Rustic wedding venue

All about Autumn at The Normans

Since summer’s in no rush to show its face (we’re writing this in early April and it’s still raining), let’s go back to the bright blue skies and golden hues of autumn.

Yes, autumn.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we love an autumn wedding.

And we’re not the only ones. Dynamic duo Maddie and Alastair also love an autumn wedding, which is why they picked one fine day in November to tie the knot at The Normans.

Happily for us - and anyone casting their eyes over this blog - Maddie and Alastair enlisted the skills of photographer Hamish Irvine to pap the day.

Hamish is a regular at The Normans and knows how to capture couples (and the venue!) in all their glory!

We can’t get over these gorgeous images of our Courtyard, quiet and still, awaiting the arrival of wedding guests.

But the autumn aesthetics paled in comparison to beautiful bride Maddie, whose smile says it all…

Marvellous Maddie is no stranger to The Normans wedding venue, having visited previously in a professional capacity, working for the most excellent Martin House Children’s Hospice (check out photos from last year’s charity ball, if you haven’t already!)

However, work was the last thing on Maddie’s mind. She had more pressing matters to attend to: smashing champagne in her pyjamas with her bridesmaids.

The girls were soon joined by Jamie Bailey of Meraki Hair Salon who was in charge of the bride’s hair, while the team from Capelli looked after the bridesmaids.

Make-up artist Sonia Schofield, meanwhile, blushed, bronzed and (further) beautified the bridal party.

Then, of course, there was the dress.

Beau’ by Made With Love Bridal, procured from The Aisle in Skipton, features hand-beaded lace and a striking square neckline.

“Gemma and the team were so lovely,” enthuses Maddie - I had the best experience!”

Finishing touches were perfected by seamstress Helen at The Bobbin Bridal, who also made Maddie a stunning headband out of excess material from here dress.

“I put the headband on later in the night… I love it!” exclaims Maddie. “It also means I can carry on wearing a little bit of my wedding day whenever I want!”

“I loved the beading and sparkles,” says Maddie. “Everyone seemed to be heading for lace this year - or at least in my friendship circle - I wanted something to catch the November light and look sparkly!”

Maddie looked picture-perfect and hearts duly melted when she revealed her dress to bridesmaids and her dear Dad.

Outside, guests basked in the cool light of autumn, mingling in the leafy environs of The Normans Courtyard.

“We always knew we wanted an autumn wedding, a rustic but classy feel, but we didn’t want to go with the standard rusts and oranges,” says Maddie.

“We had the idea to have white and gold with little additions of colour, with our wedding party in black, we also asked the guests to wear colour, we didn’t want them to feel like they needed to dull it down for an autumn wedding and they did a great job!“

The Ceremony Barn at The Normans wedding venue. Photo by Hamish Irvine

Maddie made her way to the Ceremony Barn with the assistance of wedding planner Sian Chaplin…

The bride leaves The Normans wedding venue Bridal Cottage and heads towards the Ceremony Barn

… And with all this excitement, we nearly forgot to give a shout-out to the other half of our power couple, Alastair Massey - known to all and sundry as ‘Mass’. (No, not a reference to Density multiplied by Volume, or even Force divided by Acceleration, just an abbreviation of Massey. In case you were wondering. Which you probably weren’t…)

Mass was all smiles and looked dapper in his tailored tux from Slaters. The slick suit was embellished with a bespoke bowtie.

Bride and groom exchange vows in The Normans wedding venue Ceremony Barn. Photo by Hamish Irvine

Maddie met Mass at in front of The Ceremony Barn’s iconic cascading fairy lights…

… and the couple sealed their newly married status with a heartfelt kiss.

Bride and groom kiss in The Normans wedding venue ceremony barn

Once they’d signed the register, Maddie and Mass made a dramatic exit from the Ceremony Barn…

… out into The Courtyard…

The fine weather enabled guests to enjoy much of the day outside: sipping bubbly, sampling H&A’s top-drawer canapes, and admiring the personal touches that Maddie and Mass had added to the venue.

“Working in events, we really appreciate what good lighting can achieve,” explains Maddie. “Whether it’s candles, fairy lights, festoon lights, anything…”

Indeed, Maddie brought in AV Matrix to install extra festoon lights across the width of The Courtyard, making the area look all the more stunning as the sun set.

And let’s hear it for Maddie’s bridesmaids - all beautiful in black.

“There’s this joke that I’m like Morticia Addams,” laughs Maddie. “All I wear is black! It’s my colour! So much so, my now mother-in-law was slightly worried my wedding dress would be black, so it was only fitting that my bridesmaids were in black. I let each of them pick their own style from Six Stories. I think they looked so classy!”

The drinks reception after the marriage ceremony is the perfect time time for newly married couples to escape their guests and spend some quiet time together.

Aforementioned photographer Hamish Irvine knows his way around The Normans, so was able to take Maddie and Mass to some choice spots, resulting in some truly lovely shots…

But there’s only so much time a couple can spend smoochy kissing in tree-lined avenues and golden sunsets - people have to eat! And so, the large wooden doors of the Grain Shed were flung open and guests were called in for the wedding breakfast.

“We had candles on the top table for our grandparents who are no longer with us,” says Maddie when asked about her decorative features in The Grain Shed. “We wanted to honour them but in a subtle way and having their names on the candles did that for us.”

“We’re also proud of our table numbers. We spent time going through our baby photos - I think our parents really appreciated it!”

While guests took their seats, Maddie, Mass, bridesmaids, and groomsmen, took themselves to The Cow Stalls for some pre-dinner Dutch Courage (read as: shots!)

And then the couple made quite the entrance!

Proceedings started with speeches…

There was laughter.

There were tears.

And then there was food.

Lots of food.

“We are foodies,” announces Maddie in no uncertain terms. “We’ve been to so many weddings and we were adamant we wanted the food at ours to be remembered. And it was: our guests have not stopped talking about how good it was! The chicken and waffle to start was just such an us choice! And the beef sharing board! YUM! But the chocolate-orange dessert… wow! We tried this dessert at one of the H&A taster nights at The Normans and it was incredible! The perfect end to the meal!”

While guests gorged themselves on H&A’s fantastic fare, artist Stephanie Struth sat in the corner, diligently finishing the hugely impressive live painting she started during the ceremony. (We love this painting!)

Credit also to Anna Burton who crafted this three-tier beauty of a cake!

A bit of downtime between the end of the wedding breakfast and the beginning of the band’s first set gave Maddie, Mass and their respective Squads an opportune moment to steal into the night and wave around fizzing sticks of fire.

Fair play. The photos look great.

Of course, sparklers are all well and good, but nothing says ‘wedding celebration’ like spraying a bottle of bubbly in a dark, isolated rural setting.

Bride and groom spray champagne outside The Normans wedding venue. Photo by Hamish Irvine

Once sparklers had burned out and champagne had been sprayed and duly quaffed, Maddie and Mass were back inside on the dance floor.

DJ Silver Jams oversaw deck duties, and wedding guests - wielding glowing batons like an army of crazed party goblins - proceeded to beast the dance floor until the night was out.

Bravo.

The Normans was beyond incredible - we had the best day of our lives and we wouldn’t have wanted our wedding anywhere else!
It will always hold the most special place in our hearts.
— Marvellous Maddie

SUPPLIERS

Photography Hamish Irvine

Bride’s dress Beau by Made With Love Bridal
from The Aisle; Tailoring by The Bobbin Bridal

Bridesmaids’ dresses Six Stories

Groom’s suit Slaters

Bride’s hair Meraki Hair Salon

Bridemaids’ hair Capelli

Make-up Sonia Schofield

Flowers Nicolla Florist

Food H&A

Additional festoon lights AV Matrix

Live artist Stephanie Struth

Don’t rain on my parade … at The Normans

It was third time lucky for Amy and James at The Normans, after their plans were thwarted by Covid. Not once, but twice. But brooding clouds couldn’t dampen spirits on the couple’s July wedding day…

First up, Amy’s wedding dress. We were obsessed-at-first-sight with this Alika gown - from its petal-inspired details to its sheer panels and full, flowing skirt. Designed by British bridal brand Savin London, Amy snapped it up from Wakefield’s Lace & Co boutique.

“I loved the flowers that covered the skirt,” says Amy. “I wanted something with texture that people might not have seen before, but I didn’t want to add any colour, so this was perfect … The matching Alika veil was just the cherry on top!”

The couple’s daughter, Matilda, was a flower girl on the day and couldn’t have looked cuter in a complimentary dress, from Chloé and Amelié . “It was called ‘In the Meadows’ and an almost perfect match to my gown,” says Amy. “It was totally by chance that I stumbled across it on Instagram.”

The girls readied themselves in The Norman’s Cottage, draped in floral silk robes - before the bridesmaids stepped into identical dusky pink dresses - Olympia in Smoked Orchid by TH & TH - in ‘floaty and flattering’ shapes.

All those dreamy mauve and pink hues tied in perfectly with the lavender to be seen in The Normans Courtyard, where guests gathered before being seated in the Ceremony Barn.

Wedding-white flora decorated the Barn, with full-bodied hydrangea parading on top of rustic barrels. Flower girl Matilda carried a basket of ‘Baby’s Breath’ (aka Gypsophila) as she stepped down the aisle with page boy Noah.

A single white rose made up the buttonhole of groom James, who - along with the father-of-the-bride and groomsmen - wore a blue tweed three-piece suit, Dion from Marc Darcy. “We were drawn to the suits as they felt fitting for the venue,” says James. “Smart but also casual with their tweed texture.”

The couple celebrated their newly-wed status in The Normans Courtyard, where guests were entertained by giant garden games, activity bags for little ones and soloist Steven Heath, who performed in the open air as guests tucked into fizz and canapes.

Meanwhile, Amy and James were snapped taking some couple’s time out in The Cow Stalls: “The Normans has so many lovely rustic areas,” explains Amy, “and lots of lovely mixes of old and new, which have all been designed so well.”

“We added lots of lovely greenery and fairy lights in places like The Cow Stalls and placed rustic wooden plant pots of greenery and lavender around the venue,” says Amy. “We also dressed spaces with white hydrangea plants and added bay trees at the entrance.” Plants that the pair later gave to guests as gifts, or planted in their garden in memory of the day.

“Our floral colour scheme ran through into the The Grain Shed, where the wooden tables were dressed with lots of different beautiful vases, tea-light holders and candles,” says Amy. “Greenery was added throughout and also above the top table to compliment the lighting already in situ.”

Gorgeous signage and table décor from Cherry Williams Party Hire completed the look. “I’m proud of how we stayed true to the venue’s style and uniqueness and pleased that we managed to compliment its lovely rustic areas, rather than try and change any parts of it,” says Amy.

“I loved the light-up LOVE letters and all of the white balloons on the stage – worth the pain of blowing them all up the night before!” says Amy. “They added to the atmosphere and created some fun, especially for the children who enjoyed playing with the balloons throughout the day.”

Beyond the décor was fine food, courtesy of The Hog & Apple Food Co. “People had a choice of starter – duck parfait, pesto arancini, or posh fish and chips,” says Amy. “For main it was seabass, flat iron steak or onion tarte and for dessert lemon posset or chocolate delice.” A ‘doughnut wall’ and sweet table finished things off a treat (and looked the part too.)

The adrenalin (and, no doubt, free-flowing cocktails) of the day ensured everyone had the energy to take to the dancefloor, throwing shapes to floor fillers from The Rebel Sounds - an epic end to a third-time-lucky event. Congratulations Amy and James!

The Normans was the first wedding venue we looked around back in 2018 and I just fell in love with it straight away: the whole place is magical, and the team are just brilliant!
— Amazing Amy

SUPPLIERS

BRIDE’S DRESS LACE & CO BOUTIQUE

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES TH&TH

FLOWERGIRL DRESS chloe and amelie

BRIDE’S HAIR DEXTERITY

BRIDAL MAKE-UP MAKE UP BY KATE MARSHALL

GROOM & GROOMSMEN’S SUITS MARC DARCY

PHOTOGRAPHY INSIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

FLOWERS ORANGE BLOSSOM FLOWERS

FOOD THE HOG & APPLE FOOD Co.

TABLE DECOR HIRE CHERRY WILLIAMS PARTY HIRE

MUSIC STEVEN HEATH

BAND THE REBEL SOUNDS

Time to Shine at The Normans

We don’t want to tempt fate… but it would appear that weddings are back! Huzzah!

At time of writing, we’ve enjoyed four uninterrupted months of matrimonial mayhem here at The Normans, and we’re now ready to bring you the best bits by way of blog. That's right: you can now look forward to regular posts showcasing the super celebrations of our couples - many of whom have stuck with us, having had to reschedule their 2020 wedding dates.

First up: Charlotte and James. This radiant duo finally married at The Normans this summer (one year later than planned) and their wedding sparkled with sunshine and oh-so-in-love vibes...

If you love to getting glittered up (guilty!), then you’re bound to love Charlotte’s True Bride gown - an intricately detailed dress, encompassing sparkling gemstones, from Doncaster’s It’s Bliss.

 “I knew [the dress] would look lovely against the lights in The Ceremony Barn,” says Charlotte. “I’ve always loved the dresses the ladies wore in the 1920s and I think it had a bit of a Gatsby vibe.

“The bridesmaid dresses were actually just from Debenhams. I initially wanted a pale yellow but thought the pale blue went well with the white flowers and greenery and the boys’ suits.”

The suits! Let us not forget the strapping Simon, who looked the part – together with his groomsmen – in matching blue suits, from Limehaus. “Our waistcoats were racing green … for a bit of a country feel, as I’m from Yorkshire,” says Simon.

A simple colour palette of green and white, with lots of flickering candlelight, set a romantic backdrop to the couple’s nuptials in the Ceremony Barn, with blooms by Kate Mell.

“Because the venue is so stunning you can keep décor very simple,” says Charlotte. “I went for lots of eucalyptus and greenery in the Ceremony Barn, and I loved the cluster of three vases with floating candles in, which ran down the aisle.”

Once they were officially wed, the couple and their guests mingled outside in The Courtyard, supping champers and making the most of The Hog & Apple’s generous canapes (among them, miniature steak pies served with miniscule ‘pints’ of ale), before heading into The Grain Shed for a three-course feast. The menu? Ham hock and egg to start, a steak main - “for a fancier spin on a Sunday Roast, which we love,” says Charlotte - and a dessert trio of chocolate brownie, Eton Mess and profiteroles.

Inside The Grain Shed, both round and long tables were used to create a real restaurant feel - offset with yet more greenery and candlelight. “I had seen the layout when I came to look round the venue,” tells Charlotte. “I just loved it: I thought it was something different and I've never been to a wedding where dining tables had been set out like that.”

“I think the greenery on the gantries by Kate Mell Flowers and the hanging tealights just suit The Normans so well: simple yet effective!” says Charlotte.

Pillar candles formed the centrepieces on the couple’s circular tables, while each place setting was marked with a personalised tipple of sloe gin.

Happily, the harvest-friendly climes allowed the loved-up couple to steal some time alone on The Normans farmland - where the talented Chris Milner Photography captured those all-important couple photos. Here are a just few of our favourites…

So many of our guests have said The Normans is the most amazing venue ever – my grandma says she can’t actually describe it to people, because it’s so beautiful! I just wish we could do it all again!
— the oh-so-radiant, Charlotte

SUPPLIERS

BRIDE’S DRESS It’s bliss

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES debenhams

HAIR mark lee hairdressers

MAKE-UP julie mercer

GROOM & groomsmen’s SUITs limehaus

PHOTOGRAPHY chris milner photography

flowers kate mell flowers

FOOD THE HOG & APPLE FOOD CO.

Devils for details at The Normans

No so long ago, we announced that summer was ‘threatening to make a comeback’. Since then we’ve had record temperatures and record rainfall.

Ah, merry England…

At least the weather behaved itself back in May for Katie and Rob’s beautiful wedding, which we’re revisiting for today’s blog… And, to clarify - the lovely couple were by no means devils, but their eye for detail when creating their Big Day was quite commendable…

All the sparkle at Katie and Rob's wedding day

On arrival, guests were greeted by blue skies and some well-placed signage guiding them into The Normans Courtyard…

This way to The Normans wedding venue

… where yet more well-placed signage artfully conveyed the order of the day. We love the use of this old farm pallet. Informative and eye-catching. Bravo.

The order of the day printed on a suitably rustic pallet.jpg
Resident feline Toilet Cat greets guests in The Normans Courtyard.jpg
Guests enjoy a pre-ceremony drink in The Normans Courtyard.jpg

While guests mingled for pre-ceremony drinks (see above for obligatory shot of resident feline Toilet Cat strutting her stuff), bride-to-be Katie was readying herself in The Normans Cottage. Here she is being doted on by the lovely Emily and Stephanie of Luxe Hair & Makeup.

Katie getting ready for her big day in The Normans Cottage

The result, as you can imagine, was quite stunning. Here’s Katie, dressed in a ‘Romance’ gown by Marylise & Rembo Styling.

“I am a Yorkshire girl at heart so always knew I would start my search for a dress ‘Up North’,” explains Katie. “I ended up finding ‘the one’ in The Bridal Collection, Harrogate. The gown I chose has a gorgeous long floaty skirt and a scalloped lace sleeveless bodice that fit me like a glove. I also fell for a long delicate veil that I absolutely loved wearing and ended up keeping on even as I was dancing the night away!”

Katie - wedding ready at The Normans
The beautiful bride

Katie’s bridesmaids, meanwhile, were dressed in mid-blue Taurus by Veromia from NABBD (Not Another Boring Bridesmaid Dress!) in London. “The boutique has hundreds of different styles of dresses in every possible colour, which was perfect for us as we were struggling to find the right colours for our May wedding when we started looking around Christmas time,” says Katie. “The dresses looked stunning on all of my girls and worked perfectly with the colours in their spring bouquets.”

Katie gets her bridesmaids' seal of approval

Aforementioned bouquets were the handiwork of our friend Kate Mell; here they are, modelled by Katie and her fab five bridesmaids.

Girls together

Meanwhile, groom Rob loitered in The Normans Courtyard, showing off his tailored three-piece number from M&S. His classic look was finished off with the white rose of Yorkshire as a buttonhole. Quite right too.

Groom Rob - wedding ready.jpg
The final touches for Rob's wedding look.jpg
White rose buttonholes, courtesy of Kate Mell Flowers.jpg
Rob takes a moment's quiet time in The Normans Cow Stalls.jpg

Once Rob was buttonholed up and had assumed the position (at the end of the aisle), The Normans Team shepherded Katie and her bridesmaids to the Ceremony Barn…

The beautiful Katie en route to The Normans Ceremony Barn.jpg

Here, the father of the bride took over, and proudly walked his daughter down the aisle. And the rest, as they say, is history…

Katie and he proud Dad make their entry into The Normans Ceremony Barn.jpg
Rob and Katie united at the end of the aisle in The Normans Ceremony Barn.jpg
Rob and Katie. Man and wife.jpg

As is the tradition in these parts, the newly married couple were enthusiastically pelted with confetti as they walked back down the aisle…

Confetti swirls in the breeze outside The Normans Ceremony Barn.jpg

… happily, their travails were rewarded by Hog & Apple, who lay in wait with some delectable canapes. On today’s menu: Korean fillet of beef in a lettuce wrap and Thai spring rolls, to name but a few.

Creative canapes courtesy of Hog & Apple.jpg
Mouth-watering morsels by Hog & Apple.jpg

The Normans Courtyard is the ideal place to scoff and quaff - and a rather nice setting for the obligatory group shot. Everyone say: “Coagulation of the milk protein casein!” (Or “cheese!”, if that’s easier.)

The obligatory group shot in The Normans Courtyard.jpg

The drinks reception also affords couples the perfect opportunity to escape for quiet time and photos. We just love how photographers visiting The Normans are getting more and more creative with the backdrops they find around the farm. Hats off to Kate Gray, who was back at The Normans shooting these truly amazing portraits.

Roller-shutter romancing - Part 1.jpg
Roller-shutter romancing - Part 4.jpg
Roller-shutter romancing - Part 2.jpg
Roller-shutter romancing - Part 3.jpg

There was even the opportunity for the groomsmen and bridesmaids to get in on the action…

The whole gang.jpg

No corner of the farm was left unexplored - from the modern spaces…

Katie and Rob take cover in a wonderfully lit barn.jpg
Katie and Rob do farmyard fabulous.jpg

… to some of the farm’s oldest, most scenic spots.

Another stunning snap in yet another one of The Normans' hidden corners.jpg

On the subject of photography, we have to make special mention of the couple’s DIY ‘photo booths’, imaginatively created by hanging ornate picture frames from the trusses in the Cow Stalls. This unique little area was made all the more special with bushy hops lining the mangers (Kate Mell’s handiwork, yet again) and personalised Polaroid-style bunting.

Homemade photo booth in The Normans Cow Stalls.jpg
The Cow Stalls mangers decked with hops and embellished with personalised Polaroid-style bunting.jpg
Picture-perfect homemade photobooths in The Normans Cow Stalls.jpg

Guests were in for a treat when the Grain Shed doors were opened for the wedding breakfast…

Guests are called in for the wedding breakfast.jpg

… they were greeted by a stunning table plan, again, embellished with yet more hops; a table-full of wedding favours-cum-goodie bags…

Every last detail had been covered - even the table plan was stunning.jpg
Goodie-bags for guests .jpg

… and little personal touches at every turn - from the guest book to the, erm, gnomes!

katie_rob-552.jpg
Personalised touches at every turn.jpg

“Kate Mell created two stunning floral displays of hydrangeas and stocks for the end of the aisle, which filled the ceremony barn with a gorgeous scent,” reminisces Katie.

These displays were then moved by The Normans team into the Grain Shed, so Katie and Rob (and their guests!) could make the most out of them.

“We kept with the floral theme throughout,” continues Katie, “by decorating the long dining tables with rustic jam jars packed with white- and blush-coloured blooms.“

The Grain Shed dining area in all its glory.jpg
Stunning floral display of hydrangeas and stocks .jpg

Hog & Apple duly served some beautiful-looking, great tasting food. Behold the below dishes: an antipasti sharing platter (the goat’s cheese stack) served on a raised board; Parmesan, rocket and green bean salad; chorizo mac and cheese; and an Eton Mess dessert.

“We were keen to bring everyone together and chose the long rustic dining tables and sharing dishes to do this – antipasti boards to start, followed by the most amazing pulled pork, Southern fried chicken and mac ‘n’ cheese for main. Hog and Apple were fantastic, both during the planning and on the day and so many of our guests have said how much they enjoyed our wedding breakfast,” says Katie.

Sublime starters courtesy of Hog & Apple.jpg
Sharing bowls for mains.jpg
Comfort food at its best from Hog & Apple.jpg
katie_rob-730.jpg

Since the food and the decor were good enough to sing and dance about, it’s fitting that we fast-forward to the first dance, where Katie and Rob kicked off the evening by taking to the floor for the first time as a married couple.

Hearty hugs to the wonderful couple from all here at The Normans!

Katie and Rob grace the dance floor for the first time as a married couple.jpg
We couldn’t have wished for a more perfect Yorkshire wedding and that is in no small part down to the fabulous venue that is The Normans. With its thousands of twinkling fairy lights, beautiful courtyard and stunning location, The Normans had everything we were looking for in a wedding venue!
— Marvellous May bride Katie
Katie and Rob, gone with the wind at The Normans.jpg

SUPPLIERS

BRIDE’S DRESS MARYLISE & REMBO STYLING

BOUTIQUE THE BRIDAL COLLECTION HARROGATE

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES TAURUS by VEROMIA from NABBD

MAKE-UP & HAIR LUXE HAIR & MAKEUP

FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS KATE MELL

GROOM’S SUIT M&S

CATERING THE HOG & APPLE

MUSIC THE MONOTONES

PHOTOGRAPHY KATE GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Love in full bloom at The Normans

June may have been a washout, but summer’s threatening to make a comeback this month. To celebrate, we hark back to the happy day when a lady called Emily married a man called James, right here at The Normans.

Emily and James’s wedding epitomised summer chic and style, and featured a distinct floral theme throughout…

James & Emily (and squad) at The Normans. Photo by

But before we get to the bride and groom, the music and the food, and all the other important details that are of interest to soon-to-be-wed couples, we begin this blog (like all good blogs) with a cat. Not just any cat, mind, but The Normans’ feline-in-chief: Toilet Cat (long story behind the name). Here she is, enjoying the sun in The Normans Courtyard, basking in the sunshine, waiting for an unsuspecting guest to drop a canape.

'Toilet Cat' - The Normans' resident feline - relaxes in the sun in The Courtyard. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

Speaking of guests: here they are, mingling and making merry in The Normans Courtyard (Toilet Cat out of shot). The welcome sign is one of the many nice personal touches that punctuated James and Emily’s big day.

The-Normans-Wedding-Leeds--Emily-James-Jules-Barron-2019-102.JPG

And so, to Emily’s partners in crime: the bridesmaids. Here they are, below, approaching the venue, wedding ready. Emily let her girls pick their own dresses, and the result is fantastic: a mixture of styles from Issa at House of Fraser, Asos, Oasis (the high-street retailer, not the band), and Shona Joy. We love the deep blues, rich reds and dark greens.

Bridesmaids... assemble! The girls get ready for Emily's big day at The Normans. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

But all eyes were on the lady in white. Here’s Emily loitering with intent outside The Normans Ceremony Barn. Her simple, sleek and oh-so-stunning dress was designed Emma Beaumont, who's studio is based in Cheshire. “I knew I wanted something minimalist but with some ‘bridally’ touches,” explains Emily. “And also something I could dance in and eat lots of chips! Emma and her whole team are so lovely and so talented.”

Beautiful bride Emily - all smiles before the ceremony. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

And here’s a closer look at Emily’s bouquet - a celebration of summer colour by Claire Lewis. As for the rest of the fantastic florals… “Most of the potted plants were raided from my dad's garden - he put in so much hard work growing them, he's such a hero!” says Emily. “The cut flowers were provided by Sally Pickering from Flowers from the Farm, so everything was from just down the road with zero air miles! Everything was arranged by Claire Lewis at who also provided all the props.”

A pocket full of posies (read as: a fantastic bouquet by Claire Lewis). Photo by www.julesbarron.com

We adore this shot of Emily and her girls - the colours, the composition… credit to photographer Jules Barron for capturing it- and everything else on the day. What a star!

Hashtag squad. Wedding ready. Bosh. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

“But what of the groom?!” we hear you cry. Don’t worry - here he is, hiding in the Cow Stalls contemplating love and life (and thinking of all the future social engagements he could wear his amazing jacket to. Note the floral pattern. We love it. Bravo to Manchester tailor Richard Smith.)

Groom James waiting in the wings before doin' the 'I do'. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

Luckily, we were able to extract James from the Cow Stalls and deposit him at the end of the aisle, before Emily and her Dad, made their entrance into the Ceremony Barn…

Here comes the bride... Emily and her Dad start their journey down the aisle. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

And below is a photo that gets us every time: happiness personified!

(PS That jacket!)

The looks says it all. Emily meets James at the end of the aisle, Photo by www.julesbarron.com

It doesn’t matter how many ceremonies we host here at The Normans, we can never quite get over how beautiful the Barn looks when it’s full of guests, the bride and groom, and lots of love.

The scene is set for Emily and James's exchange of vows. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

Vows were exchanged, and James and Emily returned down the aisle as man and wife. Behold the joyous throwing of confetti - once again captured on camera by Jules Barron, perched on the Ceremony Barn’s mezzanine level.

And there it is! Confetti is thrown with gay abandon as James and Emily walk back down the aisle as man and wife. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

And… more confetti!

More confetti! Photo by www.julesbarron.com

Once the petal pelting had finished, James and Emily arrived in The Courtyard amid much fanfare - said fanfare provided by the scallywags of New York Brass Band.

New York Brass Band serenade bride and groom in The Normans Courtyard. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

NYBB have since performed at Glastonbury. We haven’t heard from them since, but assume/hope they’re alive and still taking bookings.

New York Brass Band doing what they do at The Normans. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

Hog & Apple were on hand to provide sustenance - food being a very important part of Emily’s day…

“We picked food that would keep things casual,” says Emily. “I really loved Hog & Apple’s sharing boards. We were both big fans of the taco canapes - and it’s a running joke that we only ever eat kebabs, so obviously had to have shawarmas for the evening food, which were a big hit!”

Tasty canapes, courtesy of Hog & Apple
Tacos, anyone?

The weather turned, and while bruised, brooding skies weren’t enough to dampen spirits (the rain held off, happily), they did encourage guests to move inside…

Brooding skies didn't deter guests from merrymaking in The Normans Courtyard. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

… where long rustic banqueting tables awaited, lined with pot plants (straight out of Emily’s Dad’s garden!), shining glassware and contemporary tableware.

Long rustic banqueting tables were laid for the wedding breakfast. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

Wedding favours? Sorted. Old-school Panini football stickers, of course.

“I was very sceptical at first,” explains Emily, “but James's vintage football sticker collection is infamous amongst friends, and people seemed to really enjoy them!”

Classic Panini football stickers for wedding favours. Standard. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

For all the pomp and ceremony of weddings, we love the quiet moments - here are James and Emily, away from the madding crowd, enjoying a minute together before being welcomed in for the wedding breakfast…

A quiet moment before being welcomed into The Normans Grain Shed for the wedding breakfast. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

… and here’s a shot of the lovely couple, shining brighter than the cascading fairy lights behind them…

The sparkling couple. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

… relaxing in The Cow Stalls…

A quiet moment in the Cow Stalls. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

… strolling down a country lane (as you do)…

Roaming the roads outside of The Normans. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

… and having a heart to heart in a massive shed.

Emily & James in a massive Grain Shed. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

But James and Emily weren’t ones to stay away from the fray, and were soon back in action by way of a full-blooded first dance…

James and Emily take to the floor for their first dance. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

… a first dance that set the tone for quite a party…

The dance floor heats up at The Normans. Photo by www.julesbarron.com
We knew the Normans was the place for us the moment we walked in. Everything from the beautiful ceremony barn to the secret little seating areas is perfect. Not only is the venue beautiful but the team are fantastic - everything leading up to the wedding was handled so smoothly and really put us ease, and Oliver was amazing on the day helping with anything and everything!
— The effervescent Emily
Bride Emily basks in the evening sun. Photo by www.julesbarron.com

SUPPLIERS

BRIDE’S DRESS EMMA BEAUMONT

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES ASOS, OASIS, ISSA AT HOUSE OF FRASER, SHONA JOY

MAKE-UP BRITTANY JAE LAMB

FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS CLAIRE LEWIS

GROOM’S JACKET RICHARD SMITH BESPOKE

CATERING THE HOG & APPLE

MUSIC NEW YORK BRASS BAND

PHOTOGRAPHY JULES BARRON

Cosmopolitan cool at The Normans

London-based couple Jaimie and Jez knew exactly how to bring the best out of The Normans. Their vision riffed on the venue’s rustic features, and took advantage of its more contemporary elements.

The result?

A wedding that not only looked great, but was imbued with enough heartfelt personal touches to make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Jaimie's veil captured in all its glory.jpg

With so many amazing photos from the day (thank you, Laura Calderwood!), it was difficult to know where to begin this blog. But, after a prolonged bout of choice anxiety, we plumped with this shot of bride Jaimie stepping out of a classic 1954 Bentley R-Type E (aka The Yorkshire Wedding Car), dazzling all and sundry in her Maggie Sottero dress and sheer Justin Alexander jacket from Abigail's Bridal Boutique, Leeds.

Just. Wow.

Here comes the bride - Jaimie arrives at the church.jpg

“I fell in love with the champagne dress, which was actually a slip dress from underneath of a completely different dress!” explains Jaimie. “I tried a few jackets, but was instantly drawn towards the mandarin collar. I liked having a combination that felt unique - and to be able to take the jacket off on the night and have a second look without having to buy a second dress!”

Jaimie embellished her jaw-dropping look with something blue(ish) - a pair of Alexandre Birman shoes.

Bravo, Jaimie. Bravo.

Delightful details - we loved the intricate lace back of Jaimie's wedding dress.jpg
Something blue. Jaimie's amazing shoes.jpg

Jaimie’s bridesmaids were dressed in Maids to Measure dresses - shout out to Claire at The White Yard. The lovely trio’s look was finished off with bouquets by Kate Mell.

Jaimie with her beautiful bridesmaids.jpg
Bountiful bouquets by Kate Mell.jpg

Groom Jez, no slouch in the style department himself, kept up appearances with a tailor-made suit from Rhodes Wood of Harrogate, who he couldn’t recommend more. His supporting cast of groomsmen were decked out in suits from Slaters Menswear.

The usual suspects - Jez with his groomsmen.jpg

As is true of his bride, Jez has an eye for detail, and sartorially minded gentlemen will doubtless appreciate this watch-cuff link combo.

The cuff links belong to the groom’s father, while the Blancpain Villeret Quantieme Perpetual timepiece is a family heirloom once belonging to Jez’s grandfather and now his uncle. “When I told him I was wearing it for the wedding, he laughed,” says Jez. “He joked: ‘You’ve had your eyes on it for sometime!’”

We don’t blame him.

Watch this ... full marks for Jez's accessorising.jpg

And, below, a closer look at some of the floral embellishments of the day: the individually designed buttonholes and the flower girl’s gorgeous ‘wand’ and floral crown, all the handiwork of Kate Mell.

Buttonholes for Jaimie and Jez's wedding.jpg
Flower girl's accessories by Kate Mell.jpg

The weather, happily, received the memo re. Jaimie & Jez’s picture-perfect day, meaning that guests could take full advantage of the sunshine in The Normans Courtyard.

Guests congregate in The Normans Courtyard.jpg

Once all their guests had congregated in The Courtyard, Jaimie and Jez rolled into The Normans. We love how the regal Bentley falls in line with the couple’s colour scheme. No accident, that.

Arriving in style - Jaimie and Jez roll into The Normans in a Rolls.jpg

And here are the couple, making their entrance into The Normans Courtyard, accompanied by a soundtrack of raucous applause…

Introducing the bride and groom.jpg

… and the sweet warbling of the fantastic Wandering Hands.

Music for the drinks reception was provided by the excellent Wandering Hands.jpg

Guests’ thirst was quenched at the ‘spruce your juice' station, and appetites were sated with some truly original (and oh-so-tasty) canapes.

Fresh fruits for guests to 'pimp' their drink.jpg

“Our guests are still talking about the chicken katsu baozi buns and the ‘Big Mac’ sauce spring rolls,”  says Jaimie of the Hog & Apple’s culinary creations.

Korean-style steamed buns by Hog & Apple.jpg

Meanwhile, we couldn’t help but admire the bride’s commitment to the cause: the card box, a miniature Ikea greenhouse, was painted gold by her own fair hand.

What a reception - drinks on ice ready for guests' arrival at The Normans.jpg

And, since Jaimie and Jez married in a church, rather than onsite, The Normans Ceremony Barn made for the perfect backdrop for the obligatory group photo.

In the absence of a ceremony here at The Normans, the barn made for a great place for a group photo..jpg

We love this shot of The Normans Grain Shed, lined with our rustic banqueting tables - the gantries adorned with olive leaves and dangling tealights. In fact, the gantries bear special significance to this wedding, since they were conceived soon after chatting through ideas when Jez and Jaimie visited the venue last year.

“We remember showing images on our Pinterest board as a bit of a pipe dream but the reality was even better!” says Jaimie.

The Grain Shed dining area ready to receive guests.jpg

We’re also big fans of Jaimie and Jez’s table plan - a simple yet striking guide for guests to find their seat…

A delicate yet effective table plan for guests to find their places.jpg

… and then, the little touches… such as the place settings…

Simple yet effective place setting for bride....jpg
... and groom.jpg

… which were quickly filled by sumptuous sharing platters for that informal feel.

Guests tuck in.jpg

As guests made merry, Jez and Jaimie escaped to the hidden corners of The Normans for a moment’s peace (not to mention some fantastic photo opportunities).

Jaimie and Jez under the spotlight.jpg
A quiet moment in the Cow Stalls.jpg

And so, to the first dance. (Note Jaimie’s subtle outfit change - a perfect look to kick start the evening’s revelries.)

First dance.jpg

Admittedly, the some of the dancing that followed wasn’t quite up to the standard of Jaimie and Jez’s graceful display - but it was nonetheless fun to watch…

Drinkin and dancin.jpg

Too fun for some, it would seem…

Power nap.jpg
The Normans is a really special place... The service and communication is second to none - nothing was too much trouble. And all our guests raved about how unique the venue was - we just cannot speak highly enough of this place!
— Our shining bride, Jaimie
Stunning bride Jaimie (and Jez).jpg

SUPPLIERS

BRIDE’S DRESS MAGGIE SOTTERO

BRIDE’S JACKET JUSTIN ALEXANDER

BRIDAL BOUTIQUE ABIGAIL’S BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES MAIDS TO MEASURE FROM THE WHITE YARD

MAKE-UP JEN EDWARDS & CO

FLOWERS KATE MELL

GROOM’S SUIT RHODES WOOD

CATERING THE HOG & APPLE

RECEPTION MUSIC WANDERING HANDS

PHOTOGRAPHY LAURA CALDERWOOD

A blossoming romance at The Normans

Romance doesn’t get much more blossomy than an actual real-life wedding - which is exactly what happened here at The Normans (no surprises there).

Krista and Dan couldn’t have picked a better day for their Easter wedding. The sun was shining, the skies were brilliant blue, and the flora and fauna was in full bloom - inside and out…

Blossoming love in The Normans Ceremony Barn.jpg

Dan and his groomsmen fully embraced the weather - donning shades and sharp-fitting navy suits from the ever-reliable Moss Bros.

Daniel and the boys.jpg

Blue was a reoccurring theme of the day. Krista’s girl squad were her ‘something blue’ - all dressed in effortlessly elegant powder-blue dresses from online retailer ASOS.

Something blue at The Normans.jpg

Krista, the undisputed star of the show (sorry, Dan), wore a bespoke gown from Brides of York.

“I loved the off-shoulder style and thought the floaty skirt was perfect for my Spring wedding,” says Krista. “My favourite thing about the dress was the white lace. I also wore a sheer long length veil which complimented the lace.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Bridesmaids greet Krista outside The Normans Cottage.jpg

“We wanted the colours to be romantic,” continues Krista. “Soft dusty blue paired with more of an organic white and green for our rustic wedding.”

The combination of white roses, blue hydrangeas, and forest-green eucalyptus of the bouquet were exquisite. We tip our caps to florist Miss Elle’s for these botanic beauties.

Krista's bouquet.jpg

Since we can’t quite get enough of that veil - here’s another gratuitous shot of Krista walking to the Ceremony Barn via the farmhouse courtyard.

Krista on her way to The Normans Ceremony Barn.jpg

Needless to say Krista owned the aisle. We love this shot of her and her dad, framed by fantastic blossom trees from Ambience Venue Styling - set against the fairylight backdrop of our Ceremony Barn, it’s a look that’s hard to beat.

All eyes on Krista as she walks down the aisle.jpg

And so, as is the custom in these parts, Krista and Dan were married, confetti was thrown, and the couple stepped out into the sun.

Stepping out into the sunshine.jpg

Drinks somehow taste better in the sunshine, so it was a joy to see guests enjoying a tipple or two in The Normans Courtyard.

Fun in the sun in The Normans Courtyard.jpg

And no one was more pleased to indulge in some al fresco merriment than Poppy - Krista and Dan’s adorable chocolate lab. We loved Poppy’s collar, crafted by Krista as one of the (non-drink-related) activities on her hen - check out Crafty Hen.

They call it Poppy love.jpg

And here she is again - meeting and greeting guests (and sniffing out canapes).

Poppy mingling with guests.jpg

Meanwhile, not content with the stunning blossom trees in the Ceremony Barn, Krista and Dan found the real thing just outside the venue.

More blossom at The Normans.jpg

And they even managed a bit of quiet time with Poppy in our Cow Stalls…

Krista Daniel and Poppy take a moment.jpg

Once guests had had their fill of drinks and canapes, the Grain Shed doors were flung open to reveal this quite unique table plan, crafted by the bride herself.

Krista's stunning mirrored table plan.jpg

Dinner was served under the Grain Shed’s sparkling canopy by caterers F4D, who delighted guests with a ‘host your own roast’ main course. Think: glazed leg of pork, mustard mash, sage and onion roast potatoes, glazed carrots, curly kale and thick pan gravy. Dessert? Everyone’s favourite: sticky toffee pudding.

The Normans Grain Shed looking stunning with blossom trees and circular tables.jpg

After the wedding breakfast, and before the party kicked off in earnest, guests returned outside to bask in the evening light.

(Shout out, also, to Krista’s Granddad, who fashioned the welcome sign, below.)

The Normans Courtyard looking stunning in the evening sun.jpg

And, as guests, made merry in The Courtyard, Krista and Dan escaped to watch the April sun dip below the horizon, capping off an Easter Sunday to remember.

Darlings at dusk.jpg
The most amazing wedding venue we could have wished for. Absolutely perfect in every way - the candle-lit barn, the cosy cowsheds... the pretty courtyard, which was perfect to sit in the sunshine for our Easter Sunday wedding! We loved it. Our guests loved it. And the best part.: having our chocolate Labrador there with us for the whole day!
Thank you to the Normans team for giving us the most beautiful wedding day of our lives.
— Blossoming bride Krista
Krista and Daniel take a moment amid the blossom and lights of The Normans Ceremony Barn.jpg

SUPPLIERS

BRIDE’S DRESS BRIDES OF YORK

BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES ASOS

HAIR & MAKE-UP AIMEE LONG

GROOM’S SUIT MOSS BROS

FLOWERS MISS ELLE’S

BLOSSOM TREES AMBIENCE VENUE STYLING

CATERING F4D

ENTERTAINMENT THE UNDERCOVER WAITERS

PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRE IMAGES

VIDEOGRAPHY A+A VIDEO

BAND ORDINARY MEN

New content on The Normans webpage

It's been a busy Easter weekend here at The Normans wedding venue, but we managed to find time in between viewings to update our website.

The eagle-eyed among you will see that we've started a Gallery page, which will only get bigger and better once we start hosting weddings (not long to go!). In the meantime, we'd like to thank Adam Wilson and Joss Widdowson - the talented photographers who have contributed some terrific pictures of our venue.

We'd also like to thank our friends Becky and Alex - two newlyweds who we cajoled, bullied and bribed (with champagne and the finest wines known to humanity) to model in a photo shoot that beautifully showcases the Courtyard and the Ceremony Barn. However, we suspect that Becky may have enjoyed getting dressed up in her wedding finery for the second time... We thank you both!

In addition to our sparkly new Gallery page, The Normans website now features the new 'Your Wedding' section, which bursts with information about hiring The Normans for your Big Day, lists recommended suppliers (from caterers to photographers to makeup artists), as well as nearby accommodation options and important information about how to book a registrar to conduct a marriage ceremony here.

We'll keep you updated with more developments. In the meantime, enjoy!

The Normans wedding venue is now licensed for marriage ceremonies!

We're delighted to announce that The Normans wedding venue, North Yorkshire, is now licensed to hold marriage ceremonies!

We celebrated the news with a photo shoot by London-based photographer Adam Wilson and super-sexy models Becky and Alex (friends who we tricked into doing the shoot with the promise of free champagne).

Couples who would like to get married here at The Normans should first check availability with the good people at Selby Registration Office by email. You will need to state the date you would like to get married at The Normans and leave your daytime telephone number. An officer will then get back to you.

To make sure you've covered all the bases, we recommend that you check out this handy link, which contains everything you need to know about civil marriage ceremonies in North Yorkshire: http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/article/23534/Marriage.

We can't wait for our first wedding at The Normans later this year!

The Normans wedding venue at The UK Wedding Event, York Racecourse

It's been a while since we've updated our blog (apologies), but we've been so busy since opening a couple of weeks ago, we just haven't had the time.

Our weekends (and weekdays, thinking about it) have been jam-packed with viewings and we've received some great feedback, so far. So, a BIG thank you to everyone who has come to see us.

If you haven't yet had the chance to visit and would like to book a viewing, then don't hesitate to get in touch and we'll arrange a date.

The team at The Normans also made an appearance at The UK Wedding Event at York Racecourse on Sunday March 20 (see picture). It was great to meet so many brides-to-be (and their ever-enthusiastic husbands!), as well as some really cool suppliers.

Thanks to photographer Joss Widdowson who took the amazing picture of our Courtyard, which we used for our backdrop at the event (and for our homepage). And, also, many thanks to ITP in Easingwold for helping us print said image onto such a huge banner! Last of all, thank you to everyone who dropped by to say hello!

We're looking forward to making an appearance at more wedding fayres and events soon. Hopefully see you there!