Croft Hotel Wedding Photographer – A Guide to Getting Married Here
The Croft Hotel in Croft-on-Tees is a Grade II-listed wedding venue on the banks of the River Tees, just south of Darlington, with ceremonies held in its Secret Garden Chapel and receptions in the all-weather Garden Suite. Weddings here are currently advertised from £1,995 with year-round special offers, and it is one of the most photogenic venues I work in anywhere in the North East. Here is my honest photographer’s guide to getting married at The Croft.
If you are searching for a Croft Hotel wedding photographer, there is a fair chance you have already fallen for the venue itself. I felt the same the first time I walked through the gates. I first picked up a film camera 25 years ago and I have photographed weddings all over Yorkshire, but The Croft has something a bit different: a historic building that has been restored with real personality, run by the same team behind Newton Hall, Le Petit Chateau and Runa Farm. This guide covers what the venue is actually like on a wedding day, from someone who has stood in it with a camera.
Why Choose The Croft Hotel for Your Wedding?
The Croft works so well because it combines genuine history with a playful, modern finish. The building is Grade II-listed and sits right next to the Parish Church in the pretty village of Croft-on-Tees, on the stretch of the River Tees that forms the border between North Yorkshire and County Durham. Inside, the restoration mixes period features with bold contemporary styling, so nothing feels stuffy or overly formal.
It is also brilliantly practical. The hotel has 24 bedrooms, a proper restaurant and bar, and log fires for winter weddings, so your guests can eat, drink and stay under one roof. Darlington is a few miles up the road, with Northallerton, Yarm, Richmond and Barnard Castle all close by, and the A1(M), A19 and A66 make it easy for guests travelling from further away.
What Are the Ceremony and Reception Spaces Like?
There are two main spaces, and honestly they are the reason couples book this venue. The Secret Garden Chapel hosts the ceremony, and the Garden Suite takes over for the meal and the party. Both photograph beautifully, which is not something I say lightly.
What Is the Secret Garden Chapel Like?
The Secret Garden Chapel is hidden inside the historic part of the building, and it is one of the most unusual ceremony rooms I have shot in. Huge antique doors open onto a stone aisle lined with florals, floor-to-ceiling mirrors bounce the light around, and ancient cascading willow trees frame the raised altar where you say your vows. The venue offers two set-ups: a traditional arrangement, or a runway aisle where your guests sit either side of you with front row seats.
From a photography point of view, the mirrors and soft light mean I can work unobtrusively and still get angles most ceremony rooms simply do not offer. The moment those antique doors close behind you before the entrance is genuinely cinematic.
What Is the Garden Suite Like?
The Garden Suite is a botanical hideaway designed for the whole celebration, from the wedding breakfast to the last dance. A full wall of sliding glass opens onto a secret garden terrace with fire pits and a water feature, and the roof is fully retractable, so the space works whatever the Yorkshire weather decides to do. Inside, round rustic tables and garden chairs sit under a canopy of hanging wisteria.
That indoor-outdoor flow is gold dust for candid photography. Guests drift between the terrace and the suite all evening, the fire pits give gorgeous warm light after dark, and nobody is crammed into a corner waiting for the room to be turned around.
How Much Does a Wedding at The Croft Hotel Cost?
The Croft positions itself as affordable glamour, and the numbers back that up. At the time of writing, their website advertises weddings from £1,995 all year round, with savings of up to 75% on selected dates, supplier discounts of up to 50%, and dedicated two-day wedding deals. Offers change regularly, so check their current special offers page or contact the team at info@croft-hotel.com before you budget around any figure.
They also run open days if you want to see it in person. The next one listed is the Love Show on Sunday 8th November, 1pm to 4pm, with a hand-picked selection of wedding creatives, though you need to pre-register. I always tell couples: stand in the ceremony space before you book anything. It is the fastest way to know if a venue is yours.
What Is It Like Having Me as Your Croft Hotel Wedding Photographer?
Relaxed and mostly invisible. My approach is documentary storytelling: I capture the day as it actually happens rather than dragging you away from your guests for hours of posed shots. Having photographed weddings at The Croft, I know where the light falls in the chapel at different times of day, which corners of the garden terrace work for couple portraits, and how quickly the fire pits become the centre of the party once the sun goes down.
A few practical things couples ask about. Drone photography is included in my wedding collections, weather permitting, and The Croft’s riverside setting and church tower backdrop are made for it. I also offer a twilight styled shoot as part of the day, which suits this venue perfectly because the terrace lighting is so atmospheric. You can see exactly what is included on my wedding photography packages page, and there is more about how I work on my Yorkshire wedding photographer page.
How Do You Get to The Croft Hotel?
The Croft sits on the main road through Croft-on-Tees, and the postcode DL2 2ST takes you straight there. There is free parking at the front and rear of the hotel, Darlington is around three miles north, and Teesside International Airport is less than seven miles away for guests flying in. It is one of those rare venues that feels tucked away in the countryside but is genuinely easy to reach.
Ready to Talk About Your Croft Hotel Wedding?
If you are planning your wedding at The Croft and want photography that captures the real story of the day, I would love to hear from you. Dates for popular venues like this go quickly, especially for summer weekends, so it is worth getting in touch early. You can check your date with me here, and if you are still venue hunting, have a read of my guide to getting married at Allerton Castle for a very different flavour of North Yorkshire wedding.
