Alison & Hamish’s Elegant Winter Wedding at Simonstone Hall Hotel

Alison & Hamish’s wedding was the kind of winter day that feels extra still —
the kind where every moment lingers just a little longer in the quiet.

I arrived that morning as Alison’s sister helped her into a heavy satin dress,
perfect for the February chill,
with a bouquet of cream roses and white feathers resting nearby.

The ceremony took place in a nearby village church — simple, sincere, and full of warmth.
Afterward, we headed back through the Dales to Simonstone Hall Hotel,
tucked into the hills and mist.
Guests wrapped up outside for a few group photos
before retreating into the soft, low light of the hotel.

Their wedding breakfast and speeches filled the space with laughter,
followed by a first dance and a jazz band that brought the evening to life.

It was a quietly elegant winter wedding —
full of gentle glances, shared warmth,
and a sense of calm I won’t forget.

Alison’s winter satin dress hanging quietly in the bridal suite.
The bride’s elegant satin gown waits in soft winter light,
folded with promise and calm.

Satin Dress, Feathered Bouquet & February Light — Candid Moments Before the Ceremony

Morning light poured through the windows at Simonstone Hall Hotel as Alison got ready with her sisters. Her satin dress caught the glow, her bouquet of roses and feathers rested nearby — and outside, the hills held that stillness only winter gives. The calm before the day truly began.

Lace and satin detail on the back of the wedding dress.
Delicate loops and hand-tied lace,
a quiet beauty stitched in stillness.
Bridal shoes placed on wooden floorboards near the window.
Poised in the hush before it all begins,
her shoes rest ready beneath the February light.
Winter bouquet with cream roses and feathers on a stone wall at Simonstone Hall.
A bouquet of soft feathers and pale roses,
resting gently on the stone wall outside Simonstone Hall.
The bride’s sisters help with her dress in a quiet black-and-white scene.
Helping hands and soft smiles,
a quiet moment shared between sisters.
Alison smiles as one sister ties the back of her wedding dress.
Laughter in the room as the final ties are fastened,
moments threaded with ease and love.
The bride looks into a mirror held by her sister.
She sees herself as they see her —
glowing, composed, quietly radiant.
The bride, her sister, and parents gather smiling downstairs.
A warm pause before the day unfolds,
with love and laughter in every glance.
The bride with her sisters and parents in natural morning light.
Blue dresses and bright smiles,
a family moment glowing with February warmth.
The bride looks out across the Yorkshire Dales in her satin gown.
She takes in the quiet sweep of the Dales,
her dress glowing in the soft northern light.
Flower girl, page boy, and bridesmaids walk down the aisle of the church.
Tiny footsteps and a trail of blue,
the quiet magic before it all begins.

A Quiet Yorkshire Church Ceremony
— Joy, Mischief & a Heartfelt “I Do”

The ceremony unfolded in a small Yorkshire church — intimate and full of warmth. The flower girl and page boy led the way, full of character, followed by the bridesmaids, and Alison arm-in-arm with her dad.

There were smiles throughout the vows, soft glances, and a few beautiful, unposed moments in the vestry before signing the register. Then, back out into the soft winter air — to cheers and hugs from their waiting guests.

The bride walks into the church on her father’s arm, smiling at guests.
A warm smile and steady steps,
her hand tucked into her father’s arm.
The bride and groom meet at the altar with soft smiles.
A hush falls as they meet again,
this time to begin something new.
The couple hold hands and smile during their wedding vows.
Hands joined, hearts open,
they smile through every word.
Intimate wedding ceremony seen from the balcony of a small Yorkshire church.
A gathering of kind faces in a quiet Yorkshire chapel,
love echoing softly beneath the beams.
After the ceremony, the bride and groom are hugged in the vestry.
Warm arms and teary smiles,
congratulations wrapped in joy.
The bride and groom smile at one another as they sit at the register table.
A pause just for them,
before ink meets paper and names become a story.
A smiling bridesmaid in mid-blue looks towards the couple.
Watching love unfold,
her joy gently reflected in blue silk and smiles.
Flower girl with wand steals the moment inside the tiny church near SimonStone Hall.
A little burst of mischief and magic,
wand raised in the glow of a chapel near Simonstone Hall.
The bride signs the register as the groom and minister look on.
A quiet pause to sign her name,
watched with pride and tenderness.
The couple walk out hand in hand through the narrow aisle.
Side by side, they walk back into the light,
steps softened by ancient stone and stillness.
The newlyweds share a kiss outside in the stone courtyard, braving the February cold.
A kiss in the winter air,
stone walls and quiet joy.

Group Portraits & Winter Light at Simonstone Hall
— Blue Dresses, Dramatic Skies & Laughter in the Cold

We made the most of the February light just before the cold really set in. Outside Simonstone Hall, the stone steps and sweeping views gave us the perfect backdrop — blue bridesmaid dresses popping against the winter tones.

There were huddles for warmth, quick laughs between group shots, and a few quiet moments with Alison & Hamish before everyone rushed back into the soft glow of the hotel.

The couple close together with the gardens, hills, and grey clouds of North Yorkshire behind.
Whispers travel on the breeze,
beneath heavy clouds and heather hills.
The bride and her two bridesmaids in blue dresses sit smiling on the cold stone steps.
Blue dresses, chilled stone,
three smiles warming the frame.
A black and white photo of the groom and groomsmen sharing a laugh with the bride.
Unposed and huddled tight,
laughter echoing in monochrome.
Guests gather casually, chatting and smiling on the stone steps outside the venue.
Everyone together,
layers of laughter and stories.
The couple sit together on the steps, sharing a kiss in black and white.
A quiet kiss in grayscale stillness,
stone beneath, winter around.
The couple laugh and smile just after their kiss on the steps.
Joy that can’t be staged,
just the two of them — caught in it.
A little boy is lifted up to peek through a window at family inside.
Curiosity and tiny fingers,
peering into warmth and laughter.
Guests chat and laugh inside Simonstone Hall Hotel in black and white.
Back to warmth and wood-panelled rooms,
the gentle hum of stories shared.
The bride shares a warm, joyful moment with friends inside the venue.
A quiet glow between friends,
February light soft on her smile.

Candid Moments & Mischief Indoors
— Laughter, Little Ones, and Warmth at Simonstone Hall

Back inside, the mood softened into something cosy and full of laughter. Glasses clinked, hugs were shared, and Alison & Hamish made their way around the room with easy smiles.

The little ones stole the spotlight — peeking through chair backs, faces pressed to the glass in the corridor window, lost in their own joyful world. These in-between moments are the ones that always linger.

The bride mingles and chats warmly with her friends, smiling.
Laughter in soft focus,
her joy mirrored in theirs.
The groom steps into the scene, surrounded by friends and the bride.
He joins the warmth mid-moment,
a soft presence among smiles.
The groom bursts out laughing during a casual chat — the moment frozen in time.
A laugh caught just right —
whatever it was, it worked.
Guests relax on cosy sofas in Simonstone Hall, smiling and enjoying the afternoon.
Soft seats, softer light,
and the comfort of old stone warmth.
A young child pokes her head through the back of a wooden chair, playfully.
The back of a chair becomes theatre,
childhood curiosity on display.
A candid black and white moment of guests enjoying drinks and conversation.
Timeless chatter,
a gentle blur of glass and laughter.
A groomsman notices the camera at the bar, raising an eyebrow mid-pour.
One glance, one eyebrow,
caught mid-pint and mid-thought.
Guests sit among the muted tones of the venue interior, chatting and enjoying the space.
Muted colours hold the mood,
soft conversations shaping the room.
A mirror reflects a scene of guests and details inside this Yorkshire wedding venue.
Reflections and real moments meet,
one frame, many stories.
The couple and their friends pose for a happy photo beside the snooker table.
Smiles gather round green felt,
a moment paused, mid-laughter.
A close-up of the flower girl and pageboy, both lost in their own little daydreams.
Their world drifts elsewhere,
full of quiet wonder.
The couple walk in together, ready to be seated for the wedding breakfast at Simonstone Hall.
Stepping into the room’s soft cheer,
they take their place in history.

A Joyful Wedding Breakfast
— Cake, Laughter, and Heartfelt Speeches at Simonstone Hall Hotel

As guests found their seats, the couple arrived at the top table — a quiet moment before the warmth of conversation and shared stories unfolded. Before the speeches, I wandered between tables, catching those in-between glances, raised glasses, and bursts of laughter.

Then came the cake-cutting, followed by a trio of heartfelt speeches — the father of the bride’s gentle words, the groom’s quiet emotion, and the best man’s blend of humour and warmth. A golden run of moments I’ll always enjoy capturing.

The parents of the bride or groom sit smiling at their table.
Years of stories in their eyes,
and today adds another.
A close-up of the simple two-tiered wedding cake topped with roses.
Two tiers, quietly beautiful,
like the vows that came before.
Female guests sit smiling, phones in hand, capturing the moment.
Their smiles double —
once in life, once on screen.
Two male guests pose with exaggerated smiles at a nearby table.
A wink, a pose, a classic shot —
and no retakes needed.
The bride sits between friends, mid-conversation and surrounded by joy.
She’s not just the centre of the room,
but the heart of it too.
A colour image of the bride smiling warmly with two friends during the wedding breakfast at this Yorkshire venue.
All smiles, all stories,
and the comfort of closeness.
Black and white shot of the bride and three friends posing while others at the table watch on.
A quiet pose across the table,
shared laughter without a word.
The Simonstone Hall Hotel sign with moody skies and the Yorkshire hillside beyond.
Old signage stands against the wind,
Simonstone Hall cradled by the moors.
A young boy holds a Peppa Pig backpack as his smiling father stands close by.
Tiny hands, bold with colour,
held safe in dad’s soft grin.
Black and white photo of the couple kissing as they cut the cake together.
A kiss shared mid-tradition,
sweet in every way.
The couple sit side by side before the speeches begin, the groom looking slightly nervous.
He shifts, she steadies —
the moment just before the words.
The couple smile and react warmly during the father of the bride’s speech.
Their smiles echo
a lifetime of gentle pride.
A black and white portrait of the father of the bride delivering his speech at this Yorkshire wedding.
He stands to speak —
his words carry years and love.
The groom begins his speech while his bride smiles back at him.
Eyes meet in mid-sentence,
the kind that don’t need cue cards.
The groom wraps his bride in a warm hug as his speech ends.
No applause could match
this quiet, grateful hold.
The best man begins his speech, standing confidently as the room listens.
A deep breath, a grin,
and here we go…
The groom laughs with a mix of pride and slight embarrassment during the speeches.
A blush beneath the laughter,
grinning through the spotlight.
Guests move from the wedding breakfast into the warmth of the bar and table areas.
The quiet shuffle after dinner,
glasses topped and stories shared.
Wedding guests gather along the edge of the dancefloor, waiting for the first dance.
The hush before the music,
eyes drawn to the next moment.
The groom enjoys a quiet coffee before the dancing begins.
A small pause with a warm cup,
calm before rhythm returns.
The bride leans in to kiss the groom as he holds his coffee.
A kiss, still fresh with vows,
in the soft hum of evening.
The newlyweds dance with their parents to begin the evening reception.
Steps that honour where we came from,
before dancing into what’s next.
The bride dances with her father, both smiling gently.
One last waltz as daughter,
before she walks on as wife.
In black and white, the couple share their first dance while the jazz band plays at this Yorkshire wedding.
A slow rhythm underfoot,
their own song within the jazz.
The couple dance with arms outstretched, holding hands and looking into each other's eyes.
Palms pressed, eyes held,
lost in their shared tempo.
The wedding jazz band continues to play as guests watch and dance.
Swinging softly through the room,
strings and brass in tune with hearts.
The jazz wedding singer performs live, adding soul and charm to this Yorkshire celebration.
His voice lifted the evening,
a melody stitched into memory.

Simonstone Hall is such a beautiful choice for a winter wedding — its stone walls, fireplaces, and cosy atmosphere lend themselves to this kind of day perfectly. If you’re planning something similar in the Yorkshire Dales or closer to the city, you can explore more of my real weddings here.

Or head back to the homepage to find out more about how I photograph weddings across Leeds, the Yorkshire Dales, and throughout West Yorkshire — always with a relaxed, honest approach.

Venue: Simonstone Hall Hotel, near Hawes, North Yorkshire

Alison & Hamish’s February wedding was photographed at Simonstone Hall Hotel, a historic country house nestled in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With sweeping views, candlelit interiors, and warm hospitality, it’s a timeless choice for a relaxed winter wedding.

Documented by Leeds-based wedding photographer Tim Christian Jones, who photographs weddings across the Dales, North Yorkshire, and beyond.

Similar Posts