the pheasant hotel north yorkshire

Some weddings are elegant. Some are lively. Some are just downright cool. And then you get weddings like Charlie and Elesha’s, which somehow manage to be all three. Their day at The Pheasant Hotel in North Yorkshire was the perfect mix of effortless romance, relaxed countryside charm, and a wild, fiddle-fuelled party that I’ll be talking about for years.

Morning: Chilled-Out Chaos (but the good kind)

If wedding mornings had personalities, this one would be lounging in a deck chair with a cup of tea, completely unbothered by the world. There was no stress, no last-minute panics, just a bunch of excited people, a very happy couple, and a whole lot of laughter.  

Elesha got ready in one of The Pheasant’s beautifully styled rooms, surrounded by her closest people and a healthy amount of Prosecco. The vibe? Imagine a sleepover, but with better outfits and slightly more responsibility.  

Meanwhile, Charlie and his groomsmen were doing exactly what you’d expect from a bunch of guys on a wedding morning, pretending to be calm while secretly freaking out over pocket squares. He had the best kind of pre-wedding nerves: the kind that make you smile like an idiot all morning. 

 Vows, Views & An Unintentional Comedy Act

The Pheasant Hotel’s conservatory was the perfect spot for Charlie and Elesha’s ceremony, flooded with natural light, brimming with greenery, and just the right mix of elegant and intimate. It felt like stepping into a secret garden (but one with really great central heating).  

Elesha walked in looking like an absolute queen, no nerves, just pure excitement. Meanwhile, Charlie’s face went through about six different emotions in three seconds: awe, love, and that “holy crap, I’m actually getting married” realisation. Gold. Pure gold.  

But the real scene-stealer? The little page boy tasked with carrying the rings. Adorable? Absolutely. Professional? Not even slightly. As Elesha and Charlie said their vows, this tiny tuxedo-clad legend was , fully engaged in an in-depth nose excavation mission. I was in stitches trying to capture the moment, a perfect juxtaposition against the sheer romance of the vows. It was wedding-level emotion, interrupted by pure childhood chaos.  

The ceremony itself was short, sweet, and full of personality, just like Charlie and Elesha. A mix of laughter, happy tears, and one or two moments where I had to pretend my camera lens was misting up (not me getting emotional, obviously). It was the kind of ceremony that reminded everyone exactly why they were there: to celebrate two brilliant humans in the best way possible.

Reception: Cocktails, Confetti, And Cracking Speeches

After the “you may now kiss the bride” moment, guests spilled out into the gardens, where drinks were flowing, canapés were disappearing at an alarming rate, and the newlyweds got to soak in all the just married excitement. The ducks were loitering, probably hoping for a canapé of their own.  

The wedding breakfast (a fancy term for “really good food with lots of happy people”) took place in The Pheasant’s stylish dining room. If you’ve never eaten here, let me just say: the food is ‘next level’. Yorkshire knows how to do a good meal, and The Pheasant does it better than most. That home made bread was just……..YUMMY!

Then came the speeches, which were the perfect balance of hilarious and heartfelt. A solid mix of embarrassing childhood stories, inside jokes, and just the right amount of sentiment.

A 10-Minute Escape (Plus a Few VIP Group Shots!)

Then came the, ultimate wedding day heist, sneaking Charlie and Elesha away for a quick 10-minute portrait session. When I say sneak, I mean it. Weddings have a way of attracting well-meaning relatives who just need one more chat, so we did some tactical dodging (sorry, Aunt Maple) and made a break for the hotel’s gorgeous gardens.  

But before we disappeared completely, we made sure to tick off some of the important group shots, parents, bridal party, a “we actually did it” moment with the newlyweds, and, of course, that classic “everyone pile in and pretend we’re not slightly tipsy already” shot. I know group photos aren’t the coolest part of a wedding day, but trust me, these are the ones that end up in frames, on fridges, and occasionally as rogue Christmas cards. Worth it.  

Then, with the VIP snaps in the bag, it was just the three of us (and my camera) for a little golden-hour magic. No stiff posing, no awkward “what do I do with my hands” panic, just Charlie and Elesha, soaking up that just-married feeling, laughing at private jokes, and fully embracing the holy crap, we did it moment. The Pheasant’s gardens gave us that soft evening glow, just the right amount of breeze, and a proper cinematic vibe. Ten minutes, some absolute banger photos, and a whole lot of giggles later, we strolled back to the party….mission accomplished.

Party Time: When A Violinist Stole The Show

You think you’ve seen wedding entertainment before? Think again.  

Charlie and Elesha pulled off something I genuinely hadn’t seen before, a live violinist who didn’t just play; they shredded. This wasn’t your standard elegant, background-string-music moment. This was a full-on, high-energy, dancefloor-filling performance that had people on their feet, jaws on the floor, and hands in the air like they just didn’t care. Richard Sanderson Violinist had energy off the charts and what lovely man too. SO much fun.

It was electric. It was unexpected. It was bloody brilliant.  

Guests who thought they’d be gently swaying with a drink in hand? Nope. They were *dancing, proper, uninhibited, “might regret this in the morning” dancing. And honestly, it was the perfect way to end such an epic day.   

Final thoughts: The wedding That Had It All 

Charlie and Elesha’s wedding was everything a wedding should be: fun, heartfelt, a little bit quirky, and completely them. From the relaxed morning to the lakeside vows, from the amazing food to the absolute chaos of that violin-fuelled dance-floor, it was an absolute joy to photograph.  

What made this wedding even more special? Charlie and Elesha found me through Alex from Origami Fox, my absolute legend of a website guy. When couples come my way through personal recommendations, it always feels like a little photography fate. So, huge shoutout to Alex for sending this brilliant pair my way, because getting to capture their day was an absolute joy from start to finish!

If you’re planning a wedding and thinking, Can we just make it chilled, personal, and really flipping fun? – take notes from these two. And maybe book a fiddle player. Just saying.

Amazing Suppliers

Venue – The Pheasant Hotel

Florist – Queens Flowers

Dress – Elite Bridal

MUA – Vikki Adams Make-up

Fiddler/Violinist – Richard Sanderson

If you are getting married At The Pheasant Hotel in North Yorkshire or beyond and would like to know more about me shooting your wedding then say hello below.