Getting Married at Gisborough Hall? A Few Things I've Learned Photographing Weddings There
I've photographed weddings at Gisborough Hall Hotel in Guisborough for many years now, and it's one of those venues where I always enjoy going back. Being local certainly helps because I know the area well, but it's also a venue that gives me plenty of opportunities to photograph a wedding without having to spend half the day taking the couple away from their family and friends.
Over the years I've photographed all sorts of weddings there, from smaller celebrations with just a handful of guests to much bigger weddings where the hotel is full of people. I've photographed couples getting ready in different parts of the building, weddings where the ceremony has taken place elsewhere and everybody has arrived at Gisborough Hall afterwards, and couples who've chosen to have everything at the hotel.
Although the setting might be familiar to me, the weddings themselves are always different, and that's one of the things I enjoy about returning to venues I've worked at before.
Choosing Where to Have Your Wedding at Gisborough Hall
One of the things worth thinking about when you're planning a wedding at Gisborough Hall is how you'd like the day itself to work. The hotel has several different spaces available for ceremonies and celebrations, and choosing the right one will depend on how many people you're inviting and the sort of atmosphere you'd like.
The Madoc Suite is the larger ballroom, with its sweeping staircase and chandeliers, while the Glass House has a lighter, more contemporary feel with large windows looking towards the rose gardens and surrounding countryside. For couples planning something smaller, there's also the Longhull Room within the older part of the hotel, with its traditional features and views towards the Cleveland Hills.
From a photography point of view, these are quite different spaces to work in, and the available light can change considerably depending on where the ceremony takes place. Large windows can be lovely, but they can also create quite a contrast between brighter and darker parts of the room, particularly when the sun is shining directly through them.
That's something I work around rather than making it the couple's problem. I always try to get myself into the right positions before the important moments happen, work with the light that's available and photograph the ceremony without constantly moving around and becoming a distraction.
Of course, not everybody chooses to get married at the hotel itself. I've photographed couples who've had their ceremony at St Nicholas Church in Guisborough or at other nearby churches before making their way to Gisborough Hall for the reception, and that can work equally well.
Making the Most of the Gardens Without Disappearing for Ages
Gisborough Hall has some lovely grounds, with the rose garden, lawns, mature trees and the countryside around the hotel giving us plenty of choice for photographs. The building itself is also worth including because it's such a recognisable part of the venue, particularly when you've got the greenery and gardens surrounding it.
One of the advantages of having photographed weddings here regularly is that I already have a good idea of where we can go. I don't need to spend twenty minutes walking around trying to find somewhere that might work, and I can usually choose a few locations based on what the light and weather are doing that day.
I think it's important to make the most of the grounds without turning the wedding into one long photoshoot. Most couples want some lovely photographs of the two of them together, but they also want to get back to their guests, have a drink and enjoy the wedding they've spent months planning.
Quite often I'll suggest a short wander around the grounds, taking photographs in a few different places and giving a little direction where it's useful. I don't expect couples to know how to stand or what to do in front of a camera, but I don't want them feeling as though every movement needs to be organised either.
Sometimes we might go back outside later if the light has changed or there's an opportunity for a few more photographs, but that depends entirely on the wedding and what the couple would like.
Every Wedding at Gisborough Hall Is Different
Something I always find interesting about returning to familiar venues is seeing how differently couples choose to celebrate their weddings.
When I photographed Matthew and Janine's wedding at Gisborough Hall, they were both getting ready at the hotel, although they were at opposite ends of the building. It meant quite a bit of walking backwards and forwards for me, but it also meant I could photograph both of their preparations rather than concentrating entirely on the bride.
I think that's something worth considering if you're both getting ready at the same venue, particularly if you want photographs of those earlier parts of the day. It can be a useful opportunity, but it does need a little planning so there's enough time to get between everybody without rushing.
Jim and Jessica's wedding was quite different because they didn't want the usual collection of formal group photographs. They preferred the day to be photographed naturally, with more emphasis on the people and everything happening around them. That's perfectly fine with me because I don't believe every wedding needs to follow the same photography checklist.
Other couples want plenty of family photographs, particularly when they've got relatives travelling from different parts of the country or people they don't get to see very often. Those photographs are important too, and I'll always work with the couple beforehand to establish which ones matter to them.
I think the important thing is deciding what you actually want rather than feeling obliged to have photographs simply because somebody has told you that every wedding should include them.
What if the Weather Isn't Particularly Helpful?
One thing I've learned from photographing weddings in North Yorkshire is never to make too many assumptions about the weather. I've worked on summer weddings where the rain has barely stopped and autumn weddings where we've had some lovely sunshine, so it's always worth having a little flexibility in the plans.
I photographed Michael and Hayley's wedding after their ceremony at All Saints Church in Skelton, when the weather really wasn't being particularly kind. Their reception was at Gisborough Hall, and it was another reminder that you can't build an entire wedding photography plan around the expectation of sunshine.
The good thing about a hotel such as Gisborough Hall is that there are interesting places inside as well as outside. The staircase, traditional rooms, windows and different parts of the building can all be useful when we need somewhere for photographs without getting everybody wet.
Naturally, if the rain eases and we get an opportunity to go outside, I'll make use of it, but I wouldn't want a couple spending their wedding worrying because the weather isn't doing what the forecast promised.
Even on a sunny day, the light isn't always as straightforward as people might imagine. Strong afternoon sunshine can create some very harsh shadows, particularly with larger family groups, so sometimes the best place for a photograph isn't necessarily the brightest part of the gardens.
It's about finding somewhere that works for the people in the photograph, rather than simply choosing the prettiest background and hoping the light behaves itself.
Allow Enough Time for the Photographs You Really Want
One of the things I'd suggest to couples planning a Gisborough Hall wedding is to have a sensible idea of when they'd like their photographs taken, without making the whole day revolve around them.
Family groups are usually easiest to organise when we already know who's needed, and I normally work through the list with the couple before the wedding so we can keep things moving. The more photographs you want, the longer they'll take, particularly when guests have disappeared to the bar or somebody has gone back to their room.
There's no reason family photographs have to become a major part of the day, though, and I generally find that a little organisation beforehand saves an enormous amount of time on the wedding itself.
I also like to leave some time for the natural photographs happening around the hotel, especially after the ceremony when people are catching up, enjoying a drink and chatting with friends and relatives.
Those are often the photographs the couple haven't seen happening, and they can end up being some of the most interesting ones in the finished gallery.
It's also worth remembering that you don't necessarily need photography from early in the morning until late at night. Some couples want the whole day photographed, while others prefer coverage around the ceremony, family photographs and reception. Neither approach is wrong, and it's something we can work out together once I know what you've planned.
Why I Still Enjoy Photographing Weddings at Gisborough Hall
After working at Gisborough Hall for so many years, you'd probably imagine I'd have photographed just about every corner of the building and gardens by now, but I don't particularly want to take every couple back to exactly the same spot and produce an identical set of photographs with different people in them.
The venue is familiar, but the people, weather, light and timings are different every time, and that gives me a reason to keep looking for something slightly different.
There's also the benefit of knowing how the hotel works, which helps me plan the photography around the day rather than getting in the way of it. I can concentrate on what's happening between the couple and their family and friends, rather than worrying about finding my way around or wondering where we'll be able to take photographs if the weather changes.
For me, that's what wedding photography should be about. Gisborough Hall provides the setting, but it's the couple and the people they've invited who make the photographs personal. A lovely background is always welcome, but it isn't a substitute for a genuine moment between people.
Planning Your Own Wedding at Gisborough Hall?
If you're getting married at Gisborough Hall Hotel in Guisborough and you're looking for relaxed, natural wedding photography, I'd love to hear what you've got planned. I've photographed weddings there for years, so I can help you work out where and when to have your photographs taken without keeping you away from your guests for longer than necessary.
Whether you're having everything at Gisborough Hall, arriving after a church ceremony or planning something smaller with just your closest family and friends, we can have a chat about what's important to you and how much photography you actually need.
I want you to have photographs you'll enjoy looking back at, but I also want you to remember having a lovely wedding day rather than spending most of it being told where to stand.
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