I first photographed Liam and Fleur as guests. They were at a friend's wedding I was shooting, we got on, and a while later they asked me to do theirs. That is still my favourite way to get booked, because by the time the day comes round nobody is a stranger.
"Liam arrived in a Porsche. Fleur arrived in a room full of bridesmaids. I already knew both of them well enough to just get on with it."
The VenueWhat Bagden Hall gives you
- iA proper Victorian house. Stone, tall chimneys, the name carved above the front door and a flight of steps with balustrades either side. That front is the portrait I head for when the light is on it.
- ii40 acres to get lost in. Lawns, a lake, woodland paths, a folly by the pond, and a gravel walk under an arch of white blossom that turns gold when the sun drops behind it. In July that happens at exactly the right time.
- iiiOne wedding a day. The hotel never runs two, so the house, the patio and the staircase are yours. It is licensed for ceremonies indoors and out on the lawns.
- ivDogs welcome. Not just tolerated: they will let yours carry the rings. The full venue notes are in my Bagden Hall wedding photography guide. This page is the day itself.
A Real Bagden DayLiam & Fleur, July
Here is how the day ran.
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The bridal suite
Fleur got ready in the house with her bridesmaids around her, each in a dress of her own choosing rather than a matching set. The good pictures from a morning like that are the ones nobody is posing for, so I stayed out of the way and let it happen.
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The Porsche
Liam pulled up the drive in a Porsche. I am not going to pretend that is a normal arrival at a Yorkshire wedding, and I am not going to pretend I didn't enjoy photographing it.
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Golden hour in the gardens
This is what the day is remembered for. The sun came down behind the blossom arch on the gravel path, so we walked out there, then across to the big tree on the back lawn with the house behind. No fuss, and most of the frames on this page.
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The first dance
Back inside under a draped ceiling strung with lights. I lit the dance from behind so the two of them stand out against the room, which is why that one is in black and white. Colour would have made it about the decor.
"Book the portraits for the last hour of sun, not straight after the ceremony, and let the house do the rest."
PricingA full day at Bagden Hall
A full day of Bagden Hall wedding photography starts from £1,800, with no travel charge anywhere in Yorkshire. The pricing page has what's included and the shorter options.
Liam & Fleur's SuppliersWho made the day
Venue: Bagden Hall Hotel, Scissett. Cake: Cakes by Caitlin, Huddersfield. Styling: Celebrations and Decorations. Flowers: Slate and Gray Flowers. Music: Link Lewis Music.
