Carlton Towers Wedding Photographer

Yorkshire Wedding Photographer Tom Roberts, of Champagne Shutter Photography, at Carlton Towers

There’s nothing I love more than piloting my car down the driveway of a stately home – my car bears a National Trust sticker on windscreen and National Trust blanket on back seat – perhaps both betray that I was the little lad that, when taken to such houses as a child, really did love wandering round, imagining from the right room or window that I was surveying my 250-acre estate! I still love a visit like this with just the same childish enthusiasm, a little shoulder shrug of glee, followed by a cream tea! Though as you’ll find out below, Carlton Towers boasts even more of my favourite things than this…

This stately home wedding venue dates from 1086 and has been within the same family since 1301. Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan Howard moved in from London in 1990 to begin extensive restoration, after some 20 years unoccupied. There could be nowhere more unique for wedding photography straight from a period drama. A wedding photographer’s dream, ivy-clad, it has even stood in for Windsor Castle on our screens.

The gothic architecture makes for the perfect backdrop and setting for wedding photographs, whether inside, or alongside Gerald and Emma’s vineyard (also available to tour). The Walled Garden Vineyard produces cool-climate grape varieties including Pinot Noir.

I can’t think of a setting better embodying a sense of opulence! Or for more grand wedding photography…

More on Champagne Shutter’s approach here

Planning your wedding at Carlton Towers means exclusive use of the State Room and/or Venetian Room for ceremony, wedding breakfast and reception, the house and gardens, the Baroness Tower Room – the couple’s suite, and 15 further guest rooms, chiefly named after family ancestors. This makes for accommodation for up to 31 guests, inclusive of the couple, plus 4 additional cottages on site, one with a double bedroom, 2 with 2 doubles, and a 3-bedroom accommodating up to 8, all in the estate park a 5-minute walk from the main house. Whilst your hosts live in one wing, the guest rooms reside in the Batchelors Wing, Nursery Wing and Clock Tower, exquisite décor throughout.

Choose from the Candlelit, Elegance and Intimate Packages (pending minimum guest numbers ranging from 30 to 60 and minimum room bookings of 7 to 10, depending upon package choice, rooms starting at £225 B&B).

Florist – Anna Boyes

The Blonde & The Blooms

Besides weddings, Carlton Towers offers one-off dining events and historic tours, whilst the tearoom (based in the stables) is open Fri-Sun 10-4 without reservation for brunch to lunch (do book ahead for afternoon tea though). Private dining and cookery workshops (and beyond to foraging) are just a couple of the options amidst parties, events, meetings, team building and even use as a filming location. 

There’s more: tasting events, wine tastings, afternoon hampers, artisanal markets, arts performances, product launches.

Get in touch now for a chat with Tom to plan wedding portraits and discuss wedding photography packages