My day with Hillary and the wedding party began at The Milner Hotel in York, where the bridal preparations were taking place.

I had the absolute privilege of spending the morning with Hillary, her American friends and family as everyone prepared for the celebrations ahead. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the room, with the excitement gradually building as the morning went on.

Bridal preparations are one of my favourite parts of a wedding day because they provide so many opportunities to capture the little moments. The laughter, the nerves, the conversations and the excitement between friends and family all help tell the story of what is about to happen.

This wedding was particularly special for me too, as it would become the first of four weddings I photographed at The Hospitium that season.

Before leaving The Milner, we also took advantage of one of the hotel’s most impressive features — its beautiful staircase. It provided the perfect setting for a few photographs of Hillary before we made the short journey across York to The Hospitium.

The journey from The Milner Hotel to The Hospitium is a short one, but it takes you into a completely different atmosphere.

From the elegance of the hotel, we made our way towards the historic surroundings of the York Museum Gardens. Hidden amongst the gardens and ancient ruins is The Hospitium, a truly unique wedding venue with centuries of history surrounding it.

For Hillary and Stephan, this was the place they had chosen to bring together their families and friends from both sides of the Atlantic.

And as a York wedding photographer, it’s hard not to appreciate just how special a setting it is.

The ceremony itself was incredibly personal.

Rather than having a stranger conduct their wedding, Hillary and Stephan chose a close friend to act as their wedding celebrant. Having someone who knew the couple personally lead the ceremony made the whole experience feel even more meaningful.

There was also a beautiful musical moment during the ceremony when Hillary’s father played an acoustic guitar.

It was one of those moments that perfectly demonstrated what I love about weddings. It wasn’t something that had been staged for the photographs. It was a genuine, personal contribution from someone incredibly important to the couple.

Between the words from their friend, the music from Hillary’s father and the emotion shared between Hillary and Stephan, it was a ceremony that felt completely unique to them.

Once Hillary and Stephan were officially married, it was time to celebrate!

The confetti was a brilliant opportunity to capture the excitement of the newlyweds and their wedding party. There were smiles, laughter and plenty of energy as everyone celebrated the couple.

With friends and family travelling from both the United States and the UK, the day was about much more than simply two people getting married. It was about bringing two families, two cultures and two sides of the Atlantic together in one place.

These are the moments I love photographing — the spontaneous hugs, the laughter and the celebrations that happen naturally when everyone is together.

Then, at 6pm, something rather magical happened.

The York Museum Gardens closed to the public, leaving Hillary, Stephan and their wedding party with the gardens almost entirely to themselves for the evening.

For a wedding photographer, this was a dream.

We were able to wander through the gardens without the usual crowds and take our time creating some beautiful photographs of the newlyweds.

We explored the historic ruins, wandered through the gardens and made use of the incredible architecture around the Museum Gardens and the museum itself.

This is where we could slow things down a little. Away from the excitement of the reception, Hillary and Stephan had some time together to take everything in — and we could create some of their more formal photographs without making the experience feel like a long photoshoot.

The combination of York’s history, the gardens and the evening light created a truly beautiful backdrop for their photographs.

As the evening celebrations continued, we had one final collection of special moments before the dance floor really came alive.

The evening began with a beautiful dance between Hillary and her father — another incredibly meaningful moment for the American side of the family.

That was followed by Hillary and Stephan’s first dance as husband and wife.

And then, as you’d expect from any great wedding, the formalities were over and the party began!

The atmosphere changed almost instantly as friends and family took to the dance floor to celebrate late into the evening.

After such a personal and emotional day, it was the perfect way to finish the celebrations.

Hillary and Stephan’s wedding at The Hospitium was a day I won’t forget.

From the morning preparations at The Milner Hotel and Hillary’s American family and friends, to the deeply personal ceremony, the acoustic guitar played by her father, the confetti celebrations and eventually having the beautiful York Museum Gardens to ourselves, every part of the day had its own story.

Most importantly, it was a celebration of two people who had fallen in love, two families coming together and two great nations meeting in one of England’s most beautiful historic cities.

For a couple who had fallen in love with York during their visits, I don’t think they could have chosen a more fitting place to begin their married life together.

It was an absolute privilege to photograph your wedding and to be part of such a special day. Thank you for trusting me to capture your story and for welcoming me into the celebrations with your family and friends. From the moment I arrived at The Milner Hotel to the final dances at The Hospitium, it was a day packed with genuine emotion, laughter and unforgettable moments. I hope your photographs always transport you back to that wonderful day in York.