Tamsin & Alasdair | Bagden Hall Wedding

Tamsin asked Alasdair out at the end of a long walk, just after the rain had finally stopped pelting down. As she did, the sun came out and a rainbow appeared. Five years later they married at Bagden Hall on a sunny Saturday in May, and that same luck with the weather stayed with them all day.

Alasdair is Scottish, so there were kilts, a colour scheme built to match them and ceilidh sets planned for the evening. Add a venue full of family memories, speeches from both of them and a heart of light at twilight, and it was a day I loved being part of.

A Rainy Walk, a Rainbow and a Question

Tamsin and Alasdair have known each other for years, and for a long time they were simply good friends, meeting up for walks and drinks at the local pub with no romance on the cards at all. Then, towards the end of Covid, Alasdair invited Tamsin along to a positive thinking course with a friend of theirs. They got to know each other better, and in their words, “the first few embers of romance began to burn”.

Longer walks and lovely pub meals followed, although by their own account Alasdair was oblivious to all of Tamsin’s flirting. So in May 2021 she took matters into her own hands, and on a long, wet walk she finally asked him: “so, would you ever think of going out with me…”

“The sun came out, the birds began to sing and a beautiful rainbow appeared and we’ve not looked back since.”

Tamsin and Alasdair

Sunset Over Agios Nikolaos

Three years later, on holiday in Crete, it was Alasdair’s turn. They’d rented an apartment with its own infinity pool looking out over Agios Nikolaos, and the trip got off to a memorable start when they locked themselves out at 1am on the night they arrived.

The next evening, as the sun went down and the lights of the town began to twinkle, Alasdair got down on one knee by the pool. As they told me, “thankfully (as it would have made the holiday a very awkward one!) Tamsin said yes!” They went back to the very same place for their honeymoon.

Why Bagden Hall Was Always Number One

Bagden Hall was top of their list from the very start. It’s a favourite of theirs for a glass of Prosecco (Tamsin) or a pint of cider (Alasdair), and it holds special memories for Tamsin, whose family have celebrated big occasions there over the years.

It ticked every practical box too: lovely gardens for a sunny day, a big room inside in case it wasn’t, bedrooms so friends and family could stay over and keep the celebrations going, and, as they put it, “some fantastic staff that have been very helpful”.

Kilts, Ceilidhs and Colours to Match

Alasdair wore his kilt, as did his brother, the best man, and a few of the other guys. Tamsin worked the wedding colours around the kilts, and you can see it all through the day: blue bridesmaids’ dresses, pale blue in her bouquet, and blue and grey on the tables.

They’d also planned a couple of ceilidh sets to get everyone up and dancing, and booked local singer Jack O’Malley to entertain the crowd with covers and requests.

Planning a day at Bagden Hall with a tradition of your own, whether that’s kilts, a ceilidh or something nobody else has thought of? I’d love to hear all about it.

Buck’s Fizz and Blue Robes Upstairs

Tamsin loved every part of the wedding dress experience, from shopping for the perfect dress to all the fittings, and the morning itself was no different. She got ready at Bagden Hall with her four bridesmaids from 8am, with lots of laughing while her hair was done and a buck’s fizz toast in matching blue robes.

Her lace dress was hanging up waiting in the bridal suite, and she’d asked for a reveal with her bridesmaids once she was ready. The looks on their faces when they saw her are exactly why I love doing these.

Alasdair and the Kilted Groomsmen

Alasdair arrived around noon, kilt on and in great spirits. A walk down the tree-lined drive with the groomsmen gave me some lovely pictures of them all before the guests began to gather.

Down the Staircase and Into the Ceremony Room

The grand wooden staircase is made for moments like this. The bridesmaids came down first, then Tamsin, and her dad gave her a kiss on the cheek at the bottom before walking her in.

The ceremony was inside at 1pm, in a room set with grey chair sashes. Alasdair waited at the front and turned to see Tamsin coming down the aisle on her dad’s arm. Then came the vows, holding hands, and the rings.

Confetti, Lawn Games and Sunshine at Bagden Hall

Out of the front door they came, straight into a shower of white confetti. The sun was out, and the hugs started the moment they reached the garden.

The drinks reception spread out across the gardens, with lawn games on the go and plenty of laughter. We did the group pictures at the front entrance, bridesmaids included, and I sent the drone up for one of everyone together on the front steps.

Golden Light in the Gardens

For their portraits we wandered the gardens and lawns around the hall. A walk hand in hand along one of the garden paths, a quiet kiss away from everyone, then out onto the long grass beside the hall and up to the front steps under a big, dramatic sky.

The Picture I Keep Coming Back To

If I had to choose one picture from the day, it would be this one. Tamsin and Alasdair nose to nose in the warm light of the gardens. It’s quiet and close, and to me it says everything about the two of them.

There are more weddings from this venue on my Bagden Hall wedding photographer page.

Keep scrolling for the heart of light at the end of the night. If you’d love a twilight portrait of your own, here’s how they work.

Two Speeches and a Room Full of Laughter

The wedding breakfast was served at 3.30pm in the function room, dressed in blue and grey. Speeches came after the meal: Alasdair first, then Tamsin, who gave a speech of her own. I always love it when both of them get up to speak.

Judging by the faces around the room, both speeches went down a treat.

Dancing on the Lawn and Into the Night

Evening guests arrived at 7pm, and with the sun still shining the dancing started out on the lawn. At half past seven they cut the cake and went straight into their first dance under the fairy lights.

After that it was time for the party, and the dance floor was packed.

A Heart of Light at Twilight

Before the night was over, I borrowed the two of them for a few minutes outside. First a heart of light around them, then one last picture between the stone gate pillars as darkness fell.

Who Made Tamsin & Alasdair’s Day at Bagden Hall

Tamsin and Alasdair, thank you so much for having me. It all started with a rainbow after the rain, and your wedding day had sunshine from the first buck’s fizz to the twilight heart. I hope Crete was every bit as lovely the second time around.

Hoping for a rainbow-after-the-rain kind of day of your own? Tell me when it is and I’ll see if I’m free.

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