If you are getting married at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, you have picked one of the oldest rooms in York to do it in. The Hall dates to the 14th century, and the Great Hall upstairs has a timber roof that is hard not to look up at.
It is a lovely building to film in, and a slightly tricky one. Here is how we work there, and what it means for your film.
Key Highlights
- The Great Hall, the Undercroft and the Chapel each look and sound quite different, so your film has real variety without anyone leaving the building.
- It is just the two of us on the day, with discreet kit and no big lights.
- We record your ceremony and speeches separately from the cameras, so the vows are clear even in a room with stone floors.
- The Shambles and the city walls are a short walk away if you fancy a few shots out in York.
- Leah & Theo got married here, and even had a moment outside with their Ghostbusters wedding car.
Filming in the Hall’s Rooms
The Great Hall
The timber roof and the stained glass give us height and colour to work with, and the light through those windows changes through the afternoon in a way that no lighting rig would improve on. We film wide to show you the room, then close for the faces, and we stay out of the aisle. During the ceremony we usually stand at the front, at the back, or both. We always speak to the celebrant beforehand to check where we can stand, and we make sure we have both angles on the two of you from the front without getting in the way. Then we either have one of us at the back or a camera there, so we have a wide shot to cut to.
The Undercroft
Stone and low ceilings, which is a different feel altogether and often where the evening ends up. It is darker than the Great Hall. With the venue’s lighting that complements the architecture, the Undercroft becomes a moment you will remember.
The Chapel
A small, quiet room, and quiet rooms are good to us. The Chapel can be there for the more intimate moments, filmed or not.
Leah & Theo at the Hall
Leah & Theo had plenty of moments outside the Hall as well as in it, but the one we remember most is their Ghostbusters wedding car. It is not what you expect to see outside a 14th-century building, which is exactly why it was such fun to film.
It was a lovely day, full of love, in one of the oldest buildings in York.
A Few Steps Out Into York
You are in the middle of the city, so if you want a short walk out between the ceremony and the meal, there is plenty within a few minutes. The Shambles and the city walls are the obvious ones.
We would say this honestly though: a walk out costs you time with your guests, and some couples would rather stay put. It is worth deciding in advance rather than on the day.
How We Film
There are two of us, Julia and Cal, and that is the whole crew. Discreet kit, no big lights, and nothing that needs rearranging.
We film in a documentary way. We will not ask you to pose, to walk back down the aisle again, or to repeat your first dance. Julia will step in now and then to straighten a tie or fix a veil, and that is about the extent of our directing.
We record your ceremony and speeches on separate audio rather than relying on the cameras, which matters more than it sounds in a room with hard floors and a high ceiling. It means your vows are clear, along with the pause before your dad says anything and the laugh that follows.
We also work alongside your photographer. We will agree who is standing where for the ceremony and the speeches before anything starts, so neither of us ends up in the other’s shot.
What to Expect on the Day
Most couples who find this post have already booked the Hall and want to know how a videographer fits around everything else. Honestly, most of the time you will forget we are there.
Afterwards, short trailers usually arrive within 2–3 weeks, and longer films take 12–20 weeks depending on the time of year.
What We Can Film for You
Our packages run from Essentials to Ultimate, and the Deluxe and Ultimate packages include your full ceremony and speeches as well as your film. In a room like the Great Hall, where the ceremony itself is part of what you chose the venue for, the full ceremony is worth thinking about.
You will find what is included in each on our packages page.
Other York Venues
If you are still choosing, we have written about The Grand, York and The Hospitium too. You can see more of our work on our York wedding videography page.
If you have a date at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, tell us about your plans and we will let you know whether we are free.
Any questions, just shout.
Julia & Cal
