A joint wedding venture between two renowned Ilkley venues has reached a milestone, with 100 couples saying "I Do". Emma Clayton visits romantic Denton Hall

SET in 2,500 acres high above Ilkley, Denton Hall is regarded as one of Yorkshire's architectural jewels.

Once a family home, which played host to a Royal visit, the Georgian country house is now a bespoke wedding venue - where the bride and groom can be Lord and Lady of the Manor for a weekend.

The estate dates back to 1253 and became the seat of the Fairfax family. It was the birthplace of Thomas Fairfax, parliamentary commander-in-chief during the English Civil War, before passing to the Ibbetsons, an old Yorkshire clan. The original property burned down in 1734 and was re-built by Henry Ibbetson, only to be destroyed by fire again a few years later.

In 1776 John Carr - the North's leading architect of his era, who also designed Harewood House and Castle Howard's stable block - created the Denton Hall that stands today.

The Hill family made several alterations but by the time the house was bought from them by engineering and IT business NG Bailey nearly 40 years ago it was in a state of disrepair. NG Bailey carried out an extensive refurbishment and today it is the company's headquarters, with rooms let for conferences.

The Grade 1 listed hall, a location for films The Waterbabies and Powell and Pressburger's Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, stands in landscaped grounds comprised of elegant lawns, woodlands, two lakes and farmland. Sweeping views roll out to Ilkley Moor and the Cow and Calf Rocks.

There's an emphasis on sustainability in energy efficient features such as solar panels and a biomass woodchip boiler.

During the week the property is home to corporate use - but at weekends there's love in the air. Four years ago Denton Hall established a wedding catering partnership with Ilkley's Michelin-starred restaurant The Box Tree and the marriage of expertise has reached a milestone of its own, with the 100th couple saying "I Do" this year.

Bespoke wedding packages are designed to meet individual requirements, and the hall is offered to guests as their own stately home, with fine dining, for the weekend.

"It's exclusively available to the bride and groom and their party, offering a sense of freedom and privacy that sets us apart from other venues," says Denton Hall manager Steve Haw. “Couples can feel like the Lord and the Lady of the manor for the weekend."

Steve and marketing and events co-ordinator Hannah Bairstow work closely with clients from the beginning right through to the wedding, when they are on hand all weekend.

"From when a bride and groom first step through the door at Denton Hall, we guide them through the entire process," says Hannah, who takes clients on a tour of the venue, showing iPad images of how the rooms look 'dressed'.

"We build a relationship with them, helping with months of planning," she adds. "The hall is theirs for the weekend, they can have it from Friday afternoon to noon on Sunday, so there's a lovely informal feel when they're here with their guests. Couples often bring their own bunting and lighting, one brought an illuminated dance floor. A groom and best man once made some bunting, and the bride made the wedding cake, and on another occasion the groom and ushers all returned a flower market with armfuls of flowers!"

While some couples marry at Denton Hall, others choose a church wedding, often at the neighbouring village church a short walk away. "Sometimes the bride will walk to the church then walk back with the groom and wedding party. They're greeted with a beautiful view when they arrive," says Hannah. "One couple who got married at Christmas had a horse-drawn carriage taking them around the village."

Guests are greeted with champagne and canapes on the terrace or indoor reception area where two white pillars, reflecting the grand design of the exterior, are often draped with twinkling lights, flowers or ivy. Two civil ceremony rooms ooze stately Georgian grandeur, with ornate ceilings, chandeliers and marble fireplaces. A particularly striking feature is a circular hall, where the bride and groom often receive their guests, which has a beautiful spiral staircase unfolding beneath a chandelier bearing 9,972 crystals. "We once had guests positioned up the stairs, dropping 10,000 purple petals onto the bride and groom. It looked fantastic," recalls Hannah. "This house has special memories. We had a visit from an old chap who was the head gardener's son when it was a family home. He played here as a child. For people whose parents worked here as servants, it's the first time they've used the front door."

Past the library, with sink-into sofas and an oak-panelled library, there's a hall built by the Hill family in the 1920s to reach the west wing. The elegant period dining-room has hand-crafted vintage Mouseman oak furniture and a huge 16th century fireplace moved here from Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire. "The Hills had it installed for a visit by the Prince of Wales, who became Edward VIII. They had daughters so were keen to impress him!" says Hannah.

For dining, the Box Tree works with wedding parties on customised menus. "One party recently had a barbecue outside, it's very much about what they want," says Steve. "There's a buzz in the dining-room during Sunday morning breakfast."

The bar, wood-panelled to match the original panelled ceiling and walls, includes ale from Ilkley Brewery - even a beer named after the bridge and groom if requested. The reception area is transformed with a dance floor for the evening. "We've had casinos, photo booths, a carnival with hook-a-duck and a coconut shy and a range of live bands, from rock to swing," says Hannah. "For a winter wedding we had an ice rink out on the terrace."

The hall has 24 bedrooms and two luxury suites, including an elegant bridal suite in the old stable block. "The bride can stay in this block with her bridesmaids on the Friday night, it's a hive of activity and we arrive with breakfast in the morning," smiles Steve. "While the bridal party enjoys a pampering session the groom's party often goes shooting on the estate."

The estate is home to Aberdeen Angus cattle and hundreds of sheep. A lake, originally used to power a saw mill, is a popular spot for photographs.

With enquiries coming in for weddings in 2017, the 'marriage' between Denton Hall and the Box Tree is proving a successful union.

• Call (01943) 813481, email enquiries@denton-hall.co.uk or visit denton-hall.co.uk