Weddings at St Chad's Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.
Badges
-
Featured
![Jill]()
Jill Sent on 09/09/2026⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Perfect Wedding Venue
We couldn't have dreamed of a more beautiful venue than St Chad's College, Durham for our wedding day. Nestled directly opposite the magnificent Durham Cathedral, the setting is simply breathtaking. The historic buildings, stunning gardens, and incredible views create the most magical backdrop for a wedding, and our guests were completely blown away by how special and unique it felt.
What truly made our experience exceptional, however, was the incredible support from Darryl and Lesley. They are, without question, the most fantastic wedding coordinators anyone could hope for. From the very beginning, they were friendly, approachable, organised, and so much fun to work with. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and their experience and attention to detail meant every aspect of the day was handled seamlessly.
Darryl and Lesley took so much stress off my shoulders! They managed everything behind the scenes with complete professionalism, kept me calm throughout the day, and ensured everything ran perfectly so that I could simply relax and enjoy every moment. Their warmth, reassurance, and genuine care made such a difference, and having them there felt like having trusted friends looking after us.
Together, they are an absolute dream team. If you're considering St Chad's as your wedding venue, I cannot recommend it highly enough. The combination of a spectacular setting and the outstanding support from Darryl and Lesley makes it a truly unforgettable place to get married. We will cherish the memories of our day forever. ❤️Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Jill, thank you so very much for your kind words. It has been a pleasure being part of your wonderful day. We wish you both much happiness for the future. -
-
![Tina]()
Tina Sent on 09/10/2026Top service and great wedding at St Chads
We met with Darryl several times to organise our wedding and the service was impeccable. I had no doubts that they would provide the perfect day for us. They were helpful, super efficient and covered off everything we needed and more.
On the day they were always present and helped everything move seamlessly, but we weren't really aware of their presence, they orchestrated it perfectly with no fuss or drama. As they promised, they would see to everything but we wouldn't be bothered by anything.
Our wedding day was beautiful and I'd love to relive the day again. Thanks so much to the whole team, you were amazing and we'd definitely recommend St Chads to anyone.Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Thank you Tina. We are so glad you chose to have your beautiful wedding with us. Sending our best wishes to you both. -
-
![Matt]()
Matt Sent on 14/09/2026St Chad's Wedding | No Complaints!
My wife and I got married in St Chad's this August and began conversations with the organisers almost two years prior. Throughout this time, they were incredibly responsive and flexible with our requests.
We had 70 people coming and all of their needs were met. We felt very confident that everything was under control, allowing us to enjoy the day.
I cannot fault our experience, it was a beautiful venue and excellent value for money.Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
It has been a pleasure Matt. We are delighted that you and your guests enjoyed your special day. Sending good wishes to you both. -
![Michelle]()
Michelle Sent on 12/09/2026Fantastic venue and staff, made our day!
St Chads was the first place we got the details of, and we were pleased we made the visit as in our view, it’s the best local venue. So easy for guests to get in to or stay in the city. The packages were such great value. There aren’t enough words to describe how brilliant Darryl and Lesley are and the lengths they went to in their job to make our day easier. Nothing was too much trouble in the planning and organising stages and they both were super helpful to pull together my DIY ideas, decorations and plans and made the quad and hall look fantastic! We are both super grateful. The food, bar and staff all were great and every guest enjoyed themselves - but most of all, we did! We had great fun and enjoyed it all and that was down to the planning by the staff in making it run like clockwork! Our vendors commented on how helpful the staff were. Thanks both! :-) (formal photos by Ryan etherington photography)Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Thank you so much, Michelle, for your lovely words. We are delighted that you had such a fun day. It has been a pleasure! Best wishes to you both. -
-
![Andrew]()
Andrew Sent on 11/08/2026The Perfect Venue and Staff for Your Special Day
This was the PERFECT venue for a wedding and reception! The whole day flowed perfectly, from one part of the college to another, and the AMAZING STAFF guided us and the guests seamlessly. Whenever my wife or I had ideas or questions, the staff worked bring our vision to life. When some last-minute adjustments were needed, the staff acted quickly and subtly. Guests loved the food and drinks as well!
We truly felt that Darryl, Lesley, and the rest of the St. Chad’s staff brought their fullest attention and energy to making our special day truly special! We are so impressed with our experience, and our guests continue to rave about how great the venue was!Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Andrew, it has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you both. Wishing you all the best for your future together! -
![Anna]()
Anna Sent on 11/08/2026The PERFECT wedding celebration!
What can we say about St Chads?! The most amazing venue with the most amazing team ever!
We had not only our wedding but our post-wedding brunch at Chads, so the team juggled two back-to-back events on our behalf. They did so with the UTMOST professionalism and poise. We started planning this wedding long ago, from across the Atlantic, so it could’ve been tricky. Not so thanks to Chads! Darryl and Lesley worked tirelessly to make all of our wishes come true - no matter how small or complex the request. They were communicative, tactful, flexible, and warm. They made everything effortless and easy - even though we were all the way in the US, trying to organize and execute a destination wedding! We simply could not be happier with Chads. A STUNNING venue with the best team around. It was truly the perfect wedding!Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Anna and Andrew, it was an absolute delight welcoming you back to St Chad's. It was wonderful to see you and your lovely family and friends enjoying your special day! -
-
![Hannah]()
Hannah Sent on 10/08/2026An absolute gem! 💎
Wow. Where to start? Honestly from the minute we stepped into St Chads we were struck by how friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable the wedding team were. Darryl was an absolute pleasure to work with and was so reassuring in every way. He was very laid back and I felt in safe hands and didn’t need to worry about anything - he handles it all (as a fairly laid back couple we appreciated this a lot). The team are very experienced in weddings and know how to make everything run seamlessly so as the Bride and Groom you can focus on enjoying your day. As two Durham University alumni, we wanted a venue that meant something to the both of us as we started our relationship whilst students at Durham, and compared to other wedding venues St Chads has its own unique charm and character. The location is fantastic, situated on the Bailey in the centre of Durham City next to the iconic Durham Cathedral. You can’t park at Chads but this wasn’t an issue for anyone - even the elderly guests! We walked through the centre from the church where we had our ceremony and everyone was clapping and congratulating us. It was so wonderful and nostalgic to be back in the city where we met but now as husband and wife! Inside the college itself there is a lot of space for guests - which from the outside you wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell! We made use of the beautiful gardens for the drinks reception and canapés. The Moulsdale Hall was absolutely stunning for the Wedding Breakfast and the food was amazing! In the evening, the Cassidy Quad made an excellent space for a Ceilidh, as well as a disco. (BRIDES - if you have a long train, somebody (probably your new husband) WILL step on it and it will rip, just get changed and save yourself the drama!!! You won’t care after a few days but in the moment I was so upset haha).
We opted for the romance package and it was still excellent value for money, all our guests were well fed and happy! We had looked at a couple of other venues (eg Wedding Hotels) and they were just soulless and also quoted us obscene amounts which is not necessary at all, you can have a magical day without taking saddling yourself with huge debt.
Thank you to Darryl and the entire team at St Chads for your wonderful hospitality, you made our wedding day so wonderful and we will remember it forever.Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Hannah, we are thrilled you had such a wonderful day! It has been a pleasure getting to know you both. Sending all good wishes. -
![Tania]()
Tania Sent on 29/07/2026Flawless experience
From the first venue visit to our wedding day, we felt supported and listened to. Nothing was too much trouble. Darryl and Lesley responded quickly to any request or question we had. The level of professionalism was exceptional. It’s rare in this day and age that a business provides customer service that exceeds all expectations but there was nothing more to add; their service and the entire experience was flawless. On the wedding day itself, they were both on hand to reassure, coordinate and direct people to where they needed to go, so the day ran smoothly. The team set up all of our decor in the morning so we didn’t have to rush around while trying to get ready. They brought us drinks and sandwiches which I wasn’t expecting while we got ready. I honestly felt so cared for and they took all the stress out of the day. They are absolutely amazing. I cannot thank them enough. They made our day so incredibly special. Also just to add what a stunning venue this is; many of our friends had never heard of it and when they arrived, there were so many comments about how spectacular the venue looked. It’s small enough to feel intimate but big enough to host plenty of family and friends. The outside areas are beautiful and well maintained, with gorgeous flowers and plants that made our photos stand out. The lawned area is great for the kids to play and to enjoy drinks. Location wise, you’re right behind the iconic Durham cathedral so you can get additional photographs in the stunning city. The value for money at this venue was also worth mentioning. We had a strict budget and we were able to have the day we wanted within that budget. The food was exceptional, top restaurant quality, and our guests couldnt finish the buffet at the end of the night because the portions were generous. I am lucky to say that the best wedding I’ve ever been to was ours! Thank you all at St. Chad’s! Especially Darryl and Lesley! You made our dream wedding come to life!Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Ah, Tania, thank you so much! We can honestly say it has been an absolute pleasure working with you. It was wonderful to see you both, as well as your lovely family and friends enjoying your beautiful day. Sending good wishes to you all. -
![Ellie]()
Ellie Sent on 30/05/2026Joe and Ellie - March 28th 2026
Joe and I had a fabulous time returning to Durham for our wedding in March. We were both alumni of the university, so Chad’s offered the perfect setting for a throwback to our student days. The college grounds are stunning and surprisingly spacious, tucked away on the Bailey. The college staff do an excellent job of turning the site from an undergraduate place of work and study to an elegant wedding venue.
As the first wedding of 2026, we were sceptical of getting outside for the drinks reception but the college gardens were very sheltered and we were able to have almost all of it outside.
The staff were excellent, responsive and helped the event run seamlessly. We have had so many compliments from guests on the venue, atmosphere and the quality of food.
Chad’s were very flexible and accommodating with any ideas we had. This was particularly helpful with the menu choices for dinner. As well as having their own extensive list of suggestions, they also worked with us to develop custom options (beef wellington/affogato). We were able to pay corkage to cater our own reception drinks which was a bonus and managed to squeeze the venue capacity to 130 by seating on both sides of high table.
The new renovations are tasteful and in keeping with the traditional atmosphere of the building. We were slightly worried about them being finished on time, but Darryl and the contractors really pulled through (I gather it was a stressful night before!!).
Thanks to Darryl, Lesley and all the rest at Chad’s.Weddings at St Chad's's reply:
Thank you so much, Ellie. It was wonderful that you returned to Durham, especially St Chad's, for your beautiful day! -
Did the reviews win you over?
Did the reviews win you over?