Relaxed Grand Villa Heights Wedding | Beth & Nathan | North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer

They threw away the wedding rule book... and their day was better because of it.

From our very first conversation, they were clear about one thing. They didn't want their wedding to feel like a photoshoot. They wanted to spend the day with the people they love, have a laugh, enjoy themselves and, most importantly, have their dog Finn by their side.

Safe to say, they absolutely nailed it.

A wedding that felt completely like them

The thing that struck me most wasn't the venue (although we'll get to that because... wow).

It was how relaxed they were.

Beth and Nathan aren't the type to enjoy being in the spotlight.

They're happiest playing games, spending time outdoors and being with their favourite people.

So rather than trying to squeeze themselves into a traditional wedding timeline, they planned a day that reflected exactly who they are.

Even their table plan was written from Finn's perspective:

"My humans are getting married."

If that doesn't sum them up, I don't know what does.

I'm fairly sure Beth wanted as many photos with Finn as she did with Nathan... and that only made me love her more.

A venue that completely surprised me

This was actually my first time photographing a wedding at Grand Villa Heights since its recent refurbishment.

Walking in, I genuinely stopped for a second.

It felt like walking into a boutique retreat somewhere abroad.

Perched high above Robin Hood's Bay, the views are incredible. On a sunny day, like we were lucky enough to have, you could almost forget you were in North Yorkshire.

Even the ceremony space has been designed to make the most of those views, with the doors opening onto the bay to create a lovely indoor-outdoor feel.

As a photographer, I was spoilt for choice.

The best weddings aren't always the most traditional

One of my favourite things about photographing weddings is seeing couples throw away the rule book.

Beth and Nathan swapped a formal wedding breakfast for a relaxed buffet of pizza, chilli, pulled pork and all the trimmings.

Later came waffles with every topping imaginable.

Perfect.

Outside, guests drifted between mini golf, limbo, giant Tetris and games that had everyone laughing.

There wasn't a strict schedule of "now we do this."

People simply enjoyed themselves.

And that's exactly what made it work.

The moments I'll remember

There were so many little moments throughout the day.

Beth becoming emotional as she walked down the aisle after insisting she wasn't really the emotional type.

Watching both of them fuss over Finn every chance they got.

And later in the evening...

"Fancy an adventure?"

They didn't hesitate.

The four of us, along with videographer Simon Manning, piled into my car and headed down a little dirt track Simon recommended we explored for photos opportunities.

.

Those spontaneous little adventures are often where the magic happens.

No pressure.

No awkward posing.

Just the two of them (and Finn) enjoying a quiet few minutes together while the sun started to soften.

It's never just about the photos

One thing I noticed throughout the day was how brilliantly Grand Villa Heights looked after everyone.

The staff couldn't do enough to help, from organising the bubble exit to offering to help gather people for group photos.

Even the non-drinkers were well looked after with homemade strawberry lemonade on tap, which went down very well in the sunshine.

Andrew Backhouse, the master of ceremonies, somehow managed to keep everything running smoothly while remaining completely relaxed, even when timings shifted slightly.

That's exactly what you want on a wedding day.

Why this day stayed with me

As I packed my cameras away at the end of the evening, and went to say my goodbyes to Beth and Nathan they told me I'd made them feel completely at ease and that I'd made everything feel easy.

Moments like that mean more than people probably realise.

Because that's always been my goal.

I don't want couples to remember spending hours having photographs taken.

I want them to remember having the best day of their lives.

If the photos happen naturally along the way, then I've done my job.

Planning your own wedding at Grand Villa Heights?

If you're planning a wedding at Grand Villa Heights and you're looking for a photographer who'll capture the story of your day naturally, without pulling you away from your guests for hours on end, I'd love to hear all about your plans.

Whether your wedding includes dogs, waffles, spontaneous adventures or all three, I'm in.