As one of the few recommended Allerton castle wedding photographers, I absolutely love photographing weddings at this wonderful venue. The castle is a grade II listed, gothic mansion and one of the most historic buildings in Yorkshire. It belonged to the Mauleverer family from the time of the Norman Conquest and has since been owned by the Duke of York who rebuilt the castle in the 17th century. The fairytale gothic castle that exists today was the work of Charles 19th Baron Stourton. He rebuilt much of the castle in 1849. A full explanation of the detailed history of the building can be found here.
Allerton castle is one of Yorkshire’s best wedding venues and I always feel so happy for couples getting married in such an incredible place! This particular day was one of my favourites with an absolutely lovely couple Jessica and Patryk. They didn’t have a great deal of sunshine but the rain held off and everyone was in great spirits for the whole day.
Wedding Preparations at Allerton Castle
I arrived to this stunning venue to find Jessica and her bridesmaids getting ready in the palace bridal suite. They were all in fantastic spirits and looking forward to the day ahead.
Jessica looked absolutely stunning in her beautiful wedding gown from Badgley Mischka Bride. I took the opportunity to take a few portraits of her in the bridal suite next to some lovely window light. Once she was ready they did a bridal reveal, first to the bridesmaids and then to her Dad. I love the girls reactions when they saw Jessica and her Dad was also really moved seeing his daughter in her wedding dress. The girls looked gorgeous together in their dresses with stunning flowers by Serendipity Floral designs
Patryk and his groomsmen were also getting ready at the castle. Once suited and booted they had a quick game of pool and then made their way to the ceremony room. I love the groom’s reaction to reading a lovely letter from Jessica. They were all in fabulous spirits and Patryk could not wait to see his bride walking down the aisle.
An Allerton Castle Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony and is such a striking part of an Allerton Castle wedding. Jessica and her father walked in together to the top of the grand staircase. They paused, and then descended the staircase to start their walk up the aisle to meet Patryk. I think you would be hard pressed to find a grander entrance for a bride than this one! Patryk looked so happy to see Jessica. The wedding ceremony went without a hitch, with some lovely readings. After Patryk had given Jessica a back bending first kiss, the couple walked the aisle to much applause!
Wedding Confetti
After the ceremony it was time for the confetti tunnel. Their guests waited with anticipation as Jessica and Patryk descended opposite steps to walk the tunnel. Family and friends absolutely loved showering the couple with confetti and Jessica and Patryk had a blast. This was immediately followed by lots of congratulations, hugs and kisses. I love photographing this part of the day when the family and friends are really interacting and showing the couple how much they mean to them. The canapés were passed around and the drinks were flowing!
Tossing the Bouquet
After a few groups shots with family and friends Jessica decided to throw her bouquet from the Allerton Castle steps. I must say I do love a bouquet toss! It doesn’t happen on many weddings but when it does it is great for photography. Jessica did a perfect throw to the girls at the bottom of the steps and the bouquet was enthusiastically caught by one of her bridesmaids. She was ecstatic to have captured the bouquet and celebrated her win big time!
Wedding Photos at Allerton Castle
After plenty of time with family and friends, the couple decided they would like a few couple photographs in the Allerton Castle grounds. One of the things I love about this Yorkshire wedding venue is that there is so much choice of scenic backdrops for the couple portraits. Even if you had a rainy day, there are so many stunning rooms inside the castle that you are spoilt for choice. From the great hall to the fabulous staircase, to the drawing room and the arched doorways. We used some of these interiors for some lovely couple shots and also explored the grounds for some outdoor photography. A short walk to the lake provided lots of scenic views in front of the castle. Jessica and Patryk wanted to practice their first dance which made for some lovely intimate couple photographs with the castle in the background.
A Wedding Reception at Allerton Castle
Soon it was time for the wedding breakfast in the castle ballroom. This was beautifully decorated with flowers again from Serendipity Floral Design. The couple walked in to much applause from their wedding guests and sat down ready for the speeches. I absolutely loved all the wedding speeches. They were all very funny but also touching. You could see how much the couple meant to their family and friends. The couple and their family had such great reactions to all the speakers. In particular, Patryk who was in hysterics during his best mans speech!
Cutting the Wedding Cake & the First Dance
After dinner the couple cut their wedding cake in front of their family and friends. They then moved back into the Great Hall and the evening kicked off with the couple’s first dance. I have to say, you could not have a better, more dramatic location for a first dance than the Great Hall at Allerton Castle. It’s an amazing, grand and beautiful space. Jessica and Patryk really did justice to this space with a very elegant dance which was much admired by their audience. Afterwards the guests joined them on the dance floor to rock the night away. I really enjoy photographing this part of a wedding as I can really capture the fun and energy in the room. There was certainly a few characters on the dance floor having a brilliant time and enjoying the music.
I ended my day of photography with one last image of the couple dancing the night away, taken from the castle balcony overlooking the great hall. This was such a lovely day and it was a pleasure to photograph the wedding of such a lovely couple. Thanks so much Jessica and Patryk for being a pleasure to work with and all the best for a happy life together.
Other suppliers involved in this Allerton Castle Wedding
Hair – Bethany Jane Davies
Suit – Yorkshire Menswear
Dress – Badgley Mishka Bride
Videographer – SP Wedding Films
Music (DJ) – Jonny Ross Music
Flowers – Serendipity Floral Designs
Cake – The Flamingo Bakery
Violinists – The Vitula Quartet
Pianist – Nicole Hope Music
Weddings at Allerton Castle – Photography
Do you need an Allerton Castle wedding photographer or a photographer for any other venue? I’d love to hear more about your day. I photograph all sorts of weddings from the most lavish events to intimate home weddings and would be very happy to offer you a no-obligation chat by phone or Zoom to talk about your requirements. I also arrange appointments to meet in person at my studio in Pudsey if you would like to look at sample albums. Please get in touch below if you’d like to be sent further information or arrange to have a chat about your day.
You can also email kirstyds@gmail.com or call 07564 953262.
