I’m a North West Wedding photographer based in Manchester who covers the North West, which is how I ended up covering this Cedar Court summer wedding in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
My style is a laid-back mix of documentary coverage with just a smidge of creative portraiture. It was great to shoot in Huddersfield as this is where I went to uni, and I love the area.
Cedar Court Hotel
Cedar Court Hotel in Huddersfield is a popular wedding venue in West Yorkshire. It offers three refurbished banqueting suites with their own unique character. The Cedar Suite is the largest, with a capacity of up to 320 guests. The Rowan Suite is more intimate, with a capacity of up to 120 guests. The Willow Suite is perfect for smaller weddings, with a capacity of up to 80 guests.
All three suites have high ceilings, chandeliers, and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The Cedar Suite also has a private bar and a rooftop terrace. The Rowan Suite has a conservatory that leads out to a courtyard.
The hotel also has a wedding breakfast room, a cocktail bar, and a dance floor. There is a large car park on-site.
The hotel’s wedding team (shout out to Oli) is dedicated to helping you create your dream wedding. They will work with you to plan every detail, from the food and drink to the flowers and decorations. They will also be on hand on the day of your wedding to make sure everything runs smoothly.
If you are looking for a modern and stylish wedding venue in West Yorkshire, Cedar Court Hotel in Huddersfield is a great option. It has three refurbished banqueting suites, a range of facilities, and a dedicated wedding team that can help you create your dream wedding day.
Danielle and Adam
The wedding of Danielle and Adam had come to me via Paul Walker Photography. I shot a lot of weddings for him when I first started out, and I still step in when they need an experienced wedding photographer.
I first chatted with Danielle and Adam over WhatsApp while they were at a festival. They are a lovely young couple with an adorable 7-weel-old son who was also a part of their big day. As always, I went over all the relevant details for the photography and all was set for the wedding day.
On the day, it was a gloriously warm summer day in June. Danielle was getting ready in one of the many rooms at Cedar Cour while Adam got ready with his best man at home.
Bridal Prep at Cedar Court
I bumped into Danielle’s mum in the reception, and she took me up to the prep room.
Danielle and her bridesmaid were calmly getting ready and having their hair and makeup done. I said hello, and then got to work.
When they were mostly ready, I checked what time Danielle would put her dress on, then went downstairs as Adam had arrived.
We got some shots of him with his guests then I went back up for the dress fastening and reveal.
Cedar Court Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony was to be held in the Willow suite. I had already got some details shots of the room. The Groom, best man and wedding guests headed into the room to await the bride.
She was walked in by her father, who looked incredibly proud. The whole ceremony went really well, even when Adam forgot his lines. Guys, don’t worry about this happening. It usually gets a good-natured laugh and breaks any tension you may be feeling.
After the ceremony, it had been arranged for the confetti to be thrown over the couple as they left, which is a great idea. It smoothes things out after your ceremony and makes for lovely photos.
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Wedding Reception at Cedar Court
I tactfully guided the guests past the drinks and out into the courtyard as the couple wanted the group shots out of the way as soon as possible.
We promised the guests they could all have drinks as soon as they behaved and got the shots done. This got a laugh and a surprisingly motivated group.
The couple were then free to enjoy their wedding reception and bask in the good wishes of their guests.
I let them have a half hour before whisking them away for some couple portraits nearby.
Couple’s Portraits
Cedar Court is not the ideal location for portraits. The courtyard is cute when it’s darker and the lights are lit, but during the day, it’s better to head to some of the nearby greenery, which there is plenty of around Huddersfield.
One of Danielle’s cousins was kind enough to drive us all to a local beauty spot (my Mini is way too small), where we had a lovely stroll, and I created some amazing portraits.
We got the couple back to Cedar Court in plenty of time for their wedding breakfast.
Wedding Breakfast at Cedar Court
The wedding breakfast was held downstairs in the Willow suite. After we returned, I left Adam and Danielle talking with their friends while I got some photos of the room and cake. They were all soon brought in and seated before Danielle and Adam were announced into the room.
They started with the speeches, which saw short ones from the father of the bride, then another quick one by Adam and the best man finished it off with quite an amusing speech.
Somewhat unusually, I wasn’t being fed at this wedding. I never insist on a meal, so as long as I know to make alternative arrangements, all is good. In this case, I knew there was a Toby Carvery just around the corner, which made for an excellent lunch.
Interlude
After the meal, the guests split their time between the courtyard and the downstairs bar and games room. There is a snooker table, a shuffleboard table and Fussball. Everyone, including me, greatly enjoyed these.
Evening Reception, Cake and First Dance
Around 7.30 pm, the Willow suite was opened, and the evening guests began arriving. There was plenty of mingling and fun, and before long, the cake was placed on the dance floor.
The couple had fun cutting it before all their guests, and once that was done, they went straight into the first dance before being joined in the dancing by friends and family alike.
I had a brilliant day being a Cedar Court wedding photographer and wish Danielle and Adam a happy life together.
If you’d like to book me for your Cedar Court wedding, please get in touch. Check out my packages, portfolio and contact me.
If you enjoyed this Yorkshire wedding, take a look at these other weddings:
Thicket Priory Wedding Photographer
Cedar Court Wedding Photography
Thanks to Paul Walker Photography
Cedar Court Hotel, Lindley Moor Road, Ainley Top, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD3 3RH