Hats off to our artist pal Harry Brereton for turning our Derbyshire wedding venue map into a dress!

Derbyshire brides really are spoilt for choice when it comes to wedding venues. There’s the old-world glamour that’s straight out of Pride and Prejudice. There’s the industrial chic of converted cotton mills and coach-houses. And there’s more than a few hidden gems if you’re planning a wedding that’s just that little bit different.

Here’s part 1 of our ultimate guide to Derbyshire wedding venues, starting with our top 3 country-house venues for you and your Darcy.

Our Top 3 Country Estate Wedding Venues in Derbyshire

Haddon Hall, Bakewell

Chatsworth House may get a lot of the plaudits in these parts, but I’m also a huge fan of Haddon Hall, only a few minutes outside Bakewell.

What sets Haddon Hall out as a venue is that it’s like a perfect time capsule from the 1700s – the Hall stood empty for nearly 200 years as the Manners family preferred to live at the main seat at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire (as you do), so the Hall avoided the intense modernisation that came with the Georgians and Victorians.

It’s no wonder, then, that Haddon Hall is so beloved by the film and TV industry. Only in the past few years the Hall has hosted major A-listers like Margot Robbie (Mary Queen of Scots), Robert Pattinson (The King) and Liv Tyler and Kit Harington (Gunpowder). So you’ll be in some pretty good-looking company!

And for any movie geeks out there, Haddon Hall was also used as Prince Humperdinck’s Castle in 80s cult classic The Princess Bride! Swoons all round.

Haddon Hall is licensed for civil marriage ceremonies in two of its rooms: the gorgeous Elizabethan Long Gallery (110 feet long, no less) and the Parlour with its Tudor rose ceiling. The Elizabethan walled gardens also make for a very country-house chic wedding reception.

Our bride Charlotte got married at Haddon Hall in her Jesus Peiro gown in 2019, so check out her story for some real bride pics. Like Charlotte, the venue looks just incredible.

Chatsworth House + Heathy Lea

We can’t mention Derbyshire wedding venues without talking about ‘the Big House’. Chatsworth House is such an iconic place, and it’s only a 5-minute drive from Alexandra Anne! The House, the Gardens, the Fountain all just scream classic country-house wedding.

Chatsworth also has its own rich history of marriage intrigue, from Deborah Mitford to JFK’s rebel sister Kick.

And come on, who doesn’t want to get married at the place that inspired Mr Darcy’s Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice?

There’s a wide array of wedding packages available at Chatsworth all year round, and the team there are happy to help brides bespoke their own.

Our bride Kate got hitched at Chatsworth House in 2019 and it looked quite the shindig (bronze-horse-statue climbing/riding and everything).

Another option for either the wedding itself or for nearby accommodation is Heathy Lea, a collection of beautiful old farmhouses tucked away in Chatsworth Park.

The whole site was converted into luxury cottages in 2019, so we’re excited to see what they’ve done with the place. Check it out if you’re looking for an exclusive-use wedding venue where you and the whole bridal party can all stay (and party) together on-site.

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Upper House Hayfield, High Peak

If the Peak District holds a special place in your heart, Upper House Hayfield will do, too.

Nestled at the foot of Kinder Scout, it’s an old medieval hunting lodge that’s been beautifully restored for country-house wedding weekends. It’s also only 25 miles from Manchester Airport if you have loved ones flying in from overseas.

Upper House Hayfield offers exclusive-use wedding packages for 1-3 nights, with on-site accommodation for up to 28 guests.

There’s a choice of ceremony locations, too. For larger ceremonies (up to 130 guests), there’s the glorious medieval Great Hall, or the Lounge for fireside cosiness (up to 66 guests). Outside, there are two more licensed ceremony spaces: at the Solstice Arch looking out over Kinder Reservoir or beneath the beautiful Clock Tower in the courtyard.

Vanilla In All Seasons provide the catering, and there’s a tipi for outside receptions and wedding breakfasts.

One of my very first brides at the shop, Lauren, had her wedding in the Great Hall at Upper House Hayfield back in December 2018, and she totally rocked the wild winter wedding look.