Quick honest note first: Lineham Farm has since closed for weddings, so this isn’t a “go book it” post. I’m keeping it up because Jonny and Kayleigh’s day is one of my favourite examples of what happens when a couple is given a blank canvas and told to do their wedding their way. If that’s the kind of day you’re dreaming of, read on, and let’s find you a venue that’s still open.
Some couples want a wedding that runs like every other wedding. Jonny and Kayleigh very much did not. Their day was a proper blank-canvas, do-it-your-way celebration, stuffed with personal touches, a theme you genuinely have to see to believe, and a secret up their sleeve for the dance floor. Grab a brew, this one’s a joy.
The couple: a fellow photographer and a familiar face
Two lovely surprises with this booking. First, Jonny turned out to be a seriously talented photographer himself, which is always a little nerve-wracking and a lot of fun. And second, Kayleigh is the daughter of one of my old work colleagues from my HR days, so there was a happy “small world” moment when the penny dropped. No pressure photographing for one of your own then.
Why a blank canvas let them do it their way
A blank-canvas venue is exactly what it sounds like. Nothing is set in stone, so you build the day around you rather than squeezing yourselves into someone else’s template. You bring in your own caterer, your own bar, your own everything, and you shape the whole thing to fit your personalities. For a couple as full of character as Jonny and Kayleigh, that freedom was the entire point.
Act One, Act Two: a wedding with a proper theme
Right, the theme. Jonny and Kayleigh wove musical theatre and Pokémon all the way through their day, and they committed beautifully. The day was split into Act One and Act Two like a show, the bouquets were crafted from paper musical manuscripts, and the cake was a Pokémon creation. It’s the kind of detail that makes my job an absolute pleasure, because every corner has a story in it. This is what “your wedding your way” actually looks like when you go all in.
Staying over: the farmhouse, the bunk barns and a camping field
One thing that set this venue apart from a lot of farm-based spots was the accommodation. Between the farmhouse and the bunk barns there was room for fifty guests plus the happy couple to stay over, and in the summer months there was even a camping field. Kayleigh got ready in the homely farmhouse, which made for a relaxed, unhurried morning, exactly how prep should feel.
A first look before the ceremony
Jonny and Kayleigh chose to have a first look, away from everyone else, before the ceremony. I love these. They take the pressure off that big aisle moment, they mean the two of you get a private moment together before the day runs away with you, and bar me quietly being there, it’s just the pair of you. If you’ve ever wondered whether a first look is for you, I’ve written a whole post on it here.
A family-led ceremony
With the legal bit done the day before, Jonny and Kayleigh were free to have a completely personal, family-led ceremony. All four parents got involved with anecdotes, advice, humour and heart, and it was genuinely lovely to be in the room for. My job here is simple: stay out of the way and document the real reactions, the faces, the moments. There were plenty.
Confetti, sunshine and group shots
Straight out to the courtyard for confetti, and what a day for it. So bright and sunny we actually had to chase a bit of shade for some of the family photos, which is a very good problem to have at a British wedding. Confetti is one of my favourite things to shoot, and if you want to nail yours, here are my tips.
Sharing platters and speeches on the cheeky side
Because a blank-canvas venue means you pick your own caterer, Jonny and Kayleigh went for sharing platters from the brilliant Simmer Kitchen, and I can personally confirm it was all delicious. Then came the speeches, which were everything good speeches should be: funny, interactive, heartfelt and just the right side of inappropriate. Perfect fuel for the reaction shots I love.
Golden hour
A gloriously sunny day means one thing for me, and that’s golden hour. We slipped away for a few quiet minutes in that soft evening light, and the grounds gave us no shortage of spots. If you want to understand why photographers go a bit giddy about this time of day, I’ve explained it here.
A secret choreographed first dance
And then the grand finale. Jonny and Kayleigh surprised their guests with a secret choreographed first dance, which is one of the best ways I know to launch a party. The floor stayed full from there. I always stick around for a good hour after the first dance to get all the proper dance-floor carnage, and this lot delivered.
And the story didn’t end there
Here’s the bit that means the most to me. In late 2025, Jonny and Kayleigh invited me back, this time to photograph their newborn. There’s something pretty special about being trusted with a couple’s wedding and then getting to meet the tiny person who came along afterwards. It’s the whole reason I do this. I’m not here to photograph one day and disappear, I want to be the person families keep calling as life carries on. And having a fellow photographer trust me with his own family, twice over, is about the biggest compliment I could ask for.
Thinking about your own DIY wedding?
If Jonny and Kayleigh’s day has you nodding along, then a DIY, do-it-your-way wedding might be exactly your kind of thing, and I’d love to photograph it. This style of wedding suits couples who want their personalities all over the day rather than a template, just like this festival style wedding at the same venue. Get in touch and let’s talk about it.
Your questions answered
Can I still get married at Lineham Farm? Sadly not, it’s closed for weddings now. But the blank-canvas, DIY feel is very much still bookable elsewhere. There are some brilliant Yorkshire venues with the same spirit, so ask me and I’ll point you in the right direction.
What is a blank canvas or DIY wedding venue? It’s a venue that gives you the space and not much else, so you bring in your own caterer, bar, styling and suppliers and build the day around you. More freedom, more personality, and usually a more relaxed feel all round.
Is a DIY wedding more stressful to plan? It can be more hands-on, but it doesn’t have to be stressful, especially with a good planner. Jonny and Kayleigh used a wedding planner, which took the weight off and let them enjoy the day. I’m also happy to share timeline advice with my couples so the day flows.
Can we have a non-traditional or family-led ceremony? Absolutely. Lots of my couples handle the legal bit quietly beforehand and then have a personal ceremony led by family, a friend or a celebrant. It’s one of my favourite kinds of ceremony to photograph because it’s so them.
Do you travel to Leeds and across Yorkshire? Always. I’m based near Wetherby, so Leeds and the wider area are right on my doorstep.
When should I book my photographer? Once your date is locked in, get your photographer booked, as the good dates go early. If you’re planning a 2026 or 2027 DIY wedding, drop me a message.
If you loved Lineham’s blank canvas, try these instead
Lineham may have closed its doors, but that do-it-your-way, bring-in-your-own-everything feeling is alive and well near Leeds. Here are a few I’ve photographed and loved, so you know they come photographer-approved.
East Keswick Village Hall is one of my favourites for this, just outside Leeds and a proper blank slate you can make entirely your own. Don’t be fooled by the words “village hall,” the right couple turns it into something brilliant.
The Engine Shed in Wetherby is a funky, characterful event space in a listed building, just north of Leeds, and it holds a real crowd. Lovely team, blank canvas, your rules.
Skipbridge Country Weddings is the one to look at if you’re dreaming of tipis and the outdoors. It’s over towards York, but well worth the short hop for the festival, in-the-fields feel.
And if you’re happy to go a bit further into North Yorkshire, Helperby Walled Garden is a gorgeous blank-canvas marquee setting, and Camp Katur is the one for couples who want nature, glamping and total freedom to do their own thing.
A couple more I really rate, even though I’ve not had the pleasure of shooting them yet:
Herd Farm near Eccup is about the closest thing to Lineham you’ll find. It’s an outdoor activity centre just north of Leeds, with a lovely 16th-century barn, room for a marquee in the grounds, and rustic accommodation on site. It’s on the cosier side, so it suits smaller numbers or a barn-and-marquee combination. Worth getting in touch with them early to check dates.
Kilnsey Park Estate over in Skipton is the one if you’ll venture into the Dales. It’s a genuine blank canvas with your own suppliers, exclusive use, woodland, a river, and a camping meadow for your guests. Pure Lineham spirit in a knockout setting.
Not sure which suits you? Tell me what you’re after and I’ll happily point you in the right direction.
The supplier team
Photographer Hannah Brooke Photography Planner Natalie Johnston Wedding Planning MUA Rebecca Jones Wedding Make Up Hair Hair by Kirsty Clancy Dress Madi Lane Bridal from The Harrogate Wedding Lounge Hair accessories Victoria Walker Boutique Flowers Page and Bloom Suits Marc Darcy Cake Stace Cakes Catering Simmer Kitchen Bar Liquor Lab Events
