The Walled Garden Helperby Wedding – Sophie & Adam’s Summer Vibe Celebration
Some weddings just feel like they are going to be good before the day has even arrived. And when it came to The Walled Garden Helperby wedding of Sophie and Adam, I had that feeling months before their big day.
I first met them properly a few months before the wedding, when we spent a morning together in York for their pre-wedding shoot. And I think that meeting was a perfect example of just how important it is to choose a wedding photographer who matches your personality and your vibe.
Something clicked between us almost immediately.
Sophie and Adam brought loads of energy to the shoot. They weren’t afraid of doing something a little silly, they were open to my ideas, and most importantly, they weren’t taking themselves too seriously.
By the time we sat down for a coffee afterwards, it felt like we’d known each other for much longer than a couple of hours.
They told me that this was exactly how they wanted their wedding photography to feel.
Relaxed. Fun. Natural.
And maybe just a little bit crazy.
A few months later, on 22nd August 2026, I arrived at The Walled Garden Helperby in North Yorkshire knowing that this one was going to be fun.
I wasn’t wrong.
Eight Years, Tinder and a Return to Yorkshire
Before we get to the wedding, there’s a little bit of Sophie and Adam’s story worth telling.
They met eight years ago on Tinder – because, as Sophie put it, that’s “where all good love stories start!”
Their first chapter together began in York before they moved to Manchester when Sophie qualified as a midwife. A few years later, Yorkshire started calling them back and they eventually returned to York.
Travel has always been a big part of their life together.
Japan, Vietnam and Bali are among their favourite places they’ve visited, and shortly after the wedding they were heading back to Bali for another adventure.
They’re also massive foodies and love keeping active. Adam enjoys golf and the gym, while Sophie is into Pilates.
But one thing Sophie mentioned to me before the wedding became particularly obvious once I saw everyone together on the day: their friends and family mean a lot to them.
They have a really close circle around them.
And during their wedding at The Walled Garden Helperby, you could absolutely feel it.
A Summer Wedding at The Walled Garden Helperby
This was my first time photographing a wedding at The Walled Garden Helperby, and it was an interesting time to discover the venue.
Kate, who looks after social media for the venue, told me that Sophie and Adam’s celebration was only the second wedding held there since the venue came under its new management.
So it felt like I was discovering a new chapter of the place at the same time as they were.
The venue itself is tucked away in the North Yorkshire countryside near York. Once you’re through those old garden walls, you’ve got lawns, trees, pathways, the beautiful stone Cupola and plenty of space for an outdoor summer wedding.
It’s a very different setting from many of the other wedding venues in Yorkshire I’ve photographed, and that’s part of what makes it interesting.
For a photographer, there’s a lot to work with.
But my day actually started just outside those walls.
Wedding Morning at the Gardener’s Cottage
Sophie was getting ready with her bridesmaids in the Gardener’s Cottage, which sits right beside the Walled Garden.
From outside, there’s something almost fairytale-like about it.
Inside?
Well… when I arrived, it felt slightly more like I’d interrupted a witches’ convention.
In the best possible way.
There was laughter everywhere, girls running around getting ready and plenty of that slightly chaotic energy I love photographing during wedding mornings.
One of Sophie’s friends even had a little handheld video camera and was wandering around recording her own candid footage of everything happening.
Basically, I wasn’t the only ninja in the building.
From a photography point of view, I really liked the cottage.
There’s plenty of natural light coming through the windows and the rooms are mostly decorated in light, neutral colours rather than strong colours that can reflect onto skin.
As usual, one of the first things I did was switch off the warm yellow artificial lights and let the window light do the work.
The hair and makeup area was even better.
It’s in a bright glazed section of the cottage, so there’s loads of soft natural light coming in – exactly what I want when I’m photographing bridal preparations.
The venue itself describes the Gardener’s Cottage as a light and bright preparation space for the wedding party, and having actually photographed there now, I’d agree.
Wildflowers, Wedding Details and a Very Relaxed Morning
I normally start bridal preparations by photographing the details before getting properly stuck into the candid moments.
Sophie’s details immediately gave me an idea.
Her bouquet had that loose, colourful wildflower feel to it, and even their wedding stationery featured little meadow-style flowers.
With so much greenery surrounding the cottage, photographing everything inside didn’t make much sense.
So I took the details outside.
The flowers, stationery and little wedding-day pieces looked completely at home against the grass and surrounding garden.
Then it was back inside for the chaos.
There were hugs, makeup, hair, champagne and plenty of laughing.
At one point I headed into the Walled Garden itself to have a proper look around and photograph the ceremony setup before the guests arrived.
And that’s when I got my first proper look at the Cupola.
The Stone Cupola – An Outdoor Wedding Ceremony in Yorkshire
The classical stone Cupola is probably one of the most recognisable features of The Walled Garden Helperby.
It sits at one end of the garden, reached by a few stone steps, with columns supporting the domed roof above.
For Sophie and Adam’s wedding, the columns had been beautifully decorated with flowers by Yvonne Dennis Event Flowers.
With the chairs arranged along the long aisle in front of it, the whole ceremony space looked fantastic.
I photographed it while everything was still untouched and also sent the drone up to get a much wider view of the garden and ceremony setup.
For couples looking specifically for an outdoor wedding venue in Yorkshire, this is probably one of Helperby’s biggest attractions. The Cupola is licensed for wedding ceremonies, so the ceremony isn’t simply taking place in front of a nice garden feature – couples can actually marry there.
And from a wedding photographer’s perspective, there’s another feature I immediately liked.
That aisle is long. Really long. It might sound like a tiny detail, but photographically it makes a huge difference.
When bridesmaids, flower girls and finally the bride make their entrance, I’m not fighting for two seconds to get a photograph of each person before they’re suddenly standing at the front. There’s time. I can photograph each member of the wedding party individually and still have plenty of opportunities when the bride makes the longer walk towards the ceremony.
For Sophie, that meant plenty of time to photograph her arriving with her stepdad.
But before any of that could happen, I had a few more moments to capture back at the cottage.
A Quiet Moment Between Sophie and Her Mum
When I returned to the Gardener’s Cottage, I found Sophie upstairs with her mum.
Her mum was giving her a present.
There was no setup, no posing and no need for me to interfere.
I just happened to walk in at the right time.
Moments like that are exactly why I keep moving during wedding mornings rather than standing in one room waiting for something to happen.
One minute it’s complete chaos downstairs.
The next, there’s a quiet moment between a mum and her daughter happening upstairs.
That’s wedding photography for me.
You have to be there when it happens.
Champagne, Bridesmaids and Two First Looks
Before everyone got dressed, I took Sophie and the girls outside with a bottle of champagne.
The idea was simple. Pop the bottle, make a toast and have some fun. They didn’t need much encouragement.
We did a few slightly ridiculous photographs, plenty of laughing and generally let them be themselves.
Once the bridesmaids were dressed, I hid Sophie around the corner of the cottage and lined everyone else up outside.
The girls were wearing beautiful yellow dresses with those colourful bouquets, which looked absolutely perfect for an August garden wedding.
Then Sophie came around the corner.
First reveal done. Hugs. Laughing. A few tears.
Then it was Sophie’s turn.
Her mum and sister helped her into her wedding dress upstairs, again in one of those bright rooms filled with natural window light.
She wore a beautiful white dress with a long white veil.
This time, I turned the bridesmaids around so they couldn’t see her approaching.
Sophie walked outside. They turned around. Completely different reaction.
A couple of the girls immediately started crying.
And before we left for the ceremony, there was one more important reveal to do – Sophie’s first look with her stepdad.
After that, it was finally time to get married.
Photographing an Outdoor Ceremony in Strong Summer Sun
By the time I headed back through the garden walls, Adam was already waiting near the Cupola with his best man and groomsmen.
And it was hot.
Proper August sunshine, somewhere well into the twenties, with the sun beating straight down on the garden.
Beautiful weather for a wedding.
Slightly less beautiful when you’re the photographer trying to control exposure during an outdoor ceremony at around two in the afternoon.
This is where photographing a venue for the first time teaches you things that you simply can’t learn by looking at its website.
At that time of day, the position of the sun meant that the Cupola was creating shade directly where Sophie and Adam were due to stand, while much of their guests remained in full sunlight.
That’s a huge difference in brightness. Expose for the couple and the background can become extremely bright.
Expose for the guests and suddenly the bride and groom are too dark.
So I asked Sophie and Adam to stand on the first step where I could keep the light across them as consistent as possible, and I worked predominantly with the Cupola behind them.
And whenever a cloud appeared? Machine-gun mode.
Well… controlled machine-gun mode. I was secretly cheering for every cloud that passed over us.
That’s also one of the reasons why actually photographing a wedding venue matters when I’m writing about it afterwards. I now know not only where the pretty photographs are – I know how the light behaves there during a real summer ceremony.
And despite the challenging sunshine, what happened next made the photography pretty easy.
Because there were emotions everywhere.
An Emotional Ceremony at The Walled Garden Helperby
The long aisle gave me plenty of time to photograph the wedding party making their way towards the Cupola.
Then Sophie appeared with her stepdad.
And you could see the change in Adam immediately.
He was already emotional before she reached him. The closer Sophie got, the harder it became to hide it.
Wet eyes. Big smile.
That look that basically says everything without saying anything at all.
And Adam wasn’t the only one.
Throughout the ceremony I kept spotting guests wiping their eyes, and Sophie wasn’t exactly getting away with it either. During the vows she had tears in her eyes and at one point reached for a tissue.
It was one of those ceremonies where you could genuinely feel how close everyone was.
Which made complete sense after what Sophie had told me before the wedding about their friends and family.
The ceremony itself was relatively short and relaxed.
Two of Adam’s nieces gave readings before Sophie and Adam exchanged their vows and rings beneath the flower-covered Cupola.
And then came one of my favourite little ideas of the day.
Finding Their Wedding Witnesses by Surprise
Sophie and Adam had hidden notes underneath two random chairs before the ceremony. Nobody knew they were there.
And because there wasn’t an assigned seating plan for those particular chairs, Sophie and Adam didn’t even know who would find them.
The notes asked whoever happened to be sitting there to become their wedding witnesses.
Two unsuspecting guests suddenly discovered they’d been given a job.
Up they came to sign the marriage certificate.
Simple idea. Completely unexpected.
And another little moment that made their ceremony feel like their ceremony rather than something following a standard script.
After everything was signed, there was only one thing left to do.
Except we’d already discussed that Sophie and Adam weren’t going to simply walk back down the aisle nicely while everyone clapped.
We had a dip kiss planned. Adam delivered.
More importantly, he didn’t drop Sophie. Always a bonus.
With everyone cheering around them and the Cupola behind them, it made a brilliant ending to the ceremony.
Before everyone disappeared towards the reception, I sent the drone up again for a couple of big group photographs.
Ceremony done.
Sophie and Adam were officially married.
And now it was time to party.
From the Walled Garden to the Wedding Tipi
The reception took place inside the main tipi within the Walled Garden.
There are two tipi spaces on the grounds, with the main reception area providing the bar and entertainment space, while another covered area gives the venue flexibility if an outdoor ceremony isn’t possible.
Thankfully, rain wasn’t exactly our problem that day. We had the opposite problem.
So while everyone grabbed drinks, congratulated Sophie and Adam and started relaxing after the ceremony, I switched back into documentary mode.
Hugs. Drinks. People catching up. Kids running around. Little groups forming everywhere.
Basically, all the stuff that happens when people forget the photographer is there.
I also used the quieter moments to photograph the reception details before everyone properly settled in.
Then came the group photographs.
Because the sun was still absolutely hammering down, my priority wasn’t simply finding the prettiest background.
It was finding good light first. Fortunately, that’s not particularly difficult at The Walled Garden Helperby.
Between the walls, trees, pathways and greenery, there are enough places to find shade while still keeping a nice background.
We got the family photographs done and then moved onto something a little less formal with the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
One of my regular favourites is what I call my Friends walking shot.
Everyone links arms, walks towards me and bumps into each other as they go.
It never stays serious for very long.
With this group, that wasn’t exactly a surprise.
Saxophone, Speeches and a Summer Wedding BBQ
Sophie and Adam’s entrance into the reception was anything but quiet. The saxophone was playing, napkins were spinning above everyone’s heads and the whole tipi was making as much noise as possible to welcome the newlyweds.
The first two speeches came from Sophie’s stepdad and Adam’s best man, with plenty of laughter and a few emotional moments along the way. Then it was time to eat – but instead of a traditional three-course wedding breakfast, Sophie and Adam went for a relaxed summer BBQ with steaks, burgers, sausages, salads, cheeses and plenty of sides.
It suited the whole feel of the day perfectly.
After everyone had eaten, I stole Sophie and Adam for a short walk around the gardens and our first couple shoot of the day. Once we returned to the tipi, Sophie and Adam gave their own speeches, followed by a little surprise from Sophie’s mum. With Sophie celebrating her birthday the following day, out came a small cake with a candle, everyone sang Happy Birthday and raised another glass.
Wedding on Saturday. Birthday on Sunday.
Not a bad weekend.
Why Their Pre-Wedding Shoot Made the Wedding Photos Easier
That short walk around the gardens also reminded me just how useful our pre-wedding shoot in York had been.
I didn’t need to explain everything again. Sophie and Adam already knew how I worked.
They knew I wasn’t going to spend half an hour putting them into complicated poses or constantly asking them to stare at my camera.
Usually I’d give them one little instruction and off they went.
Walk together. Get close. Talk to each other. Mess around. Forget about me.
Because we’d already done it during their pre-wedding shoot, there wasn’t that initial awkward five or ten minutes where a couple is wondering what they’re supposed to do with their hands.
They knew. I knew them. And that made everything quicker.
We wandered a little further away from the reception, using the pathways through the garden, greenery, old walls and the tipi in the distance as different backgrounds.
Again, because the sunlight was still strong, I worked with the shade rather than fighting against it.
We also had Sophie’s long veil to play with, which gave us a completely different set of photographs without needing to leave the venue.
The whole session was short.
That’s generally how I prefer to work on a wedding day.
Get some great photographs, give the couple a few minutes together away from everybody else…
…and get them back to their party.
Garden Games and Candid Wedding Photography
This is probably my favourite part of many wedding days. There’s no timetable for a while.
Nobody needs to stand anywhere. Nothing needs to happen at a specific second.
I can just wander. Sophie and Adam had filled part of the garden with outdoor games, so there was plenty going on.
Beer pong. Limbo. Cornhole. Ring toss.
And, inevitably, people becoming increasingly competitive after a few drinks.
Perfect.
Rather than organising any of it, I just moved between everyone looking for reactions.
The celebrations, failures, arguments over whether somebody cheated, people laughing at their friends…
Those are the photographs I want. Not every photograph from a wedding needs to be perfect and romantic.
Some should just make you laugh ten years later.
Back to the Cupola for Round Two
Later in the afternoon, something I’d been waiting for finally happened. The light softened.
With the harsh sunshine no longer causing the same problems we’d had during the ceremony, I grabbed Sophie and Adam and took them back towards the Cupola.
This time we could use the ceremony location completely differently.
No guests. No timetable. No registrar. Just the two of them.
We made a few more relaxed portraits around the steps and columns.
And then Sophie had an idea.
She wanted Adam to pick her up, throw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and spin her around while she showed me her wedding ring.
Obviously, I said yes.
So there I was photographing a newly married woman hanging over her husband’s shoulder, screaming, laughing and proudly waving her ring at the camera.
Possibly not the photograph you’ll find in the traditional wedding photography handbook.
Definitely a Sophie and Adam photograph. And that’s far more important.
Tiramisu Cake, First Dance and a Proper Party
I’ve photographed a lot of wedding cakes over the years – big cakes, small cakes, multi-tier cakes and even wedding “cakes” made from huge wheels of cheese.
Sophie and Adam went for something completely different: a simple heart-shaped cake with JUST MARRIED written across the top. But the best part was inside.
It was tiramisu.
And I have to say, it was probably the best tiramisu I’ve ever eaten. Soft, slightly moist sponge, creamy without being watery – absolutely brilliant. I had a big slice after the cake cutting… and took another one home with me.
Professional wedding photographer review: 10/10. Would photograph again.
After cutting the cake, Sophie and Adam moved straight onto their first dance. As you’d probably expect from these two by now, it wasn’t overly serious – plenty of laughing, spins, lifts and another dip kiss for good measure.
Then the live rock band took over and the tipi quickly filled with people dancing, singing and becoming progressively less sensible as the night went on. At one point some of the lads had napkins tied around their heads and somehow bells appeared too.
I still don’t know where the bells came from.
I didn’t ask questions. I just photographed it.
The Walled Garden Helperby – A Wedding Photographer’s Perspective
After photographing a full wedding here, I can understand why The Walled Garden Helperby works so well for couples wanting a relaxed outdoor wedding in North Yorkshire.
The biggest advantage for me is variety without needing to travel anywhere.
You’ve got the Gardener’s Cottage for morning preparations, the Cupola and long aisle for an outdoor ceremony, the tipi for the wedding breakfast and evening party, plus pathways, old garden walls, lawns, mature greenery and quieter corners for photographs.
That meant Sophie and Adam could spend the entire day in one place while I could still create photographs that looked different throughout the day.
From a photography perspective, I’d particularly highlight the Gardener’s Cottage. The light, neutral interiors and large amount of natural light made bridal preparations very easy to photograph.
The gardens also give you plenty of options when the weather isn’t photographically perfect.
On Sophie and Adam’s wedding day we had very strong summer sunshine. Being able to move into shaded areas for group photographs and portraits made a big difference.
The Cupola itself is beautiful, although photographers should definitely pay attention to the direction of the sun during an afternoon ceremony. On a bright summer day, the couple can be standing in shade while the guests behind them are in considerably stronger light.
It’s manageable – you simply need to recognise what’s happening and work with it.
And that’s exactly why I think there’s a difference between seeing photographs of a wedding venue and actually having photographed a full wedding there.
Now I know where the light falls.
I know where I’d take a couple for photographs.
I know where I’d go when the sun is harsh.
And I know where I’d head when the light softens later in the day.
Most importantly, though, I know what the place feels like with a hundred-ish people laughing, drinking, eating, dancing and celebrating inside those walls.
And it works.
Would I Photograph Another Wedding at The Walled Garden Helperby?
Absolutely.
The venue is beautiful, but what stood out just as much to me was the team behind it.
I met Kate during the day, who looks after the venue’s social media, and everyone I dealt with was friendly, relaxed and helpful from the moment I arrived.
So a big thank you to the entire team at The Walled Garden Helperby for making me feel welcome on my first wedding there.
Hopefully it won’t be my last. If you’d like to know a little more about my approach to wedding photography, you can find everything on my main page.
And to Sophie and Adam…
Thank you for trusting me.
From wandering around York together during your pre-wedding shoot to champagne flying through the air at the end of your wedding night, you were exactly as much fun to photograph as I expected.
Enjoy Bali.
And Sophie – I hope the birthday hangover wasn’t too bad.
Planning a Wedding at The Walled Garden Helperby?
If you’re considering The Walled Garden Helperby for your wedding, here are a few things I noticed after photographing a full summer wedding there.
Can you have an outdoor wedding ceremony at The Walled Garden Helperby?
Yes. The stone Cupola provides a beautiful setting for an outdoor civil ceremony within the Walled Garden.
Is there somewhere to get ready at the venue?
Yes. The Gardener’s Cottage sits beside the garden and provides a bright preparation space. From a photographer’s perspective, the natural window light and neutral interiors are a big plus.
Is The Walled Garden Helperby good for wedding photographs?
Definitely. There are plenty of different backgrounds within a relatively small area – garden pathways, greenery, old walls, the Cupola, lawns and the tipi itself. You don’t need to leave the venue for couple portraits.
What happens if the weather changes?
The venue has covered spaces as well as the outdoor ceremony setting, giving couples options if the Yorkshire weather doesn’t cooperate. For the latest ceremony arrangements and wet-weather options, I’d always recommend checking directly with the venue.
Where is The Walled Garden Helperby?
It’s in Helperby, North Yorkshire, within easy reach of York and surrounded by Yorkshire countryside.
For current availability, packages and wedding information, visit the official The Walled Garden Helperby website.
Sophie & Adam’s Wedding Suppliers:
A wedding like this takes a lot of people behind the scenes, so here are some of the suppliers Sophie and Adam chose for their day:
Venue & catering: @walledgardenhelperby
Hair: @laurarobertsonhair
Makeup: @seemaghirmua
Wedding dress: @theharrogateweddinglounge
Saxophone: @sweetonsax
Flowers: @yvonnedenniseventflowers
Tiramisu wedding cake: @wheretheribbonends
Garden games: @yorkshiregameshire