Their day finally came! These two booked me for their big day the moment they set their date at Rudding Park Spa in North Yorkshire and we have been excitedly looking forward to it together ever since!
I have been lucky enough to know Lisa since primary school! (That’s 27 years at the time of writing, oh my word!) Lisa has always been a beautiful soul. The first time I met Mike however, was during my exhibit at The Lincs Wedding Show; where Lisa very matter-of-factly informed us both “This is our wedding photographer”! I think I was as surprised as Mike! Bless her!
They also chose my highlight wedding video add-on which you can see at the bottom of their story.
The Beginning
“We met on the dancefloor during a Christmas night out in Gypsy Tears! If you’ve seen Mike’s dance moves, need I say any more? – You know how he got my attention!”
We had an engagement shoot to celebrate as they were both feeling a little anxious about being in front of the camera, but just look at those smiles!
“We got engaged 21st July 2022 in our beautiful home, Michael had just got home after working away, he caught me totally off guard. We can’t wait to get all of our families celebrating together!”
Top tip from the newlyweds
“Definitely get a wedding email account, it makes it so easy to keep on track with everything. Enjoy every minute it goes so fast!”
The Wedding
Meet Mike
Mike – what a legend! We had some time to chat during their engagement session which meant I wasn’t a total stranger to him on the day. I don’t feel like I really got to know the real Mike until I saw him on the dancefloor though!
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 Lisa
We spent the morning in the bridal suite at Rudding Park where Lisa and her bride tribe were getting ready for the day ahead. Lisa was super chilled out and just glowing with excitement! We got those classic getting ready photos followed by a lovely bride reveal to her dad.
Dress boutique: The Harrogate Wedding Lounge
Make-up artists: Josephine Finch MUA & Kate Atkinson MUA
Hair stylists: Eve @Evie, Hair by Laura @Evie, The White Rooms & Jodie Taylor
Flowers: Flowers by Colette
The Ceremony
If their smiles don’t say it all, Lisa & Mike had the most beautiful ceremony at Rudding Park; the room and everyone in it looked absolutely gorgeous!
Cocktail hour
They made their rockstar exit and we had a fabulous confetti walk!
“We chose Rudding Park Spa because it’s just beautiful and has that stately home vibe with a modern take.”
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Family Photos
We held the family photos around the back of the building where the light was the most even, even an October photoshoot can have that lovely subtle glow if the timing is right! The weather in North Yorkshire was absolutely lovely for that this of year.
Newlywed Photoshoot
The newlyweds enjoyed some time to themselves on the beautiful grounds at Rudding Park Spa. Lisa and I both love this photo of Mike holding the flowers! As you can see we had a lot of fun, especially Mike recording the video of Lisa and making her laugh! We usually have our newlywed shoots in the evening after the wedding breakfast, but the lighting in Yorkshire was perfect and we were so lucky to have it this time of year; I couldn’t risk missing it!
Wedding breakfast
What a legendary entrance! Everyone cheered and waved their napkins around, the best man even blew out one of the candles with his napkin!
“Our theme is soft Autumnal colours and vibes!”
It was lovely to see them include their engagement shoot photos in their wedding décor, what a fab idea!
Venue stylist: Ambience Venue Styling
Speeches
We were back in the gorgeous Rudding Park reception room for the breakfast and speeches. Lisa’s dad gave a very emotional speech first, Lisa’s mum followed with the hype vibes, the best man followed and gave Mike a hard time (naturally!) and finally Mike gave an equally funny and meaningful speech to wrap up the formalities.
During dessert; the secret singing waiters started their set, only Lisa and her Mum knew about this, Mike was so surprised!
Cake cut & first dance
Cake maker: Poppy Pickering Cakes
“Our first dance is going to be to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone”
Reception
Everyone flooded to the dancefloor before the song even ended! A fabulous ending to a fabulous wedding for a fabulous couple!
Why choose Rudding Park Spa for your big day?
As a wedding photographer I have the privilege of spending my days exploring some of the most gorgeous venues with the most amazing teams of wedding staff. Rudding Park offers an exceptional setting for capturing unforgettable moments. Nestled in beautiful Yorkshire, this stunning venue combines luxurious surroundings with versatile spaces, including the elegant reception room, a charming garden for outdoor ceremonies, and the grand, historical charm of the 19th-century mansion.
With a range of wedding packages and incentives, Rudding Park ensures couples can tailor their big day to perfection, creating countless opportunities for breathtaking wedding photographs. The venue’s picturesque grounds and classy interior are a simply stunning backdrop to capture timeless memories that you’ll cherish forever.
I had a fabulous time working with the team here and cannot wait to be back!