Over the weekend I was in Beverley in the East riding of Yorkshire to photograph Mal & Mike’s beautiful, intimate wedding day.

I joined everyone at The Old Library in Beverley for the civil ceremony. The weather had been a bit touch and go in the morning but brightened up nicely for us to get some of the formal photographs in the gardens at the registry office.

It’s fair to say that last summer was absolutely brilliant for me. I’ve been ‘off my feet busy’ (which is why I’m only just getting round to blogging this wedding now!) and I’ve loved every minute of it & met some fantastic people. I think I’ve also met some of the most chilled out Brides and Grooms in the country. That’s where Kate & Timay come into the equation. Their wedding back at the start of June has definitely been one of my highlights

Millie & her Bridesmaids got ready in one of the outbuildings at Denton Hall, Ilkley.  Outbuildings probably isn’t the best description, as they’ve all been converted into fantastic accommodation. I kind of made it sound like she’d got ready in a stable there…

Jamie, got ready locally and came up to the hall to meet the guests as they arrived.

Nicole and Chris were the perfect couple for a winter wedding.  If I had to sum them up in a phrase, it'd be 'happy-go-lucky'.    It didn't matter what the sky was doing.  It didn't matter that the sheep all had a 1" deep coating of snow, or that the wind was blowing. They took it all in their stride and had a fantastic day.

I first met Kristina & Mathew at Mathew’s parents home in Wetherby, way back in January. They both live and work in London and I got the impression that the weekend that I met them was the first time they’d both been able to relax in one place for quite some time. Kristina had just returned from a trip home to Russia to see her parents and they’d both travelled up to Yorkshire to finalise some of their wedding arrangements.

Sometimes it feels like we're really spoiled for wedding venues in Yorkshire. There are so many really good venues that I love to photograph. There is a few, however, that really stand out. One of the ones that really stands out for me is The Normans. Situated about halfway between Leeds and York, just near Tadcaster, it's also in a perfect location for me. It takes about 10 minutes to get there.

Meg & Harry (Not that Meg & Harry) got married in Leeds at Left Bank.  If you're not familiar with Left Bank, it's a gorgeous old church that's now been converted to a inclusive community space for creativity & culture. And also weddings.  It still has the character of a church inside, but it's now all open space which is great because it can be used for almost anything from exhibitions to theatre.

I love to photograph weddings in stately homes, country houses, barns, teepees and marquees.  There is always something special about a city centre wedding though.  I can’t quite put my finger on it.  It could be that the scenery is completely different and as a photographer, it gives a different set of challenges to a tranquil countryside wedding.

I’m a bit of a regular at Sandburn Hall.  I love working there (You can see why on their site).  Every wedding there is different, but the one thing that’s the same, is that it’s such a great location for a wedding.  Indoor weddings have the massive window.  Outdoor weddings are in the beautiful rose garden, which is also perfect for photographing family groups and then there’s the woods…

Although I’m based in Yorkshire, I’m certainly not adverse to a bit of travel and I always welcome a trip down to London.  Especially when it’s to shoot a wedding for people like Clare & Tom, in what is probably one of the most amazing venues that I’ve ever worked in.

I pride myself on having shot at some of the best venues that Yorkshire has to offer.  Skipbridge Country Weddings just outside York though, that was a new one.   I checked the venue out previously, I like to know what I’m walking into. What an outstanding venue!  The cottages for the bridal party and guests to get ready and stay over in were beautiful.

The first wedding that I photographed in the UK was at Sandburn Hall near York.  It was quite a bit smaller back then and didn’t have the beautiful hotel and preparation rooms that it does now.   It’s always nice to return there for a wedding, especially one like Alissa & James’ big day.

As the morning went on and the mood inside got more and more excited, the weather outside, got worse.   By the time that I made it to the registry office, the heavens were starting to open.  In years to come, I think people will look back on wedding photographs from this year, with interest.  The guests all wearing masks and spaced out.  Large rooms with just a few people in etc.  I’m still not used to it to be honest, although things are starting to revert back to how they were, slowly.

Elise got ready at her parents house just outside Harrogate.  It was a beautiful farmhouse in a rural Yorkshire village and it had one of my favourite features…Dogs!!  I always love it when people get ready at the family home.  You can tell a lot about a family by the photo’s on the wall, the certificates on the fridge, muddy boots in the doorway etc.

Caroline & Chris got married at Sheriff Hutton Castle, just outside York, last summer.  It’s a beautiful ruin dating back to the 14th century in the heart of the North Yorkshire countryside. It does, however, have a room that has survived the ravages of time & it’s here that the wedding took place.  Caroline & Chris along with their family had decorated the room to perfection

Rushpool Hall is somewhere that I really enjoy going to.  I grew up not far away from it in Great Ayton.  Weekend trips to the coast invariably involved a trip to Saltburn to have a walk along the beach or the cliff tops.  It’s somewhere that holds a lot of memories for me.  If you want to have a look, you can see their website here. 

Toni & David had their fantastic ‘Big Day 2.0’ there, celebrating their anniversary with a renewal of vows.

Miranda & Austin had their fantastic intimate day in not one, but two of the best venues in Yorkshire.  They had their ceremony at Temple Newsam in Leeds. Then, it was off to the Yorkshire countryside, for the reception meal at Harewood House.

Being based in Yorkshire spoils me a bit.   We have some of the best wedding venues and scenery in the country.  Perhaps one of the grandest of those venues is the amazing Allerton Castle. It’s a nineteenth century, Victorian Gothic house, set in beautiful grounds near Knaresborough in North Yorkshire.

I do like to specialise in relaxed weddings.   I have the most relaxed brides and grooms.  Well, there’s no grooms this time, but there are two brides.  That’s two dresses, two lots of preparation photos etc. You get the picture.

Sian & Adam definitely have their own style.  They love video games and Sian loves Crochet.  That was how they decided on the theme for this lovely wedding day in Leeds, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.