A ceremony at the pub, beer garden celebrations and a groom who gave me five minutes for couple photos. Nat and Martin’s wedding at the Castle Inn, Spofforth was very much my kind of day.
They married in May 2023, booking my Small and Mighty photography package for a relaxed celebration that felt completely like them. It also happened to be my 100th wedding. A pretty brilliant way to mark that milestone.
If you’re planning a Castle Inn wedding and wondering what a smaller, laid-back day could look like, this one is a lovely place to start.
A wedding with plenty of personality
Nat runs Baby Sensory Harrogate, while Martin is a stunt motorcyclist whose work includes Jurassic World Dominion. Which is a fairly excellent answer to “what do you do?”
You might think someone used to doing stunts would find a few wedding photos a breeze. However, persuading Martin to have his picture taken was probably my biggest challenge of the day.
And here’s the thing. You don’t have to love being photographed to have wedding photographs you love. My job is to work with the people in front of me, understand what matters to them and keep the photography from taking over.
For Nat and Martin, that meant plenty of space to enjoy their wedding, with a very brief detour for some portraits.
Getting married at the Castle Inn, Spofforth
The Castle Inn sits in the village of Spofforth, close to Wetherby and Harrogate. It’s licensed for civil ceremonies, with flexible spaces and an outside terrace, so you can say your vows and celebrate at the same venue. Weddings at The Castle
Nat and Martin held their ceremony at the inn before settling into full-on beer garden vibes.
That was the appeal of this day for me. Getting married, being together and enjoying the company of the people they’d invited. The setting suited the atmosphere they wanted, and there was no need to turn it into anything more complicated.
If your idea of a good wedding involves a pub and a relaxed afternoon with your favourite people, there’s a lot to like here.
Five minutes for wedding photos at Spofforth Castle
With Spofforth Castle nearby, we had a lovely opportunity to slip away for a few couple photographs.
First, though, there was the small matter of transport. Nat ended up perched in one of my children’s car seats for our little trip round to the castle. Not quite the bridal carriage you might picture, but very much in keeping with the day.
Once we arrived, Martin gave me five minutes.
Challenge accepted.
The castle ruins made a beautiful backdrop, and that short window was enough to produce some beautiful images of the two of them. No lengthy photo session required.
I wouldn’t promise that every couple’s portraits can be done in exactly five minutes. Light, location and how you’re feeling all play a part. But it’s a good example of what’s possible when we keep things simple and work with your priorities.
You don’t need to disappear from your wedding for an hour if that doesn’t appeal to you. A little gentle guidance, a lovely setting and a few minutes together can go a long way.
Small and Mighty wedding photography
Nat and Martin booked my Small and Mighty package, which suited the scale and feel of their celebration beautifully.
Smaller weddings still have plenty going on. There’s the ceremony, the people, the interactions and all the little things that give the day its personality. Having fewer guests or a shorter celebration doesn’t make any of that less worth photographing.
My approach is relaxed and non-invasive. I spend most of my time watching what’s happening and photographing it, with a little guidance when it helps.
That leaves you free to get on with the important business of actually being at your wedding. And if one of you is particularly reluctant to have photos taken, we can work with that too. Martin is a pretty good case in point.
My 100th wedding, and a reminder of what matters
There was something very fitting about photographing my 100th wedding this way.
A couple doing things their own way. A ceremony at the Castle Inn. Beer garden vibes. A bride in a child seat and a five-minute portrait challenge at Spofforth Castle.
It was a milestone for me, but the day belonged to Nat and Martin. The photographs needed to reflect their wedding and their personalities, and I’m so pleased with what we made in the time we had.
Planning your own Castle Inn wedding?
If you’re getting married at the Castle Inn in Spofforth and want relaxed photographs without spending half the day posing, I’d love to hear your plans.
Whether you’re looking for Small and Mighty coverage or something longer, we can talk about what you want photographed and how it fits around your day.
Get in touch to check my availability and tell me what you’ve got planned.
