Thicket Priory wedding photos: a photographer’s guide
Quick answer: Thicket Priory is an exclusive-hire, Grade II-listed Victorian country house at Thorganby, about 20 minutes from York. Couples can marry in the Morning Room, the Ballroom or at the outdoor Bandstand, or have a celebrant-led ceremony in the private Chapel. The best photo spots are the lake and boathouse, the gardens and the Grand Staircase. I've photographed weddings at Thicket Priory.
This guide is for couples who've booked Thicket Priory, or are close to it, and want to know what the photos will look like. It covers the spaces, where I take couples for portraits, what happens if it rains and how a day usually runs.
About Thicket Priory
Thicket Priory was built in the 1840s by Edward Blore, the architect known for his work on Buckingham Palace. Between 1955 and 2009 it was home to an order of nuns and closed off from the outside world. It has since been restored and is now hired out exclusively, so the house is yours for the day.
The house has 35 en-suite bedrooms sleeping up to 72 guests, 18 acres of grounds, a private lake and a boathouse, and sits next to a nature reserve. Thicket Priory is at Thorganby, York, YO19 6DE.
Ceremony spaces at Thicket Priory
The Chapel
The Chapel is inside the main house and seats up to 110 guests, with stained-glass windows. You can't marry with a registrar in the Chapel, so ceremonies there are celebrant-led. The legal part then happens in the Jefferson Room, for up to 12 people, either on the day or before it, or at a register office beforehand. For photos, the stained glass gives warm, coloured light, so I keep flash off and work with what the windows give.
The Morning Room
The Morning Room is licensed for registrar ceremonies and holds from 70 to 160 guests. The venue describes huge windows and a feature fireplace, which makes a natural backdrop for the vows. Big windows mean soft, even light on faces, which is the easiest kind of light to photograph a ceremony in.
The Bandstand and the lawn
The Bandstand is the outdoor option, for up to 160 guests. An outdoor ceremony gives the most open feel in the photos, with the gardens around you rather than walls.
The Grand Staircase
For smaller weddings, the bottom of the Grand Staircase seats 30.
The Ballroom
The Ballroom is where the wedding breakfast and evening happen. It seats 70 to 160 for dinner, with room for up to 250 in the evening. The venue says there's a wireless microphone linked to speakers throughout, which helps the speeches.
Best photo spots at Thicket Priory
The lake and boathouse
The private lake and boathouse are the obvious portrait spot, and they're at their best in the last hour or so before sunset. It's a short walk from the house, so it's easy to slip away for ten minutes.
The gardens
The gardens give plenty of room for group photos with the house behind, and quieter corners for a few relaxed portraits during the drinks reception.
Inside the house
The Grand Staircase, the corridors and the bedrooms give good places for getting-ready photos and quieter moments. add any favourite indoor spot you use, if you have one.
How I photograph a Thicket Priory 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.
Because so many guests can stay over at Thicket Priory, the mornings are often busy and relaxed at the same time, with friends drifting between rooms, which gives me lots of natural moments to photograph.
If you're getting married at Thicket Priory, send me your date and I'll let you know if I'm free. Get in touch here.
What if it rains at Thicket Priory?
Thicket Priory has indoor ceremony options in the Chapel, the Morning Room and the Ballroom, so rain doesn't change much. For portraits I'll watch the sky and nip out in a dry spell, and the big windows give good light indoors on grey days.
An example Thicket Priory wedding timeline
Every day is different, but a typical summer timeline looks like this:
- 11:00 I arrive for getting-ready photos in the house
- 13:00 Ceremony in the Morning Room, the Chapel or at the Bandstand
- 13:45 Drinks in the gardens, group photos and a short portrait by the lake
- 15:30 Wedding breakfast and speeches in the Ballroom
- Golden hour Ten minutes back at the lake, if the light is good (check sunset for your date)
- 19:30 Evening guests arrive, cake cutting and first dance
Thicket Priory 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.
Thicket Priory wedding FAQs
Where is Thicket Priory? Thicket Priory is at Thorganby, York, YO19 6DE, about 20 minutes from York according to the venue.
Can you legally marry in the Chapel at Thicket Priory? No. Chapel ceremonies are celebrant-led, and the legal signing takes place in the Jefferson Room or at a register office.
How many guests does Thicket Priory hold? The Ballroom seats 70 to 160 for the wedding breakfast, with up to 250 in the evening. The venue asks for a minimum of 70 guests, though it says smaller numbers can be explored for dates within six months.
How many people can stay at Thicket Priory? Its 35 en-suite bedrooms sleep up to 72 guests, and they come with exclusive hire.
Have you photographed at Thicket Priory? Yes, I've photographed weddings at Thicket Priory.
Useful links
- Thicket Priory
- Thicket Priory ceremony spaces
- My Thicket Priory venue guide
- 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 was North East Wedding Photographer of the Year 2022, my work has been published in Vogue, and I have 85+ Google reviews. I'm fully insured and bring backup kit to every wedding.