Middleton Lodge Wedding Photographer
This wedding was my first at Middleton Lodge’s Fig house as a wedding photographer, and I was bowled over by the elegance of the venue. The lighting in the Fig house itself was exquisite, and the walled garden, even in February, was full of colours and interest. The ceremony area had a cosy, yet open and airy feel, with one end of the room for the ceremony, and the other side for a drinks reception – complete with sofas and an open fire.
Middleton Lodge is a Georgian country retreat in North Yorkshire – in such wonderful countryside you’d never know it was only 4 minutes from the A1. In addition to the main mansion house, there is a smaller building – the Fig house, which opens on to a 2 acre walled garden. They have a restaurant and accommodation on site.
Introvert friendly wedding
Kat and Andy were not the posing type. They did not want to be the centre of attention. But they still wanted beautiful photos of them together on their wedding day.
It’s not always easy to imagine how a couple can have a wedding, yet not be the centre of attention. But, they pulled it off! Careful planning and excellent wedding coordination, all done behind the scenes, made it work perfectly. The couple had even included 5 minutes of alone time straight after they walked back down the aisle before greeting their guests.
The day felt calm even though there were plenty of guests laughing and chatting like at any other wedding. There was no rushing. No panic.
Kat was cool as a cucumber – even during the bridal preparations (when there is usually some panic or another,) nothing phased her. She smiled and enjoyed all the moments with effortless elegance.
Andy, who suggested he was nervous about talking in front of everyone, delivered a lovely speech – complete with heartfelt and loving words about his new wife (something grooms often forget!)
Being a chef, Kat had decided to make her own wedding cake – and that was flipping amazing too!
I feel like Kat’s dad should also get a special mention for so expertly steaming all the bridesmaids and wedding dresses during the bridal preparations – I’ve never seen a dad so involved – it was lovely!
It was a lovely, beautiful, classy wedding which perfectly matched the stunning surroundings – they even had warm sunshine in February!
Middleton Lodge Wedding planning tips and advice
As an experienced wedding photographer (I’ve been photographing weddings in Yorkshire and the North East for fifteen years now) I have a good idea of how a wedding should run and what things can cause problems. I also have no affiliation with any venues, so I can be totally honest about my views!
Accommodation at Middleton Lodge
One of the first things couples need to think about for a countryside wedding is where will the guests stay? There’s no point planning a fun filled evening if no one wants to stay because they have a long drive home – so having a venue with accommodation on site can really add to the enjoyment of the event. It’s also great because you get to spend time with your guests the next morning too.
Middleton Lodge is essentially a retreat – they have rooms, houses and huts, and they are all designed to be wonderful relaxing places to stay. This is a great bonus because your guests can combine your wedding with a lovely weekend away. And having relaxed and happy guests always makes a wedding better! (No one wants to be listening to Uncle Jim’s stressy story about all the traffic on the A1 during the wedding breakfast!)
Is Middleton Lodge a dog friendly wedding venue?
No, I would say not. They do allow dogs in certain accommodation types with a fee, but there are strict rules about where dogs are allowed, and it really feels that unless it’s totally necessary, it would be best not to bring a dog. So if you are wanting a dog friendly wedding, I would suggest looking at different venues for this.
What size wedding is Middleton Lodge suitable for?
There are three separate spaces for weddings at Middleton Lodge. The wedding photography above is of a wedding at The Fig House which is suitable for weddings up to 90 guests seated, but was lovely for a smaller wedding of about 30 guests.
The Main House is suitable for 75 seated guests, or a marquee option allows for up to 170 guests for a meal, though you would need to think carefully about ceremony logistics for this many guests – you would probably need an outdoor ceremony.
There is also a space called Forge which is an old farm and has limited availability for weddings. It is a very intimate and private space with a different feel to the other options and is suitable for smaller weddings of 20-30 guests.
Are you looking for a Middleton Lodge wedding photographer?
With fifteen years experience as a wedding photographer, and specific experience photographing at Middleton Lodge, I would love to be considered as your wedding photographer.
However, not all couples will find my style suitable for them. Middleton Lodge has become a very trendy venue in recent years due to it’s luxury and elegance, and while most couples choose the venue for this quality, some couples do chosose to get married here becasue it looks good on their socials. I’m not a photographer who is interested in photography just for style and how the wedding looks. My main focus is on the people and human connection.
For me a wedding is more about how it feels than how it looks. I won’t be spending ages crafting a group portrait like a movie director would, I have developed skills over the years to be able to capture the natural laughs and expressions and special moments and connections without making a big song and dance about it. My photography is introvert friendly.
If this doesn’t put you off, have a look at my portfolio and get in touch if you’d be interested in talking further.
