Langley Castle - Charlotte and Paul

It's been a long while since we were last at Langley Castle in Northumberland.  The medieval fortified towerhouse with it's crenulations and ancient achitecture dates back to the 1300's and speaks of a distant northern lifestlye of days gone by.  The people who once lived there almost blending into mythology in our minds.  

Charlotte and Paul fell in love with the ancient building, it's history and the stunning countryside that Langley Castle sits within.  It was the perfect location for their traditional wedding last summer.  Married in the picture perfect village church of St John's in Snods Edge, they went on to enjoy a wedding breakfast and evening reception at the castle with all of their family and friends.

I asked this beautiful pair to tell us about their day in their own words...

How did you meet? How did he propose? What is your story?: Oddly our families knew of each other long before Paul and I met.  We met, working at the same store but didn't become a couple until almost 18 months after I upped and left for university in Manchester. Transpennine Express has a lot to thank us for, buying many train tickets to and from Manchester until I eventually came back home to the North East. 

We eventually moved into our first home together which we've filled with love, laughter and many happy memories over the years. A long awaited (on my part) engagement came as a surprise after 7 years together, back in Manchester where it all began. Perfect and private, Paul proposed on one knee with a dazzling ring and a joke of whether I thought he'd ever get around to it!

What was the inspiration behind your wedding?: Our wedding was about celebrating a new chapter.  Reflecting who we are as a couple but also how we have become the individuals that we are because of our families and what they mean to us.

What was the most memorable or your favorite part of your wedding day?: Speaking for myself, arriving at the church, a bag of nerves but then turning to walk down the aisle and suddenly feeling nothing but excitement to get married.

Why was photography important to you and why did you choose 2tone Photography ?: The photographs of our wedding capture all of the 'moments' of the day, to look back on in years to come.  Being transported back to our most memorable day.  We chose 2tone Photography based on a family recommendation.  The fact that we would have two fantastic photographers and two angles of everything for the whole day was a real draw for us!  They have the style that we were looking for, modern and fresh but with the potential for a mix of traditional shots to keep the family happy and more adventurous ones too.

What is your favorite part of being married now?: As the best man said, marriage changes nothing inwardly about how we feel, but changes everything outwardly. The fact we're married and share a name means people see us in a different light and that unity gives us a stronger sense of togetherness.  Our own new family unit starting out!

Do you have any advice for brides and grooms who are currently in the planning process?: Know what you want your day to be and look like, and then do your homework.  Find the suppliers who can offer what you are looking for and will share your passion to achieve your dream day. Having that will take a weight off your mind to focus on all the other parts of the day.

Venue: St John's Church, Snods Edge and Langley Castle, Hexham

Venue styling: Simply Bows & Chairs

The wedding dress: La Sposa (designer) from Eve & Ellis (boutique)

The men's suits: Ted Baker at Moss Bros

Wedding cake: Sara's Kitchen

Flowers: The Enchanted Florist

Hair and Make up: Hunter & Dublin (Hair), Kate Alexandra Howlett MUA

Wedding video: Michael & Alice from Bennett Media

Entertainment: Dan James McClew and Groove Central Station from AMV

Wedding stationery: Silverbirch Designs

Transport: ATW Wedding Cars in Washington.

A winter wedding at Langley Castle - Natalia and Tom get married!

Is it possible to know within the first few moments of meeting someone that you are about to begin a life long journey together?  Tom certainly thinks so.  On his wedding day, Tom happily told me that it was love at first sight for him from the moment that he set eyes on Natalia sitting across from him in the university library.  He found the courage to go and talk to her the next day, they began dating and very quickly he won her heart.

They chose a crisp and fresh day in late december for their wedding at Langley Castle in Northumberland.  

As usual, Nigel met the lads as they suited up for the big day ahead, while I headed over to see the girls in one of Langley castle's feature rooms.

Natalia looked simply stunning, wearing a fish tail dress, full length veil with lace detail and holding a bouquet of deep red roses. 

The ceremony, festively decorated with the wedding theme colours of red, gold and silver was held in the Josephine restaurant.  The fading light outside and the candlelit interior made for a very cosy and inviting feel.

Weddings are filled with emotion and moments to capture, it goes without saying, but the ceremony it's self is one of my favourite times of the day.  The look in Tom's eyes as Natalia makes her way down the aisle, the moment they are pronounced man and wife, and that very fleeting moment shared between the two of them just after they shared their first kiss, it's magic to witness.

Our good friend Paul Lytton, a talented magician did a great job of entertaining the guests after the ceremony.

I have to say, hat's off to this girl!!  Don't forget that this is a late December afternoon, gradually getting cooler as the light faded and she looks sensational!  Thank you to you both for braving the cold and allowing us to take these incredible shots, we hope that you treasure them for many years to come.

The wedding breakfast and evening party was held in the Stuart Suite at the top of the castle decorated in the same red, silver and gold.  The speeches are another all time favourite time of a wedding day for me.  I love the unreserved outbursts of emotion, the laughter, the crying, the proud look on the bride's fathers face and the embarrassed expressions from the groom during the best man's speech.  These are the moments that bring back memories.  

Natalia and Tom take to the dance floor for their first dance as man and wife surrounded by their friends and family.

Congratulations to you both and thank you for letting us be a part of your day,  wishing you both a lifetime of happiness x