THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE To Your Dream Photoshoot Location: FOUNTAINS ABBEY Magic for Maternity, Engagement, and Wedding Moments

FOUNTAINS ABBEY

Introduction

Hey there! If you're on the hunt for the perfect spot to capture those oh-so-special moments, look no further than Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire. It's like stepping into a fairytale, and as an award winning photographer, I'm here to spill the beans on why this place is an absolute gem for your maternity, engagement, and wedding photoshoots. So, if you're wanting really special photos, buckle up as we explore the wonders of Fountains Abbey and how it's tailor-made to capture your memories forever.

1. A Tale of Timeless Love

Imagine this: a place founded back in 1132, telling stories of centuries gone by. Fountains Abbey is all about embracing history and weaving it into your own love story. It's not just ruins; it's a canvas where your journey meets the past, making it a perfect fit for your maternity, engagement, and wedding shots.

2. Bump and Beauty: Maternity Magic

Calling all soon-to-be mums! Fountains Abbey has got that magical touch to complement your radiant glow. Those ancient stone walls and blooming gardens? They're like the perfect frame for capturing the excitement and love you're feeling. Your maternity photos here will be like little time capsules, preserving this incredible chapter of your life.

3. Love's Playground: Engagement Fun

Couples, listen up! Fountains Abbey is the place where love sparks fly. The arches, the water—it's practically screaming "capture our romance!" If you're thinking about engagement shots that feel genuine and cozy, this spot ticks all the boxes. Let's freeze those candid moments and raw emotions against this dreamy backdrop.

4. Wedding Bliss and Beyond

Weddings, anyone? Fountains Abbey is like a VIP seat to your own fairytale wedding. The abbey ruins amidst nature's glory set the stage for elegance and charm. This place really does bring out the best in your love story's opening scene. Unfortunately they don’t hold actuall ceremonies there anymore but i’ts perfect to have your photos after having a ceremony elsewhere, or a registry office wedding.

5. Light Up Your Life

You know that dreamy light you see in magazines? Well, Fountains Abbey has it in spades. The way the sun dances through the arches and windows, it's like a natural spotlight that turns your photos into works of art. From sunrise to sunset, you'll be amazed at your delivered photos that capture the heart and soul of the moment.

6. Water Wonderland: Reflection Magic

Hold on, there's more! The ponds in Studley Royal Park add a dash of magic to your memories and pictures. Imagine your love story mirrored on tranquil waters, adding an extra layer of enchantment. It's like dipping your photos in a pool of symbolism and romance.

7. Your Story, My Lens

Fountains Abbey isn't just a location—it's a canvas where your dreams come alive. Whether it's that pregnancy glow, the excitement of love, or the start of forever, I will blend your vision with this historic wonderland. Each click captures the vibe, the emotion, and the essence of your unique journey.

Conclusion

Alright guys - Fountains Abbey is your ticket to capturing life's most cherished moments with a dash of history, elegance, and a sprinkle of romance. From bumps and engagements to celebrating your "I do’s," this place is the real deal. So let's create some photographic magic that'll make your memories shine brighter than ever!

Below are the entry prices for Fountains Abbey - only one shoot is allowed per day, and so pre-booking is essential, but I can sort that out.

• For Engagements, Maternity, Neweborn, etc - £95 inc VAT - this includes entry for those taking part in the shoot and myself (photographer).

• - Using their venue for your wedding photographs - £390 inc VAT. - This includes entry for you as the couple and also myself (photographer).

Please not that this is for entry, photography costs are seperate.

If you’re interested in having a photoshoot at Fountains Abbey, do hit me up with any questions :).

Written by Becky Groves - RAW Photography Yorkshire (2023).

@rawphotographyyorkshire

rawphotographyyorkshire@gmail.com

UNOFFICIAL ECO FRIENDLY WEDDING GUIDE: TOP 10 TIPS From A Real Bride's Experience

As a wedding photographer, I have the privileged of being a part of many weddings, and being there behind the scenes I get to see and learn about the couples dreams - Below is an interview with one of my past brides who I was really inspired by - she made so many eco friendly wedding choices and I wanted to share her knowledge and experience!

I have summarised her words into 10 top tips for planning an eco friendly wedding, but keep scrolling to read the full interview!

1) BORROW as much as you can

Try to borrow from friends and family anything that you don’t want to keep yourself for a lifetime… this can include your shoes and jewellery, your something blue, any shawls and other wedding accessories, table decor (like any bottles/vases/jam jars) and instax cameras for your guest book.

2) HIRE rather than buy

Think about the things that you may not use after your wedding, like your wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses, groomsmen’s suits, lawn games etc.

3) If you can’t hire, BUY SECOND HAND

If you can’t hire what you’re after, try to buy second hand. You can use places like facebook market place or charity shops to find hidden gems and even beautiful antique pieces for a retro vibe!

Wedding dresses….. You don’t need to spend hundreds and hundreds (or even thousands!) on a beautiful wedding dress, there are so so many second hand options out there for you - try places like Bridal Reloved, Oxfam Bridal, Preloved, and ebay.

3) *Writing in progress*

FULL INTERVIEW

What inspired you to have an eco-friendly wedding? Was sustainability an important value for you and your partner?

As we both come from science backgrounds (I am a biology teacher and Damien is an engineer), sustainability is a very important value for us. A lot of our day-to-day decisions are eco-conscious already, e.g., minimising food waste, buying clothes from charity shops, second-hand furniture from Facebook marketplace and being vegetarian at home to reduce our carbon footprint. We were also aware that we were not having a local wedding (we live in the Southwest) and since we were asking our family to travel far, we tried to reduce our carbon footprint in other ways.

How did you incorporate eco-friendly practices into your wedding planning process?

We used Instagram and Facebook to look for and book local wedding suppliers who wouldn’t have to travel far. We also chose suppliers, where possible, who’s ethos aligned with ours to reduce the carbon footprint of the wedding and chose materials that were recyclable.

Did you face any challenges while planning your eco-friendly wedding? How did you overcome them?

I originally wanted to hire a wedding dress rather than just buy a dress I’d only wear once. However, I really struggled to find where to do this. Instead, I came across Oxfam bridal through an Instagram advert.

What steps did you take to ensure minimal waste and reduce your carbon footprint during the wedding?

I bought my wedding dresses from Oxfam and have already donated one back to them (I want to keep the evening dress for future events), we hired the suits rather than buying new suits probably never to be worn again. Damien’s shoes were from Facebook marketplace. I am selling the bridesmaids dresses. We sent digital ‘save the date’ cards and wedding invites to save on paper and reduce our carbon footprint (and save on money!). I tried to borrow as much as possible (e.g. Instax camera, fur shawl, bottles/vases for flowers, jewellery) and also used what I already had (scrapbook for guest book, clutch bag, robes for getting ready in the morning). Our wedding suppliers were local, e.g. hairdresser and make-up artist were from Scarborough, local ice-cream, florist from nearby and homegrown flowers.

Can you share some details about the sustainable choices you made for your wedding venue, decor, and catering?

Raven Hall uses local produce and we chose a lot of vegan/vegetarian options for food, flowers were locally grown (no air miles) with no pesticides to be pollinator-friendly, confetti was biodegradable, ice-cream (wedding breakfast dessert) was local, we hired lawn games rather than bought them.

Did you opt for any specific eco-friendly materials or products for your wedding, such as recycled paper invitations or organic fabrics?

We used recycled paper for wedding stationary, and the table names were made of wood.

How did you involve your guests in your eco-friendly wedding vision? Did you provide any eco-friendly favours or encourage sustainable practices?

We asked for no gifts (we feel very fortunate to have everything we need) and instead asked guests to donate to charities close to our hearts- Cancer Research and the Malala Fund.

Were there any unique or creative ideas you implemented to make your wedding more environmentally friendly?

Our wedding cake was homemade by the groom’s mother and brother using their own chicken eggs. The flowers were whatever was in season, we just suggested a colour theme and didn’t know which flowers we’d receive until the day of the wedding (a nice surprise!). Damien also designed and had laser engraved the table plan (map of the UK) and table names (places in the UK we have either lived in or visited) which were made of wood.

Did you collaborate with any local vendors or suppliers who shared your eco-conscious values? How did this enhance your wedding experience?

Yes, Thistledown Flowers – they grow their own flowers with no pesticides or other nasty chemicals to protect pollinators and other wildlife, they will only supply seasonal flowers as they do not fly in flowers so no air miles (lower carbon footprint).

Looking back, what were the highlights of your eco-friendly wedding? What message or inspiration would you like to share with other couples planning their own sustainable weddings?

Highlights included meeting lovely local suppliers who we can keep in contact with. For example, I want to go to Cara Wood at Novia salon in Scarborough in future for my hair appointments. It was great to share our favourite local ice-cream from Beacon Farm where I had been going since a young child. It was also a lovely surprise to not know what flowers we were getting until the wedding day. My advice to other couples planning their own sustainable weddings is to try to source local suppliers – Instagram is a great place to look. And you don’t need an excessive wedding to have a fantastic day with lots of fun.

Written by Becky Groves, RAW Photography Yorkshire 2023