Yorkshire Scorcher...

It hit 40 Degrees in Yorkshire... yes, you read that right, 40 degrees, IN YORKSHIRE! Now, I know I'm British and its the most British thing ever to complain about the weather but I'm pretty sure I could have cooked an egg on my forehead that day.... yet, despite this unprecedented heatwave that temporarily transformed Yorkshire into the surface of the sun, the weather wasn't even the hottest thing on display that day... enter Rachel and Jack stage right.

However before we get to the wedding, lets rewind a couple of days before the wedding. I met up with Rachel and Jack (and Jack's legend of a Dad!) get a few informal pictures and have a good catch up as we strolled around Dovestone's Reservoir, somewhere special to Jack's side of the family as that was where a tree had been planted in memory of his Grandma.

Rachel and Jack's Plans

"The aim of the wedding was to create a moment that made our friends and families feel special and included. We have taken inspiration from music festivals. The wedding itself is quite bohemian and relaxed. Two of our closest friends are marrying us and my aunt is master of ceremony. We just want the day to feel really chilled out and informal."

The wedding was at the beautiful Crayke Manor, a stunning country estate in North Yorkshire. It was built in 1620, and is spread across 16 acres. The estate, in the heart of North Yorkshire was the perfect setting for Rachel and Jack's relaxed bohemian wedding. As it was exclusive use across the whole weekend it meant that the wedding, although not abroad certainly had a feel of a destination wedding. The 40 degree sunshine only added to that narrative.

Styling wise, Rachel and Jack and their community of family and friends had helped dress the venue adding to that relaxed bohemian DIY vibe they really wanted from their day. From custom bunting, photo montages to every guest receiving a hand written note as a favour, from top to bottom, this wedding had Rachel and Jack running through every element of it.

The ceremony was hugely personal and personality driven, conducted by two of their closest friends. This meant that what is often the most formal element of a wedding had been turned on its head. A mid ceremony sing-along from another one of their other friends to "All You Need Is Love", top and tailed with personal vows and beautiful nostalgic readings made this wedding ceremony one of the most unique and wonderful experiences not only for the couple but for all those sat there witnessing it too.

Golden hour portraits

There are golden hours, then there are GOLDEN hours. As I referenced earlier, Yorkshire delivered on a level I've never experienced before on these shores. We took time before the speeches to grab a few images of Rachel and Jack together whilst everyone filtered in to find their seats for the wedding breakfast. However we made a decision early on to capture their couples portraits at golden hour, a decision which didn't disappoint as the sunset provided a beautiful warm soft glow rather than the harsh sunlight from earlier in the day. 

Golden hour group shots... go on then,

I've always been of the belief that group shots don't have to be vanilla... they don't have to be that standard firing squad line up and they should always represent the personalities of each of the individuals within them.... It's fair to say that Rachel's bridal party were epic, such good fun, amazing individual personalities but also brilliant as a collective and this really needed to be captured. 

Huge shout out to one of the bridal party who, when the others brought champagne with them, brought a brew with her on the group shots too...

Whether it was the emotional moments in the morning when they saw Rachel in her dress for the first time, the golden hour group shots or the CARNAGE on the dance floor, they were all a vibe!! 

"A little party never hurt no body"

Apart from the guest who nearly toppled off the back of the go cart which was being pedalled frantically whilst under the influence....

In keeping with the rest of the day, the evening was relaxed in it's nature and whilst the tables and chairs were cleared from the barn area where the wedding breakfast was hosted, everyone retreated outside where there were some games (made even more entertaining by the fact people started betting on them... genius!!) before the sounds of one of another one of their talented friends on his guitar started playing in the Tipi. This soon went from sing-a-long to party atmosphere as he whipped up the guests warming them up nicely for the band who were setting back in the barn.

Back into the barn and after a beautiful first dance surrounded by their closest family and friends, the dance floor exploded and remained packed for the rest of the evening.

What a couple. What a wedding and as it always is, a genuine privilege to be a part of it