The Fig House Middleton Lodge Wedding Photos | Lily & Sam – Colin Jones Photography
The Fig House at Middleton Lodge has quickly become one of my favourite North Yorkshire wedding venues to shoot, and Lily and Sam's wedding was a perfect example of why. It was one of those rare, glorious hot summer days in the North of England, and the whole day had a relaxed, sun-soaked feel to it from start to finish.
Set within a working Georgian estate just outside Richmond, Middleton Lodge is home to two distinct wedding venues, and The Fig House is the one built around its incredible two-acre walled garden. The orangery-style building itself is full of character, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open straight out onto the garden, so the light pours in all day long, and the outside really does become part of the room.
Lily and Sam are genuinely my ideal couple to photograph. Chilled, relaxed, and full of fun, they set the tone for the whole day, and it made for such an easy, natural atmosphere to shoot in. One moment I'll never forget is the ring delivery; an owl swooped in to bring the rings down the aisle! In all my years photographing weddings, that was a first for me, and it's exactly the kind of unplanned, unique touch that makes every wedding day different. With the heat as intense as it was, the group shots proved trickier than usual, and we made the call to push them back until later in the evening once things had cooled down a little, so nobody was left squinting or overheating in the sun. It's moments like this that really highlight why I always go through the group shots list with couples ahead of time, once they've filled in their wedding questionnaire. Having that list agreed in advance means that even when plans need to shift on the day, whether that's for weather, timings, or anything else, we can adapt quickly without losing any of the shots that matter most to the couple.
A Hot Summer's Day in the Walled Garden
With the temperatures soaring, most of Lily and Sam's day naturally gravitated towards the shade and colour of the walled garden. It's a genuinely stunning space, packed with different flowers, climbing plants along the old brick walls, and neat, winding pathways that give you endless backdrops to work with as a photographer. I love a venue like this because you're never short of options, whether it's a shaded corner under the greenery for softer portraits or an open patch of lawn with the flowerbeds in full bloom behind the couple.
Being such a warm day, we made sure to build in plenty of time for the group photos and confetti shots in the garden before everyone headed back inside to cool off. Lily and Sam handled the heat brilliantly, and if anything, it just added to the relaxed, joyful atmosphere of the day. There's something about a proper hot English summer wedding that makes everyone that little bit more carefree, and it really came through in the photos.
The ceremony itself took place with the garden as a backdrop, and the drinks reception spilt out across the lawn afterwards, guests making the most of the sunshine with drinks in hand while the flowers and greenery framed everything beautifully.
The Venue - The Fig House, Middleton Lodge
The Fig House is a brilliant choice for couples who want a relaxed, garden-led wedding with a bit of rustic charm. The walled garden is the real star of the show, offering a huge variety of flowers and textures to shoot against throughout the seasons, and it looks especially stunning in the height of summer. The building itself seats up to 90 guests and has that lovely mix of exposed brick, timber beams, and big glass doors that flood the space with natural light. If you're planning a wedding here, my advice would be to build in a little extra time for garden portraits, especially if you're getting married in summer, as there's simply so much to work with.
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