stephen & samantha’s wedding at the normans

A bride and groom walk outside with four bridesmaids in purple dresses and three groomsmen in black suits on a sunny day, surrounded by trees and greenery. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Three people pose outdoors: a man in a dinner jacket, a bagpiper in traditional Scottish attire, and a woman in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Bride and groom in formal wedding attire stand holding hands in front of a dark wooden door framed by green vines. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride in a wedding dress walks down the aisle with an older man in a kilt, holding her arm, as guests watch. Fairy lights hang in the background. Drawn by Light Photography
A bride with long blonde hair in a white lace dress holds a large bouquet of purple and green flowers, standing indoors. Drawn by Light Photography

a relaxed wedding full of personality & thoughtful details

There are some weddings where you can immediately see just how much thought has gone into making the day completely personal to the couple — and Stephen and Samantha’s wedding at The Normans was definitely one of them.

From a bespoke bouquet ribbon and Scottish-inspired details to a bagpiper, a caricaturist, a Monopoly board and a Jenga guestbook, there were so many thoughtful little touches woven throughout the day. Every detail told a story, and I loved capturing every single one.

As a Yorkshire wedding photographer, these are the weddings I love most. The ones where you can forget about following a traditional checklist and instead focus on the people, the personalities and all those little moments that make the day uniquely yours.

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a wedding full of personality at the normans

The Normans is such a brilliant setting for a wedding that feels completely personal. The combination of beautiful surroundings and spaces to celebrate meant Stephen and Samantha could create a day that reflected them perfectly.

And there was certainly no shortage of personality.

Samantha's beautiful bouquet featured a bespoke ribbon from Extra Special Touch, while the Scottish details continued with tartan ribbon, a kilt from MacGregor and MacDuff and, of course, the arrival of a bagpiper.

That bagpiper entrance was one of those moments that instantly adds atmosphere — and makes for photographs that are impossible to recreate.

A wooden chair with a white cloth sign reserved for the bride’s late mother, featuring a heartfelt message and a printed heart at the bottom. Drawn by Light Photography

the details that made the day unique

One of my favourite things about wedding photography is capturing the details that couples have spent months choosing.

Not just the big things, but the little details that might otherwise be forgotten.

Stephen and Samantha had so many of them.

There was a Monopoly board, a Jenga guestbook, a sweet cart, garden games and even a caricaturist for guests to enjoy. Add in undercover waiters, a DJ and photobooth, and there was something happening around every corner.

  • A large custom “Wedopoly” board, styled like Monopoly, is displayed on an easel with Stephen and Samantha’s names at the top, standing against a wooden wall under fairy lights. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom walk outside with four bridesmaids in purple dresses and three groomsmen in black suits on a sunny day, surrounded by trees and greenery. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom stand facing each other indoors, illuminated by warm fairy lights cascading from the ceiling behind them. Drawn by Light Photography
A bride in a wedding dress walks down the aisle with an older man in a kilt, holding her arm, as guests watch. Fairy lights hang in the background. Drawn by Light Photography

relaxed & elegant wedding photography

One of the things I love about photographing weddings is that the best photographs don't always happen when everyone is looking at the camera.

They're the moments in between.

A guest laughing at their caricature. Friends gathering around the garden games. Someone discovering the sweet cart. Guests chatting over drinks. The little reactions when something unexpected happens.

Stephen and Samantha's day was full of these moments.

the suppliers behind stephen & samantha’s wedding

It takes a brilliant team of suppliers to bring all these details together, and Stephen and Samantha had an amazing group involved in their day.

Photography: Drawn By Light Photography
Venue: The Normans
Florist: Kate Mell Flowers
Makeup: Charlotte Mallinder MUA
Hair: Hair by Tosetti
Caterer: The Hog & Apple
Wedding Signs: With Love EL
Cake: Cherry Cake Co
Bagpiper: Andrew Paton Highland Bagpiper
Garden Games: Just For Your Occasion
Dress: Belles & Bows Bridal

What a team!


A bride stands with four people, including a man in a kilt and three women in matching purple dresses, all holding bouquets, indoors under white wooden beams. Drawn by Light Photography

Planning your own wedding at The Normans?

If you're planning a wedding at The Normans and want your photographs to capture more than just the formal moments, I'm all about creating a gallery that feels relaxed, genuine and completely personal to you.

I'll guide you when you need it, but most importantly, I'll be there to capture the laughter, the happy tears, the unexpected moments and all those thoughtful little details you've spent so much time creating.

Because when you look back at your wedding photographs years from now, I want you to remember how it felt to be there.

Lisa x


  • Rows of wooden chairs face a sparkling light backdrop in a rustic barn venue with exposed brick walls and a sign in the foreground. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom sit at a wooden table signing a document, dressed in wedding attire, with a bouquet of flowers nearby, against a rustic brick wall backdrop. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom walk outside with four bridesmaids in purple dresses and three groomsmen in black suits on a sunny day, surrounded by trees and greenery. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Three people pose outdoors: a man in a dinner jacket, a bagpiper in traditional Scottish attire, and a woman in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Bride and groom in formal wedding attire stand holding hands in front of a dark wooden door framed by green vines. Drawn by Light Photography

the normans gallery

  • Rows of wooden chairs face a sparkling light backdrop in a rustic barn venue with exposed brick walls and a sign in the foreground. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Bride and groom stand facing each other outdoors at sunset, with dramatic clouds and a tree silhouette in the background. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom walk hand in hand on a dirt path at sunset, with fields and trees in the background. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A large custom “Wedopoly” board, styled like Monopoly, is displayed on an easel with Stephen and Samantha’s names at the top, standing against a wooden wall under fairy lights. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom stand facing each other indoors, illuminated by warm fairy lights cascading from the ceiling behind them. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Bride in a white dress and groom in a suit stand smiling together by a wooden gate in a sunlit, rural outdoor setting with trees and grass. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Bride and groom in formal wedding attire stand holding hands in front of a dark wooden door framed by green vines. Drawn by Light Photography
  • Three people pose outdoors: a man in a dinner jacket, a bagpiper in traditional Scottish attire, and a woman in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom walk outside with four bridesmaids in purple dresses and three groomsmen in black suits on a sunny day, surrounded by trees and greenery. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom sit at a wooden table signing a document, dressed in wedding attire, with a bouquet of flowers nearby, against a rustic brick wall backdrop. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom kiss at their wedding ceremony in front of guests seated in a rustic brick hall with fairy lights overhead. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom exchange rings indoors, with a brick wall and fairy lights in the background. Two guests stand nearby, one adjusting the bride’s dress. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride and groom stand facing each other in wedding attire, holding hands and smiling, with guests seated in the background inside a brick-walled venue. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride in a wedding dress walks down the aisle with an older man in a kilt, holding her arm, as guests watch. Fairy lights hang in the background. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride stands with four people, including a man in a kilt and three women in matching purple dresses, all holding bouquets, indoors under white wooden beams. Drawn by Light Photography
  • A bride with long blonde hair in a white lace dress holds a large bouquet of purple and green flowers, standing indoors. Drawn by Light Photography

the normans faq's

The Normans is a beautiful barn wedding venue in Bilbrough, North Yorkshire, just outside York. It’s around 20 minutes from York and approximately 35 minutes from Leeds, making it a great choice for couples looking for a relaxed Yorkshire wedding venue that's easy for guests to reach.

For photography, the location gives you lots of variety too, from the characterful barns and courtyard to the surrounding countryside and quieter spaces around the venue.

The Normans has two onsite accommodation options, The Cottage and The Granary, both just a few steps from the main wedding spaces.

The Cottage has a dedicated Dressing Room, designed specifically for getting ready on the morning of your wedding. With plenty of mirrors, a large dressing table, lots of plug points and space for dresses and accessories, it's a lovely light-filled space for those all-important getting-ready photographs.

Having your preparations onsite also means I can capture all those little morning moments before following you through the rest of the day, without anyone having to worry about travelling between locations.

One of the best things about wedding photography at The Normans is the variety of backdrops all within a relatively small area.

Depending on the weather and the light, we can use the rustic barns, courtyard, farm buildings, stone walls and surrounding countryside for your portraits.

I don't want portraits to feel like a long photoshoot, so we'll usually take 10–20 minutes to wander around together, stopping wherever the light looks beautiful. If the weather is good, we can head outside for those big countryside views; if not, the character of the barns creates a completely different feel. The Normans has everything you need for relaxed, natural wedding photography without having to spend your day travelling between different locations.

The important thing is that you don't need to know where the best photographs are — that's my job. I'll find the light and guide you naturally.

Not necessarily. The Normans is a really easy venue to photograph because the main wedding spaces and accommodation are close together.

For many couples, one experienced wedding photographer is more than enough to capture the full story of the day, from morning preparations through to the evening celebrations.

A second photographer can be useful if you have a particularly large wedding, want both partners' preparations photographed extensively, or would like more coverage of different parts of the morning at the same time.

We'll talk through your plans before the wedding and work out what will give you the coverage you actually need — rather than adding a second photographer simply because you feel you should.

Lisa Kershaw

Lisa Kershaw is an award-winning wedding and portrait photographer based in West Yorkshire, operating from her studio in Elland, near Halifax. In 2020, she was recognised as one of the Top 10 international wedding photographers of the year by The Guild of Professional Photographers. As a registered member of The Guild of Photographers, Lisa specializes in capturing genuine, emotional moments for weddings, families, newborns, and maternity sessions. She has become a lifelong photographer for many families across West Yorkshire, documenting their journey from wedding day through to growing families. Lisa's work has been regularly featured in Your Yorkshire Wedding magazine, and she is a recommended photographer at prestigious venues including The Coniston Hotel, Spicer Manor, Holdsworth House, and Hornington Manor. Clients travel from Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, and across Yorkshire to work with her. Based in Brighouse with her husband, two children, and black labrador Finn, Lisa is passionate about making photography a fun, enjoyable experience while creating beautiful family heirlooms that will be cherished for generations. Learn more about Lisa.