St Mary's Lighthouse
The lighthouse stands on a small island reached by a causeway that floods at high tide. At low water you can walk across, and when the tide is in, the headland opposite still gives you the lighthouse as a backdrop.
Photo: Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped
Whitley Bay · North Tyneside
Wedding photographer in Whitley Bay
Documentary wedding photography for couples marrying in Whitley Bay. A hotel ceremony on the seafront, portraits beneath the Spanish City dome and a walk out to St Mary's Lighthouse can all be part of the day, and every booking is quoted around your plans.
- Setting
- Seafront
- Coverage
- Full & half days
- Quotes
- Tailored
01Whitley Bay weddings
A Whitley Bay wedding photographer for seaside days
Whitley Bay's seafront has been given new life in recent years. It makes a bright, characterful setting for a wedding on the North Tyneside coast.
Wedding Photographer Newcastle photographs full weddings, half days and smaller celebrations across the town. Coverage is documentary, so your photographer follows the day as it happens and gives clear direction only where it is needed, mainly for family groups and a short portrait session for the two of you. Nobody is asked to hold a pose for long, and guests are left to enjoy themselves.
The restored Spanish City dome is the town's landmark, white against the sky and visible from most of the promenade. Below it, the beach runs north for well over a mile towards St Mary's Lighthouse. Whitley Bay is about ten miles from Newcastle and has its own Metro station, so guests staying in the city can reach the coast in around half an hour.
02Portrait locations
Where to have portraits in Whitley Bay
Each of these locations is a short drive from most Whitley Bay venues. The final choice is made on the day, once the weather and tide are known.
The promenade and Spanish City
Wide, level paving, pale stone and the dome above you. The promenade is easy for older relatives to join for a short group walk. It works well in bright weather and in the blue hour after sunset.
The Links
Open grassland running along the coast between the town and St Mary's. It is a simple, uncluttered setting with big skies and room for larger groups away from the busier seafront.
Cullercoats Bay
A small sandy bay held between two short piers, just south of Whitley Bay. It is more sheltered than the open beach, and the curve of the bay frames portraits neatly.
03Venues
Whitley Bay venues and receptions
Many Whitley Bay weddings keep everything close together. The ceremony is at a seafront hotel or function room, photographs happen on the beach, and dinner and dancing are a few minutes away. Other couples marry at a church or register office elsewhere in North Tyneside and come to the coast for drinks and portraits before the meal.
Couples marrying inland sometimes travel to the seafront for an hour between the ceremony and the wedding breakfast, and full-day wedding photography leaves room for that. A little planning around traffic and parking makes it work, and your photographer talks it through when the timeline is put together. The coast road also runs south to Tynemouth's beaches and priory headland in a few minutes. For ideas in the city and the countryside, see the North East venues page.
Seaside weather through the year
Spring and early summer bring long, soft evenings and the chance of sea fret. Autumn has lower, warmer light. A crisp winter afternoon on an empty beach suits couples who would like the seafront mostly to themselves. Plans always include sheltered spots near your venue in case the weather turns.
04Why couples choose us
Why book Wedding Photographer Newcastle in Whitley Bay
Natural, documentary coverage
Your day is photographed as it happens, with direction kept to the moments that need it. Have a look at the portfolio to see the style.
Planning around tide and light
Coastal portraits depend on the tide, the wind and the time of sunset. These are worked into your timeline well before the day.
Coverage that fits your plans
A short small wedding booking and a full day with a second photographer are both available, and the hours are matched to your timings.
05Coverage and quotes
Coverage options and how to get a quote
Coverage starts from four options. Elopement & Small Wedding covers the ceremony, groups and portraits. Half Day runs from the ceremony to the wedding breakfast. Full Day follows you from preparations to the first dance, and Full Day Plus adds extras such as a second photographer, an engagement shoot and an album. The cost and details of each are confirmed in your quote.
Tell us your plans
Send your date, venue and guest numbers using the enquiry form or email info@weddingphotographernewcastle.uk.
Hear back personally
Your photographer replies with availability and any questions about the day.
Review your quote
It sets out the coverage, extras and cost for your wedding in one place.
Plan together
Once booked, you plan the timeline, group shots and portrait locations together.
06FAQs
Whitley Bay wedding photography questions
Can we have photographs on St Mary's Island?
Yes, as long as the tide is out and the causeway is clear. Tide times for your date are checked when your timeline is planned. If the timing does not work, the headland opposite gives you the lighthouse in the background without crossing at all.
What if it rains on the seafront?
The forecast is watched in the days before your wedding and a few options are planned, including sheltered spots close to your venue. Short spells outside between showers can give lovely, soft light, so a wet forecast rarely means no seaside photographs at all.
Do you cover half days and small weddings in Whitley Bay?
Yes. Half Day and Elopement & Small Wedding coverage both suit Whitley Bay, particularly for a ceremony followed by a meal on the seafront. Your quote confirms exactly what is covered.
How do guests get to Whitley Bay from Newcastle?
The Metro runs from central Newcastle to Whitley Bay in around half an hour, which helps guests staying in the city. There is pay and display parking along the seafront for anyone driving, though it can be busy in summer.
How do we get a quote for a Whitley Bay wedding?
Send your date and venue through the form on this page. Wedding Photographer Newcastle will reply with availability and a quote shaped around the coverage you need.
07Nearby
Other areas we cover
Newcastle · Northumberland · Durham
Let's talk about your day
Send your date and venue to Wedding Photographer Newcastle to check availability and get a quote for your day.