Bethany & Callum’s Viking Wedding in York

Well it’s been a hot minute since I wrote a blog post! 2025 proved to be so busy for me that I just never quite had the time. But I certainly attended so many incredible weddings and events.

There are some weddings that instantly stick in your memory, and Bethany and Callum’s incredible Viking-themed celebration in York was definitely one of them. As a photographer who spends a lot of time working in this historic city, it always feels special to document couples who truly love York — and these two travelled all the way from London because the city means so much to them.

Bren was an amazing photographer from start to finish, he kept in contact throughout the run up to the wedding (despite my worries after we were somewhat ghosted by our previously booked photographer!), and was brilliant on the day! We’re not a couple that are comfortable with posing for photos, but Bren made it all feel natural and we have some fantastic shots to display and share with family. He captured some very special moments in the candid shots, some of which we wouldn’t have seen ourselves if not for the photos!

Bren fit in like an old friend, had quite clearly paid lots of attention to our booking request for the specific shots etc that we wanted, bringing some up on the day that we had forgotten about ourselves amongst all the excitement of the day.

We got our photos back very quickly, all perfectly edited and easily downloadable to computer and mobiles. We couldn’t be happier – thank you so much Bren!

The Ceremony

Their ceremony took place at Bedern Hall, a stunning historic building tucked away in the heart of the city. Despite having lived in York myself, I have to admit this beautiful hidden gem was new to me. It’s always a joy when being a York Wedding Photographer leads you to somewhere unexpected. The character of the venue perfectly suited their Viking theme — full of warmth, history, and atmosphere.

After the ceremony, we made the most of York’s iconic streets. We took a relaxed wander through the city centre, capturing natural, documentary-style moments along the way. One of the highlights was managing to grab some portraits down The Shambles — something that’s genuinely rare due to how busy it usually is. We were incredibly lucky with the timing, and the historic surroundings gave their photos a timeless Yorkshire feel that couples dream of when they choose Wedding Photography in York.

The Reception

The celebrations continued at Valhalla York, which was the perfect choice for their Viking-inspired reception. The atmosphere was lively, warm, and full of personality, exactly what you’d hope for with a theme like this. Every guest fully embraced the day, and the energy in the room made photographing the evening an absolute pleasure.

One thing that definitely made me smile was that nearly everyone had a London accent… apart from me, haha. It gave the whole day a brilliant mix of London meets Yorkshire charm. Bethany and Callum themselves were two of the nicest and funniest people you could hope to work with. Relaxed, full of laughter, and completely up for making the most of every moment.

It was an honour to capture their day and to add another beautiful York celebration to the O’Hara Photography story. If you’re planning your own celebration and looking for natural, relaxed York Wedding Photography or Wedding Photography that captures the real atmosphere of your day, I’d love to hear from you.