Weddings at Fence Gate, a romantic rural setting beneath Pendle Hill

Imagine exchanging vows in the shadow of Pendle Hill, surrounded by the rolling Lancashire countryside, with log fires crackling in the background and the warmth of genuine Lancashire hospitality wrapping around your celebration. Weddings at Fence Gate offer exactly this magical combination of rural romance and contemporary comfort. Nestled in Fence, near Burnley, at the foot of Pendle Hill and bordering the Ribble Valley, this family-run venue has been creating unforgettable wedding memories for over 35 years.

What sets Fence Gate apart is its remarkable versatility. Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate “You & Me” ceremony or planning a grand celebration for up to 240 guests, this venue has the space and experience to bring your vision to life. With three distinct party rooms across two locations—Fence Gate and the adjacent Fence Gate Lodge—you’ll find the perfect setting that feels authentically yours, whether that’s traditional elegance, quirky celebration, or something entirely unique.

One of the most appealing aspects of weddings at Fence Gate is the choice of three beautifully distinct rooms, each with its own character and charm. This means your venue truly adapts to your style rather than forcing your celebration into a predetermined mould.

The Cromdale Room at Fence Gate is the largest option, perfect for sizeable celebrations. With its beautifully neutral décor, sun-drenched conservatory lounge area, and fabulous outdoor garden and seating area, it creates an airy, spacious atmosphere. The private entrance adds an exclusive feel, while the large dance floor ensures your evening reception flows perfectly. Perhaps most exciting is the access to Fence Gate’s new wedding garden—a stunning space filled with jasmine, creating the most romantic backdrop for photographs. The Cromdale accommodates from 60 day guests up to 150, with evening numbers reaching 240.

Bar 1782, also at Fence Gate, offers something completely different. This elegant space boasts oak panelling, a baby grand piano, and an opulent granite bar with modern touches. The Highland-themed décor creates a sophisticated yet cosy atmosphere that’s ideal for smaller, more intimate celebrations. With a private entrance and capacity from 25 day guests, it’s perfect for those who want quality over quantity, where every guest feels truly part of your inner circle.

The Glenmore Suite at Fence Gate Lodge provides yet another distinct character. Think beautiful English courtyard for summer ceremonies, cosy log fires for winter warmth, and stunning décor featuring antler chandeliers and old beams. The bi-folding doors flood the space with natural light on sunny days, while the Highland theme runs throughout, creating a unique sense of place. With 24 luxurious AA Five Star Gold bedrooms on-site, it’s the ultimate option for couples who want their guests to fully immerse themselves in the celebration without worrying about travel. The Glenmore accommodates from 40 day guests up to 150.

All three rooms are licensed for civil ceremonies, meaning your entire day can unfold in one beautiful location. The new wedding garden deserves special mention—purposefully designed without grass to protect elegant footwear, it’s awash with colour in summer months, featuring an extended folly, cottage garden, creeping roses, and those unmistakable jasmine arches. It’s an idyllic spot for reception drinks, alfresco dining, and of course, stunning photographs.

Fence Gate understands that no two weddings are the same, which is why their packages are designed as foundations rather than rigid structures. The Centrepiece Package is their most popular option, accommodating anywhere from 40 to 150 guests and tailored to your specific vision—whether traditional, modern, or somewhere wonderfully in between.

For couples seeking something more compact and intimate, the remaining 2025 dates offer fantastic value with savings up to £2,000 on both Glenmore Suite and Cromdale Room packages. The Twilight Package caters specifically for up to 100 guests and is perfect for couples who want an evening celebration that still feels complete and special.

Beyond the package options, Fence Gate’s culinary flexibility truly shines. Their wedding breakfasts adapt to your preferences—from traditional sit-down meals to hog roasts, pizza parties, or noodle boxes. The team of chefs work with you to create menus that reflect your tastes, and menu tastings are available so you can be confident in every detail. Allergens and dietary requirements are always carefully catered for, ensuring every guest enjoys their meal.

At Weddings by Michael, we’ve had the privilege of documenting numerous weddings at Fence Gate over the years, and the venue’s combination of indoor character and outdoor beauty provides an incredible canvas for storytelling through photography.

Our documentary-style approach focuses on capturing genuine moments as they naturally unfold. We’re there for the quiet nervous laughter during bridal preparations, the emotional first look, the tears during vows, the spontaneous joy during speeches, and those fleeting tender moments between the official events. These authentic expressions create the images you’ll treasure most—the ones that transport you straight back to how you felt in that exact moment.

To ensure your photographs feel personally yours, we offer four distinct editing styles. Vintage brings a soft, nostalgic quality that suits romantic, timeless celebrations. Sunkissed adds warmth and golden tones that enhance outdoor shots particularly beautifully. Matt creates a dreamy, contemporary aesthetic with light, airy tones. Black & White delivers dramatic, emotion-focused imagery that strips away distraction and highlights pure feeling. All four styles are included in your package, so you can choose what best suits each part of your day.

The new wedding garden at Fence Gate has become one of our favourite locations for creating signature portrait shots. The jasmine arches, cottage garden setting, and careful landscaping provide endless possibilities. We love working here during golden hour when the late afternoon light filters through the foliage, creating that magical warm glow that makes portraits feel almost ethereal. But the venue’s multiple indoor spaces—from Bar 1782’s elegant oak panelling to the Glenmore Suite’s log fires and antler chandeliers—mean we’re never limited by Lancashire’s famously unpredictable weather.

The rural setting at the foot of Pendle Hill also offers spectacular backdrop opportunities. The surrounding countryside, mature trees, and that distinctive Lancashire landscape all contribute to creating images with real sense of place—photographs that don’t just show what happened, but where it happened and why that location mattered to you.

Having worked at Fence Gate many times over our three decades in wedding photography, we know every corner, every angle, and every opportunity the venue offers. We coordinate closely with Fence Gate’s experienced wedding planners to ensure the day flows seamlessly, positioning ourselves to capture each moment without ever being intrusive. From the arrival up the driveway to the final dance beneath the chandeliers, we’re documenting your unique story as it deserves to be told.

Weddings at Fence Gate : There’s something special about family-run venues, and Fence Gate embodies this perfectly. Over 35 years of hosting weddings means they understand not just the logistics of a successful celebration, but the emotional significance of the day. The award-winning team provides personal service that feels genuinely caring rather than simply professional.

The location strikes a perfect balance—it feels like a genuine countryside escape at the foot of Pendle Hill, yet remains accessible for guests travelling from across Lancashire and beyond. Being near Burnley and bordering the Ribble Valley means you get that rural romance without the isolation.

The two-location setup creates unique opportunities. Many couples choose to spend the eve of their wedding at Fence Gate Lodge with their bridal party, enjoying dinner in the Brasserie before settling into the luxurious accommodation. Waking up on your wedding morning in the same place you’ll marry eliminates stress, allows for relaxed preparations, and means you can truly savour every moment. For guests, the option of 24 on-site bedrooms means no one worries about driving home or finding taxis—everyone can fully enjoy the celebration.

Fence Gate’s flexibility extends beyond room choice and packages. Whether you’re planning a traditional Lancashire wedding, something quirky and unconventional, or a vibrant evening-only party, there are genuinely no limitations to what can be hosted here. The wedding planners work with you to design your day, not to fit you into their preferred format.

A Venue That Creates Lasting Memories

Every wedding we photograph at Fence Gate reinforces what makes this venue special. It's not just the physical beauty of the rooms or gardens, though these certainly help. It's not just the comprehensive packages or culinary flexibility, though these make planning easier. It's the intangible feeling that this venue genuinely cares about your celebration, that your wedding will be treated as the unique event it is rather than just another booking.

From the moment you arrive to the final farewell, weddings at Fence Gate unfold with warmth, personality, and that distinctive Lancashire hospitality. And it's our job to ensure every meaningful moment—every genuine smile, every unexpected laugh, every tender touch—finds its way into your wedding album as a permanent reminder of where your forever began.

Ready to Explore Fence Gate?

If Fence Gate's combination of rural romance, flexible spaces, and personal service resonates with your wedding vision, and you're looking for photography that captures the real story of your day, I'd love to hear from you.

Discover more about the venue: fencegate.co.uk

Browse examples of my wedding photography in my galleries, including our signature portrait style.

Or get in touch using the contact form below to arrange your consultation.

With just a 10% deposit, we can begin planning how to tell your unique wedding story through photographs you'll treasure for a lifetime.