Shannon & Scott | Holdsworth House Wedding
Shannon and Scott got married at Holdsworth House near Halifax on a warm August day, with a garden ceremony under the trees, a group picture taken from the sky, mini golf on the lawn and a dance floor full of cowboy hats by the end of the night.
It was a relaxed, happy, blue-and-white sort of day, and everything happened in one place: getting ready, the ceremony, the meal and the party were all at Holdsworth House, which meant more time with their people and less time in cars. Here’s how it all unfolded from behind my camera.
Meet Shannon & Scott
Shannon and Scott are one of those couples who make my job easy. They laugh a lot, they tease each other constantly, and they’re not shy about how much they like each other. I asked them both what they love most about the other one, and their answers were so them that I’ll let them speak for themselves.
Shannon on Scott: “His smile, how he looks at me and his weird but funny personality.”
Scott on Shannon: “I love Shannon’s eyes, she has an awkward but cute smile when she is caught off guard.”
I can confirm both. Scott’s smile barely left his face all day, and I spent a good part of the portraits trying to catch Shannon off guard for exactly that smile. You’ll spot it a few times below.
The Proposal
Scott proposed at Castle Howard near York, and the weather did not play along. In Shannon’s words, “it was raining extremely bad but it made it memorable.” I love that. The best stories rarely come from the days when everything goes to plan, and a soggy yes at one of Yorkshire’s grandest houses is a pretty good one to tell.
Why They Chose Holdsworth House
When I asked why they picked Holdsworth House, Shannon kept it simple: “We fell in love with how beautiful the building and the gardens are.” It’s easy to see why. The old stone house is wrapped in ivy, the gardens step down in terraces full of hydrangeas and summer flowers, and there are quiet corners everywhere, from the white gazebo on the lawn to the tree-lined lane at the edge of the grounds.
From a photographer’s point of view, it’s a gift. You can walk a few minutes in any direction and find somewhere completely different for pictures, which is exactly what we did later in the day.
Personal Touches
Shannon and Scott went for a soft blue and white colour scheme and carried it right through the day: dusky blue bridesmaid dresses, navy suits for the groomsmen, blue hydrangeas in the bouquets and on the tables, and a fairy light curtain behind the top table. The styling was by Love Sweet Love Events, and the centrepieces of hydrangeas and gypsophila on log slices were lovely.
The best touches, though, were the fun ones. They hired a retro arcade machine and a mini golf course from Wedding Player One, so guests had something to play with between the ceremony and the meal. Later on, cowboy hats appeared on the dance floor. It told you everything about the kind of wedding they wanted: relaxed, a little bit silly, and all about their friends and family having a good time.
Getting married at Holdsworth House? I’d love to hear about your plans.
Getting Ready at Holdsworth House
Everyone got ready at Holdsworth House itself, which I always think is a lovely way to do it. There’s no rushing across town, and the rooms have plenty of character. I spent some time with Scott and his groomsmen while they got into their suits and waistcoats. He was calm, mostly, apart from a bit of fiddling with buttons, which I’ll forgive any groom on the morning of his wedding.
Before the ceremony the lads took a stroll down the lane beside the old stone wall. I love a black and white picture of the groomsmen walking together, and this lane is perfect for it.
The Ceremony
The ceremony was outside in the gardens at one o’clock. The venue had set out rows of white chairs on the lawn with an aisle running down to the gazebo, all surrounded by old trees. It’s one of my favourite outdoor ceremony spots in West Yorkshire.
I sent the drone up while guests were taking their seats. From above you can see how the house, the gardens and the ceremony space all sit together.
Scott waited at the top of the aisle while the bridesmaids came down first in their dusky blue dresses, with the flower girl doing a great job of keeping pace.
Then Shannon arrived with her dad. I always watch the groom at this moment rather than the bride, and Scott’s face said everything.
They were both grinning through their vows, and the ring exchange had everyone leaning in to get a better look.
And then they were married. The walk back up the aisle was all smiles, with guests on both sides cheering them on.
Drinks Reception at Holdsworth House
After the ceremony everyone spilled out into the terraced gardens for drinks. This is where the mini golf came into its own, with guests taking turns on the putting course between the flower beds and catching up on the lawn.
For the group picture of everyone, I used the drone again. Getting over forty people lined up on the gravel in front of the house takes a bit of wrangling, but seen from the air with the house and gardens around them, it’s one of my favourite pictures of the day.
We also did a handful of family groups and one with the bridesmaids and groomsmen on the lawn. I keep formal groups quick so the couple can get back to their guests and their drinks.
Couple Portraits at Holdsworth House
Then I took Shannon and Scott away on their own for twenty minutes or so. It’s my favourite part of any wedding, and at Holdsworth House there’s no shortage of places to go.
We started on the tree-lined lane at the edge of the grounds, where the tall trees make a natural tunnel. The light was soft and cloudy, which is lovely for portraits, and I shot a few of these in black and white because the lane has so much texture.
Back in the gardens we headed for the gazebo. Shannon’s blue bouquet stood out against all that green, and a gust of wind caught her veil at exactly the right moment for a kiss.
Finally we went up to the terraces below the house. The ivy walls and flower beds make a lovely setting, and here I like to step right back so you can see the house around them. A couple of these were taken from the far side of the garden with Shannon and Scott small in the picture, and they’re some of my favourites from the whole day.
Shannon and Scott’s twilight pictures are further down. If you’d like some of your own, here’s how my twilight portraits work.
Wedding Breakfast and Speeches
The wedding breakfast was in the dining room, dressed in blue and white with round tables, gold-rimmed plates and that fairy light curtain behind the top table. I always try to get into the room before the guests come in, while everything is still perfect.
The speeches came before the meal, which I’m a big fan of. Everyone can relax and enjoy their food afterwards, especially whoever is doing the talking. There was plenty of laughter, and I spent most of the speeches watching the reactions around the room rather than the person speaking, because that’s where the best pictures are.
The Evening Celebrations
The evening guests arrived around half seven, and after the cake cutting and first dance the party got going properly. Cowboy hats made an appearance on the dance floor, which I fully support, and it stayed busy for the rest of the night.
Once it was dark enough I took Shannon and Scott out to the stone gateway for some twilight portraits. It only takes about fifteen minutes, and the light at that time of night gives you something completely different from the rest of the day. We finished with a light-painted heart, one of my favourite little tricks for the end of a wedding.
Holdsworth House Wedding Suppliers
Shannon and Scott, thank you so much for having me. It was a proper happy day from start to finish, full of laughs, blue flowers and questionable dance moves, and I loved every minute. Here’s to a lifetime of that smile and those eyes.
If you’re planning your own day and looking for a Holdsworth House wedding photographer, have a look at my guide to the venue, or see what’s included in my wedding photography packages.
Have a date in mind? I’d love to hear from you.
