The Derbyshire wedding venue that has it all (no seriously, it really does!)

Royle Forest Wedding Venue is the venue that has it all. 

Perfect for photo and film? Check! On-site accommodation? Check! Surrounded by nature, but with tons of creature comforts? Check! The perfect place to party? Oh, definitely check! 

It’s a registered venue with its own outdoor/indoor chapel (you’ll see, it’s a total vibe). You can style it out to the max, or let Mother Nature do the talking. And the iconic five tipis? *Chef’s kiss*. 

Jon and Lauren had their wedding in Royle Forest Wedding Venue last year. And it was an absolute knockout of a day. From the stylish styling to the raging party that followed, they showed us everything a wedding in Royle Forest could be. 

Here’s 7 reasons you’ll love Royle Forest Wedding Venue, with J&L’s incredible day to get you inspired! 

1. The Royle Forest Wedding Venue experience

You drive through those *epic* stone pillar gates, and it feels like you’ve entered another world.

You park up, and stroll through the forest to the ceremony space. A Robin Hood-worthy clearing in the woods; centuries-old pews, and the ruins of an ancient chapel. 

From there, you follow a path through the forest. Winding your way through the trees until- usually with a little “oh wow”- you come out into the courtyard.

Firepits and festoon lights; boardwalks and benches. And along the back, the five iconic hat tipis welcoming you in. 

Each tipi is designed to offer a different experience for your guests. From chillin’ to thrillin’; bar, to dancefloor, to whisky lounge. And when the sun goes down? The party rages, the firepits crackle, and the festoon lights glow. 

Royle Forest Wedding Venue really is an amazing place.

2. You can stay on site

There’s a forest clearing right next to the main reception space. You just need to hire in your own glamping stuff (tents, toilets etc), and your guests can stumble straight into bed.

Pssst! For the night before, your morning prep, your wedding night, and a few extra-special guests, you’ve got bricks-and-mortar just through the forest! 

The Farmhouse that sleeps 6. And Bear’s Lair Cottage that sleeps 2.

Bear’s Lair Cottage is an awesomely cool space. The website describes it as ‘industrial rustic, circus-themed! It’s got tons of space, vanity mirrors, and loads of cool details. And it’s even got an 8-seater hot tub (for the wedding night perhaps?!) 

The Georgian Farmhouse is a more traditional space; welcoming, comfy, homely. And another great place to start your day. 

(Oh, and by the way…not only is this perfect for your morning prep photos. But getting ready on-site is an absolute game-changer for your timeline.)

3. Get legally married in the Royle Forest Wedding Chapel

Nestled among the trees are the remains of a beautiful old stone chapel. 

Covered with a stretch tipi to keep out the elements; fairy lights in the canopy, and rustic wooden beams. And beneath them, a collection of 250-year-old pews. 

It’s atmospheric, deeply romantic, and inherently beautiful. And crucially, it’s legally registered for weddings! 

From there, it’s just a short walk to your reception…

4. Connect with nature, but keep all your creature comforts

Lauren and Jonny got married in the woods; Lauren wore beautifully elegant Jimmy Choo heels. 

And she never had to take them off. 

And for us, that sums up Royle Forest Wedding Venue perfectly. You’re surrounded by nature, but not IN nature. You’ve got forests on all sides, creature comforts wherever you look, and heel-friendly decking throughout! 

And when it’s time for your reception, the 5-Tipi experience is awesome! 

Tipi One is a neon-lit “Forest Bar”; Tipi Two, a disco ball-sparkling, infinity mirror dancefloor. Three and Four are for wining and dining (complete with firepits!) And Tipi Five: the snug whisky lounge for the retired, tired, and all-partied-out. 

Et voila! The forest wedding of your dreams without any of the drawbacks.

5. Royle Forest Wedding Venue is perfect for photo and film! 

The jaw-dropping backdrops, the endless nature, the secret pathways through the trees…honestly, wherever you point, it’s camera-ready! And in the summer, the sets on the ruined archway every single time! 

As a photo and film dream team, we absolutely love working in this venue. And Lauren and Jonny were just the best partners in crime. 

We had smoke bombs through the trees, and photos by the ruined archway. We got some achingly cool shots with their vintage convertible Triumph! Lauren (willingly!) got chucked up in the air by all the groomsmen for a photo! 

And as night fell, they braved the weather for an epic kiss in the rain. 

6. You can style it out and make the day your own

Royle Forest Wedding Venue is a completely blank canvas. So have fun with it! 

From the styling, to the food, to the entertainment, you can literally do anything you like! Boho, elegant, understated, colourful. Festival themed, rock themed. Apparently one couple even had wine tasting.

It’s a goldmine of potential. And- with the help of Love Day Creations– Lauren and Jonny took full advantage. 

They kept it boho and understated. With dried flowers, sharing platters, and sheer dove grey table runners. They had limoncello shots as favours. They had one of the largest champagne walls we’ve ever seen! And as night fell, they had street food vans with crepes, pizzas, and loaded chips. Sounds pretty perfect, right?! It was. 

7. The energy in Royle Forest Wedding Venue is incredible

The venue owners, Frazer and Emma, are completely lovely! They go above and beyond to help you, to make you feel special. And give you an experience you couldn’t get anywhere else. 

They’ll have personalised ‘couple’ cocktails named after you at the bar. They’ll handcraft a bespoke wooden sign for the entrance, so your guests know they’re at the right place. And get this! They’ll even let you take it home as a keepsake!

And just like us, they plant trees with every booking they receive. 

They’re just lovely people, you know? And it all feeds into that incredible, infectious, electric feeling you get as soon as you go through those gates. 

The kind of energy that had Jon up on stage singing “I’m a Believer”! The kind of energy that had all 250 guests boogying to The Foster Brothers to God-knows-when! 

And the kind of energy that’ll have us going back again and again. Whenever we’re lucky enough to be invited. 

If you love our work, and you’d love for us to tell your story in photo and film, we’d be so excited to hear from you. Get in touch today and let’s chat.