The Sun Pavilion - Ashley and Jon

A Sun Pavilion wedding in the Valley Gardens in Harrogate. Ashleigh grew up just around the corner from the park, the park she described as being like her back garden. Playing there as a child and learning to ride her bike. She told us that she had always hoped that one day she would also get married there.

It was a joy to walk through the gardens with Ashleigh and her crew before the ceremony, recounting on memories, and visiting areas that she was fond of as a child on the way to the Sun Pavilion. The ceremony was set up on the beautiful wrap around terrace overlooking the gardens, which also made the perfect location for their drinks reception. The huge room within the pavilion became the setting for their wedding breakfast.

We first met Ashleigh and Jon at Jon’s sister’s wedding back in 2017, and we were thrilled when they asked us to also be their wedding photographer. Ashleigh and Jon were a delight to work with, creative and stylish, and they knew exactly how they wanted their wedding to be. Seeing familiar faces again and meeting new friends was a joy. All in all, it was a pretty awesome day.

“Chrissie and Nigel were fantastic!!!!! We love the photos they took for us! Everyone has commented on how lovely they are! They were both really nice to work with, clearly experts in photography and were great at putting us at ease. We couldn't have wished for better photographers for our wedding! We are so happy with the photos, they captured the whole day perfectly! Thank you so much!!!!”

Crathorne Hall - Lesley and Matthew

Lesely and Matthew's wedding took place at the beautiful Crathorne Hall near Yarm.  I asked Lesley to tell us more about their day...

"Matt & I met on a friends 21st in Durham, in 2011.  From our first date I knew he was the one, I have had butterflies ever since."

"Christmas 2014, Matthew proposed to me in the most amazing way! We’d finished opening our presents on Christmas morning sat by the tree, he said to me “Do you think that’s everything?” He passed me a large, flat box. I thought “what on earth could this be...” it was a Millie’s cookie with pink writing asking me to marry him! First thing I did was question “REALLY?”, I couldn’t believe it, so excited! I Immediately said YES after that!  I was pregnant when Matt proposed to me.  Millie was born in 2015, she will always have the story that she was named after a cookie!"

"We wanted our wedding to be a happy and unforgettable day.  It truly was one of the best days of our lives, we had everyone around us who cared, friends and family, each other and our little girl, Millie.  Unfortunately we have lost some loved ones over the years we have been together and beforehand. We wanted to try and include as much as we could so they were with us that day also."

"There was so many memorable parts to the wedding!  Walking down the aisle and seeing Matthew standing there, and our first dance.  At the end of the night feeling accomplished, we had the most amazing day and I’d like to think everyone had a great time!"

"Photography was massively important to us.  We wanted to treasure our memories and what better way can we do it?
We chose 2tone photography as both Chrissie's and Nigel's photography skills are brilliant. What a lovely couple to work with, they listened to everything we wanted and they followed through with it on the day. The quality and thought that goes into their work is unbelievable. I recommend them to friends who are getting married all of the time."

"My piece of advice to couples getting amrried is don't get stressed. Your day will be amazing.  Everyone says it but it’s completely true.  Your day goes so quick, so make sure you take five minutes just both of you to take it all in."

Here is a look at their amazing day...

Venue: Crathorne Hall Hotel

Venue styling: The First Class Wedding Company

The wedding dress: Northallerton Bridal Outlet

The men's suits: Bakers Tailoring

Wedding cake: Mother in Law

Flowers: Claire Metcalfes

Hair and Make up: Hair: Ashleigh Bennett. Makeup: Emma Christie

Entertainment: The Ultimate wedding DJ

Durham Castle - Laura and James

Durham Castle is a dream to photograph, wonderfully atmospheric, grand and full of history.  It also held some very special memories for Laura and James and so it could not have been more perfect for their wedding. 

I asked Laura to tell us about their wedding herself, so here goes!...

"We met at Durham University in 2006. We shared a few mutual friends, but it was playing college basketball that meant we started spending more time together. The most memorable turning point in our 'friendship' was when we spend a couple of hours together on a first aid course.... practising CPR (!) and then the long walk back home where we chatted for ages.  James proposed after 7 years together, on a slightly random Monday evening after I'd been at work for the entire day. He called me whilst I was driving home and asked me to give him a call 5 mins from home so he could start cooking the chicken fajitas. Little did I know it was actually so he could leave our flat - he left an envelope on the doormat which was the start of a treasure hunt... the end of which was a proposal :) Unfortunately the chicken fajitas didn't exist (!), but we went out for dinner before going on a mini break to Vienna 2 days later."

"We had a facetime chat with Chrissie and Nigel and loved how relaxed they were! I could instantly imagine them sharing in our wedding day."

For Laura and James, Durham Castle was always the one.  

"We were both students at Castle College in Durham, which is very lucky to have Durham Castle as the halls of residence! I lived in the castle during my final year, top floor of the keep - 127 steps up.  James used to refer to it as his 'city centre pent house! For us, there was only one place we could get married if we were ever to 'tie the knot!"

Laura chose vintage inspired accessories along with her stunning shoes - the Ivory 'Paris' stone embellished heeled sandals by No. 1 Jenny Packham.

Laura's stunningly beautiful wedding dress was the Jean gown by Badgley Mischka

"My wedding dress was the first thing I bought for the wedding - I loved the slightly vintage element of it and tried to carry this across the wedding (ie nothing too pristine and perfect - I didn't want 'matchy matchy'!)"

They were married in Durham Castle's medieval private chapel, the Tunstall chapel, constructed by Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall in 1540. 

"When I'm a guest at weddings I never look at the bride first when she walks down the aisle - I always look at the groom to see his reaction! I really wanted two photographers so that both moments could be captured"

"One of my favourite moments was walking back down the aisle after the service and seeing all our friends and family."

Laura and James were so much fun to work with, relaxed and clearly in love.  They made it too easy for us to capture some beautiful images of them alone together

"We loved the confetti gauntlet despite it almost choking James, the photo of him after getting confetti in his face is one of my favourites - even though it really shouldn't be!"

I asked Laura for a little advice for other couples getting married...

"Plan the day you want and that will make you happy. There can be so many differing opinions when planning a wedding. Just do what makes you happy -it's your day."

"As we were getting married in spring, I wanted to incorporate spring colours (light pink and purple). As it was Easter weekend we also wanted to give a little nod to this with the personalised easter egg favors."

Laura and James' beautiful wedding cake was carefully handcrafted by Laura's talented mother

"We looked over some photos that Nigel and Chrissie had taken at a wedding at Durham Castle and fell in love with them. Once I'd seen this there was no debate!"

"Make sure you find even just 5 mins to yourselves at the wedding.  We used the time when we went off to do some photos with Chrissie and Nigel after the dinner."

A favourite moment was our SECOND dance with our amazing band, Detroit Soul, 'This Old Heat of Mine'. We actually wanted this to be our first song, but didn't think the lyrics were appropriate!

Congratulations to you Laura and James once again.  Thank you for your words of wisdom, kindness and warmth - and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for inviting us to share with you, your wonderful wedding day at Durham Castle.

Laura and James carefully selected some fantastic suppliers for their wedding day:

Venue: Durham Castle

Venue styling: Pumpkin Events (friends business)

The wedding dress: Badgley Mischka: Jean

The men's suits: Moss

Wedding cake: Mother of the Bride!

Flowers: Style and Seated (friend)

Hair and Make up: Church Hairdressing (Tynemouth), F.A.C.E Makeup (Sarah Stonehouse)

Entertainment: Detroit Soul

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...