Quick answer: Howard Court is an exclusive-use barn wedding venue at East Angrove, on the A173 between Great Ayton and Stokesley in North Yorkshire, with views of Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland Hills. It has five indoor and outdoor ceremony areas, takes up to 100 day guests and 150 evening guests, and never runs back-to-back weddings. I'm a recommended supplier at Howard Court.
I've photographed around ten weddings at Howard Court, so it's a venue I know well. This guide covers what couples ask me most: the spaces, where the best photos happen, what to do if it rains and how a typical day runs.
Why couples choose Howard Court
Howard Court describes itself as a blank canvas, and that's the honest summary. It's a family-run farmhouse with restored barns, set in 22 acres of pasture and woodland. The barns are around 150 years old and keep their original red brick, oak beams and tall arched windows.
Because it's exclusive use, the venue is yours for the day. Howard Court doesn't run back-to-back weddings, so there's no rush to clear the barn for the next couple. Couples can decorate the spaces however they like, which suits anyone who wants their day to look like them rather than a template.
It's also easy to reach. Howard Court is on the A173 between Stokesley and Great Ayton, with train stations at Great Ayton, Middlesbrough, Yarm and Northallerton, and Teesside International Airport about half an hour away, according to the venue.
The spaces at Howard Court
The Old Dairy
The Old Dairy is Howard Court's newest barn conversion, opened in 2023, and seats up to 100 guests. It has exposed oak beams, red brick against white walls, fairy lights, chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling arched windows. For photos, those windows are the main thing: they fill the room with soft side light, so ceremony photos look natural without flash.
The Stable Barn
The Stable Barn has wooden beams, exposed brick and fairy lights, and is usually where the wedding breakfast happens. It can also hold a smaller ceremony, with the old hay manger or a curtain of fairy lights behind you.
The Courtyard
The Courtyard is a Mediterranean-style space where guests head after the ceremony for drinks and canapés. It's licensed for outdoor ceremonies in the warmer months, and it has a canopy and heaters for the colder ones, so it works for a drinks reception all year.
Best photo spots at Howard Court
Inside the barns
The red brick and oak beams give warm, textured backgrounds, and the arched windows in The Old Dairy mean the light inside is good for most of the day. During the ceremony I work from the side and the back of the barn rather than standing in the aisle, so I can catch the reactions without getting in anyone's way.
The fields and the old barn
The grounds run out into fields and woodland, and there's a weathered timber barn out in the grass that makes a lovely, simple backdrop for portraits. It's an easy place to slip away to for a few portraits during the drinks reception.
Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland Hills
Howard Court looks out towards Roseberry Topping and the Cleveland Hills. On a clear day they give portraits a backdrop that couples from this area recognise straight away.
The Courtyard after dark
Once the fairy lights come on, the courtyard and the paths between the buildings are lovely for a quick evening portrait.
How I photograph a Howard Court wedding
My style is documentary. I don't line people up or ask them to perform. I photograph what happens: the nerves in the morning, the reactions during the vows, the speeches and the dance floor. Group photos are kept short and planned with you beforehand, so your guests can get back to the drinks.
I'm a full-time photographer, insured, and I bring backup kit to every wedding. You can see more of my work on my weddings page and on my Howard Court wedding photographer page. To see a full real wedding there, have a look at Lucy and Sam's Howard Court wedding.
If you're starting to look at photographers for Howard Court, send me your date and I'll let you know if I'm free. Get in touch here.
What if it rains at Howard Court?
Howard Court copes well with bad weather. There are indoor ceremony options in the barns, and The Courtyard has a canopy and heaters, so a wet day doesn't mean the drinks reception is stuck indoors. For portraits I'll keep an eye on the sky and nip out in a dry spell. The barn doorways and arched windows also give good light on grey days.
An example Howard Court wedding timeline
Every day is different, but a typical summer timeline looks like this:
- 11:00 I arrive for getting-ready photos
- 13:00 Ceremony in The Old Dairy or The Courtyard
- 13:45 Drinks and canapés in The Courtyard, group photos, a short couple portrait in the grounds
- 15:30 Wedding breakfast and speeches in The Stable Barn
- 18:30 Golden-hour portraits in the fields, if the light is good
- 19:30 Evening guests arrive, cake cutting and first dance
Howard Court wedding photography prices
My collections, from the top:
- Willow: £2,295
- Oak: £1,695
- Digital: £1,295 (half day)
- Small weddings: from £895
A £100 booking fee holds your date. You can see what's in each collection in my price guide. Howard Court is well within my 70 miles of free travel from Guisborough.
Howard Court wedding FAQs
Where is Howard Court? Howard Court is at East Angrove, Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, on the A173 between Great Ayton and Stokesley.
How many guests does Howard Court hold? Up to 100 day guests and 150 evening guests, according to the venue. The Old Dairy seats up to 100.
Can you get married outside at Howard Court? Yes. Howard Court is licensed for outdoor ceremonies, and The Courtyard can be used for your vows in the warmer months.
Is Howard Court exclusive use? Yes. Howard Court is exclusive use and doesn't run back-to-back weddings.
Have you photographed at Howard Court? Yes. I've photographed around ten weddings at Howard Court and I'm one of the venue's recommended suppliers.
How do I book a viewing? Howard Court runs showrounds on Thursday and Sunday afternoons. You can book a viewing on the venue's website.
Useful links
- Howard Court venue overview
- About Howard Court
- My Howard Court wedding photographer page
- Lucy and Sam's real wedding at Howard Court
- My wedding photography
- Prices
What happens next
Send me your date and venue, and I'll come back to you with my availability and collections. If it feels right, we can have a chat, and the £100 booking fee holds your date. Get in touch.
About the author
I'm Aaron Jeffels, a full-time documentary wedding photographer based in Guisborough. I'm a recommended supplier at Howard Court and Danby Castle, I was North East Wedding Photographer of the Year 2022, and my work has been published in Vogue.