Dunedin Country House Wedding
East Yorkshire Wedding Photographer at Dunedin Country House
It may be considered Yorkshires little secret but for those that have been they will know this is one of the best wedding venues in East Yorkshire. As a photographer I am in a unique position where I get to spend much of the day with couples and their guests seeing the public side of the venue whilst also liaising with venue staff and seeing certain bits which happen behind the scenes. I feel this gives me a full picture of a venue as I am given the chance to see it from multiple angles. The following blog is written from my own experiences and I hope will explain why it is such a fantastic venue for a wedding in East Yorkshire.
Weddings at Dunedin Country House
Driving into Patrington on the A1033 from Hull, Dunedin Country House is on your left and is set back with a pristine gravel driveway. On arrival the first thing to grab my attention was how grand and beautifully maintained the House is, this is a stunning property that is photogenic from all angles. The next thing that became instantly noticeable was the extremely warm welcome by the staff, they couldn’t have been any more helpful and could not do enough for us throughout the day. The nature of wedding photography requires us to work closely with event coordinators on the day to ensure timings are followed and the day can flow seamlessly, therefore having such friendly people to work with is always nice and makes for a really enjoyable experience.
Bridal prep photography
On our most recent visit the bride and some of the bridal party stayed the night before at the modern annexe which is situated next door to the main house and can be accessed by a convenient gate between the two properties. This provided a bright and generous space for the bridal preparation to take place on the morning of the wedding, we had space to move freely and capture natural moments as they happened, all with the elegant décor as a clean backdrop. If the groom is getting ready over in the main house it allows us the chance to utilise the handy gate and quickly head over to get some images of him getting ready too!
With preparations for the day well under way and with the ceremony approaching, your guests will arrive to experience the warm Dunedin welcome for themselves. The newly decorated bar is a beautiful area for your guests to have a drink and catch up with each other, this area has a really modern feel with a mirrored bar and extravagant chandeliers which all add to the overall relaxed atmosphere. Guests may also gather in the seating areas outside which overlook the beautifully tidy gardens. The staff at Dunedin will use their experience to ensure everyone is inside and seated ready for the brides arrival, as with every other space in the building the ceremony room has very sophisticated décor that will compliment any colour scheme. The white panelled walls not only look fantastic but they are a gift for photographers as the natural light enters through the large windows bouncing off the white walls to give a beautifully flattering soft light which looks fantastic in your photographs.
Country house wedding
As the bride enters through the large double doors, the bright and airy feel of the room offers the perfect atmosphere for your ceremony. I’ll use the bright feel of the room to our advantage, moving around quietly to capture all of the emotions and details as you say your vows and become officially married.
As you leave the ceremony followed by your guests, this is an ideal opportunity to get everyone together for the group photographs. With your guests gathered in front of the house there is the opportunity for the photographer to get access to the balcony above the main entrance, access is through one of the bedrooms so it must be agreed with the occupant of the room in advance though. This useful vantage point offers an excellent viewpoint which allows large groups to all be in one photograph with everyone’s faces clearly visible. With the large group photograph captured we can then move into the stunning gardens where there are many options available to use as backdrops for your smaller group photographs.
Garden wedding photography
The gardens are also a beautiful area to explore together for your couple photographs, there are lots of photo opportunities and in a small amount of time we can get a wide variety of beautiful images for you to be proud of. The gardens are on multi levels which adds to the interest, from the lawn by the house you can walk down the photogenic stairs to a walkway that leads perfectly up to the ornate white arch which looks amazing in photographs. The surrounding shrubs and trees are all extremely well kept and there is a certain symmetry and pattern that lends itself to creative portraits.
As you re-join your guests to enjoy the stunning surroundings I’ll use the multi levels of the garden to my advantage, capturing genuine moments as they happen. As your friends and family share moments together I’ll move around documenting the emotion and story of the day.
Wedding detail photos
Since your ceremony finished the staff will have worked quickly to turn the same space into a stunning room for you to enjoy your wedding breakfast surrounded by your friends and family. All of your details will have been carefully put into place with the care and attention that by now you will take for granted at Dunedin. Before your guests are seated I’ll make sure to get some photographs of the finished room in all of its glory, I’ll get wide images of the full room and also lots of close-up images of all of the little details.
With your guests seated you will be welcomed into the room as husband and wife to the sound of applause and cheers, as you are seated you will be well looked after with exceptional service from the Dunedin staff, from experience I can say that the food is a real treat! I’ll make sure to capture all of the laughter, tears and cheers of the speeches whether these happen before or after your meal.
As the day progresses, the lighting continuously changes. Depending on the season we will see the sun drop to give us the beautiful warm light that occurs before sunset, then as the sun goes down we’ll see the house lights come on and again the look of the whole place changes. Every type of light offers different opportunities and I will give creative direction to ensure we make the most of each of them if you wish to do so. I don’t like to disrupt the flow of your day so if I do see any photo opportunities I’ll ask you first and then make sure we get them completed quickly so that you can get back to your guests.
Wedding evening celebrations
With another quick change by the Dunedin staff, the room will be ready for the evening celebrations to commence. Whether a slow shuffle or a fully choreographed routine I will capture your first dance and I’ll stay well positioned to photograph all of the proceeding action on the dancefloor.
Best wedding venue in Hull?
Dunedin Country House is such a welcoming place and everyone that visits will feel right at home. It is grand in appearance but has many cosy areas to relax that complement the larger areas perfectly, there is a lovely flow to the property which allows plenty of space throughout a wedding day with people moving easily between areas inside and out. The staff are all very friendly and will ensure that you and your guests are made to feel relaxed and looked after.
This really is a gem of a property and one that is a pleasure to photograph.
We are a husband and wife team of wedding photographers in Hull with a love of storytelling through images. If you are planning your own wedding day and like our style it would be great to have an informal chat to hear your story so far, your plans, and see if we’re a good fit for you.
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For more information on the venue please head over to the official Dunedin Country House website, if you have any questions I’m sure one of the team would be very happy to help.