Faye & Nick | Rudding Park Wedding

Faye and Nick’s wedding at Rudding Park near Harrogate was one of those days that felt relaxed, personal and full of laughter from start to finish. With just their closest family and friends around them, a ceremony in the estate’s beautiful Gothic chapel and a late September sunset that set the whole sky alight, it was a real treat to photograph.

It was a small wedding in the best possible way. Everyone there meant something to them, their children and nieces and nephews all had a part to play, and there was even a cheeseboard in place of a wedding cake. Here’s the story of their day.

Meet Faye & Nick

Faye and Nick met online just after lockdown, and from the sound of it there wasn’t much doubt from the very start. In their words, “We just connected straight away.” It was lovely to see both of their families gathered together in one place on the day.

Once they were engaged, they didn’t hang about either. They decided “why wait, let’s go for it” and booked the wedding for the very same year.

The Proposal

Nick proposed in March on the balcony of their hotel room in Barbados, and Faye was keen to point out that he did the whole getting down on one knee bit properly. Not a bad view for a proposal! Six months later they were saying their vows in North Yorkshire.

Why They Chose Rudding Park

Faye and Nick started out planning something small, then thought they’d just have a look at Rudding Park. It’s somewhere they’d been a few times for treat weekends, so they already loved it, and seeing the chapel sealed it. As they told me, “When we visited the chapel we knew that we really wanted the ceremony there – it just feels so special.”

There was one more deciding factor. Rudding Park has its own golf course, and the chance for Nick to squeeze in a round with his groomsmen on the wedding morning was, in their words, “the deal breaker”. I love that.

Personal Touches

The guest list was kept to immediate family and close friends, so everyone in the room was someone special to them. Their kids were at the heart of the ceremony: their daughters were bridesmaids alongside Faye’s nieces, their son gave a reading in the chapel and helped as an usher, Nick’s niece read too and his nephew joined the ushers.

In the evening their brother-in-law played an acoustic set, including the song for their first dance. And the cake? “We love cheese,” they told me, “so a cheeseboard cake was a must.” More weddings should do this, if you ask me.

Getting married at Rudding Park? Have a look at my Rudding Park wedding photographer page, or drop me a line. I’d love to hear about your plans.

Bridal Preparations

Faye got ready at Rudding Park itself with her bridesmaids, her sister and her mum, while Nick and his best man had a room of their own. With no rushing between locations, the morning had a lovely calm feel to it.

There was plenty of chatter around the mirror as hair and make-up came together, and the light from the big windows made the room a joy to work in.

Faye wore a gold silk dress with a long veil, and one of her bridesmaids helped her into it by the window. The bridesmaids were in a deep rust red, which looked gorgeous against the autumn flowers all day.

Nick and his groomsmen, fresh from the golf course and looking sharp in navy suits, made their way over to the chapel ahead of the ceremony.

The Ceremony

The chapel at Rudding Park is a stunning building, with a tall vaulted roof, stained glass and a beautifully carved altar. The ceremony started at half past two, and the bridesmaids and flower girl led the way down the aisle.

Faye’s walk down the aisle was a lovely moment, and I tucked in beside the autumn flowers at the end of the pews to catch her reaching Nick.

With such a high roof and so much detail, I like to step right back for a wide view in a chapel like this. It shows just how special the space is, and I couldn’t resist a black and white version too.

As soon as the ceremony was over, the cheering started before they’d even reached the end of the aisle, and the confetti came out right there in the chapel.

Drinks Reception at Rudding Park

After the ceremony everyone moved on for drinks, and with only close family and friends there it felt more like a big family party than a formal reception. Lots of hugs, lots of laughter and plenty of catching up.

While everyone mingled I rounded up a few family groups, then borrowed Faye and Nick for their portraits.

Couple Portraits at Rudding Park

We started right outside the chapel, where the door had been dressed with an arch of white flowers and greenery. Standing well back with the big old tree beside the chapel gave a real sense of place, then I moved in closer for something more intimate.

From there we headed out into the parkland. There was a bit of a breeze that afternoon, which was perfect for Faye’s long veil. It caught the wind just as they leaned in for a kiss.

The trees were just starting to turn, and the fallen leaves under one of the big old trees made it feel properly autumnal.

We finished with a walk along one of the tree-lined paths. A simple walk together is one of the best ways to help a couple relax, and these two were naturals.

Faye and Nick’s day ended with some of my favourite twilight portraits of the year. If you’d like pictures like these at your own wedding, have a look at how I approach twilight portraits.

Wedding Breakfast and Speeches

The wedding breakfast was served at ten past five in a room lined with bookcases, with tall gold stands of autumn flowers above every table. Before guests came in I took a few minutes to photograph the room while the candles were lit and everything was just so.

With such a small guest list the meal was full of chat, and I loved seeing Faye and Nick laughing away with their families.

Speeches came after the meal, and there was a lot of laughter. These are some of my favourite moments to photograph, because the reactions around the room tell you as much as the speeches themselves.

Sunset Portraits

Then the sky did something wonderful. I spotted the clouds turning purple and gold through the windows, so I grabbed Faye and Nick for five minutes outside. The silhouette against the trees and that glowing orange sky are two of my favourite pictures from the whole day.

The Evening Celebrations

Back inside, Faye and Nick cut their cheeseboard cake and took to the floor for their first dance, with their brother-in-law playing live. It was such a personal way to start the evening.

After that the dancefloor filled up quickly. There’s nothing like a room full of people who all know each other well, and this lot were not shy.

Twilight at Rudding Park

Later on, once it was properly dark, we slipped out for a few twilight portraits. The chapel lit up at night is something else, and with Faye and Nick standing in the glowing doorway it was a lovely way to come back to where the day began.

We finished in front of the house, which is beautifully floodlit after dark. A couple of silhouettes, a little light painting and a slow dance on the lawn to round it all off.

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Thank You, Faye & Nick

Faye and Nick, thank you so much for having me as part of your day. It was small, personal and full of the people who matter most to you, and I loved every minute of it. Here’s to many more treat weekends at Rudding Park!

Planning your own wedding? I’d love to hear all about it.

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