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 Castle - Briony and Edward
Durham Castle weddings are always a joy to photograph. I love the history and character of the castle, the old elegance of the interior, the dark wood paneling, the cathedral-high ceilings, and the stained glass windows to match. It really is something out of a fairytale. The Castle couldn’t have been a more perfect choice for Briony and Edward’s wedding day.
Being from out of the area, Briony hired a lovely little Airbnb close to Nevilles Cross for her and her girls to get ready in, while the lads got ready in the castle before walking down to St Nic’s church in Durham’s Market Place for their wedding ceremony. By the time Briony arrived, a crowd of onlookers had gathered, who cheered and applauded as she got out of the wedding car and walked into the church on her dad’s arm. After a beautiful ceremony, we jumped into our cars and headed over to Prebends Bridge for a few photographs while their guests made their way up to the castle for their celebrations. It was a beautiful elegant wedding, and we loved every moment.
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 just wanted to say thank you once again for all your work on the day and for such beautiful photos. We are delighted with them and they capture the day so well. Thank you for all your assistance on the day, and a special thank you to Chrissie for saving the dress from makeup stains!!! The photos are just beautiful. Thank you for capturing so many special moments. They bring back all the special memories looking through them.” - Briony and Edward.
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.
Healey Barn - Lyndsey and Richard
Being a Healey Barn recommended wedding photographer, Healey Barn is a venue that we both know very well and love working at. It's stunning countryside location, idyllic views, cosy but stylish interior and the amazing atmosphere make it the perfect wedding venue. It was a delight to return back to Healey Barn once again to photograph Lyndsey and Richard's wedding day.
After getting ready at home, Lyndsey and Richard tied the knot in a pretty countryside church in Witton-le-Wear in front of all of their family and friends. Dark clouds met us at Healey barn for their wedding reception and the heavens opened, but despite this, we dodged the rain to get some great shots of this happy couple who wouldn't let the weather effect their day in the slightest.
It was such a fun day with a fantastically relaxed couple and a great crowd. Here are a few photographs from their big day...
Durham Castle - Jez and Mark
Durham Castle has always been one of my favourite wedding venues to work in - for is history, it's abundance of creative photographic opportunities and for the wonderful light so it was a delight to return to photograph Jez and Marks spectacular wedding.
Jez and Mark travelled all the way from London to be married in the city that they first met. I met Jez while he got ready with his groomsmen in the Royal County Hotel in Durham while Nige met Mark getting ready in his old halls of residence at Hatfield Collage. They said their vows in an intimate ceremony at Ackley Heads registry office surrounded by only their closest family and friends. After a quick walk around some of their favourite spots in Durham, revisiting some of the places that they used to go to together as students they were met at the castle by over 100 of their friends, all cheering on their arrival, throwing confetti over their fabulous two seater E type Jaguar. A lavish Champagne drinks reception lead into a feast and speeches in Durham Castle's great Hall.
It was such fun photographing this wedding and a joy to attend.
