Wedding venues don't get much more beautiful and inspiring the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and couples don't get much lovelier than Nina & Phil. On an overcast September morning, I met Phil, Nina and an intimate gathering of their loved ones at this iconic Yorkshire art hub to photograph the first of their two wedding celebrations, and I can honestly say it was one of my favourite weddings I've photographed to date!
Yorkshire Sculpture Park weddings
This gorgeous bride and groom celebrated their union with two ceremonies, an intimate celebration wedding day here in the UK at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 2022, followed by a bigger affair in 2023 in Nina's native South Africa. YSP proved to be the perfect location for this intimate gathering, and it was an absolute joy to be the photographer for what was possibly one of the most wonderfully relaxed wedding days I've ever photographed!
Nina and Phil's wedding day began with their ceremony in the Roger Evans Auditorium, which is located in the Park's main building. The room was decorated with beautiful hand-crafted paper hangings in an array of colours, filled with their favourite people and an undeniable air of excitement. Nina wore a supremely elegant vintage-inspired pencil dress with lace sleeves, whilst Phil looked dapper in his navy suit and mustard yellow tie. Nina's wildflower bouquet was BEAUTIFUL, and pulled the colour scheme together perfectly.
Wedding photography at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
After the ceremony we continued the wedding day by making the most of the stunning grounds at Yorkshire Sculpture Park for some laidback photographs. I was beyond excited to discover that we were to be given a private Landrover tour around the newlyweds' personal choice of sculptures, and the bride and groom and I spent an incredibly happy hour hopping across the exquisite landscape to visit works by artists such as Robert Indiana, James Turrell and Henry Moore. A combination of breathtaking artwork, moody skies and a beautiful couple made for truly amazing portraits.
After photographs, we made our way down to The Weston, a beautiful modern building carved into a hillside at the bottom Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The quality of light in The Weston cannot be overstated, and the sunset that we witnessed on arrival was quite frankly breathtaking. As Nina and Phil's loved ones arrived from the other side of the park, I took a moment to admire the view and take in one of the most special atmosphere's I've witnessed in a really long time. Some things just cannot be accurately captured in either photos or words, and this sunset and the vibe it gave this incredible space was one of them. It was extremely humbling and really reminded me why I love being a wedding photographer so much!
Looking for a Yorkshire Sculpture Park wedding photographer?
As you can probably tell, this venue (and tbh the bride and groom) are firmly on my list of favourites. If you're looking to celebrate your love in exquisitely unique surroundings, with a team of brilliant staff and breathtaking scenery, a Yorkshire Sculpture Park wedding could be exactly what you're after. There's nothing I'd love more than to come along for the ride and capture the story of your day, so why not get in touch?
Some useful info about weddings at YSP, West Yorkshire
Where can we get married at YSP?
There are several spaces available for weddings at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, including the Roger Evans Auditorium, Underground Gallery, Bothy Gallery, and Garden Gallery. Each space has its own unique features and capacities, and are located in different areas of the vast Park. I'd recommend popping in to have a mooch around and see what fits best; a great excuse to check out the awesome artworks!
Do they offer in-house catering?
Yorkshire Sculpture Park offers in-house catering, and there are several menus to choose from, including canapés, buffets, and sit-down meals. You can also arrange for an outside caterer if you prefer.
YSP is pretty rural; what accommodation is there on offer in the area?
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is located in West Bretton, a tiny and quintessentially British Yorkshire village. There are several self-catering cottages, Air BnBs and traditional B&Bs in both West Bretton and surrounding villages such as Flockton, Clayton West and Denby Dale. The Park is also situated directly next to the M1, making access a doddle.
What kind of weather can we expect at Yorkshire Sculpture Park?
Anyone's who's spent any time in Yorkshire will be able to tell you that the weather is unpredictable. With it being such a wide open space, the Sculpture Park is especially open to the elements, and can get pretty windy. If you feel inclement weather is something that would ruin your day for you, make sure to have a plan B in case of rain, etc. Similarly, in high summer it can be tough to find shade, so make sure you're prepared with suncream and hats! The venue offers indoor spaces that can be used for ceremonies and receptions, so make sure to discuss your options with the venue coordinators. And don't let the weather risk put you off - brooding skies and a spot of wind and rain can make for epic photographs if you're prepared to lean into it!
