blues.
Another popular trend in Yorkshire is for couples to choose smaller, more intimate weddings, also known as micro weddings. Similarly, winding tables are being utilised more at receptions, which encourage guests to interact with everyone, rather than who they’re sitting close to.
With so many beautiful parks and breathtaking views around Yorkshire, outdoor ceremonies are becoming increasingly popular. These settings offer couples a picturesque backdrop for their celebrations and unforgettable wedding photos. Many couples are also embracing eco-friendly weddings by choosing local caterers, florists and wedding planners, to help boost local vendors and ensure they lessen their carbon footprint.
Thanks to its rich history, unique architecture and diverse population, there’s an enormous range of wedding venues in West Yorkshire. From luxurious country manors to unique and unusual visitor attractions to sites of historical significance, the entire region is filled with all sorts of venues to suit all tastes, styles and budgets.
If you’re looking to host a lavish wedding, there are plenty of amazing venues that bring that class and sophistication to your big day. Waterton Park Hotel & Spa in Wakefield is located on its own private island, Holdsworth House Hotel in Halifax is set within pristine gardens and The Woodman Inn is a fairytale venue deep in the woods outside Huddersfield.
For weddings taking place during the warmer months, West Yorkshire is perfect for an outdoor wedding. Riverlands Wedding Barns in Howden, Chilli Barn in Otley and Oakwell Hall Country Park Birstall all have beautiful outdoor spaces that show off the fantastic countryside around West Yorkshire.
To get married somewhere a little bit different, you could exchange your vows within the ruins of the historical Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds. If you’re film and TV enthusiasts, the National Media Museum in Bradford is unique and super interesting. Or you could choose Hardcastle Crags, a converted mill on the banks of a lake and completely enveloped in picture-perfect woodland.
If you’d prefer to keep you wedding a little more simple or would like to keep your spending down, there are loads of affordable but still fabulous venues around West Yorkshire. The Engine Shed Wetherby, Hollins Hall Hotel and Country Club in Baildon and Blenheim House in Batley are all excellent choices.
In West Yorkshire, the average cost of a wedding venue, excluding catering, is £7,356. This is more than £1,400 higher than the UK average of £5,945 for a venue without catering, making West Yorkshire a pricier option compared to other regions in the UK when it comes to venue costs. This reflects the demand for and exceptional quality of venues in West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire is an incredibly popular area for couples searching for their ideal wedding venue, so planning ahead is essential to make sure you secure your number one choice. For most venues, you should aim to book at least 12 to 18 months in advance, especially if you have your heart set on a specific location. For the most popular venues, or if you plan on having your wedding at a peak time, such as in the summer or at the weekend, you may need to book as far as two years in advance – and sometimes even longer.
To ensure you secure your dream venue, it’s best to make your booking as early as possible. However, if you’re flexible about your wedding date or venue and are happy to explore options throughout West Yorkshire, you might be able to find availability as little as six months ahead.
Just like the rest of the UK, West Yorkshire’s weather can be unpredictable. But, with thoughtful planning, you can have a magical wedding at any time of year.
Spring (March - May) is a beautiful time to tie the knot in West Yorkshire, as the parks and countryside come alive with vibrant greens and colourful flowers. Iconic spots like Roundhay Park in Leeds and the iconic Yorkshire Pennines provide stunning backdrops for photos. Temperatures range from 9°C (48°F) in March to 15°C (59°F) in May, and there’s every chance you’ll experience a bit of rain – but, you might get lucky!
Summer (June - August) is the most popular wedding season in West Yorkshire, offering longer days and warmer weather. Temperatures average around 20°C (68°F), with occasional highs reaching the mid-30s. There can also be extended dry spells, so it’s the best time to plan an outdoor wedding if that’s what you’re hoping for.
Autumn (September - November) transforms West Yorkshire as the leaves change colour and the days get darker. As temperatures drop from 12°C (54°F) in September to 7°C (45°F) in November, venues with cosy indoor spaces are perfect for intimate and romantic celebrations. The natural autumnal scenery also adds a beautiful touch to your wedding photos.
Winter (December - February) can be cold and dark, but the regular frost can bring a certain magic to your winter wedding. If you’re lucky you might get a light blanket of snow, but you definitely shouldn’t count on it. But what you can count on is the cold, with an average temperature of 4°C (39°F) which can often dip below freezing.
West Yorkshire is a very well-connected region, with many of the major towns and cities being easy to get to from around the UK and Europe.
For those arriving by train, West Yorkshire boasts excellent rail links, with direct services from London, Manchester, Edinburgh and beyond. For example, a train from London King’s Cross to Leeds takes just two and a half hours. Once in the area, getting around is simple thanks to great bus networks. The only issues you may find come with getting to more remote areas if you don’t have a car. There is a major tram network planned for Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield, which will make travelling around the region in the future even more accessible.
For international visitors, Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is a short drive from many of West Yorkshire’s popular wedding destinations, offering flights to and from major European cities. And not too far away are Manchester Airport (MAN) and East Midlands Airport (EMA), which provide more options for long-haul and international travellers.
If you're travelling by car, West Yorkshire is conveniently situated near major motorways like the M1, M62 and A1(M), providing straightforward access from cities across the UK. Loads of venues in the region offer plenty of parking, ensuring a stress-free arrival for your guests.
As well as being a popular wedding destination, West Yorkshire is also popular with tourists, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to hotels and accommodation. Many hotels even double up as lovely wedding venues, meaning you can have your ceremony and reception in one spot and not have to worry about driving back for a well-earned sleep. Some affordable wedding venue hotels include The Midland Hotel in Bradford, Village Hotel Leeds South and King’s Croft Hotel in Pontefract.
