If you’re currently in the early stages of wedding planning, sit up and take note, as this afternoon we’re introducing another of our Brides Up North Dream Venues.
Set within 75 acres of peaceful parkland in Teesdale, Lartington Hall is a venue that is equally stunning on the outside as it is within.
Having visited the venue ourselves on several occasions we can tell you first hand that this place is super special. From its luxurious reception rooms to its boutique bedrooms, everything about Lartington says elegance and class.
As an exclusive use venue, brides need not worry about sharing their moment in the limelight with others, and they won’t have to lift a finger during their stay either, with guests are assigned their own house butler.
Intrigued? You should be. To tell us more about Lartington’s impressive wedding offering we’re going to hand over the blogging reins to owner Shona Harper-Wilkes this afternoon – and if you like what you hear, be sure to join us at our Luxury Wedding Exhibition at Lartington Hall on Sunday 6th November to view this outstanding venue for yourselves!
Images by Lee Scullion.
Where is Lartington Hall located?
shona says:
The Hall is situated two miles from Barnard Castle, a vibrant market town with gorgeous shops in Teesdale.
Tell Brides Up North a little about the history of Lartington Hall and what the venue is like today…
Lartington Hall has a rich history dating from 1635 when the first Hall was a small Manor House. Over the years Lartington Hall changed hands and grew in size as it was developed, though it always remained a hub of activity and a welcoming place – home to families, maids, chauffeurs, gardeners and grounds men, butlers, priests, cooks and many more up until it fell into serious disrepair in the mid-1970s. It was nearly demolished, but since served as a squash and racquet club before the major restoration that my husband and I undertook to reinstate it as a beautiful country home.
Today Lartington Hall is a uniquely beautiful wedding venue, impossibly glamorous and perfectly tasteful.
With our gorgeous Grand Ballroom, private Chapel, and many sumptuous reception rooms, we can give our couples so much freedom to plan their special day – they can choose where they marry, where they eat, where they relax and of course where they party! Despite the grandeur and size of the Hall, it really has been designed to feel like home from home – nobody ever wants to leave! Our style is authentic, tasteful and welcoming, having chosen everything of the best quality means our couples feel completely spoilt during their stay – cosseted by designer silks, one off pieces and luxury brands.
What facilities does it have?
We have amazing reception rooms, flooded by light which together with hand painted ceilings and the best designer furnishings, makes Lartington the perfect place to relax, be pampered and of course, tie the knot! Our licensed spaces include our Chapel, Grand Ballroom and Grand Corridor.
We have a BOSE music system zoned in each of the ground floor rooms so different music plays in different rooms/areas, including the loos, from your play lists.
Upstairs there are 12 double ensuite bathrooms which are each individually styled and include antique shabby chic hand painted ceilings, freestanding baths, Mulberry wallpapers and the most amazing views.
Set amongst 75 acres of romantic rolling parkland, Lartington boasts the most beautifully landscaped gardens for guests to take a stroll, throw a penny in the fountain or just admire the view. We can also conduct licensed ceremonies outside in the gorgeous gardens.
Best of all, Lartington is completely private and exclusive – no sharing other than with invited guests! It’s your very own stately for the weekend with a house butler included for the duration of the guest’s stay (really)!
Tell us about the spaces available for weddings at Lartington Hall…
The Hall has an exceptionally large and beautiful ground floor space, which means you have lots of choice and flexible options for your ceremony, dining, dancing, relaxing and milling time! Downstairs comprises of:
Private Chapel – This amazing space is licensed and can cater for civil ceremonies of up to 140 people.
The Grand Ballroom – another licensed space catering for civil ceremonies and formal dining of up to150 people and evening receptions of up to 220 people.
The Grand Corridor and Bar – Tastefully restored with gold gilt paint to the plaster work above and reclaimed venetian marble floor this area is contemporary Victorian grandeur at its best! Civil ceremonies for up to 40 people can be held here.
Large Dining Room – Gorgeous embroidered silks from Colefax and Fowler adorn the seven Georgian windows overlooking the beautiful gardens in this room. Civil Ceremony for up to140 people and formal dining for up to100 people can be held in this area.
Drawing Room – As well as a gorgeous place to relax and watch TV or sit by the fire, surrounded by sumptuous Nina Campbell fabrics, this is also a room available for ceremonies of up to 50 people.
Georgian Hall – Connecting the drawing room and dining room and leading to the stone terrace and east lawns and Park, the Georgian Hall – still with it original 18 Century stone floor, is another room licensed for modest ceremonies of up to 40 people.
Staircase – With beautiful pre-Raphaelite stained glass window and 19 Century sky lights, the impressive stone cantilever stair case is not only the place to make a striking entrance and take unforgettable photos, but it’s also licensed for small ceremonies of up to 30 people.
Reception Rooms 4 and 5, Jacobean wing – More rooms! To make your stay even more comfortable, in our 17 Century wing leading to the South door and lawns, we have a gorgeous lounge snug (again with open fire and club furniture) and a snooker room.
As of May 2016, civil ceremonies can also be held in the stunning gardens that surround Lartington Hall.
What would you say is the most unique feature of Lartington Hall?
I’d say it’s the sheer beauty of the place, inside and out combined with the amazing indoor spaces such as the Private Chapel and Ballroom (it’s a real ballroom!)
What makes Lartington Hall a special wedding venue and sets you apart from others?
There’s lots of reasons. I think the exclusivity combined with the gorgeous interiors is really important to guests and although the Hall is grand, it’s also personal and a home from home, which is very appealing.
People also always comment on how magical a place it is – I can’t explain that as its intangible– although it’s definitely true and the setting is outstanding.
The Capability Brown style Parkland is the perfect backdrop to the pretty gardens, by day or night. The interiors are gorgeous and of all the exclusive hire venues, it has the largest ground floor spaces so couples can plan a perfect free flowing day without the need to set foot in a permanent marquee or waste time with tedious room changes.
There’s so much choice and flexibility of where you marry, where you eat, where you dance. In fact the biggest challenge most couples face during the planning stages are deciding what rooms they are going to use for what!
The Chapel certainly adds something special to Lartington as it has such a special serene atmosphere and makes the ceremony even more emotional and memorable.
What sort of bride would be a Lartington Hall bride?
A really difficult question! I’m not sure there’s a bride that isn’t a Lartington Hall bride.
Brides that are drawn to us tend to appreciate beauty, luxury and real attention to detail – they want a timeless and elegant day which is just effortlessly perfect – without ‘trying too hard’.
How can your staff help to make the planning process easier and the big day amazing?
At the hall, we are passionate about the details and work with couples to ensure their day is styled perfectly according to their ideas, tastes or theme.
We have an enormous store cupboard (several rooms actually) full of objects they can use if need be – mannequins, bird cages, lace, china, easels, mirrored trays, hurricane lamps – to mention just a few bits and pieces! We also tie in the crockery and glassware according to their theme too. We have a massive choice of vintage china which couples are welcome to use and style as they want.
We also work with couples from the outset – meeting them regularly – to make sure all the plans and details and shared with all the relevant parties to ensure a smooth running on the day. We don’t believe in last minute panics!
Can guests stay over at your venue?
Yes, as mentioned, spanning a further three floors, there are 12 ensuite, luxurious and individually styled bedrooms with fabrics from Mulberry, Jane Churchill, Colefax and Fowler and Nina Campbell. The 12 double rooms sleep 24 guests. Bedrooms are included with the exclusive hire charge and are not available to buy individually or outside of private hire.
Tell us about your catering services and what makes them special?
Our food and drink is completely sumptuous, using fresh local ingredients and seasonal produce. Everything is handmade – we even have our own Lartington Hall sausage for your breakfast!
Whilst couples can choose from a wide range of menus our chef has put together for balance, we encourage people to meet with our chefs and bespoke their food and drink so it reflects their own personal preferences (it is their big day!) and also perhaps ties in with their theme for the day, from vintage to retro, garden party to 1920s style, and many more!
All our couples get a full tasting session of their chosen wedding breakfast menu well before their big day so they can work with the chef to refine their choice and personalise it to their taste. This includes presentation of the dishes too. Once we’re all agreed, we take photos of the plated dishes for the file, so we can ensure it’s recreated perfectly according to their specific instructions on the wedding day.
In addition to fine dining and prettily presented plated options, we do also offer couples some quirky foodie options, from our ‘little bit different wedding breakfast range’, which are also styled by our event managers, for example our English Picnic – inspired by Downton Abbey – with the most wonderful homemade pies, home cooked meats, pickled quails eggs, ginger beer and much more! It’s styled with vintage china, picnic hampers, meadow flowers and lots of gingham! We also offer retro menus (think VW Camper Vans and John Travolta’s disco moves), sharing platters for an informal or continental feel as well as formal afternoon tea.
Have there been any particularly memorable weddings at the Hall?
Since the Hall is so flexible in terms of use of space, and is such a great place to style and personalise, every wedding has been completely different and therefore they’re all memorable in different ways. No couple has the same idea and no two days have been similar! We absolutely love hearing about people’s ideas and seeing their creative touches – it’s the fact that they’re all so different that sticks out in my mind, plus how talented and creative so many of the couples are!
Do you have any special packages available?
Yes, we have a range of options from a one-day wedding to a two or three night stay, and some couples stay even longer in our new luxury apartment. We also offer exclusive use whether its mid-week or a weekend. Importantly, at Lartington we don’t have any hidden costs which can surprise couples later. For example, the ceremony room is included in the exclusive hire fee. Pricing is very simple – hire of the hall on whichever option chosen (day of week, length of stay) plus food and drink! That’s it! Nothing extra!
Where can our readers get more information on the venue?
Via our website www.lartingtonhall.co.uk or Facebook page.
Do you have any special events or open days coming up shortly that readers should know about?
We certainly do. On Sunday 6th November 2016, Brides Up North will be hosting one of their Luxury Wedding Exhibitions at Lartington Hall between 11am and 3pm. Hope to see you there!
