Katerina and Andrew’s Carlton Towers wedding was a proper mix of English tradition and Greek culture. Friends and family came from all over the world and the dancing went on long into the night! Carlton Towers is a Victorian Gothic house near Selby in North Yorkshire, set in 250 acres of parkland. It’s still the family home of Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan Howard.

A video call and a dress from Greece

Katerina got ready in the bridal suite with her bridesmaids in teal. Rachel Lewan did her makeup and Rachel Miller did her hair. Her dress came all the way from Greece.

The bouquets from Lisa’s Florist in Selby were full of pink roses, gerberas and ranunculus.

Her cousin couldn’t be there on the day, so she called him to show him the dress. It’s amazing that someone hundreds of miles away can share a moment like that.

Then her dad came in to see her for the first time. He couldn’t stop smiling.

Andrew got ready at the venue in a suit from Jacob Brian.

Down the grand staircase at Carlton Towers

When I first met Katerina and Andrew, they told me how much they loved the inside of Carlton Towers. I can completely see why. The ceilings are higher than most houses!

Katerina came down the grand staircase on her dad’s arm and into a ceremony room full of gold walls and chandeliers. Andrew was waiting for her at the front.

There were smiles all the way through the vows, then a big cheer for the first kiss.

Confetti in the courtyard

Outside, guests lined the courtyard for confetti with the stone towers rising above everyone. There’s so much room out there that everyone got a good throw in.

Then we did the bridal party on the stone steps while canapés went round and everyone caught up over a drink.

The Victorian Gothic front of Carlton Towers with its towers and clock under a blue sky

Katerina's strapless wedding dress hanging in the doorway of the bridal suite at Carlton Towers, shown wide and close up

Pink roses, gerberas, ranunculus and white blooms in Katerina's bouquet up close

Two wedding rings in white ring boxes on a polished wooden table in the bridal suite

Katerina having her lipstick applied in the bridal suite on the morning of her Carlton Towers wedding

Katerina's cousin smiling on a video call, then Katerina standing in her wedding dress in the bridal suite as he watches on the phone

Katerina smiling as she puts in her earrings by the window of the bridal suite

Katerina's dad seeing her in her wedding dress for the first time in the bridal suite

Katerina laughing with her two bridesmaids in teal dresses in the bridal suite

Andrew fastening his cufflinks in his room at Carlton Towers on the wedding morning

Katerina coming down the grand staircase with her dad, then walking up the aisle to Andrew

Katerina and Andrew smiling at each other during their vows at Carlton Towers

Katerina's bridesmaids in teal smiling as they watch the wedding ceremony

Andrew placing the ring on Katerina's finger under the chandeliers at Carlton Towers

Katerina and Andrew's first kiss in front of their guests at Carlton Towers

Katerina and Andrew walking back down the aisle as their guests cheer

Katerina and Andrew kissing as guests throw confetti over them in front of the stone steps at Carlton Towers

Andrew laughing as confetti flies and Katerina holds her pink bouquet

Katerina and Andrew with their bridesmaids and groomsmen on the stone steps at Carlton Towers

Katerina with her bridesmaids in teal on the stone staircase outside Carlton Towers

Smoked salmon canapés laid out on a wooden board during the drinks reception

Doughnuts instead of cake

The wedding breakfast was in the dining room, with gold chairs, round tables and crystal chandeliers. Food came first, then the speeches, including a lovely one from Katerina’s dad.

There was no wedding cake. Instead there was a tower of doughnuts from Dohart in Leeds, dressed with flowers.

Staircases, red rooms and a vineyard

Katerina and Andrew wanted plenty of photos inside, so we explored the rooms and the staircase first. Then we headed out to the walled garden vineyard. It was such a giggle!

We started by the stained glass windows, then the staircase from every angle, a red room with patterned curtains and a carved stone doorway. Every room has something different.

The vineyard grows grapes for the estate’s own sparkling wine. The view of the towers from between the vines is brilliant.

First dance, Greek dancing and sparklers

First dance was at 8:20pm under the chandeliers, followed straight away by Katerina’s dance with her dad. Then the Greek music started.

Her dad led the Sirtaki and soon there was a line of guests linking arms across the dance floor. It was lovely to see Greek and British culture come together like that.

Spectra Entertainments kept everyone dancing. The night finished with sparklers outside.

Photographer’s tips

Carlton Towers wedding tips

Plan photos inside. The staircase and rooms work in any weather.
Visit the vineyard. It’s a short walk from the house.
Think about doughnuts. A doughnut tower makes a fun change from cake.

The team behind the day

Suppliers

VenueCarlton Towers
MakeupRachel Lewan
HairRachel Miller
DressFrom Greece
SuitsJacob Brian
FlowersLisa’s Florist Selby
DoughnutsDohart
DJSpectra Entertainments

The dining room at Carlton Towers set with round tables, gold chairs and crystal chandeliers

A tall tower of doughnuts decorated with flowers in place of a wedding cake

Guests clapping as Katerina and Andrew walk into the wedding breakfast at Carlton Towers

Katerina's dad giving his speech with a microphone at the top table

A groomsman giving his speech as guests at the top table laugh

Katerina and Andrew by a stained glass window, then laughing together inside Carlton Towers

Katerina and Andrew walking along a landing past the carved staircase and stained glass

Looking down the grand staircase at Katerina and Andrew on the patterned stair carpet

Katerina and Andrew sitting on the grand staircase, then standing in a carved stone doorway

Andrew and Katerina laughing together in a red room with patterned curtains

Andrew kissing Katerina's head as she smiles inside Carlton Towers

Katerina and Andrew in the vineyard with Carlton Towers rising behind them

Katerina and Andrew standing between the rows of vines in the walled garden vineyard

Katerina and Andrew cuddling by the old vineyard door in the walled garden

Katerina and Andrew walking across the lawn in front of Carlton Towers in North Yorkshire

Katerina and Andrew's first dance under the chandeliers in the gold room at Carlton Towers

Katerina dancing with her dad under the chandeliers during the father and daughter dance

Katerina and her dad dancing the Sirtaki with guests in a line across the dance floor

Katerina dancing in a circle of guests with linked arms under the chandeliers at Carlton Towers

Guests dancing with their arms out on the dance floor during the Greek dancing at the wedding reception

A guest throwing his arms in the air and Katerina dancing with a friend on the packed dance floor

Andrew spinning Katerina across the dance floor as guests watch in the wood panelled room at Carlton Towers

Katerina and Andrew walking through a tunnel of guests holding sparklers with the lit windows of Carlton Towers behind

Guests lining a path under festoon lights with sparklers, and three friends laughing as they wave their sparklers

Katerina and Andrew laughing as they hold sparklers at the end of their wedding night at Carlton Towers

Katerina and Andrew, huge congratulations and thank you for having me.

You might also like Shannon and Cesar’s winter wedding at Thicket Priory or Natasha and Chris’s sunflower barn wedding at Woodstock.

Planning your own Carlton Towers wedding or getting married somewhere else in Yorkshire? Have a look at my wedding photography packages or get in touch to check your date. You can also see more real weddings on my Yorkshire wedding photographer page.

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