It’s always a pleasure to photograph an Autumnal wedding (my favourite time of year!) and Emma & Kris’ wedding was no exception. I was spoilt this day with two amazing venues, Ponden Mill and Gibson Mill which I’ve photographed at many times now. Ponden Mill was the perfect setting for a cosy autumn wedding and the colours on the trees at Gibson Mill were just perfect! The weather wasn’t the best, but sometimes you’ve just got to grab a clear brolly and some Doc Martens and embrace it!

The details of this day were just incredible. Emma & Kris put a staggering amount of work into all the little DIY details of their day combined with Hannah Elizabeth’s floristry it was just perfect. And both their outfits were fabulous! I always love a dress from Jean Jackson Couture.

Emma & Kris were so much fun to photograph and I absolutely loved this day. Especially the party later on with surprise guests Mr Wilson’s Second Liners!

How did you two meet?: We initially matched on bumble and found out we were going to the same event at Warehouse Project in Manchester. He was the first person I spotted in the queue (not hard when you're as tall as Kris!) and we danced the night away together and agreed to meet up on a proper date the following week. The rest is history!

Describe the proposal!: Kris knows my favourite time of year is and always has been Halloween so he planned the perfect spooky, cute day on Halloween 2020. We had breakfast at a haunted pub in Whitby and then Kris proposed afterwards up at Whitby abbey (in the middle of a very atmospheric storm!) with a gorgeous emerald engagement ring. The weather brightened up afterwards and we went for a lovely meal where he'd arranged for flowers to be delivered to the table and we went up on to the cliff to be greeted by the sight of the first full moon on Halloween since 1944! Finally, he topped off the day with a surprise ghost bus tour in York where we staying for the night.

What is special about your venue?: We discovered Gibson mill on a lockdown walk before we were engaged. Obviously weddings weren't on our mind at the time but we both said how amazing it would be to through a party there! Once we were engaged, we looked into the possibility of getting married there (we didn't even know you could at the time!) and were pleasantly surprised to see that you could so decided to go for it - it has such a cool mix of industrial edge and rustic charm and is obviously surrounded by gorgeous scenery. It seemed to capture both our love of both rough and ready party locations and nature and the great outdoors in a really unique way that we didn't think anywhere else could. There were a few logistical problems (such as catering and guest numbers) that meant we decided to have the reception somewhere else. I'd heard they were turning Ponden Mill (another local Mill where I used to go shopping with my mum back in the day!) into a wedding venue so we decided to go take a look before it was even finished and fell in love with that one so we feel very lucky to have not one but two amazing venues!

Any details of note about your big day?: In honor of our engagement and love of Halloween, we're getting married on Halloween weekend and have planned in plenty of spooky and magical touches. We've gone for quite a autumnal, pagan inspired ceremony arrangement with a sacred circle and hanging branch installation with witchy looking upside down dried bouquets. And there will be a tarot card reader doing readings during the drinks reception. I've also made everyone mini self-love spell jars for the favours.
Between me and my friends, we have done ALOT of DIY. I've made loads of pompom bunting, all the signage and decor, I designed all the invites and have been raiding charity shops for old brasses and antiques that take my fancy. I've also been doing lots of hunting for conkers and bits for woodland crafts in the local woods and park where I work to add to the autumnal theme. I also found some really cool old glass poison bottles on market place! One my favorite DIYS so far is the name cards which are in keeping with the "something wedded this way comes" play on words we've been using as they're each made from out cut up sections of Macbeth (all about witches and where the something wicked this way comes quote comes from) and are attached to something which represents an old Samhain (Halloween) tradition. I've explained what they all are in the cards on the table. We're also planning to do some bits with old vinyls and will be creating a mini Mexican Day of the Dead altar to remember those who are no longer with us. My Nan is making the cake, my friend from work has handmade all the wooden moons that display the table names (which are all named after stages at Boomtown festival), our artist friend Ben is making some festival inspired décor for the night do, our musical friends our helping us out by both DJing on the night and making some special versions of our favourite tunes for the ceremony and first dance.

Venue: Hardcastle Craggs and Ponden Mill

Emma’s dress: Rue De Seine from Jean Jackson Boutique

Kris’ suit: Tailor made from James Personal Tailor & Son

Bridesmaids/Groomsmen Outfits: Bridemaids - various place. Groomsmen - hired from Black Tie Menswear

Hair : Hair By Emma Tretton

Makeup : Lauren Mccabe

Cake: My grandma Jennifer!

Flowers: Hannah Elizabeth Flowers

Catering: Caterpillar Kitchen and Outside Kitchen

Band/DJ: Mr Wilson's Second Liners and friends

Anything else : Kim Kounnas, Face painter. Electric Reel, Videographer. Carla Greenwood, Tarot Card Reader.

Kind words from Emma & Kris: “I first got in touch with Maddie after she photographed a wedding of a friend and was totally blown away by her captivatingly authentic and natural style. From that very first email enquiry, Maddie has been an absolute angel responding promptly and going above and beyond by offering supplier suggestions and other tips along the way. And then there's her photos...where do I start?! Our guests say that they're the most beautiful wedding photos they've ever seen. And it's all thanks to Maddie's lovely nature putting us at ease on the day and of course her incredible talent as a photographer. I really can't say enough good things about Maddie...if you want someone who is professional, delivers stunning photos in an unexpectedly quick space of time and is generally a kickass gal then get your date request in quick!”