Sometimes wedding photography can feel like a bit of a cheat job. I say a cheat job as sometimes I can have way too much fun whilst working and almost feel like a wedding guest. It felt somewhat similar to this on the day of Sophie and Andy's wedding at the Coniston Hotel. Returning to this venue, known for its picturesque outdoor settings and the expansive Coniston estate grounds, always brings a sense of familiarity and creativity. Having my reliable second photographer alongside me always takes off the pressure off, allowing me to focus on capturing beautiful moments while having loads of fun too. The bridal and groom parties were filled with joy and excitement, and of course, Sophie and Andy radiated sheer happiness as the loveliest couple making this country wedding an absolute joy to photograph.

A highlight for me was creating the champagne spray photos, even though Andy did soak Jo and I in the process. (check out my Instagram reel for behind the scenes) I also loved capturing reactions at the registar blunder of mixing up the groom and bestman’s name. It had everyone in stitches.

Here’s the preview of Andy and Sophie’s summer wedding at the Coniston Hotel in Skipton. It also includes a little Q&A with the newlyweds.

Wedding photography at Coniston Hotel in Skipton

Tell us about your proposal

Andy - We met at work and became a couple during the COVID lockdown, after realising how much we missed spending time together! After two years together, I proposed to Soph in Poole Harbour – her favourite place in the world, in a bar overlooking the sea.

yorkshire-dale-engagamet-photography (2).jpg

What were the important steps for wedding planning?

We were engaged on the first day of our holiday, and by the end of the week we had booked a venue viewing at Coniston Hotel! We spent the week in the sun discussing colour themes and who we would want in our wedding party, which was a very easy decision!

What did you love about your chosen venue at the Coniston Hotel?

Sophie - We chose the Coniston Hotel before we were even engaged, after a chance drive past one weekend! Coniston has such a beautiful backdrop in the lake that we remarked it would be such a beautiful place to get married. Little did I know, Andy was already planning the proposal at this time!

What are your memories of walked down the aisle/ waited for your bride?

Sophie – The whole walk is a blur, however I remember braving a look up and seeing Andy looking so handsome. Although I had practised the ‘soft bridal smile’ I remember letting out the cheesiest grin ever! I loved having my Dad to lean on, and remember that he didn’t let my arm drop at all.

Andy – The light-heartedness of our registrars making me feel so at ease, and seeing Soph’s cheesy grin as she made eye contact with me waiting for her.

Why did you choose your photographer?

Sophie- Andy went to the same school as Gemma and so had seen her work online through mutual friends. We loved the candid style of her photos, as none of our family are keen on having pictures taken! Everyone commented during the day on how much they loved Gemma and her 2nd photographer Jo, and their approach to photography, and we noticed how quickly she managed to snap spontaneous moments throughout the day without impacting, choreographing fake or unnatural scenarios.

Were there any personal touches that reflected who you individually or as a couple?

We chose to purchase our guests wedding favours from Macmillan, after losing several family members to cancer in the past. This was a personal touch that meant a lot to both us and our close family.

Was there a theme or vision to your day?

We wanted to create a soft and romantic vibe for our wedding, like a modern fairytale. We incorporated the deep burgundy with fairy lights and candles to create this. To go alongside this however, we also wanted the day to be fun, and so we had plenty of activities for the families and glow sticks to bring a party atmosphere to our evening do.

Can you offer any advice to couples planning a wedding?

Don’t worry about the little things and work together! Also plan in time for during the day to be alone. We decided to not have a welcome line to the wedding breakfast, so we could sit and have a drink together and process what just happened!

Tell us about the dress

Sophie - I have always loved Disney, and dreamed of a fairytale wedding. It was no surprise to anyone that I chose an A line dress with added sparkle. This was the 3rd dress I tried on and I fell in love with it instantly. I got my Cinderella moment during the first dance, with the added skirt loop as Andy twirled me around on the dancefloor.

Is there anyone that you want to give a shout out to?

Sophie - The wedding party as a whole! My bridesmaids were incredible, and the groomsmen managed to get Andy to the aisle on time! Our flower girl, Matt was especially incredible and brought the fun to the whole day.

What’ your favourite memory from the day?

Sophie – My dad seeing me for the first time, and seeing Andy as I walked down the aisle. Any last minute nerves melted away and I was in a bubble of pure happiness from that moment .

Andy – Our first dance, we had danced to the song so many times in our kitchen, however it felt perfect dancing to this in front of our friends and family. Everyone thinks that the twirl was well rehearsed however it was a spur of the moment move that felt so natural and thankfully turned out great!

We also loved Matthew’s spontaneous piano performance and his reveal as the flower girl during our first dance! It gave the day such a light hearted feel, which we really wanted as this is who we are as a couple.

Did the day go as expected? Is there anything you would do differently?

Andy had some minor hiccups in the morning, however handled these all so well without Soph ever knowing! The whole day was a perfect blur, and we loved every single second of it. We have reflected on everything and would change nothing about our day.