Sophie & James | Sedgewell Barn Wedding

Sophie and James got married on a warm July day in North Yorkshire, with a church ceremony at St Michael and All Angels in North Otterington and a relaxed, happy reception at Sedgewell Barn, just outside Northallerton. Northallerton is Sophie’s hometown, and bringing everyone back here made the whole day feel like a homecoming.

It was one of those weddings where everyone seemed to be laughing, from the first glass of fizz in the morning to the speeches in the barn. Add a bright red vintage bus, a bridal party in rich browns and creams, and a sunset over the fields at the end of the day, and you can see why I loved every minute of it.

Meet Sophie & James

Sophie and James met in January 2020, on the road with a touring Broadway show. In Sophie’s words, “the rest was history!” A couple of months later the world went into lockdown, and they spent the whole of it together, which Sophie says is where their love really grew.

They’ve lived in lots of different places since then, but when it came to the wedding, there was only ever one place they wanted to come back to.

The Proposal

Life on tour kept them moving, and James used that to his advantage. He flew out to visit Sophie while she was on the road with a show, surprised her, and proposed in the very place they first met: a theatre in Yakima, Washington. I do love a proposal that comes full circle, and this one is hard to beat.

Why They Chose Sedgewell Barn

Sophie grew up in Northallerton, and the two of them wanted to come home to get married. They chose the lovely old church of St Michael and All Angels in North Otterington for the ceremony, and Sedgewell Barn for everything else.

It gave them everything they needed in one place: rooms to get ready in the morning, a big timber barn for the meal and the party, and open farmland all around for pictures as the sun went down.

Personal Touches

Sophie and James chose browns, greens and creams, colours they both love, and Sophie told me they “wanted to keep things quite classic”. It worked beautifully. The bridesmaids wore gowns in chocolate, caramel and champagne, James and his best men were in brown and stone suits, and the barn was dressed with soft greenery and simple white flowers.

And then there was the bus. A red vintage double-decker, ribbons on the front, was their wedding transport for the day, and it looked brilliant rolling down the country lane with the hedgerows either side.

Getting married at Sedgewell Barn, or anywhere around Northallerton? I’d love to hear about your plans.

Bridal Preparations

Everyone got ready together at Sedgewell Barn from nine in the morning: Sophie, her maid of honour, six bridesmaids and the flower girl, with James and his two best men getting ready too. The morning was full of fizz, matching white pyjamas and a lot of laughter. There was one moment in the kitchen when I’m not sure anyone could breathe for giggling.

Becca Hunton Bridal looked after hair and makeup, and I spent a while by the ring light catching the quiet, focused moments in between all the chatter. Sophie and her bridesmaids found time for a toast on the big green sofa too, which turned into one of my favourite sets of pictures from the morning.

Then came the earrings and a last look in the mirror. Sophie had planned a quiet reveal with her sister once she was dressed, just the two of them, before everyone else got to see her.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was at two o’clock at St Michael and All Angels in North Otterington. It’s a beautiful little church, with stone arches, light pouring through the windows and pews full of family and friends. As Sophie and James walked back down the aisle as a married couple, every guest seemed to have a phone up and a huge smile, and the whole church was cheering.

Outside in the churchyard, the bridesmaids gathered round Sophie for hugs in the sunshine, with the old church tower behind them. Then it was all aboard the red bus for the ride back to Sedgewell Barn, with Sophie and James grinning at each other the whole way.

Drinks Reception at Sedgewell Barn

Back at the barn, the sun was out and the drinks were flowing. Guests spread out across the courtyard under strings of festoon lights, and it was a lovely relaxed time for everyone to catch up and congratulate the newlyweds.

I borrowed the bridal party for a couple of group pictures. With a maid of honour, six bridesmaids, two best men and the groomsmen, it’s a big line-up, but those browns and creams against the white hydrangeas and the open fields looked brilliant. I did one in colour and one in black and white, and I really can’t choose a favourite.

Wedding Breakfast and Speeches

Guests were called into the barn at five, and the speeches came first, before the meal. I always think that’s a great idea, because everyone can relax and enjoy their food afterwards. The barn looked lovely, with white drapes, timber walls and long tables dressed in greenery.

The speeches had the whole room in stitches. There was so much laughter that I barely knew which way to point the camera, and the hats and fascinators around the tables were having a good day too. James sat listening with a big grin, and when it came to the toast, every glass in the barn went up.

Dom’s Kitchen served the meal at six, and after all that laughing, everyone was more than ready for it.

Couple Portraits at Sedgewell Barn

I took Sophie and James out for pictures twice: once in the warm golden light of the early evening, and again as the sun went down. Sedgewell Barn sits among open farmland, so there’s space and sky in every direction. We found a spot by an old wooden fence, with the trees and the house behind, and I let them chat to each other while I worked.

Later, we walked out to the edge of the fields as the sun dropped towards the horizon. The sky turned soft gold and blue, Sophie’s dress caught the last of the light, and it was the perfect way to finish their portraits. It only took a few minutes, and it’s one of my favourite pictures of the whole day.

Love a sunset picture as much as I do? Here’s how twilight portraits fit into a wedding day.

The Evening Celebrations

At eight o’clock Sophie and James cut their cake from Fairy Cakes & Co. and stepped onto the floor for their first dance. After that, Hi Life Entertainment kept the dance floor busy for the rest of the night, and the Valentina Photobooth had a queue from the moment it opened.

Sedgewell Barn Wedding Suppliers

Sophie and James, thank you so much for having me along. It was a real privilege to be part of your homecoming, and I hope these pictures bring back all the laughter every time you look at them. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.

Planning your own wedding in North Yorkshire? I’d love to hear from you.

Planning your own wedding here? Have a look at my Sedgewell Barn wedding photographer page for everything I know about the venue, from the barns and the glamping pods to my favourite spots for portraits.

Planning your own wedding near York? Have a look at my York wedding photographer page.