There are some venues where you arrive and you can immediately tell the day is going to be special. Thomas Wright House in Byers Green is one of them.

When Jan and Ian told me they were having a small wedding there - just 23 guests - I knew it would be intimate, personal and full of heart. What I didn't realise when I first started looking into the venue for this blog was just how much history sits behind that beautiful building on the High Street.

So this blog is in two parts - the story of the man who gave the house its name, and the story of Jan and Ian's day.

Part 1: Who is Thomas Wright and What is His Connection to Byers Green?

If you know Byers Green, you know the building. Nestled in the quiet village between Durham and Bishop Auckland, Thomas Wright House offers a peaceful rural retreat with panoramic countryside views.

It is a stone building dating back to the 1700s. For many years it was known locally as The Marquis of Granby pub. When it was newly renovated a few years ago it was renamed to honour local philosopher Thomas Wright. Even today it keeps that link alive - the eight beautifully designed bedrooms are named after constellations.

It is relaxed, family-run, and run by Esther and her team who genuinely care about every wedding. It has become one of my favourite small wedding venues in County Durham because nothing is too much trouble, the food is superb, and the light - especially in the Garden Room and the Aquila suite - is just gorgeous for photography.

But who was Thomas Wright?

Thomas Wright was born at Byers Green in 1711, the third son of John and Margaret Wright of Pegg's Poole House. His father was a carpenter. As a child he suffered with a speech impediment and was initially educated at home, before attending King James I Academy in Bishop Auckland.

In 1725 he was apprenticed to Bryan Stobart, a clockmaker in Bishop Auckland. It was there his fascination with mathematics, navigation and the heavens really took hold. He took extra courses in mathematics and navigation at a free school in Gateshead and later went to London to study instrument making.

In 1730, at just 19 years old, he set up a school in Sunderland where he taught mathematics and navigation to sailors and merchants. From there his career took him to London, Ireland, and into the great country estates of England as a much sought-after teacher, architect and garden designer. He worked at Stoke Park, Cassiobury Park in Watford, Netheravon House in Wiltshire and Horton Hall in Northamptonshire.

Durham University, who held a major exhibition for the 300th anniversary of his birth, sums him up perfectly: "The remarkable Thomas Wright was born in Byers Green, County Durham in 1711. Throughout his life, his natural talent and abilities led him to excel in a wide variety of ventures, including astronomy, mathematics, architecture and philosophy."

What Wright is most famous for is astronomy. In 1750 he published An Original Theory or New Hypothesis of the Universe. In it he was the first person to correctly explain the appearance of the Milky Way as "an optical effect due to our immersion in what locally approximates to a flat layer of stars." In other words, we are looking along the plane of a flattened disc of stars - a concept that seems obvious now, but was revolutionary then.

His book influenced the great German philosopher Immanuel Kant and was later developed by William Herschel.

Even more astonishingly, Wright speculated about what we now call galaxies. He wrote about "the many cloudy spots, just perceivable by us, as far without our Starry regions, in which tho' visibly luminous spaces, no one star or particular constituent body can possibly be distinguished; those in all likelihood may be external creation, bordering upon the known one, too remote for even our telescopes to reach."

Kant later termed these "island universes." The idea was dismissed by almost all scientists until 1924 when Edwin Hubble finally proved that spiral nebulae were indeed distant galaxies.

Wright had built his own small observatory at Westerton, just outside Byers Green, to make his observations. He died in 1786 in Byers Green and was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's, South Church, Bishop Auckland.

So when you stand in the garden at Thomas Wright House and look out over the fields towards Westerton, you are literally standing where a man once stood and tried to map the entire universe. It adds a certain magic to a wedding day.

Which brings me to Jan and Ian.

Part 2: A Bright Day & A Lot of Love

I arrived at Thomas Wright House at midday on a surprisingly bright and warm day.

The weather forecast said rain. Every app on my phone had been promising rain for three days. I had packed the wet weather covers, the clear umbrellas, and had a whole plan B in my head for group shots in the Garden Room if the paddock was out of action.

I didn't need any of it.

Byers Green was bathed in that soft, late summer sunshine that photographers love - bright enough to give you a lovely glow, but with enough thin cloud to act like a giant softbox. Warm, calm, perfect.

Starting With The Details

I always start a small wedding the same way I start a big one - details first.

When the couple are not yet in the room and the venue is quiet, you can really capture the little touches that have taken months to plan. At Thomas Wright House I had the run of the place for the first twenty minutes.

I photographed the rings, the flowers, the table settings for the wedding breakfast, the cake, the stationery. With an intimate guest list, Jan and Ian had been able to make every table setting feel personal. Nothing felt mass-produced. That is one of the joys of a small wedding at a venue like this - you can afford to focus on quality over quantity.

Once I had the details covered I packed up and made my way through the Garden Room to the garden. The Garden Room is the hub of a wedding at Thomas Wright House. It is bright, modern but with character, and the double doors open straight onto the lawn. On a day like this, it means your guests naturally flow between inside and outside without ever feeling like they are being ushered anywhere.

The Boys in the Garden

Out in the garden, enjoying that unexpected sunshine, were Ian and his best man Drew and groomsmen Matthew, Dom, Ian's sons, and Sam, Jan's son.

They were doing exactly what groomsmen should be doing an hour before the ceremony - enjoying a beer in the sunshine, laughing, completely relaxed.

I love photographing the boys at this stage. There is no pressure, no posing. Ian looked incredibly smart - classic suit, perfect fit - but more importantly he looked comfortable. He was smiling, chatting, taking it all in. Drew was on best man duties but in the most laid-back way possible, making sure everyone had a drink and that Ian was alright.

I quickly got some photos of the men together. A few informal groups on the lawn, a few candid shots of them laughing as they stood together in the sunshine.

They were also joined by Harvey, Hannah's fiancé. It was lovely to have Harvey included with the boys - with Hannah being Ian's daughter, it made sense to get some photos of Harvey with the groomsmen as well, and he fitted right in. I grabbed a few with Harvey in the group on the lawn and a couple of Harvey on his own with Ian and Drew. With groomsmen who are sons, the dynamic is always lovely. You can see the pride. Matthew and Dom were clearly proud of their dad, and Sam - Jan's son - fitted right in with the group. That blended family feel was there from the very start of the day and it set the tone for everything that followed.

I didn't want to keep them long. Ten minutes, a good variety of shots on the lawn, and then I left them to finish their drinks. The last thing you want is to make the groom feel like he has done a full photo shoot before his bride has even arrived upstairs in the ceremony room.

The Girls in Aquila

From the garden I headed back inside to the stunning Aquila room downstairs.

If you have not seen Aquila at Thomas Wright House, it is a real gem for bridal preparation. Large, light, beautifully decorated in soft, neutral tones, with a super-king bed, plenty of space for hair and make-up, and - crucially for me - its own patio. That patio is a lifesaver. It means you can step straight out of the preparation bubble into beautiful, natural light for portraits without having to traipse through the venue.

Jan was already in her beautiful dress.

She looked absolutely stunning. Some brides need an hour to get into their dress and feel ready - Jan looked like she had been born in hers. Elegant, timeless, and very her.

With her were bridesmaids Jordan, Jan's daughter, and Hannah, Ian's daughter, and Erin, girlfriend of groomsman Sam. Again, that blended family story - daughters from both sides standing together for Jan. It was lovely to see.

All was calm. I write that in my notes a lot but it was genuinely true here. No rushing, no stress, no last-minute panic. Everyone was ready in good time, which is a testament to how organised Jan had been.

Lisa from Wish & Stitch was there making last-minute alterations to the dresses. If you are getting married in County Durham you will probably know Lisa's work - she is brilliant, and having her there on the morning itself meant every dress sat perfectly. She was pinning, tweaking, steaming, all very quietly and calmly.

We did a combination of photos outside on the patio and some quick portraits of Jan in the room. The patio is one of my favourite spots in the whole venue for bridal portraits. It is sheltered, private, and the light bounces off the light walls beautifully. We got some gorgeous, natural portraits there - the dresses catching the breeze, no awkward posing, just real moments.

The Arrival of the Guests

I made my way outside to photograph the arrival of the guests.

This was a small wedding and I mean that as a huge compliment. I have photographed weddings with 200 guests, and I love them, but there is something very special about an intimate one.

With this size of wedding, everyone is there because they truly matter. There are no plus-ones you have never met, no distant colleagues. It is your nearest and dearest, and the atmosphere is completely different. It is intimate, it is relaxed, and it is very emotional because everyone in the room knows your story.

The guests gathered outside in the sunshine, enjoying the garden and the Garden Room. Thomas Wright House is perfect for this size of wedding because it never feels empty, but it never feels crowded either. The scale is just right.

At 12.50 they were shown into the ceremony room upstairs.

Before long Esther from the venue gave me the nod that we were about five minutes away.

I popped to say a quick hello to the registrars. I know them well as I have done many weddings with them over the years across County Durham and we work seamlessly together. That relationship matters - when your photographer and your registrars know each other's routine, the ceremony flows so much better and we can work around each other without ever getting in the way.

I took my place at the front of the ceremony room and waited for proceedings to start.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was preceded by something that immediately made this wedding stand out.

Ian's son Dom played guitar and sang Luke Combs' "Gettin' Old". There is live music, and then there is live music from your own son on your wedding day. It was beautiful. You could hear a pin drop in the room. Dom played with confidence and real feeling, and with lyrics about time passing and cherishing the moments, it was a perfect choice for a wedding day. It set the most personal, heartfelt tone for what was to come.

Then it was time for the bridal party.

Jordan and Hannah entered gracefully together. Both looked lovely and walked with real composure - it is not easy walking down a small aisle with all eyes on you, but they did it perfectly.

Followed by Jan, who was walked down the aisle by her son Sam. He also gave Jan away.

As a wedding photographer, that walk down the aisle is always the moment I hold my breath for. In a larger venue you are often shooting from a distance. In the ceremony room at Thomas Wright House you are close. You can see everything - Jan's smile, Sam's proud expression, Ian's reaction as he sees his bride for the first time. Sam did an incredible job. There was pride, love, and a little bit of emotion there that was just wonderful to capture.

It was a beautiful ceremony, full of love. The registrars kept it warm and personal, not at all rushed. During the ceremony Matthew got up to read a poem - a lovely personal touch and he delivered it beautifully. It was heartfelt and very moving.

Then Drew, as best man, stepped forward and handed over the rings. Always a nerve-wracking moment for a best man - no one wants to be the one who fumbles the rings - but Drew nailed it.

The kiss. The signing of the register. And pow. They were married.

A huge cheer, applause, big smiles from Jan and Ian. Just married, surrounded by their favourite people in a room full of sunshine.

The Confetti Run

We went straight from the ceremony to the garden for a confetti run.

Jan and Ian had chosen loads and loads of white and pink heart confetti - and when I say loads, I mean loads. It was perfect.

Esther and her team had lined up the guests in two lines on the lawn, creating a confetti tunnel. With a small guest list you might worry that a confetti run will look a bit sparse. This was the opposite. Because everyone was close together, because everyone threw at once, the confetti was dense, it hung in the air, it caught the sun. I got right down low at the end of the tunnel and Jan and Ian walked towards me hand in hand, laughing, covered in hearts.

It is one of my favourite confetti runs of the year so far - joyful, colourful, and completely them.

This was followed by celebrations in the Garden Room. Drinks, congratulations, hugs. With an intimate party like this, Jan and Ian actually got to speak to everyone properly, which rarely happens at bigger weddings.

The Paddock - Formal Groups

At 2pm I took everyone into the paddock for the formal group shots.

The paddock is the field directly behind Thomas Wright House. It is slightly elevated, has a lovely rural backdrop, and is sheltered enough that you don't get guests squinting into the sun. It is my go-to spot for groups at this venue.

With an intimate guest list, this was quick and easy - exactly how group shots should be. I always say to my couples, we will get the groups done efficiently so you can get back to your guests.

We did family groups, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and a few combinations that Jan and Ian had requested, and then the big one - everyone together - which with this number is actually possible to do properly without someone standing half a mile away. That was last.

No fuss, lots of laughter, and then everyone headed back to the Garden Room to continue the celebrations.

The Wedding Breakfast & Speeches

At 3pm it was time for the guests to be seated for the wedding breakfast.

As the guests were settling in and finding their seats in the dining room, Jan, Ian and I sneaked off for two little jobs that I always like to do at this point in the day.

First, we did a mock cutting of the cake. We cut the cake properly later, but doing a mock cut now means you get the photos with perfect light and without interrupting the flow of the meal later. It also means Jan and Ian can actually enjoy their cake cutting without everyone trying to get a phone photo at the same time.

Second, the wedding ring shots. Thomas Wright House has so many great spots for detail shots - the wooden tables, the garden, the patio - and with everyone inside we had a few minutes of quiet to get those classic close-ups of the rings on the bouquet.

Then it was time.

Jan and Ian were shown into the dining room to a large cheer. Everyone was on their feet, clapping, cheering. That entrance into your wedding breakfast is always a little moment of rock-star status, and with your closest friends and family cheering you in, it felt really special.

After their entrance I retired to the bar to chill and start writing this blog. I sat with a refreshing water, camera batteries on charge, listening to the chatter and laughter from the dining room, from the bride and groom's entrance to the end of the mains. I then returned to photograph the speeches.

The speeches happened between the main course and dessert.

Sam was first with a humorous, confident speech with love in all the right places. As Jan's son and the man who had just given his mum away, it was a particularly special moment - funny, warm, and delivered with real confidence.

Ian was next with a heartfelt speech with added humour, about how they met and his love for Jan. It was personal, honest and very moving - the kind of speech where you can feel the room hanging on every word.

Drew was last, speaking about his long friendship with Ian and about how Jan has made his life complete. As best man and a long-time friend, he struck the perfect balance between stories, sentiment and humour.

With an intimate group like this, every speech landed. There was nowhere to hide, and you could see every reaction - laughter, tears, nods of agreement from people who know their story inside out.

Evening Reception

After the wedding breakfast there is always a lull as people go to their rooms to change, freshen up and have a bit of a breather. At a lot of weddings that lull can feel quite long. At this wedding the lull was short as the evening reception started at 6pm.

It is one of the advantages of Thomas Wright House for a small wedding. Because a lot of the guests are staying in the eight constellation rooms upstairs, they don't disappear for an hour. They nip up, change, and are straight back down in the bar, ready to go again.

By 6pm the night time guests started arriving and the atmosphere shifted up a gear. The Garden Room started to fill, music in the background, drinks flowing again. I photographed the evening guests arriving and greeting Jan and Ian. It is always lovely to capture that moment - the second wave of hugs, Jan and Ian now completely relaxed as a married couple, welcoming friends who couldn't be there for the day but wanted to be there for the night.

The selfie booth was now set up and it quickly became the centre of attention. If you have never seen one at Thomas Wright House, it is perfect for small weddings. No big bulky booth taking up half the room, just a simple set-up with props.

And the props were used. Guests started to dress up with the supplied hats, glasses, wigs and signs, getting dafter as the drinks flowed. That is the beauty of a selfie booth - it gives people permission to be silly, and with an intimate crowd like this, everyone joined in.

At 7pm Esther and her team positioned the cake in the middle of the dancefloor. With the evening guests now all in, it was time for the official cut.

Jan and Ian stepped up to cut the cake. On the count of 3. 1...2...3 and with a downward stroke it was cut. Big cheer, applause, a few phone photos, and a kiss for the cameras. Even though we had done a mock cut earlier for the detail shots, this was the real one - in front of everyone, with everyone cheering them on.

The couple then went straight into their first dance.

It was a smoochy number, the kind that is perfect for Thomas Wright House. Not a choreographed routine, not a big performance - just Jan and Ian slowly working their way around the dancefloor. Holding each other tight, whispering to each other lovingly, completely in their own little bubble while everyone watched. With a small dancefloor and all their favourite people around the edge, it felt personal, not performative.

After the first dance I spent another 20 minutes candidly photographing guests. A few people catching up in the bar, a few still taking turns in the selfie booth. It is my favourite time of the evening to shoot - no structure, no timeline, just real moments. Laughter, hugs, that lovely golden evening light coming through the Garden Room doors mixing with the dancefloor lights.

Then it was my time to go. I said my goodbyes to Jan and Ian, to Esther and her team, and left into the now rainy night. The forecast had finally been right, just 8 hours late. I walked to the car in the rain, happy, tired and feeling a good job had been done.

Small weddings like this at Thomas Wright House are special. Intimate, relaxed, full of love and laughter from midday right through to the evening. Jan and Ian's day had it all - sunshine when we needed it, personal touches everywhere, heartfelt speeches, a brilliant evening reception, and a couple who were so clearly meant to be together.

Congratulations again to Jan and Ian - thank you for letting me be a part of it.