Charlotte & Lloyd’s wedding at Bardney Hall was one of those days where nobody stopped smiling for even a second. From the morning preparations in Scunthorpe right through to their sparkler-lit first dance on the lawn, the entire day felt relaxed, joyful, and completely centred around having fun with the people they love most.

Their day blended timeless vintage styling with laid-back summer garden party energy perfectly. After a beautiful ceremony at St Peter’s Church in Bottesford, guests made their way to Bardney Hall in North Lincolnshire for cocktails, garden games, ice cream, laughter, and one of the warmest atmospheres imaginable.
Honestly? These two were an absolute dream to photograph.
The beginning
The Meeting
Charlotte and Lloyd first met while working together at a supermarket, though their story didn’t properly begin until years later.
“We were friends for five years while I was living in Lincoln studying, and one day he drunkenly asked me on a date and the rest is history.”

The Engagement
Lloyd later proposed on New Year’s Day while the two of them were curled up on the sofa watching Home Alone together, which Charlotte proudly describes as her favourite Christmas film.

Wedding Planning
Charlotte & Lloyd's top wedding planning advice:
“Make sure to make time for yourselves in the planning process as you can get lost in it and forget about the reason why you are marrying each other.”
For more tips and tricks, take a look at my Wedding Planning inspiration posts. Or if you're at the very beginning of your wedding planning journey, my Ultimate Wedding Guide has helped so many of my clients plan their special days.

Wedding at Bardney Hall

Getting Ready Moments in Scunthorpe
Meet Lloyd
I started the morning with Lloyd and the guys in Scunthorpe, and for once the groomsmen were extremely enthusiastic about prep photos. No disappearing acts. No mysterious missing socks. No last-minute panic steaming shirts five minutes before leaving.
A miracle, frankly.


The atmosphere was relaxed from the start, with everyone laughing and winding each other up while getting suited and booted for the day ahead. Their blue tailoring tied in perfectly with the vintage styling planned for Bardney Hall later in the day.

If you've seen any of my previous Real Wedding Stories, you'll know I always start with the guys first because they get ready a lot quicker (sorry girls, it's true!) and it's much easier for them to take their jacket off again and relax if they want to!

Meet Charlotte
A short drive down the road, Charlotte was getting ready alongside her maid of honour Ellie, and honestly, the energy between these two was incredible. The running joke all morning was that perhaps they should be the ones getting married instead.



The bridal details were absolutely gorgeous too. Rich red roses, vintage-inspired accessories, pearl details, soft lace textures, and deep royal blue accents all came together beautifully throughout the styling of the day.






Ceremony at St Peter’s Church, Bottesford
Charlotte & Lloyd were married at St Peter’s Church in Bottesford in a heartfelt ceremony led by one of the warmest vicars I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

The church itself was stunning inside, with beautiful stone architecture and soft natural light pouring through the windows as the couple exchanged vows surrounded by their family and friends.
And then came the smiles.
Honestly, I don’t think these two stopped grinning at each other once during the entire ceremony.




After officially becoming husband and wife, they made their way back down the aisle to cheers from their guests before heading outside for confetti, hugs, high-fives, and approximately a million happy conversations all at once.
Exactly how a wedding should feel.
Cocktail Hour
Once everyone arrived at Bardney Hall in North Lincolnshire, the celebrations properly kicked into gear.



Guests were welcomed with cocktails, champagne, canapés, garden games, and even an ice cream cart set up in the courtyard while Bridgerton-style orchestral music drifted through the grounds in the background. It genuinely felt like the perfect summer garden party atmosphere.

One of the things I loved most about Bardney Hall was how relaxed the entire venue felt. Guests could properly spread out across the grounds, chat, play games, and enjoy the sunshine without everything feeling overly formal or rushed.
That always makes such a difference to the atmosphere of a wedding day.
Family Photos
After everyone had settled in with drinks and caught up with the newlyweds, we moved into family photos and wedding party portraits across the grounds.

Even during the formal photos, Charlotte & Lloyd spent most of the time laughing at each other. Photographing them felt effortless because everything was so natural between them.
Meanwhile, guests made the most of the garden games, cocktails, and sunshine around the venue, which created such a lovely relaxed flow to the afternoon.

Wedding Breakfast
The reception room at Bardney Hall looked absolutely beautiful for the wedding breakfast.
Charlotte & Lloyd chose elegant royal blue styling throughout the room, paired with soft candlelight, white florals, and delicate vintage-inspired details. The long banquet tables worked perfectly within the space and gave the entire room such a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

One of my favourite touches were the handmade wedding favour boxes created by one of the couple’s friends. The amount of work that must have gone into making every single one was honestly incredible.
The couple’s styling choices were also inspired by Charlotte’s grandparents, which added such a meaningful personal layer to the day.




The speeches brought the perfect mix of humour, emotion, and gentle roasting. Charlotte’s brother Jason kicked things off before Lloyd took his turn, followed by a joint best man speech from Ian and Kyle that had the entire room laughing.
You could really feel just how loved these two are by the people around them throughout every part of the day.




Newlywed Photoshoot
Golden hour arrived with soft evening light across the grounds at Bardney Hall, and it could not have suited Charlotte & Lloyd more perfectly.

From the floral swing tucked beneath the trees to the elegant Georgian backdrop of Bardney Hall itself, there were endless beautiful spots for portraits around the venue.


But honestly, the thing that made these photos work so well wasn’t the location. It was them.

Every portrait session dissolved into laughter within seconds. Lloyd spent most of the time making Charlotte laugh, while Charlotte somehow managed to look elegant and completely chaotic simultaneously, which is honestly a skill in itself.
Their energy together made every single image feel alive.

Cake cut
As evening arrived, everyone gathered outside for the cake cut beside Bardney Hall’s beautiful ivy-covered walls and festoon lighting.
The three-tier cake decorated with cascading blue roses tied perfectly into the styling of the day and looked incredible set against the outdoor backdrop.


First dance
One of my favourite moments of the entire wedding! Charlotte & Lloyd chose to have their first dance outdoors on the lawn, surrounded by all of their guests holding sparklers in a huge circle around them while Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love played.

It felt cinematic in the best possible way. A perfect ending to an incredibly joyful wedding day.


Wedding Photography at Bardney Hall
As a wedding photographer, I have the privilege of working at some truly beautiful venues across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, and Bardney Hall absolutely deserves its reputation as one of North Lincolnshire’s most stunning wedding venues.

The exclusive-use manor house setting creates such an immersive experience for couples and guests alike, while the grounds provide endless opportunities for natural, relaxed wedding photography throughout the day.
From elegant indoor spaces to beautifully maintained gardens, Bardney Hall works perfectly for couples wanting a timeless wedding venue with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
And if you’re planning an outdoor first dance surrounded by sparklers? I fully support the idea.



