Sporting Lodge Inns Middlesbrough Wedding — A Fun, Laid-Back Celebration for Brides Mollie & Emilie
- Mick Merriott
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Few venues in Teesside blend flexibility, personality and comfort quite like Sporting Lodge Inns, a much-loved Middlesbrough wedding venue set in the heart of Stainton.
With beautiful event spaces, friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for couples who want a celebration that feels real, fun and totally personal.
Mollie and Emilie’s wedding day captured everything this venue does best — unforgettable moments, warm hospitality, and a space where couples can genuinely be themselves. As a Teesside wedding photographer with a natural style, this was my kind of wedding: full of laughter, connection and spontaneous joy from start to finish.
A Venue Designed for Real, Relaxed Celebrations
Sporting Lodge Inns is known for being incredibly versatile — ideal for intimate ceremonies, larger evening receptions, civil marriages, renewal of vows, and everything in between.Couples love it because:
It offers multiple spaces to suit different-sized celebrations
The team go above and beyond to make the day run smoothly
It’s easy to access for local and travelling guests
Accommodation is available on-site
The atmosphere feels warm, modern and unfussy
This makes it one of the most accessible and welcoming Teesside wedding venues for couples who want a laid-back but beautifully organised day.
A Fun, Personal Wedding for Mollie & Emilie
From the minute I arrived, one thing was clear: Mollie and Emilie wanted a wedding day that truly reflected who they are. Fun, energetic, big-hearted and relaxed — everything about their day was centred on celebrating their personalities and the love they share.
The laughter started early and carried right through to the evening. Guests matched the couple’s energy, the staff at Sporting Lodge Inns were brilliant throughout, and every part of the day felt heartfelt and joyful.
An Inflatable Assault Course… Yes, Really!
One of the most memorable parts of the celebrations had to be the outdoor inflatable assault course that Mollie and Emilie arranged for their guests.
Cue:
Outbursts of laughter
Hilarious races
Some surprisingly competitive energy
Brilliant documentary moments
Guests cheering each other on
As someone who specialises in documentary wedding photography and candid wedding photography, this was a dream. These real, unfiltered moments are the ones couples treasure most — and Sporting Lodge Inns had the perfect space for it.
Love the idea of natural, candid photography like this ?
A Beautiful Ceremony Filled with Heart
The ceremony itself was intimate, emotional and filled with warmth. Mollie and Emilie’s connection is incredibly genuine, and this translated into every look, every smile and every quiet moment they shared.
Sporting Lodge Inns provides multiple ceremony spaces, and the team ensured everything ran seamlessly — from walking in, to the vows, to walking out as a married couple to huge cheers from their guests.
Creative Couples Portraits — Without Taking You Away From the Party
I always work with one priority in mind: your day belongs to you, not your photographer.
My approach is simple
:
✔ I never take couples away from their guests for long✔ Portraits should be relaxed, fun and stress-free✔ Real moments matter more than stiff posing✔ Creativity comes from comfort and connection
With Mollie and Emilie, we stepped just around the corner into a nearby wooded area for some creative wedding portraits. It took no more than 10 minutes.
The natural surroundings were perfect — soft light, beautiful textures, and a quiet moment for the brides to enjoy together before heading back to the celebrations.
The results were stunning: natural, intimate images that reflect the joy of the day, captured in the most relaxed way possible.
An Evening of Emotion, Speeches and Dancing
The evening reception was everything you’d hope for from a couple with as much energy and warmth as Mollie and Emilie.
There were:
Heartfelt speeches
Roars of laughter
A dancefloor full from the minute music started
Guests fully embracing the celebration
Sporting Lodge Inns offers a great reception layout that transitions seamlessly from dining to dancing. The lighting, atmosphere and staff support made everything flow without stress or interruption.
Why Sporting Lodge Inns Is a Fantastic Choice for Teesside Couples
Whether you’re dreaming of a big celebration or something more intimate, Sporting Lodge Inns has so much to offer:
A warm, modern venue with flexible spaces
Excellent staff who genuinely care
On-site accommodation for convenience
Easy access for local and travelling guests
Indoor and outdoor options for photos
Plenty of space for fun activities and unique ideas
For couples who want a wedding that feels relaxed, personal and full of heart, Sporting Lodge Inns is one of the best choices in the region.
My Natural, Relaxed Approach at Sporting Lodge Inns
As a North East wedding photographer with a natural, candid style, Sporting Lodge Inns suits my approach perfectly. There’s space for creativity, pockets of beautiful light, and plenty of opportunities to capture real, unscripted moments.
If you're planning a Sporting Lodge Inns wedding and love:
Real, unposed moments
Fun, relaxed photography
Short and stress-free photo sessions
A photographer who blends in like a guest
Creative portraits without awkward posing
…then we may be the perfect match.
No forced posing, no cheesy smiles — just genuine connection and creative storytelling.
I’m a North Yorkshire & North East wedding photographer specialising in documentary, candid, and creative wedding photography — perfect for couples who want their story told naturally and beautifully.
If you’re planning your wedding in North Yorkshire, the North East, the Lake District or further afield, and you’re looking for photography that feels relaxed, genuine, and beautifully unposed — I’d love to hear from you.
My approach is all about letting you be yourselves. I capture the laughter, emotion, and fleeting moments that make your wedding uniquely yours through a blend of documentary wedding photography, candid storytelling, and creative wedding portraits.
Real weddings. Real moments. Captured naturally.
Get in touch to check your wedding date and let’s start planning how to capture your day.
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