Tanya & Paul’s Wedding at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa

Photographed by Leeds wedding photographer, Tim Christian Jones
Published: 23 Jan 2026

Late June. A day that brought every season in a few short hours.

Tanya and Paul were married at Kirk Deighton Church in Wetherby. Sunshine arrived at just the right moments. First for Tanya’s entrance at the church. Then again as a vintage white Rolls waited outside Wood Hall Hotel & Spa.

Later, soft cloud cover rolled in. Perfect for relaxed couple portraits. Gentle light. Calm skies. A contrast that gave the day its character.

Family and friends stayed close. Smiles came easily. Emotion filled every room. I photographed the story as it unfolded, using only the light that was already there. Honest. Natural. Unforced.

A day full of warmth. And one very happy bride.

All photography at this Wood Hall Hotel summer wedding, by a Leeds wedding photographer, Tim Christian Jones. The Bride Tanya having eye makeup applied during preparations in beautiful natural light - a pure and unedited timeless moment. — Final bridal makeup touches in the calm morning light. Natural & Candid wedding photography at Wood Hall Hotel, Wetherby: Tim Christian Jones.

Bride & Bridesmaids at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa

I arrived during the final moments of morning preparations. Just the last twenty minutes of makeup. Enough time to watch the atmosphere settle.

Tanya sat comfortably as lip gloss was brushed on. Bridesmaids gathered close. Soft laughter. Quiet anticipation. The room felt calm and unhurried.

Her dress hung from a picture frame beside the four-poster bed. Waiting. The veil caught gentle window light. Timeless moments that needed no direction.

Some frames worked best in monochrome. Simple. Honest. Beautiful preparation at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa in Wetherby.

Bridesmaids huddle together as Tanya admires them ready — A quiet moment of togetherness before the day begins.

Close-up of Tanya having lip gloss applied before the ceremony — The last detail before stepping into the dress.

Wider view of bride Tanya during final makeup touches — Soft laughter and anticipation in the room.

Tanya looks down at her bouquet resting on the bed — A first glance at the flowers she chose.

Wedding dress hanging from a picture frame above the bed — The dress waiting in gentle window light.

Bride’s veil positioned during preparations at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa — A delicate moment before everything comes together.

Bride and bridesmaids admire gifts during preparations — Smiles shared over thoughtful presents.

Bride Tanya touches the edge of her veil in monochrome — A timeless portrait before the ceremony.

Arrival at Kirk Deighton Church

Rain and sunshine shared the morning.

When I arrived, bridesmaids sheltered at the church entrance. A quiet, moody moment. Umbrellas gathered. Groomsmen greeted guests. Some laughed through the drizzle. Others stepped inside, already smiling.

Then the light changed.

Guests arrived along the pathway. Bright dresses. Green surroundings. A burst of summer colour. Bridesmaids gathered again, this time in warm sunshine.

And just in time.

A vintage white Rolls pulled up. Tanya stepped out beaming. She and her bridesmaids walked the path together. All smiles. All excitement. Sunshine exactly where it mattered most.

Bridesmaids shelter from the rain at Kirk Deighton Church, Wetherby — Rain outside, laughter inside the church doorway.

Groom and groomsmen arrive holding white umbrellas in the rain — Rainy arrivals with good spirits intact.

Wedding guests hurry toward the church entrance to escape the rain — A quick dash through passing showers.

Guests seated in the pews smiling during the ceremony — Happy faces waiting for the bride.

A couple arrive at the church posing together in bright sunshine — Sunshine returning just in time.

Four bridesmaids in blue wait at the church gate for the bride — Anticipation at the entrance.

Bride arrives in a vintage white Rolls as a bridesmaid adjusts her veil — A graceful arrival at the church.

Mother of the bride steps from the car smiling toward Tanya — Shared smiles before walking inside.

Bride meets the vicar at the church gate before the ceremony — A warm welcome at the church gates.

Bride and bridesmaids walk up the church path, Tanya glancing back — Excitement building with every step.

Bride smiles as she walks toward the church in sunshine — A joyful entrance under clearing skies.

The Ceremony at Kirk Deighton

Paul looked back as Tanya appeared with her mum. Smiles all the way down the aisle. A moment that set the tone for everything that followed.

They stood together at the altar. Hands held. Rings exchanged. A first kiss greeted with quiet joy. Photographing a couple this relaxed felt effortless. I had only just met Paul that morning, yet everything felt natural. No pressure. Just genuine emotion.

Signing the register carried the same easy rhythm. Laughter. Warm glances. Then doors opening to blue sky and drifting cloud. No rain. Just relief and light.

Confetti & Celebration Outside

Guests formed two lines. Confetti ready. Anticipation rising.

Tanya and Paul stepped through a shower of colour. Friends and family close around them. Smiles everywhere. A moment that barely needed direction.

A few more happy faces captured before everyone set off for the reception at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa.

Couple Portraits at Wood Hall Hotel & Spa

On the way to the venue, we paused at a quiet grassy spot. Wood Hall in the distance. Cloudy skies. A calm moment just for the two of them.

Only minutes later, we arrived at the hall. And, as if on cue, the sunshine returned. Tanya and Paul stepped out beside the vintage Rolls. Relaxed. Natural. A few portraits with Wood Hall behind them. Then closer frames. Expressions that said everything.

Family and friends gathered on the steps. Group photos requested and happily taken. Laughter between frames. The weather kind once again on this late summer day in West Yorkshire.

Wedding Breakfast & Speeches at Wood Hall

The wedding breakfast room at Wood Hall was ready and waiting. Tables dressed simply. Light filling the space. A white iced cake at the centre. Towers of cupcakes beside it. And a hand-felt plate spelling out cake. A small detail that made everyone smile.

Then straight into speeches.

First, Tanya’s mum. Then Paul’s dad. A return to tradition. Paul followed. Then the best man. Laughter. Hugs. A little embarrassment, of course. And gifts passed along the way.

I stepped back during the meal. A quiet pause for everyone. But the moments between courses always matter. The conversations. The reactions. The warmth. Storytelling never stops, even when the camera rests.

Couple Portraits in the Fading Light

As the day softened, we stepped outside once more.

No pressure. No posing session. Just a quiet walk away from the noise. A pause that couples often appreciate more than they expect.

Sweeping lawns. A split tree. Still air. Tanya and Paul together. Calm. Unhurried. Then one last portrait with the hall behind them as dusk began to settle.

A gentle close to a full day.

Evening Fun & Final Frames

Back inside, the tables became gathering points again. I photographed group moments in a way I’ve loved since the early days. Everyone drawn to one side. Some seated. Some standing. Chatting rather than staring at the camera. Natural energy. Real interaction.

This time, it became even more playful. Tanya and Paul had brought Mr & Mrs signs. Moustaches. Little props that sparked laughter and individuality in every frame.

Later, guests spread through the rooms. Conversations flowing. Photo-frame selfies. Hats and masks appearing. A few evening guests arriving to fresh excitement. Tanya lifting a leg for a joking pose as friends greeted her. Moments you can’t script.

I moved quietly through it all. Catching the story as it unfolded.

Cake Cutting & First Dance

Evening settled in at Wood Hall. Low light. Soft corners. The glow of the jazz band setting the scene.

They cut the small cake together. No performance. No expectations. Just Tanya and Paul, letting their personalities lead the moment.

Then the first dance. A gentle twirl. Singing along to their chosen song. Lost in it completely. As if no camera was there at all.

The day closed the way it began. Easy. Natural. Full of feeling.

A day that carried every shade of English summer. Rain giving way to sunlight. Cloud softening into dusk. Moments unfolding without force or performance.

Tanya and Paul moved through it all with warmth and ease. Family close. Friends present. Laughter constant. A wedding shaped not by schedule, but by feeling.

One of those days where the story simply tells itself.

On Keeping Photography Human-Centric

When choosing a camera, it’s easy to look only at the newest models and technical specifications. But photography has never been about numbers alone. In recent years, many cameras have leaned toward heavier in-camera processing — emphasising sharpness and contrast in ways that can feel unnatural. Skin becomes overly defined, backgrounds fall away too abruptly, and the scene starts to feel examined rather than experienced.

For this wedding at Wood Hall Hotel in Wetherby, I photographed the day using a Nikon D800 — a camera whose files retain a gentler, more film-like approach to light, colour, and focus. The aim is always human-centric imagery: natural skin tones, calm tonal transitions, and backgrounds that remain part of the story rather than disappearing into blur. These are photographs made to feel timeless rather than trend-driven — and in print, they hold the same quiet, honest presence as the day itself.

Venue Information — Kirk Deighton Church, Wetherby

A traditional village church just outside Wetherby, offering a peaceful setting for a heartfelt ceremony surrounded by countryside and close-knit community.

Venue Information — Wood Hall Hotel & Spa, Wetherby

Wood Hall Hotel & Spa is a country-house venue set in sweeping grounds near Wetherby, providing elegant indoor spaces and calm outdoor settings for celebrations throughout the day.