Allerton Castle Wedding Photographer | York | Champagne Shutter Photography

As wedding venues go, in Allerton Mauleverer, Allerton Castle’s setting couldn’t make for a more perfect marriage of elements, sitting close to Harrogate and the beautiful viaduct of Knaresborough, yet almost right between these and York too.

Records of a building on the site, back to William Mauleverer, date from 1066, before a Benedictine Priory of 1100; ownership by Kings College Cambridge is cited in the 1400s-1500s, before a 16th Century rebuild. By the 1700s inheritance had fallen to the Duke of York, before a rename for the purpose of establishing it as a sporting and wildlife park. A Catholic Chapel was added in the early 1800s, before Lord Mowbray built the present house between 1848 and 1854. In WWII it was used by the Ministry of Defence as HQ for a No. 6 Group of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Allerton Castle was purchased finally in the 1980s by Dr. Rolph, who subsequently established the charitable Rolph Foundation, passing the castle to its ownership in order to preserve its heritage.

The 1853 Nineteenth Century Grade I listed gothic revival house’s Great Hall, in Victorian oak, makes for a stunning ceremony space for wedding photographs, before lighting in the Gallery above creates a total transformation for evening photography of your reception, whilst the blue Ballroom, with its vaulted ceilings, becomes a setting option (besides the Dining Room) for your wedding breakfast. Much fun can be had with the Billiard Room for wedding photography, whilst the opulence of the Drawing Room, with its gold gilt surfaces, deep rugs, hung portraiture, and silk wallpaper, makes for the most luxurious group wedding portraits. Yet more options await for canapes and cocktails, as well as elegant wedding photographs, in the gardens (part of 200 acres of grounds) where the pond becomes the perfect mirror for your dress and veil.

A known spot for TV and film productions, to classic car and bridal shoots, this couldn’t be a more inspiring place for elegant and timeless wedding photography.

Why Choose Champagne Shutter Photography?

I firmly believe in the right balance of friendly with a professional eye for detail.  You are investing in expertise to ensure elegant heirloom wedding photography to keep forever after your wedding, worthy of the album, but the best wedding photographs gain their elegance through your comfort with your wedding photographer, so that I can orchestrate the odd tweak, where needed, with no awkwardness.  That’s why I pay close attention to your bespoke plans in our consultations leading up to your wedding, and ensure a pre-wedding photography session to further aid your comfort.  It’s from a genuine and authentic connection that the best wedding photography emerges.

With Tom at Champagne Shutter Photography, depending upon your chosen package, you gain:

Unlimited coverage, usually circa 11 hours

From the curlers going in, to the party in full swing: preparation, to dancing coverage, just beyond cake cut and first dance, including twilight couple’s portraits

Arrival to cover details and latter stages of preparation

Ceremony

Groups shots

Family shots

Couple Portraits

Couple’s portraits session at twilight, blue hour, sunset

Initial consultation meeting plus further planning consultation meeting to finalise your itinerary and requirements

Complimentary pre-wedding shoot (circa 2 & ½ hrs) to allow couples to get to know Tom’s approach, so you are comfortable in front of the lens prior to your wedding day – subject to mutually convenient date, (ideally but not exclusively mid-week) – provides photos for wedding save-the-dates, invites, website, or wall art

Skilled curation and editing of your online gallery (circa 600+ images on average)

Couple’s online gallery - download web resolution photos for online use, full resolution photos for prints & wall art orders – couples & family can “favourite” a selection of images to curate ideas for album design, if they wish

Albums are available as either part of an integrated package or as an additional option later

Guests can enter a password-protected gallery to access and order social media downloads, prints, and wall art, from canvas, to framed, acrylic or metal prints

Couples can opt for two photographers – a second photographer is important if you want to cover more candid photos of friends during afternoon and evening receptions, when I am occupied with portraits elsewhere, and if you want to cover both of your preparations ahead of the ceremony, especially if you wish to integrate videography too!

Every couple is different – and whilst it’s all well and good me extolling the virtues of a what I think about portraying your day at a venue, we must make a genuine connection to tell your story! Check out Champagne Shutter Photography’s approach here. Information from me on other venues can also be found on my website.

For a friendly chat about your bespoke wedding photography plans, get in touch or reserve a Zoom call with Tom at Champagne Shutter. Alternatively, give me a ring on 07738 620485 or email via tom@champagneshutter.com. You’ll also find me on Hitched.