Sarah & Tim 11th May 2018

I love Yorkshire Weddings!

(I also love Leeds United, but no-one’s perfect!) 😉

I think as wedding photographer I’m a little spoilt to live where I do.  There is always a beautiful backdrop to find.  Some little hidden Yorkshire gem.. We just have to look a little harder sometimes!

I was booked a few weeks before Sarah and Tim’s big day and popped over to see Sarah to chat through the plans for the wedding day.  I’m learning that no two weddings are ever the same.  There are always challenges and opportunities in every schedule.

The plan was to do the Bridal Portrait session before the ceremony so the challenge this time was to find somewhere en route to nip to and get some shots.  The Wedding Ceremony was due to take place  at the Box Tree Restaurant in Ilkley at Noon so time was of the essence!  When I think of Ilkley I automatically think of the Cow and Calf..

I wanted to do something different and more importantly I wanted to make sure we weren’t too far from the venue.  I think we managed it!

Read on and see!

So the 1st stop of the day was breakfast!!! I am in a really bad habit of having a big brekkie.  I dont know why but I know that whatever the day holds I’m good to go!!

I arrived at Sarah & Tims at just after 8am.  We were on a tight schedule and had to be in the cars and heading to Ilkley no later than 10.  No pressure!!

I love photographing bridal preps.  It settles me into the day and gets everyone relaxed in front of the camera too.  I also think it’s really important to document all the little things that have gone into the months of planning your big day!! Those wedding shoes, that special perfume, the wedding rings! The details matter

Sarah looked stunning!!

A lovely moment where Tim first saw his Bride..   magic!

Ok so we were now running late!!!

The one thing you can guarantee about plans is that they don’t tend to stick on wedding days lol

So onto the location!!!  Like I said I wanted to do something a little different!!  Throughout late April / early May we’re lucky to be spoilt in our woodlands with amazing displays from the bluebells. Many a photographer can be found in them shooting children.. (sounds a little bit wrong that!)

I’d nipped up to Middleton Woods in Ilkley with the Mrs a few days before to see if there were any on show.

We weren’t disappointed!!

Sarah and Tim were a pleasure to pose.  I think Sarah was a little nervous about the posing when we had our first initial chat.  For me it’s about making the couple feel at ease and be themselves.  My style is to try to pose as naturally as possible, Lots of little cuddles and kisses and just be yourselves.

(unless you like to bicker, in that case don’t be yourselves!!)

I have a really bad sense of humour which I’m not afraid to use.. I’m not sure if people laugh with me or at me but hey ho, they end up relaxed and it shows in the pictures.

As you can see Sarah and Tim were incredibly natural and tender.  I love this shot guys!!!

When we’d finished it was great to say to them ‘shall we go and get married then?’

Sarah and Tim were beaming from ear to ear.  🙂

So this was my first time at The Box Tree Restaurant.  Its absolutely beautiful there!! It was a small and intimate wedding which was perfect.  A really great idea for any couple that just want to go and get married and spend an afternoon been wined and dined in true Michelin Star style!!

Now I’ve been to a few weddings where either the bride or groom forgot their lines but this was the first time I’d ever known a registrar forget hers.  I have to say though she recovered well and what could have been a really awkward moment ended up being a lovely moment with lots of laughter.

At this point I took a step back and soaked up the atmosphere.  Its always a nice relaxed time watching the new Mr & Mrs have their first drink with their wedding party and guests!

I also took a few minutes to capture some of the beauty inside the Box Tree.  just stunning!

So all that was really left for me to do was to grab a couple more pics of the new Mr & Mrs Goodwill having a cheeky kiss on the stairs and cutting their amazing wedding cake!!

and to leave them to enjoy this!!!

Sarah and Tim, you and your family are absolutely lovely.  It was such a pleasure to be a part of your wedding day.

I wish you both all the joy, happiness and love the future could possibly offer..

Another fantastic Yorkshire Wedding!!

Ben x

Lisa & Jonathan got Married! – Oulton Hall 21/04/18

This was the first time I’d ever shot a wedding at Oulton Hall.  From the moment I arrived there I fell in love with it.  I knew straight from the off that I wanted to shoot here as often as possible.  A beautiful mid-18th century mansion set in glorious grounds.

I arrived early for Lisa and Jonathan’s pre-wedding shoot to get a feel for the place before we went through the plans for their wedding day.

On meeting them I just couldn’t get over how totally laid back they both were.

Nothing seemed to phase them at all and I knew we’d all get along just fine on the day.

The Pre-Wedding shoot was a lot of fun and gave me a good insight into the grounds and how to possibly use them on their big day.  I love the connection between couples on these shoots and it gets over any nerves for the main wedding shoot.

So the wedding day came along and I was lucky to have my good friend Kim shooting with me from Kim Shaw Photography I’ve known Kim about a year or so now from my workshops with Chris Chambers I don’t think you could ever meet a nicer lady, a valued friend and a very experienced wedding photographer too!

(she has been known to kick my arse a few times but it’s all constructive criticism!!)

anyway back to the pictures!

First things first BREAKFAST!! (thanks Kimbo) then we set about with the Bridal Preps

There is always one ‘cheeky’ bridesmaid 😉

And of course the main man himself looking very dapper indeed!

With the Threads by Top Mark

 Oulton Hall looked amazing with an impeccably dressed room.  Beautiful !!!

The Ceremony room looked truly stunning.  I absolutely loved the trees!! Fulford Flowers  you did a fantastic job of dressing the venue!

Lisa looked simply stunning too but I would expect that given the fact she is an awesome MUA herself (Lisa Cooper Make Up)

However the make up magic was done by the fantastic Drew-Ashlyn MUA check out her work here on Instagram!!

and how about this…I love this staircase too! (great shot Kimbo!)

Jonathan certainally kept his cool waiting for Lisa but the look on his face when she came in was awesome.  A great moment.

I had my own little ‘moment’ too… but that was because I dropped a lens lol.. I don’t think the people at the back or next door heard the crash anyway….

oops.. moving on swiftly!!!

Next up we were back outside the Hall for the group shots.

I have to say I’ve never seen a rugby ball tossed rather than the bouquet!!

Knowing Jonathan’s links to the Huddersfield Giants it does all make sense now though!!

(but check out the beautiful flowers by Flowerworks of Pontefract.)

Now I’m not one to moan about the sunshine… honestly I’m not… I don’t think lol!!

My last two weddings were either rain all day, or -10 with the beast from the east (brrrr) so.. some sunshine was welcomed.. However bright sunshine isn’t always welcome at a wedding due to the harsh shadows!

(and the fact that I tend to sweat.. a lot!!)

One of the beautiful things about Oulton Hall is you can shoot around three sides of the mansion so the Group shots were possible without everyone squinting and hating me!

So the Bridal Portraits were next and we were treated to some amazing blossom on the driveway leading up to the mansion.

A big thank you to Lisa & Jonathan and Jodie (the wedding coordinator) for a lovely meal whilst the bridal party ate. 

I also used the time to get some shots of the wedding rings too..

Btw I DIDN’T drop one of the rings, and it DIDN’T nearly disappear behind a radiator… that never happened….. disaster was avoided and Lisa was none the wiser.. until now! 😉

Sorry Lisa!!

The Speeches were fab and I do believe Jonathan may have had a tear in his eye at one point.  Both best men did a cracking job too!

Beautiful stuff indeed.

So then another first.  I have NEVER seen a wedding pork pie cake before!!!

I’m not sure I will again either!! But now I have!

Check out Percy Turner for your Pork Pie heaven!!

Very cool and by the looks of it pretty hard to cut too!!

A big shout out to the Band Southwest who stepped in at the last minute!

They are awesome!!!!So all that was left to do was to grab some twilight pics.  Lisa and Jonathan were great sports and were willing to pop out dodging the showers (which had held off all day)

So this was my first experience of Oulton Hall. What a great day!   Lisa and Jonathan were the best.. I loved being a part of their day.  Being a wedding photographer is a privilege, its hard work but incredibly rewarding when you meet such special people and get to capture a little bit of their story!

Thanks guys and I wish you all the very best!

Ben x

Throughout this blog I’ve been adding pics from a sample album I now have on display at Oulton Hall.

I’m delighted to say I am now one of their recommended suppliers and I will be exhibiting there on the 17th June.  Come along! I will have chocolates!!

Just to add the icing to the cake I was also awarded a Bronze bar by the Guild of Photographers for the last shot of the night.

All in all a very successful day!

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