Beamish Hall - Joanne and Steve

Joanne and Steve chose Beamish Hall for their glorious early summer wedding day this year.  It was one of those days that the weather just couldn't make up it's mind.  Showers in the morning, crazy wind during their drinks reception, and some beautiful summer sun later, which made for some amazing portraits.  It was a day for fun and cheer, filled with love and wonderful moments and a joy to attend.

Venue: Beamish Hall

Venue styling: Beamish Extras - Beamish Hall

Hair: Lisa Cameron

Make up: Patrycja firmanty

Entertainment: Hip Operation - evening band & Snaparazzi photobooth

The Ramside Hall - Sarah and Stuart

Sarah looked picture perfect as she walked down the aisle of St Josephs church in Stanley to be married to Stuart in July this year.  The ceremony was beautifully traditional and was attended by all of their family and friends.  After having spent some time with their guests after the ceremony, we all headed over to the Ramside Hall near Durham for their wedding reception.  The Bishops suite was dressed to impress for their wedding breakfast back lit by the stunning giant light up letters reading their names supplied by the fab Coco Luminaire. As a surprise to the groom, Sarah splashed out on the brand new bridal suite, the Celebration suite for the pair of them to enjoy for a few days following the weddings so after the meal the four of us headed upstairs for a few photographs.  To say I was impressed with the room would be understatement, it's stunning decor and mood lighting created a wonderful atmosphere and was ideal for a short portrait shoot.  The evening began with the traditional first dance, however Sarah and Stuart surprised and enthralled their guests with a fabulous choreographed first dance which was followed by a special moment for the bride and her dad on the dance floor.

Here are a few of my favourite images from their day.

Wynyard Hall - Ashleigh and Jonathon

 Ashleigh and Jonathon held their colourful wedding at Wynyard Hall last September.  It was a day filled with fun and laughter, energy and love, and it was a joy to capture.  

Ashleigh got ready at her parents home in Wynyard Village before heading over to meet Jonathon in the Brooks chapel at Wynyard Hall for their wedding ceremony.  She looked dazzeling in her Amanda Wyatt wedding gown, finished off with a sprig of Gypsophila in her hair and the most colourful wedding shoes I have ever seen!  Their fun and playful nature showed in their choice of colours for the wedding, each bridesmaid dressed in a different colour and each groomsman dressed to match with colourful cravats, pocket squares and even socks!  Their amazing wedding cake was the creative end result from a collective of favourite disney characters, Rapunzel, Mickey and Minnie, Buzz lightyear and Darth Vader who all made an appearance.

After dinner, we all headed over to Wynyard Hall's beautiful walled gardens - a first visit for all of us.  The beautifully manicured gardens felt calm and serene as the early evening began to draw in.  It made a perfect spot for a few more pictures of the happy couple and a very relaxing way to spend a few minutes before the party kicked off.

Durham Castle - Rachel and Andrew

Together Rachel and Andrew travelled half the world to be married in our beautiful Durham Castle.  From their home in Vancouver Canada, they journeyed back to the place that they first met and the place that they studied to say their vows joined by all of their friends and family.  Guests travelled from all over the world to attend and to witness their becoming husband and wife.  Despite the distance, they carefully planned their special day with perfect precision, assuring that the day was as perfect as it could be, and indeed it was.  

In his days as a Durham university student, Andrew sang in the Durham Castle chapel choir putting him in the privileged minority allowed to marry in the beautiful Tunstall Chapel.  We have photographed couples in the chapel many times before now and have always more than appreciated it's beauty, the stunning gold gilt decorative panels and alter, the chequered floor and the beautiful quality of light, but as such a rarity, we never before had been given the opportunity to photograph a wedding in the chapel.  It was a joy and simply wonderful to witness.

Andrew started his day at the Raddison Blu hotel in Durham while I met Rachel in the Royal County Hotel for her preparations.  Dani Mua provided Rachel's beautiful make up, Colin Cook was on hand as their wedding Master of ceremonies to assure that the whole day went smoothly and the brilliant Snaparazzi supplied their photobooth.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their wedding day last July.