Jamie & Lisa | Hazlewood Castle Wedding

Lisa actually gasped when she walked into the Great Hall at Hazlewood Castle. It was the seventh venue she and Jamie had been to see, and none of the other six had done that to her. As they put it themselves, “7 is a lucky number after all.”

So on a sunny Saturday this June, that’s where their lucky number led them: vows at St Mary’s Church in Whitkirk, then on to the castle near Tadcaster for a day dressed in white and the softest pink, with a dance floor that filled up fast. Here’s how it went.

A First Date at Banyan and a Dimple in His Chin

Jamie and Lisa’s first date was at Banyan in Leeds, and they got on straight away. Nine years later, they describe themselves as the perfect balance: “Jamie is the calm one in the relationship where Lisa is more wild and loud!”

And the thing that won Lisa over? The dimple in Jamie’s chin. In her words, it’s his USP.

Prosecco, a Little Boat and “Can You See This?”

Jamie proposed in Ibiza in September 2023. They’d hired a small boat, just the two of them, with a bottle of prosecco on board. Three hours in, Jamie was driving and Lisa was sunbathing when he asked whether her contact lenses were working. “Yes, why?” “Can you see this?” He was holding up the ring in its box, and then he asked: “Will you be my wife?”

“It was so lovely and there were a few happy tears.” I smiled all the way through reading that one.

Seven Venues and One Gasp at Hazlewood Castle

Once they started looking, it took seven viewings to find the one. What sold them on Hazlewood was the grounds: tucked away, with no car or road in sight, and views they both loved. Then they stepped inside.

“Lisa actually gasped when she saw the Great Hall and hadn’t done that with any of the other venues.”
– Jamie & Lisa

For the look of the day they kept it simple and soft: lots of white and the very lightest pink, because pink is Lisa’s favourite colour. You’ll see it everywhere, from the bridesmaids’ robes in the morning to the flowers and chair sashes at the castle, with the styling looked after by Shindig.

Viewing venues and still waiting for the one that makes you gasp? Tell me where you’ve seen so far, and I’ll happily share what I know about photographing there.

Pink Robes, White Pyjamas and a Very Happy Doorway

Lisa got ready with her bridesmaids and her mum, and the morning had that lovely mix of calm and chaos. Lisa sat for hair and make-up in white pyjamas while the bridesmaids raised a glass in pale pink robes, and she barely stopped smiling the whole time.

My favourite moment of the morning was the reaction from the doorway when Lisa’s hair was finished. You can’t plan for faces like that, you just have to be ready.

Once Lisa was in her dress, there was one person who needed to see her first: their little boy, who was page boy for the day. It was a quiet, lovely moment before everything got busy.

Cream Jackets and a Black Bow Tie

Over with Jamie, it was crisp white shirts and cream jackets for him and the groomsmen, with black bow ties and ties to finish. Jamie, being the calm one, looked like he had all the time in the world.

Vows and a Cheering Vicar at St Mary’s, Whitkirk

The ceremony was at St Mary’s Church in Whitkirk, a beautiful old church with tall stone arches and a stained glass window behind the altar. The pews were full and the front of the church was dressed in big white and pink flower arrangements.

I was able to photograph from the front, which meant I could catch both of their faces through the vows. When the first kiss came, the vicar threw both hands up and cheered along with everyone else.

Lisa came back down the aisle with her bouquet in the air, and we stopped for a few quiet pictures under the old church tower before heading to the castle.

Bouquets in the Air and Confetti on the Front Steps

At the castle, the bridesmaids in their champagne-coloured satin dresses lined up against the old stone arches, and the bouquets went straight up in the air. The groomsmen joined in for a walk along a tree-lined path, arm in arm and laughing most of the way.

Then came the confetti. Guests lined both sides of the front steps, and Jamie and Lisa walked down through the lot of it, grinning from ear to ear.

We finished with the everyone picture, taken from up high over the courtyard, with the white wedding car parked up beside the lawn and every guest waving.

Long Grass and Golden Light at Hazlewood Castle

Jamie and Lisa’s portraits came in two parts. Before the meal we did a few close, quiet ones, including a breezy one by the old gates where Lisa’s veil took off sideways down the path.

Inside, I took them into a dark, wood-panelled room with a chequered floor. It turns into black and white beautifully, and the lace on Lisa’s train looks amazing against those tiles.

After the speeches, when the sun had dropped lower, we went out to a patch of long summer grass in the grounds. The light came through the trees behind them and turned everything gold, and the two of them just walked, laughed and wandered about while I followed.

Hazlewood sits up high, so before heading back in we stopped on the lawn with the Yorkshire countryside stretching out behind them under a big summer sky.

Behind the Camera: Chasing Shade and Soft Light

Bright midday sun can be tricky for pictures, so for the wedding party and the first portraits I used the shade of the trees around the castle, where the light is softer and nobody is squinting. The long grass I saved for later in the afternoon, once the sun was lower and coming through the leaves. It’s a good example of what Hazlewood gives you: lots of different spots, so you can follow the light rather than fight it.

If you’re planning your own day here, there’s more about the grounds and other weddings on my Hazlewood Castle wedding photographer page.

White, Blush and a Grand Stone Fireplace

The wedding breakfast room was all tall pillars, a grand stone fireplace behind the top table and round tables dressed in white with blush pink chair sashes. Tall arrangements of white and pale pink roses stood in the middle of each table, with a low bank of flowers along the front of the top table.

Speeches came after the meal, and judging by the faces around the room, they went down a treat. There was a lot of clapping and a lot of laughing.

Sax, a First Dance and a Packed Dance Floor

Evening guests arrived at half seven, and not long after Jamie and Lisa had their first dance with everyone gathered around them. Emily Rollins brought the saxophone, and the dance floor filled up and stayed that way.

From then on it was arms in the air, lights flashing and some brilliant dance moves. Lisa did say she was the wild one.

Jamie & Lisa’s Hazlewood Castle Wedding Team

Jamie and Lisa, thank you so much for having me. Seven venues, one gasp, and a day that felt every bit as lucky as you hoped. I loved every minute of it.

Got a lucky number of your own, or a venue you’ve just fallen for? Tell me your date and I’ll check if I’m free.

If you’re planning a wedding near Wetherby too, take a look at my Wetherby wedding photography page for nearby venues, prices and the questions couples ask me most.

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