"Smallest Wedding Venue in the UK"

According to statistics the average number of guests attending weddings (or being invited) fell in 20013 from 103 to 94. In our experience couples refuse to compromise on quality and are choosing instead to restrict their guest list numbers in order to bring their dream wedding day within budget.

A recent wedding at Holdsworth House however broke with tradition when the couple searched Google for "the smallest wedding venue in the UK". Despite Holdsworth House comfortably catering for up to 120 guests, our wedding couple chose to tie the knot in our historic Gazebo, which is perfect for marriages with up to 8 guests and we understand is officially the smallest licensed wedding venue in the UK. 

This beautiful stone building in one corner of the Parterre Garden might have once been a summer house or a former oratory, there's even suggestion of a secret tunnel from the manor house to the Gazebo, although none has ever been discovered! Inside is an original fireplace and mullioned windows on three sides giving views over the gardens and neighbouring paddocks. The ceiling is festooned with white muslin and the walls are stencilled with a design taken from original, historic drawings - altogether making a very pretty and romantic picture.

The Gazebo's well worn stone steps are edged with colourful planting and are where Jamie Oliver cooked a very tasty looking lamb shank for his Jamie's Great Britain series.

Our happy couple brought an international flavour to Yorkshire on Thursday 22nd May 2014; the groom was from Transylvania and the beautiful bride from Hungary. The happy couple live in London and have no historical connection with Yorkshire but found our hidden gem through the powers of Google.

With two registrars, the bride, groom and six guests the little Gazebo made a wonderful, cosy and intimate setting to exchange vows. The Yorkshire theme went down a storm with our jet setters too; canapes of smoked salmon, mini shepherd's pies with mustard and bite sized Yorkshire puddings preceded a small wedding breakfast set out in the Ayrton private dining room where a fabulous loin of Yorkshire pork was cooked with crispy crackling to delighted guests.

True to our word, only one wedding was allowed at the hotel that evening: whether it's eight or 88 guests the bridal party gets VIP treatment every single time.

The attention to detail was clearly welcomed by the new Mr & Mrs, who tweeted "Had the best time of our lives @HoldsworthHotel the staff was absolutely outstanding! Special thanks to Tracy, Gale & everyone involved."

Here are some of their Instagram pictures: