Birdsall House Wedding Photography Malton | Izzy & Charles
Birdsall House wedding photography. When Izzy and Charles booked me for their wedding and told me that the reception would be at Charles’ family home, I must admit this magnificent place was not what quite what I had expected! Birdsall House is one of the most amazing places I’ve photographed a wedding at – obviously, it’s pretty big, meaning limitless photo opportunities. But the rooms inside are magnificent (and now licensed for civil ceremonies!), the gardens are insanely gorgeous (complete with their own abbey ruins, albino peacocks, and in May/June a beautiful rhododendron display!), and there’s a church 5 minutes away.
I met up with Izzy and her family at The Talbot Hotel in Malton where bridal preparations were well underway. It was a Saturday in early June and the temperature was already soaring, but Izzy and Charles had opted for a later ceremony which worked out perfectly as the heat was beginning to drop, plus we caught some of the evening sun before everyone sat down for the wedding breakfast. Although there were no grown up bridesmaids Izzy was joined by her closest girlfriends for a drink or two during the final stages of hair and make up. And then the little ones arrived to get dressed up and, most importantly, get a present! I have never seen such a cute and beautifully presented group of flower girls and page boys!
Izzy and Charles had opted for a second photographer so I’d enlisted the lovely Eleanor to hang out with Charles and his groomsmen before the ceremony, having brunch at a nearby pub (this can be such a tough job sometimes!). They stopped in the countryside for a few informal group photos and then it was on to the church to get ready for the main event. Back in Malton I stayed to capture Izzy getting into her dress and applying finishes touches before heading off to join Eleanor and the guys at the church and to wait for Izzy and co to arrive.
This was actually my first time working with a second photographer and I must admit I loved it! It was so nice to be able to see what the guys were up to before the wedding, plus Eleanor was able to be at the back of the church whilst I was at the front so we got a great mix of angles during the ceremony. It also meant that whilst I was busy with family photos later in the afternoon, Eleanor could get lots of more informal shots of guests during the drinks reception. I think about half of my couples opt for a second photographer these days, for all or half of the day, and it’s always so worth it!
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. After the ceremony Izzy and Charles left the church under a flurry of confetti and we all headed to Birdsall House for drinks and canapés and of course, more photographs. In keeping with family traditions I stayed inside the main building with Izzy and Charles and their parents for some classic family portraits, before heading out for some more relaxed group photos with their siblings/groomsmen/flower girls/page boys! I then took the happy couple for a spin around the abbey ruins on site and finally let them have a breather and a drink with their guests whist I went to capture the marquee in all it’s glory!
After a while everyone was called inside to gather in the ballroom for the speeches and cake cutting, and then it was time for the wedding breakfast. Since there were so many guests to organise, Eleanor and I took this opportunity to sneak Izzy and Charles out for some more portraits as the sun was starting go down. As a self-confessed floral addict I headed straight for the rhododendrons, naturally. We also took a quick wander to the front of the building to get some wider shots of Izzy and Charles in front of Birdsall House with the golden sun setting just behind them, hoorah!
The evening reception took place back in the ballroom, and these guys nailed their first dance – quality spin-work! 😀 Eleanor and I stayed for a short while to get some shots of everyone on the dance floor and then left them to party the night away.
Huge thanks to Izzy and Charles for trusting me to capture their wedding, and to Eleanor – second shooter extraordinaire! Here are my favourites. Erm, there’s a few… 😀 x
