York City Centre Wedding Photography

I was not supposed to be at this wedding. The Wantsons' photographer fell ill close to the day and I stepped in. I hope he got better quickly, because he had been looking forward to photographing in York, and I can see why.

What I did not expect was how well a city wedding works when the places are this close together. Preparations at the Judge's Lodging, vows at the register office, portraits in the Museum Gardens, back to the Judge's Lodging for the reception.

"A country estate gives you one setting. York gives you a townhouse, a classical portico and a ruined abbey, and they are all close together."

The CityWhat a York city centre wedding gives a photographer

• iThe register office front. A classical portico with tall columns and a green door. Put two people in that doorway and the columns do the framing for you. It is the most under-used building in York for photographs.
• iiSt Mary's Abbey, in the Museum Gardens. Gothic arches with paved paths running through them and big trees around. You can shoot through them, under them and along them.
• iiiThe Judge's Lodging. The morning and the reception in the same building, close to the Minster, the register office and the gardens. Getting ready and celebrating in one place takes a whole layer of logistics out of the day.
• ivBe honest about the crowds. The Museum Gardens are busy on a sunny summer afternoon. That is the trade. In practice people saw a wedding party and got out of the way, but plan for it rather than be surprised by it.

A Real York DayThe Wantsons, August

• The Judge's Lodging

  Preparations at the Judge's Lodging, close to where they would be married. Sunflowers in the bouquet, a tea-length lace dress on one of them and a waistcoat and flat cap on the other.

• The register office

  Vows in a room with the light coming straight in through the windows, which is all I ask of a ceremony room. Then confetti outside under a floral arch.

• Into the gardens

  Down to the Museum Gardens for the couple and the family groups, and into the abbey ruins. Those arches are the frame this page opens with.

• Back for the reception

  And back to the Judge's Lodging, in August sun.

PricingA York city centre wedding

A full day of York wedding photography starts from £1,800, with no travel charge anywhere in Yorkshire. Register office days often do not need a full day, and the shorter options are on the pricing page. If you have lost your photographer close to the date, this page is for you — it is how I ended up at this one.

LocationsWhere the day happened

Preparations and reception: The Judge's Lodging. Ceremony: York Register Office. Portraits and groups: York Museum Gardens.