Amy & James

Amy and James's big day was a wedding with a difference, and then some. It involved a wedding ceremony on a station platform, a train journey through the beautiful Esk Valley, a tipi decorated in a classic literature theme and the ultimate alfresco barbecue to follow. This really was one of them standout weddings and what made it so special was how personal and unique it was to the happy couple.

I was aware of the wedding plans, I knew they were getting married on a functioning train station platform and after they were making the journey back to the reception venue via a steam train, but it didn't prepare me for the adventure like feel this created. It really was something else!

The day began with bridal prep at the Mallyan Spout Hotel in the quintessential North Yorkshire village of Goathland. Amy got ready with her daughter and best friend and from the moment I arrived I could sense from the atmosphere that everyone was in for a magical day. This was only magnified when I also met with James to take some photographs of the grooms details.

After shooting both the bride and the groom I travelled to Pickering train station where the ceremony was to be held. Shortly after I arrived the wedding guests followed. A bus had transported them along the beautiful moors from Goathland. The train station provided the most amazing location for photographs. This was my first time photographing a wedding ceremony in such a unique location and I certainly hope it's not my last! It was a really fun ceremony and the sense of occasion was clear to see from the beaming smiles on everybody's faces, not least both the bride and the grooms.

After the ceremony there was prosecco and canapés served on the platform and I took this opportunity to get a few family portraits before taking the bride and groom to get some portraits around the staton. Again the unique location provided me some amazing photo opportunities and I was able to snap away capturing the wonderful surroundings. With no time to spare it was time for the next bit of adventure; to board the steam train for the journey back to Goathland!

The wedding party had their very own carriage and the journey through the Esk Valley was quite spectacular. The train was a buzz with everyone onboard clearly loving the trip back. I even managed to get plenty of photos on the carriage itself, another first!

On return to the Mallyan Spout it was time for afternoon tea to be served in a beautiful tipi. The couple had chosen to decorate the tipi by incorporating their passion for books and literature into the table decoration and it felt personal and intimate. Before tucking into the most delicious afternoon tea guests were greeted by a singer and guitar accompaniment.. Speeches followed and were topped off with the most precious poem read by the brides daughter. There wasn't a dry eye in the house!

The weather was perfect and as the sun was setting I couldn't resist taking the bride and groom to have some more photos in the beautiful gardens. We were even able to venture out into the moors for a few photos as dusk was approaching. As we returned to the rest of the wedding party the barbecue was being served and the DJ had already started to set the scene for the celebrations to continue into the night! The happy couple cut their wedding cake and had their first dance before the party really started!

I drove home from this wedding with the biggest smile on my face, I felt like I had been on some kind of adventure found in an old book! What always amazes me about weddings is no matter how many I shoot couples always find a way to still make them unique and personal and this was no exception with Amy and James. This wedding almost felt like a story which is quite fitting and perfect for the couple whose love of books was clear in abundance.

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