Whitley Hall Wedding Photographer

Yorkshire Wedding Photographer Tom Roberts, of Champagne Shutter Photography, at Whitley Hall Hotel, Sheffield

See Champagne Shutter Photography's video on whitley hall

Whitley Hall is a familiar place to me, somewhere I went as a child, to dine with parents.  Nevertheless, it has been extended considerably over the years.

Historic records of a prior property on the site date back to 1406, whilst the subsequent Sixteenth Century mansion, beautifully clad in ivy, was built after the 1530s, with a 1584 date carved in a lintel (amongst the images below).

It was bought in the 1960s by a Chapeltown agricultural engineer at the behest of his son, opening a restaurant in ’69 and a hotel in the ‘70s, the first South Yorkshire venue to obtain a license for civil wedding ceremonies, held to this day.

Purchased in 2004, Whitley Hall was extended to include the Parker Suite, with a further dozen bedrooms (details below).

Whitley Hall sits on the A61 near Junction 36 of the M1 (Barnsley South) near Tankersley, Wortley and Chapeltown, on the way into Sheffield from the north.

The extension makes for a much broader range of options for planning your Sheffield, South Yorkshire wedding.

The new addition of the Parker Suite abuts the original Hall’s dining room, which allows for an indoor ceremony space and wedding breakfast of up to 60 guests and an evening reception of up to 80. 

Having entered Whitley Hall through the main entrance and reception, rather than the newer Parker Suite, you turn left through the lounge (an additional break out R & R space for guests during your wedding) to enter the ceremony and reception space.

One of the beauties of Whitley’s set up lies beyond…  Besides the stone and wood panelled indoor space in the main hall, choice between the two wedding suites in Whitley Hall allows separate, discreetly screened off access to exclusive outdoor spaces.  In the case of the Parker Suite, you have an outdoor terrace (heated), bar and pier!  Equally, there is an outdoor ceremony space available too!  If your plan is to marry outside, before using the indoor Parker Suite for wedding breakfast and reception, if the worst comes in the shape of rain, Whitley Hall offer a 50% refund of the event staging of the ceremony space.

I always recommend to couples that they discuss their venue’s wet weather contingency plans.  Whilst it’s your wedding day to enjoy, not a photo shoot, my planning for your wedding photography means that, whilst a fun brolly shot, with the flash freezing the rainfall, is elegant and romantic for you as a couple, the same doesn’t stand for your group and family shots!  Usually, I ask for an understanding of a reasonably large space (that isn’t already the wet weather contingency for the wedding breakfast, and therefore already full).  For example, the base of a large staircase, importantly also well-lit by broad large windows.  This way, I can get above with a wide angle.

At Whitley though, the distinct outdoor spaces allocated to each suite mean that in any circumstance, there is no sense of compromise in a ‘contingency’ plan, just brilliant for brushing it off and enjoying your wedding day, with no impact on stunning and timeless wedding photography.

Alternatively, the Whitley Suite offers a comparatively larger and brighter option, turning right from the main entrance, through the Elliot Lounge.  This indoor space offers civil ceremonies and wedding breakfasts of up to 110, and evening reception capacity up to 220.  The lighting system is yours to program in whatever colour theme you wish!  Outside you have the Terrace Bar, a further large, heated terrace and further up, the Folly: another outdoor ceremony space option, complete with PA system to mic up your ceremony for the ease of guests.

Whitley Hall also has a unique in-house events consultancy team, Forever Yours, covering event space styling, floristry, stationery, make-up art for both bridal party and guests, stands of packets of crisps to adorn your evening reception, an audio guest book, floral arches designed for wedding guest photographs, fizz carts for prosecco and alike, and children’s tee pees, to name a few!

Between the two separate wedding suites you have the central south-west facing courtyard at the rear of the 16th Century Hall, a beautiful backdrop for wedding portraits as a couple, group shots, and turning the other way, the haloing light of sunset for romantic portraits.  This and a splash of ultramarine and turquoise from the peacocks!

Inside from here is the original central bar of the hotel, with beautifully deep stone mullioned windows for moodier portraiture still, and a dash of black and white wedding photography perhaps!

 Accommodation at the hotel comprises 32 en-suite rooms.

The grandeur of traditional décor extends throughout, in some cases including Tudor-style four poster beds and fabulous art, with discounted wedding guest rates, inclusive of breakfast.

Every couple is different – and whilst it’s all well and good me extolling the virtues of what I think about portraying your day at a venue, we must make a genuine connection to tell your story! Check out Champagne Shutter Photography - my approach here.  Information from me on other venues can also be found on my website and blog.

For a friendly chat about your bespoke wedding photography plans, get in touch or reserve a Zoom call with Tom at Champagne Shutter.  Alternatively, give me a ring on 07738 620485 or email via tom@champagneshutter.com.  You’ll also find me on Hitched.