A York Engagement Shoot: Christmas Lights, Mulled Wine and the Shambles
Reflected in a rain puddle on the Shambles, under the hanging sign of an old sweet shop, Emma and Dave wrapped their arms around each other while the city bustled past. Later they had cups of mulled wine in their hands and the Christmas lights were coming on. For a festive engagement shoot, York takes some beating.
York at Christmas: an engagement shoot location full of character
Emma and Dave loved the idea of embracing the Christmas spirit, and they chose the romantic cobbled streets of York as the setting. It’s a city made for wandering. York Minster, begun around 1230 and completed in 1472, is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe. You catch glimpses of it at the end of narrow lanes all over the old city.
Then there’s the Shambles, the old butchers’ street, where timber-framed buildings with jettied upper floors lean out over the street. Some of them date back to the 14th century. In the weeks before Christmas the city centre fills with market stalls, garlands and lights, which gives you colour and sparkle even on a grey afternoon.
Why we love winter engagement shoots
We’ve always loved the winter. We chose November 2012 for our own wedding, after all. The build-up to Christmas and the chance to breathe a little after a busy summer make it an appealing time of year. Most of all, it marks the beginning of engagement season for us: we do more engagement shoots in the winter months than at any other time of year.
They’re a fantastic way to try out new ideas we’ve been thinking about. More importantly, they’re our chance to get to know the couples we’ll be photographing in the year ahead.
Cobbles, the Minster and a stone bridge
We started in a quiet cobbled lane with the Minster’s pale stonework rising at the far end, then wandered on through the old streets. Emma and Dave relaxed into it straight away. There was a lot of laughter, plenty of cuddles against old brick walls, and a stroll across a stone bridge beneath an old-fashioned lamp post with the winter trees bare behind them.
On the Shambles we got low to the ground and used a puddle as a mirror, which turned the busy street into something quieter and more reflective. It’s one of those little tricks that only works on a rainy day, and York had obliged.
Mulled wine and the festive markets
Once the shoot had found its rhythm, we got some mulled wine and enjoyed the festive markets with them. Emma and Dave had such a close connection that it was a joy to capture. As the evening light faded and the stalls and string lights glowed, it was the perfect time to get creative.
We love trying out new gear, and this time it was our new MagMod flash accessories. Shooting through the coloured lights of the stalls gave us warm reds and golds around the two of them, and a string of snowflake lights across one of the streets made a lovely frame too.
Why we love an engagement shoot in York
If you’re thinking about a York engagement shoot, here’s our honest advice:
- Go late in the afternoon. In winter the light fades early, and the hour when the shop windows and Christmas lights come on is the best of the day.
- Walk, don’t drive. The Minster, the Shambles and the old lanes are all within a few minutes of each other on foot.
- Embrace the rain. Wet cobbles and puddles give you reflections you can’t get on a dry day.
- Wrap up warm. Coats and scarves look great in photos, and a hot drink halfway round keeps everyone smiling.
Planning your own wedding in York?
Emma and Dave’s wedding followed in 2016, with the ceremony in Emma’s hometown in Lincolnshire and the reception back in York, where they both lived. An engagement shoot is the best way to get to know each other before the big day. See more of our York wedding photography and Yorkshire wedding photography, or get in touch to check your date.
See also: Wedding at Emma & Dave’s in York.
