A trip across the Atlantic for a wedding at Swinton Park..
I think we all probably have that ‘dream wedding’ in our mind’s eye. But it isn’t often that that dream takes you thousands of miles across the Atlantic ocean! So it was my absolute pleasure to be part of Nicole and Mark’s wedding day, as they travelled all the way over from America to realise their dream of getting married in an English castle. With just a few family members and friends to celebrate with, it proved to be a very relaxed, intimate day.
Of course, it doesn’t get much more castle-y than Swinton Park in Yorkshire! For the prep stage, both bride and groom were staying in the aptly-named Turret Suite. Handy for me; I could just nip between rooms and photograph both of them! Even though things ran a little behind, the vibe was still super relaxed.
The couple’s celebrant Rachael did a great job of making the ceremony really personal. She told their love story beautifully. The ceremony itself was concluded with Nicole and Mark’s closest families tying ribbons around their hands. This allowed everyone to share their well wishes with the newlyweds, before they eventually ‘tied the knot’! The ceremony was so personal and wasn’t confided to the legal traditions that we so often see at weddings. Choosing a celebrants can often allow couples to sidestep the kind of wedding that might feel a tad more procedure centred.
And if you want to take personal to niche in one fell swoop (literally), then do as Nicole and Mark did and opt for a falconry display! It was great fun taking photographs of the couple with owls gliding here and there. Definitely not an opportunity that a wedding photographer gets very often!
Thankfully the British weather was kind to us, and everyone enjoyed a few hours in the glorious sunshine looking across the Swinton Estate. And what could be a more beautiful backdrop than your quintessential Yorkshire castle!
