Chinese wedding at Matfen Hall - Fiona and Rico

We are no strangers to photographing Chinese weddings in Newcastle. Over the years we have had the joy of attending and photographing countless Chinese weddings for local couples, and we have had the pleasure in creating long lasting friendships within the Newcastle Chinese community. We know and understand the traditional Chinese wedding customs, the fast paced fun of the day and we know that they are never the same twice.

Fiona and Rico’s big day was one such wedding. It was a feast for the eyes, Chinese wedding customs were combined with English wedding traditions resulting a multifaceted wedding day of fun and silliness, emotion and sincerity, elegance and romance.

The day started at Fiona’s family home. Inside, the ladies were busy getting ready, while outside, the street filled with family and friends, waiting for the boys to arrive. Moments after stepping out of the car, Rico was presented with a series of tasks set by the bridesmaids before being allowed entry into the house to collect his bride. The boys really got stuck into the challenges and luckily, they suitably impressed the girls. Once allowed inside, they all took part in the traditional tea ceremony before heading over to Rico’s parents home to perform the same ceremony with his family.

Later in the day, everyone poured over to Matfen Hall in Northumberland for their elegant and very English wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast.

Here are a few images from their day.

A Chinese wedding at Jesmond Dene House - Nico and Cherry

To anyone who knows us, it doesn't come as a great surprise when I say how much we love shooting Chinese weddings.  The colours, the traditions, the fun, the abundance of energy and most of all the warm hearted wonderful people.  Nico and Cherry's wedding at Jesmond Dene House certainly didn't disappoint.  

The day started at the crack of dawn with both the bride and groom at the Village Hotel in Newcastle as they prepared for the traditional tea ceremony.  Before they could leave the hotel to join their families, Nico took part in the traditional door games.  A hilarious mix of challenges designed to see how far the groom is willing to go for his bride.  Nico and his groomsmen of course took upon the games with gusto and spirit, and the results were priceless!

As time drew on, together they travelled across to the grooms home for the tea ceremony.  It is always such an honour to bear witness to this ancient tradition with such profound meaning.  The tea ceremony simply put is the traditional Chinese marriage ceremony.  The bride and groom kneel in front of their respective parents, serve them tea and thank them for their upbringing.  It is a devout way to express their gratitude for raising them.

Cherry was every bit the perfect bride, graceful and elegant as she walked down the aisle to meet her groom at Jesmond Dene House.  They gave their vows in front of all of their family and friends in the great hall and enjoyed a drinks reception with their guests in the grounds of the beautiful stately home.

For their great wedding banquet, Palace gardens in Newcastle's China town was the perfect location.  The bride and groom were warmly but very loudly welcomed into the room to the sounds of drums and symbols, cheering and applause.  Guests lined up in front of the bride and groom acting out another tradition, the dragon boat, leading them to the stage to give the first speech.  The huge feast was attended by friends and family from far and wide all coming together to celebrate the newlywed's union.  Around 12 courses of delicious Chinese delicacies were provided for the guests with entertainment from the guests themselves on a karaoke machine and speeches from the family throughout the course of the meal.  The tea ceremony commenced once again for a number of their relatives who could not attend the house that morning, and then came the toasts.  Moving through the room, Nico and Cherry visited every table to toast the guests and thank them, in return the guests toasted the bride and groom. 

A quick trip back to the grooms home for another tea ceremony was followed by their evening reception and the bride and groom's first dance as husband and wife in Great Hall at Jesmond Dene House.

What a day!  It was exhilarating, fast paced and an incredible experience we will never forget.  Thank you to you both for welcoming us into your lives and allowing us to document your first day as husband and wife.   

Beamish Hall and Palace Gardens - Pam and Steven

East meets west in an explosion of fun, laughter, and colour for Pam and Steven's wedding last September.  Their traditional wedding was complete with door games for the groom, a tea ceremony, four outfit changes and a huge wedding banquet for all of their family and friends at Palace gardens in Newcastle's china town.  Pam looked stunning in each of her wedding outfits, each delicately embroidered and cut to perfection.  

They were married at Beamish Hall in County Durham in an elegant western inspired wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast for their closest family and friends heading over to Palace gardens the next day for a larger celebration.  

Here are a few of their pictures from their amazing two day wedding!!...