Durham Castle - Hannah and Adam

Last summer, we were back again at the gorgeous Durham Castle for Hannah and Adam’s big day. The UK at the time was going through a heat wave and the met office had issued an extreme weather warning. Temperatures on the day were reading as 29 degrees c, so as you can imagine, it was hot! We left home - making sure we were fully kitted out with extra water bottles to meet them as they both got ready for their ceremony at St Paul’s Church in Spennymoor. It was a beautiful church with a stunning modern stained glass window and the most lovely vicar who made us feel so welcome. After their ceremony, we headed into Durham and to Durham Castle to begin the celebrations. Upon arriving, Adam topped the popularity chart as the most popular person ever, as he had booked an ice cream cart! You could see their guest’s relief and the pure enjoyment on their faces. Adam and Hannah even insisted that we had one, and they were amazing! After a few family photos, we spent a quick 5 minutes capturing a few shots of the two of them in the castle grounds, but really, it was just too hot to do many, so after their meal when the day had begun to cool a bit, we went for a walk down to Prebends bridge.

It was a wonderful day with two really great people, and we were so happy to have been there to capture it all for them in photographs.

If you're planning your own wedding at Durham Castle, and are looking for a wedding photographer, please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.

“We love the photos, thank you so much. You both were truly amazing and you exceeded our (already very high) expectations on the day, we are so happy to have worked with you on our wedding day.”  - Hannah and Adam.

Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle - Ruth and Scott

In August, we saw ourselves in the heart of Durham, to photograph Ruth and Scott’s wedding day at Durham Cathedral. Originally from the North East, Ruth and her Canadian groom Scott moved to Luxemburg some time ago but came back to the UK to marry in the iconic building that was so close to her heart. Their ceremony was stunning, their family and friends seated in the choir, with the general public watching from the nave as they gave their vows. After the ceremony, with huge smiles on their faces, Ruth and Scott hurried the short distance from the Cathedral to Durham Castle - rain was pouring down but it did not dampen their spirits in the slightest. They were met by their guests with confetti in hand for a fabulous arrival at the castle. Their grand wedding breakfast in the great hall was followed by a stroll around the castle and cathedral grounds for a few pictures, then a fantastic Cèilidh.

Durham Castle - Yuze and Fedir

It’s been a long time since my last post, too long.  This last year has been one of the most difficult many of us will have known and my lack of posting comes entirely down to just simply doing what I can to stay mentally healthy while coping with the devastating blow the pandemic has caused to our whole industry.  Despite this, I still want to share with you some of the photographs that we have taken from the wonderful weddings that we were privileged to attend in 2020.  Our first wedding of 2020 was also our first wedding to have been impacted by the terrible virus that originated in China that later came to be known as Covid 19.  

After meeting Fedir, Yuze moved from China to be with him in Sweden, and together, they arranged for their wedding to take place at Durham Castle, with friends and family due to travel across the globe to attend.  Due to the outbreak in China, only two weeks before their February wedding day Yuze’s parents and friends had to make the difficult decision to not attend the wedding.  It was a devastating blow to our couple but determined to be married, they continued on with their plans with the addition of the very talented duo, Janet and Chris from One Digital Image wedding videographers, who would record the ceremony for Yuze’s family to view over in China.  While considerably smaller in numbers, the day was perfect.

Deciding to throw out tradition, Yuze and Fedir got ready together at the Hotel Indigo in Durham.  Without bridesmaids or the mother of the bride to help, Fedir stepped in and helped his bride into her wedding dress before escorting her down the aisle to exchange vows.  After their intimate wedding ceremony in the Bishop’s Dining room, they celebrated with their guests in the Tunstall Gallery before returning back to the Bishop’s Dining room to share a meal together.  They enjoyed laughs during a game of Mr and Mrs, and we left them as they partied the night away.

Looking back at Yuze and Fedir’s wedding pictures from February 2020 - with everything that has happened since, people laughing together, hugging, kissing, no social distancing, it’s been so long it seems almost strange and weirdly uncomfortable to look at, but as national restrictions ease, today of all days being another milestone reached towards getting back to life as we knew it, I look forward with excitement and even a few butterflies to all of the wonderful wedding days that we shall be photographing later this year.

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.

Durham Castle - Catherine and Michael

Catherine and Michael flew all the way from their new home in Malaysia to be married in the place that they met, the historic city of Durham, heading over to the iconic Durham Castle in the heart of Durham for their wedding celebrations.  

We joined them before the ceremony at the Castle as they prepared for the day ahead.  Catherine was lucky enough to have been given the Castle's state room, the Bishops Suite to prepare for the wedding.  The walls of the sitting room are decorated with 17th century Flemish tapestries, and the four poster bed dates back to 1760, fit for royalty and a wonderful space for Catherine to get ready.

Catherine and Michael were married in St Cuthbert's Catholic Church in Durham after which they left together to go to Prebends bridge for a few photographs - a place that they share many memories of college days together.  Meanwhile their guests headed back on foot over the Kingsgate bridge and to Durham Castle for the wedding reception.  

Catherine and Michael arrived to the Castle and were met with energy and laughter from their guests enjoying a drinks reception on the inner bailey of the Castle.  After a few words from the maid of honour, everyone headed into the castle for the wedding breakfast in the Great Hall.  

As a special surprise for the guests, Catherine's father and his band took to the stage just after her and Michael's first dance to provide them all with music to dance to, making sure that the party was in full swing in no time and the dance floor stayed full.

It was a great day with a great couple, it was fast paced, fun and a joy to be a part of.  Here's a few from the day...

Durham Castle - Ruth and Andrew

Historic Durham castle is one of our all time favourite venues.  Filled with stunning light and so many creative opportunities for photographs - as well as of course simply being a stunning setting for a wedding. Nigel and I were naturally delighted to return for Ruth and Andrew's wedding day.  

Ruth and Andrew travelled all the way from Auckland in New Zealand to be married in St Mary's Church in Blackhill going on Durham Castle for their reception.  I was an incredible day with a fantastic crowd and certainly a day to remember. 

Working alongside our friend, the talented Richard Leng from Real Life films co.