Monique & Taylor

When Monique and Taylor first told me about their wedding, two things came up again and again: faith and family. I heard that a lot at the planning stage, but I wasn’t quite ready for how much of it I’d feel on the day itself.

Their wedding brought two worlds together, Monique’s Latin American family and Taylor’s British one, meeting in the middle at Teesside Vineyard Church. There were 140 people in the room, some of whom had flown in from California and beyond to be there. Somehow it still felt like a secret shared between two families.

The ceremony was one of those where I barely needed to look for moments, because they were everywhere. People held onto each other in the pews. Parents watched on in tears without any attempt to hide it. There were lots of little glances and squeezed hands that nobody said a word about. My job was simply to stay close and stay quiet, and let it all happen.

Once the church had emptied out, we did something slightly mad. We bundled into the car and drove 20-something minutes to Roseberry Topping, wedding dress and all. I’ll admit it’s not the most practical spot to take a bride, but some backdrops are just worth it, and this one did not disappoint! We stood on the edge of the North York Moors with the golden light coming in low, and came away with a handful of photos I’m very quietly proud of. It was also a welcome bit of breathing space for the two of them, away from 140 of their favourite people.

Monique and Taylor, thank you for letting me in. It was an absolute privilege.

If you’re planning a wedding in Teesside or around the North York Moors and fancy detouring up a hill for the right light, check if your date is free and tell me what you’ve got in mind.