Venue hunting typically focuses on aesthetics – those swoon-worthy ceremony spaces, picture-perfect reception rooms, and Instagram-worthy backdrops that make your heart skip a beat. Yet just-married couples often whisper the same secret: it was the team that transformed a beautiful space into an unforgettable celebration.
Thicket Priory in North Yorkshire exemplifies this perfectly. This exclusive-use country house features 35 bedrooms across elegant grounds in the heart of the Yorkshire countryside, creating a coveted home-from-home atmosphere where guests feel instantly welcomed. While the building radiates grandeur and opulence, it’s the team that provides the warm embrace, transforming what could feel intimidatingly formal into something genuinely personal and refined.
Keep reading for five reasons why you’re in the safest possible hands, with insider knowledge straight from Anna at Thicket Priory herself.
Private venue tours by appointment only.
When you first reach out to the team, we make sure that you have all the necessary information to start the exciting journey of choosing your wedding venue. If Thicket Priory feels like a good fit for your plans, the next step is to come for a viewing. We offer visits by appointment only because we need between one and two hours to show you around the venue and grounds, then go through any questions you might have – all while we relax in the Gryffin Bar with a cup of Yorkshire Tea or something a little stronger from the bar.
During our time together, we get to know you, and you get to know us! Essentially, you end up with a friend by your side planning your wedding. Nine times out of ten, you’ll have the same lovely member of the team supporting you right until the day you say ‘I do‘!
We are a small team.
After the exciting moment when you book Thicket Priory, you’ll find yourself getting to know the other family members who’ll be involved in your celebration. As a team of four coordinators plus our chief operations manager, we’re all here to ensure stress-free planning, lots of fun, and of course, the best celebration of your life!
Let’s introduce the team.
- Anna: A Newcastle lass living in Yorkshire. I’ve worked in the world of weddings and events for around 20 years, having trained as a hospitality graduate with experience at a Michelin-starred venue. It’s safe to say, cut me and I bleed hospitality! I love this industry, and even more so, I love everything about weddings. I finally get to tie the knot myself at the beginning of 2026!
- Becca: Creativity is where Becca truly shines, inspiring couples to bring their celebrations to life. Having lived in London working for a themed styling company, we’re glad she’s found her calling as a wedding industry expert. Becca and Anna met working at the same Michelin-star venue many moons ago and were destined to thrive in the Yorkshire countryside, writing their own chapter in the Thicket Priory history books.
- Lily: A.K.A. Lil. As part of Thicket Priory’s foundation, Lil has been with the team for almost four years, starting in housekeeping, then moving to front of house, and now proudly coordinating beautiful weddings while also serving as our social media and marketing expert. If you’re looking for the most organised, tidy desk in the office, go to Lil!
- Becks: As the newest family member, Becks has firmly become part of the furniture and part of the magic! As the resident ‘Fairy Godmother’, Becks makes it her mission to ensure all little ones experience the wonder that is the Thicket Priory fairies!
- Maggie: As the Irish contingent in the team, Maggie ensures there’s always a flurry of green about the venue on 17th March! Logistics and beverages are her forte, making sure celebrations never run dry. If Maggie isn’t behind the bar or coordinating with our team, she could be found at a music gig or tending to her allotment.
Our extended team includes the ‘Friends of Thicket Priory’ – a carefully curated list of suppliers we can wholeheartedly recommend, knowing you’ll be looked after by industry experts familiar with both the venue and the standards we uphold.
Dedicated coordinators throughout your planning and the celebrations themselves.
Personalised planning and support are a key part of your experience. I genuinely mean this when I say we become friends during the time we plan your wedding.
From the day you book, you have a dedicated coordinator to contact directly with any queries or questions you may have. Planning meetings are set in the diary, and you get access to your online planning portal. This is where we make everything stress-free for you, allowing for ‘wed-min’ time whenever you want it.
With a wealth of knowledge and experience, we’ll guide you through all the excitement to follow. Essentially, you have a mini ‘wedding planner’ to hold your hand from start to finish!
Thicket Priory is privately owned.
Almost every time you visit, there will be a new addition. Commander in chief Bruce loves to add magic to the storytelling elements of Thicket Priory, whether that’s the history, the in-house amenities, or our very special residents who live in the gardens.
The attention to detail that Bruce has instilled from the day he acquired this stunning venue has been passed on to the coordinating team, the operations team, the maintenance team, and the groundskeepers, all of whom take pride in what we deliver for every single couple.
We all ADORE what we do!
To work in the wedding industry is not a ‘job’ – it’s something so much more special, and if you don’t love what you do, it shows. The number of times guests approach us saying ‘you love what you do, don’t you?’ is testament to the smiles we wear when we’re here. To have genuine interest, concern, and emotional attachment to every couple and the weddings we deliver… that’s the magic!
It isn’t over after ‘I do’, we ensure you get to relive your wedding celebrations through our blog, which brings back all those amazing memories. If it’s your anniversary and you’d like to visit for a coffee and catch-up, you only need to contact your coordinator, and we’ll arrange a date in the diary.
Our couples make their mark in Thicket Priory’s history, and therefore, they’ll be part of our family forever! If this doesn’t give you the confidence to have one of the most important days of your life here at Thicket Priory, I’m not sure what else would!
Photography Carla Whittingham Photography
Film Hello There Films
Based on a weekday wedding in January. Includes accommodation.