Wisteria & a Purple Suit for a warm May wedding at The Sun Pavilion in Harrogate.
Sun Pavilion Wedding. Late May saw me back at the Sun Pavilion, but this time we were treated to some glorious sunshine – it was absolutely roasting! I was also very excited to see that the wisteria was finally in bloom, covering the walkways around the Sun Pavilion. Wisteria is one of my favorite plants; something which bride Heather and I have in common!
Getting ready.
I started my day at Heather’s family home in Harrogate where she was getting ready with her parents, bridesmaids and brother. I arrived in plenty of time to see Heather’s hair and makeup being finished off. And as always I also got lots of detail shots of her dress, shoes and gorgeous flowers by the lovely Rachel at Owl House Flowers – one of my favourite florists.
Heather was keen on getting photos in the garden before the ceremony, as a she’d grown up in this house and her parents had put so much time and thought into filling the garden with flowers for the wedding morning. She was dressed nice and early so we got plenty of pictures of her with her family and some fun ones with the bridesmaids too.
Meanwhile my lovely second shooter Lissa had joined Richard and the guys at the church to get some shots of him greeting guests and putting on button holes. I absolutely loved his bespoke suit; it was a first time for me seeing a purple suit and a carbon fibre tie!
Ceremony.
I left Heather and the girls so I could get parked and ready for the ceremony at the church. She arrived not long after me and I got some shots of her walking up the path. I nipped inside the church to take my place at the front of the aisle, whilst Lissa was at the back to get some different angles. Heather walked down the aisle with the most enormous smile on her face, and Lissa captured some shots of Richard looking back at her walk towards him. This is one of my favorite things about having a second photographer!
It was a lovely service, with Richard’s nephew being the most adorable ring bearer. Heather and Richard walked back up the aisle as husband and wife and outside into the sunshine for some confetti along the church path. We got some group photos done at church, and plenty of candy shots of everyone crowded around Heather and Richard to give them a hug. Then it was off to the Sun Pavilion. I stayed behind at church with Heather & Richard so we could get some shots of them with the camper van, and then we headed off too.
Reception.
Heather & Richard wanted to go straight into some shots of the two of them when we got to the Valley Gardens, and with Heather being a big fan of the wisteria and Richard’s suit being purple to match the flowers we made full use the wisteria tree being in bloom! We whipped through the final lot of group photos and then Heather and Richard could enjoy their drinks reception. They had set up mini golf for everyone to enjoy as well as the drinks which was a big hit. It wasn’t long before people were seated for the wedding breakfast.
Speeches.
Heather and Richard were announced and made their way down the big staircase at the Sun Pavilion which always makes for a great entrance. Food was before the speeches, so Lissa and I grabbed something to eat as well. Heather’s dad’s kick off the speeches, and it was lovely to see Heather say a few words as well – we all know I love a bride who does a speech! And Richard’s best woman did an amazing job with her speech, bringing everyone to tears.
Party.
We had a nice break then before the evening guests arrived so everyone headed back outside to sit on the terrace. It was a lovely sunny day and I soon spotted the golden sun starting to dip behind the trees, so I rounded up Heather and Richard and we headed further out into the Valley Gardens for some shots of them in the setting sun. Then it was back to the Sun Pavilion where the evening guests had started to arrive. After the cake was cut it was time for the first dance.
Heather and Richard had organised some of their bridesmaids to set off some confetti cannons during the first dance which always looks amazing when it’s fluttering down to the dance floor, and then my flash picks it out in the darkened room. Heather and Richard started the party off by getting everyone involved on the dance floor for a game. All couples had to take to the floor whilst the DJ read out some numbers, and if you had been married for that number of years you had to leave the dance floor, starting from one year and working up. In the end the longest married couple were the last ones standing. This was something I hadn’t seen before, and it was really nice of getting everybody on the dance floor and celebrating some of your older relatives. Some more party shots and then that was my cue to leave everybody alone.
Below are some of my favourite shots from Heather & Richard’s Sun Pavilion Wedding. Please do get in touch if you’re planning your wedding at this lovely venue and on the look out for a photographer!
Suppliers:
Venue: Sun Pavilion
Second photographer: Lissa Alexandra Photography
Florist: Owl House Flowers
Venue styling: Laura Lindsay Weddings
Make up: Flawless & Poreless
Hair: Charlotte Woolley
Dress: Essense of Australia from Elizabeth George Bridal
Cake: Kat’s Cake Kitchen
Mini golf: Yorkshire Games Hire
VW Camper: Love Me Do Wedding Cars
