Tucked away in the peaceful North Yorkshire countryside, Thicket Priory is full of history and elegance … and maybe a little bit of magic…
Whether you’re newly engaged or at the end of a long search for your dream venue, here are the five main reasons couples fall in love with Thicket Priory – and why you will too…
1. All your loved ones under one roof… the accommodation
A country home with 35 uniquely decorated bedrooms – gather your closest family and friends for a full weekend of celebrations.
Anyone who stays with us becomes a part of the Thicket Priory family, we get to know all of your guests during your stay, making your experience much more unique and personal.
“Thicket priory is a venue like no other- it is simply stunning, all the rooms and spaces are just so beautiful and so well thought out. The ability to have the venue for the full 2 nights enabled us to have a full weekend of fun and really prolong our celebrations. The small details are so well thought out and everywhere. We had so many comments from guests about how stunning the venue was and all the little touches weren’t missed even on the guests. It is such an incredible space and really did feel like our home.”
– Liv & Ed, 31st December 2024
“Each of the bedrooms felt luxurious – like they belong in a boutique hotel! Each has its own personality and quirks, which made assigning them to our guests a fun task.” – Issy & Miles, 30th November 2024
2. The Team
From the coordinators themselves to the wider team, one of our strongest areas is the amazing team we have created here, each one of us heavily invested in you having the best weekend ever!
Our coordinators are with you all the way from your initial first visit, to check out (and will most likely be encouraging you to come back after this!) – we want you to enjoy every moment of your day without any stress, which means we are on hand at any time to help and advise (or bring a glass of fizz!).
“What makes Thicket Priory so special is the incredible team behind it…”
3. The magic of Thicket Priory
Thicket Priory feels like something out of a fairytale and is so full of history – whether you’re exploring the grounds or discovering secret staircases, the magic is everywhere – and something you and your guests will feel when you come here.
“We recently had the absolute pleasure of getting married at Thicket Priory, and we truly couldn’t have dreamed of a more exceptional venue. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that every inch of the estate has been designed with care, thoughtfulness, and elegance. The setting is nothing short of magical—steeped in charm, surrounded by tranquil grounds, and filled with beautiful, characterful spaces that feel both grand and intimate.”
– Bethany & Alex, 1st March 2025
4. Exclusivity
Set within 18 acres of private grounds, Thicket Priory is exclusively yours for the duration of your stay. That means no interruptions, no people turning up to check in after you – just you and your guests, in a home away from home venue.
Despite its secluded feel, we are easily accessible from York and close to major transport links.
“When we first looked round Thicket we were told to imagine that we were inviting guests into our own home and they were here to help and it really did feel like that. We knew straight away that Thicket was going to be perfect and never once questioned our decision throughout the whole process. From start to finish, introductions, planning, the weekend, even afterwards, we could not recommend Thicket and the team enough.”
– Samantha & Joe, 31st August 2024
5. The Experience
Who better to describe this than past couples themselves…
“5 stars could never be enough for Thicket Priory!
We had the pleasure of getting married here on the 21st of December 2024 and couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect day. From the moment we walked into Thicket Priory and met the incredible Anna, we felt right at home. The venue itself is absolutely stunning, the attention to detail is truly like nowhere else around.
Our ceremony was in the onsite chapel, which is just breathtaking and such a special, intimate space. Our wedding breakfast and evening reception was then held in the stunning ballroom, filled with so much natural light, it really is the perfect space for a wedding.
The rooms all have a unique character and every single room is just beautiful, our guests absolutely loved them and with 35 rooms onsite, it meant almost all our guests could stay over which was so important to us.
Aside from all the above, what makes Thicket Priory SO special is the incredible team behind it. Anna, our wedding coordinator was just unbelievable, she made every meeting feel like we were catching up with a friend and made the whole process an absolute joy and completely stress free. She truly goes above and beyond for her couples and we could not have felt in safer hands, all our guests also commented on how amazing she was! She is just a dream. Also, a huge thanks to Lil and the rest of the team who also made our day run so seamlessly. Nothing was ever too much for them and the attention to detail behind the scenes was just impeccable!
There really aren’t enough words to express our gratitude to Thicket Priory, it truly is an incredibly special place, a venue like no other!”
– Kasia & Jack, 21st December 2024
Photography by Beth Alderson
“A Wedding Venue Like No Other…
From the moment we drove up the driveway to Thicket Priory on our first visit, we knew we had found something truly special. Thicket is a wedding venue like no other – a stunningly beautiful location that also feels like home. It provided the most magical backdrop for our weekend celebration, having exclusive use of the venue for the entire weekend allowed us the time to create memories with our loved ones that we will cherish forever.
Having separate spaces to host our guests on the Friday vs the wedding day on the Saturday was brilliant. Every single guest felt truly welcomed, with many commenting on how blown away they were by the venue.
Becca and the whole team at Thicket are absolute superstars. Personable, creative and joyous – they ensured everything ran seamlessly behind the scenes. Nothing was too much trouble, and their attention to detail was second to none. From the planning process – where Becca was always on hand to guide us and answer questions – to the day itself, everything was utterly flawless.
As our wedding fell on the 30th Nov / 1st Dec weekend, we also got to experience the added magic of Thicket’s Christmas decorations. They were beautiful and added an extra layer of sparkle and magic.
Each of the bedrooms felt luxurious – like they belong in a boutique hotel! Each has its own personality and quirks, which made assigning them to our guests a fun task.
We cannot recommend Thicket Priory highly enough. The care, creativity, and passion of the team made our wedding weekend truly unforgettable. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for giving us a celebration beyond our wildest dreams.”
– Issy & Miles, 30th November 2024
Photography by Charlotte Nelson
“There is a reason this wedding venue has only 5-star reviews. From the moment we first visited Thicket Priory, we knew it was something special. We had toured other venues, but Thicket Priory ticked every single box—and then some. So that day we made our decision and cancelled the rest of our visits! Every single detail and thought to this place is perfect. In quoting the words of many of our guests, “most beautiful wedding venue ever.”
Our coordinator, Lil, was absolutely incredible—so thorough, responsive, and genuinely invested in making our day perfect. We also felt the noticeable support from Maggie, Anna, and the entire team. While we wish we could name everyone individually, the truth is, every single person at Thicket Priory played a part in making our wedding beyond anything we could have imagined.
From the planning process to the day itself, everything ran seamlessly, allowing us to be fully present and enjoy every moment. They truly exceeded every expectation, and we will always be grateful to have had such an amazing team by our side.
To Lil in particular, we had no clue what the job description of a wedding coordinator was and honestly we probably still don’t because of how much you go above your role responsibilities. You supported us in so many ways that meant so much – you managed the timeline, you set up our champagne tower, did a content creation video, you made sure we got our own space and even managed Sam’s dad. Thank you! We definitely are missing half the things you did for us but in short, our minds are blown by how happy we have been.
We feel so privileged to have celebrated our wedding here, and we cannot recommend it highly enough! We can only hope one day we can come back.”
– Shayna & Sam, 12th March 2025
Photography by Sallie Mudie
“Thicket Priory is no ordinary wedding venue – we felt that as soon as we entered the grounds on our first visit! Yes, the building is stunning, the grounds immaculate and every design choice is top notch, but what really makes this place different is the staff.
What you get with Thicket is an in-built coordinator (not a ‘venue coordinator’ as many venues have, that focus only on the venue’s logistics), someone who you can discuss every detail with and who will go the extra mile for you during your stay. We had Rebecca Brayson as our coordinator and not only was she great in the run-up to the wedding, but during our stay there she was like an extra member of the bridal party. She made all our guests feel so welcome, especially our parents & family, she steamed our dresses, made sure we were comfortable, and kept us to time all day including in the morning. I’m not sure how she managed to be so many places at once!
All of the staff at Thicket are so attentive and friendly, and Anna the general manager was another part of the team who made our day run so smoothly.
The bedrooms are beautiful and all of our guests said they had such a comfortable stay. The crisp/neutral design of all the event spaces means you can put your own mark on the space, and it really does feel like its yours for the time you are there.
If you want a place that feels romantic, grand but cosy, has traditional touches but with a modern twist, Thicket is your venue.
It truly felt like a fairytale experience and we’ll be talking about it for the rest of our lives!”
– Lily & Matt, 12th April 2025
Photography by Carla Whittingham
If you are still searching for your dream wedding venue and want to come for a tour, please get in touch HERE, we’d love to hear from you…
With love,
Lil xXx
*All photos unless stated are by Carla Whittingham
FAQs
1. Do I get a wedding planning at Thicket Priory?
As a team of coordinators we are here to help guide you through the planning and details of your wedding. We aren’t ‘planners’ as such, so our role does not include booking suppliers for you and doing the ‘at home admin’ you will find you need to do for your wedding, but we are here to point you in the right direction, give you recommendations, provide a portal for your wedding venue details. If you have a well organised spreadsheet, coupled with one of our fabulous coordinators you’ll find you won’t really need to employ a wedding planner. However do ask us and we can talk you through this option.
2. Can guests get a refund for the accommodation if they do not make it to the wedding?
Unfortunately as an exclusive hire venue you as the couple take on the responsibility of the entire hire costs for the venue, recouping any accommodation costs directly with your guests, so this isn’t something we would refund if a room was to go unused. You would however be welcome to ask another guest to stay in their place.
3. How many weddings does Thicket Priory host per year?
As a venue which prides itself very highly on ‘exclusive hire’ we never do back-to-back weddings, i.e. check-out and check-in on the same day. This means you have true exclusive use, not feeling the end of the last wedding or the start of the next. We aim to host between 50-60 weddings each year, meaning we can give you the best coordinating attention in the run up to the wedding, the best on the day coordination and also remain friends following your wedding because we have time to really get to know you in the run up to your wedding.
