Venue guide · Ardmore, Derry/Londonderry
Beech Hill Country House weddings
The advantages and disadvantages, from the photographers who have shot there.
Written by Tommy and Laurene · Updated October 2026
- LocationArdmore, Derry/Londonderry
- StyleCountry house hotel
- Guests5 to 250
- CeremonyForest, Lake or Skipton Hall
- Weddings per dayOne
About the venue
A country house with its own forest ceremony
Beech Hill Country House is a country house wedding venue in Ardmore, around 3 miles from Derry/Londonderry, set in over 30 acres of grounds. You can marry outdoors in the Forest or by the Lake, or indoors in Skipton Hall, and celebrate in the Garden Pavilion, with woodland, lakes, walled gardens and old ruins all around you for photographs.
We have photographed weddings here and it is one of our favourite venues to work at. This guide covers the good, the not so good and the best places for photos, from what we have seen on real days. If you are looking for a photographer for your own day here, see our Beech Hill Country House wedding photographer page, or our wedding photographer in Derry page.
One wedding a day, so the whole estate is yours.
Honest view
The advantages and disadvantages of Beech Hill
Every venue has good points and things to plan around. This is what we have noticed from photographing weddings here.
Advantages
- You have three ceremony settings to choose from: the Forest and the Lake outdoors, or Skipton Hall indoors. The venue is licensed for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies.
- Only one wedding takes place each day, so you and your guests have the whole venue to yourselves.
- The grounds cover over 30 acres, with gatehouses, walled gardens, old ruins, woodland, lakes, waterfalls and bridges. There is plenty of variety for portraits without leaving the venue.
- You can stay on site and get ready there. There are 27 rooms and a honeymoon suite, and the boudoir getting ready room has lovely natural light.
- There is a space for every size of wedding, from 5 to 250 guests. The Garden Pavilion holds up to 250 for your reception and the Conservatory holds up to 70, and drinks can be in the Sixteen22 Pub or the Lounge.
- The venue has in house catering and is only about 3 miles from Derry/Londonderry, so it is easy for guests to reach and to find somewhere to stay nearby.
Disadvantages
- Derry/Londonderry is a fair distance from Belfast, so the location can feel far away for some couples and guests. It is worth thinking about travel and timings early.
- Outdoor ceremonies depend on the weather. Skipton Hall is your indoor backup, but it holds 110 guests, fewer than the Lake, so check that a larger guest list will fit indoors and agree a plan B.
- The Forest is shaded by tall trees, so the light is soft and moody rather than bright and airy. We love it, but it is worth knowing if you want a very bright look.
- The venue offers three wedding packages, so check exactly what is included in the one you choose and plan your budget around it.
At a glance
Beech Hill at a glance
The quick facts couples ask us about most, taken from the venue's own website so they match what you will be told.
- 250guests for your reception in the Garden Pavilion
- 150guests for a ceremony by the Lake
- 110guests for a ceremony in Skipton Hall
- 1wedding a day, so the venue is exclusively yours
32 Ardmore Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 3QP · 028 7134 9279
The spaces
- Outdoor ceremonyThe LakeUp to 150guestsA lakeside aisle with views of the house, the gazebo, the waterwheel and the grounds. You exchange vows beneath a beech tree at the water's edge.
- Indoor ceremonySkipton HallUp to 110guestsA room with high ceilings, chandeliers and large windows that let in plenty of natural light, so it works whatever the weather does.
- ReceptionThe Garden PavilionUp to 250guestsThe main reception space for larger weddings. The Conservatory holds up to 70 for smaller days, and drinks can be in the Sixteen22 Pub or the Lounge.
Thinking about photography costs? See our wedding photography prices.
The venue's signature ceremony space. You walk in along an elevated pathway through tall trees, and the guests sit among the woodland. Ask the venue to confirm the guest numbers for the date you want.
There are 27 rooms, a honeymoon suite and a getting ready room, and over 30 acres of grounds with walled gardens, ruins, lakes, waterfalls and bridges for photos.
Source: the Beech Hill Country House website, checked October 2026. Numbers can change, so always check with the venue before you book.
Photography
Beech Hill Country House wedding photography
Beech Hill gives you a lot to work with. The forest ceremony space is a beautiful place to marry, the lawns and woodland are close by for portraits, and the house itself has lovely rooms with big bay windows for the quieter moments of the day.
We photograph all of it, from the walk back up the aisle to the toast afterwards and the calm moments in between, so your gallery tells the whole story of the day. If you are looking for a photographer for your own day here, see our Beech Hill Country House wedding photographer page, or our wedding photographer in Derry page.
Photo locations
Grounds to explore
The venue describes grounds with gatehouses, walled gardens, historic ruins, forests, whimsical swings, lakes, waterfalls and bridges, and that gives us plenty of backdrops for your portraits.
No wedding day has time for all of it, so we plan around the light, the weather and your timings, and choose the spots that suit you best.
Real weddings
Weddings at Beech Hill Country House
We have photographed a couple of weddings here. Tap a photo to read the full story.
Planning your day
A Beech Hill wedding day timeline
Every wedding is different, but this is how a Beech Hill day with a 1pm ceremony might run. It gives you plenty of time for photos around the grounds without anyone feeling rushed, and still gets you back to your guests.
Golden hour moves a lot through the year in Northern Ireland, so we plan your evening light photos around your date. If you are marrying in the Forest or by the Lake, it is worth agreeing a wet weather plan with the venue in advance.
- 9.30amGetting ready at the houseGetting ready on site keeps the whole morning in one place, with plenty of lovely rooms and big windows for natural light.
- 11.30amThe boys get ready
- 12.15pmFinal touches, and family see the bride
- 12.45pmGuests take their seats
- 1.00pmThe ceremonyIn the Forest, by the Lake or in Skipton Hall, depending on the setting you have chosen.
- 1.40pmConfetti and congratulations
- 2.00pmCouple portraitsAround the grounds, with time to explore a few of the spots in the woodland and the gardens.
- 2.45pmFamily and bridal party photos
- 3.15pmBack with your guestsDrinks and canapes with your guests before everyone heads in for the meal.
- 4.30pmThe speeches
- 5.00pmThe meal
- 7.30pmEvening light photosA short stroll through the grounds while the light is soft.
- 7.45pmBack to the partyStraight back to the reception to enjoy the evening with your guests.
- 8.30pmFirst dance
Questions
Beech Hill wedding FAQ
The questions couples ask us most about getting married here. If yours is not covered, send us a message.
How many guests can Beech Hill Country House hold?
According to the venue, the Garden Pavilion holds up to 250 guests for the reception, a ceremony by the Lake holds up to 150, and a ceremony in Skipton Hall holds up to 110. The Conservatory holds up to 70 for smaller days. Guest numbers for the Forest depend on the date, so ask the venue to confirm them.
Where is the ceremony at Beech Hill Country House?
You can choose between the Forest, the Lake and Skipton Hall. In the Forest you walk in along an elevated pathway through tall trees with your guests seated among the woodland. The Lake is an outdoor aisle with views of the house, and Skipton Hall is the indoor option with high ceilings, chandeliers and large windows.
Is there more than one wedding a day?
According to the venue, Beech Hill hosts one wedding a day, so the grounds are yours. That makes photography easier, because we can use any part of the grounds without working around another group.
Can we stay at Beech Hill Country House?
Yes. The venue has 27 rooms, a honeymoon suite and a getting ready room. It is worth asking the venue how many of your guests they can accommodate and what is included, and anyone beyond that will need to stay nearby.
What happens if it rains?
Skipton Hall is the indoor ceremony option, and the Garden Pavilion keeps the reception going whatever the weather. We agree a wet weather plan with you beforehand, and rain often gives us moody, atmospheric portraits under umbrellas and in the house.
Where are the best spots for couple portraits?
The grounds have walled gardens, historic ruins, forests, swings, lakes, waterfalls and bridges, so there is plenty of choice. Which spots we use depends on your timings and the light, and we plan it with you on the day.
Can we get ready at Beech Hill Country House?
Yes, the venue has a getting ready room as well as its bedrooms. We usually arrive around 9.30am to capture the bridal preparations, then spend time with the groom and groomsmen later in the morning.
How long does the drive take from Belfast?
Beech Hill is on Ardmore Road near Derry/Londonderry, so allow around an hour and a half from Belfast, depending on traffic. Many couples stay on site the night before, which takes the travel out of your morning and lets us start the day relaxed.
Have you photographed weddings at Beech Hill Country House before?
Yes. You can read about Sarah and Gerard and Anna and Danaan above to see how the days looked.
How much does a Beech Hill Country House wedding photographer cost?
You can see our packages and prices on our pricing page. We keep the details there so they stay up to date. You can also see our Beech Hill Country House wedding photographer page, or our wedding photographer in Derry page. For venue hire and catering, contact Beech Hill Country House directly.
Getting married at Beech Hill?
We would love to be there with you
We have photographed weddings at Beech Hill Country House. You can have us for half day or full day coverage, with or without an album. If you need something a bit different, like extra coverage for a second day celebration, get in touch and we will put together a quote.
To see what a day here looks like, have a look at our real Beech Hill wedding. To see how we would photograph your day here, have a look at our Beech Hill Country House wedding photographer page, or our wedding photographer in Derry page.
- We have shot here beforeWe know how the day flows around the Forest, the Lake and the house
- Two photographersTommy and Laurene, a husband and wife team, photographing weddings since 2014
- Made for your dayDocumentary first, with relaxed portraits, so the day feels like you
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