Lartington Hall - Beth and Luke
Beth and Luke chose elegant Lartington Hall in Co. Durham for their wedding. Dashed with champagne and gold, their day had a regal feel while still being relaxed and fun. Here is Beth to tell us about it...
How did you meet? How did he propose? What is your story?
'Luke and I had the most amazing engagement. We had booked to go away to Disney World Florida in 2015. The last day of our holiday was my birthday and Luke had organised for us to watch the firework display at Cinderellas castle from a private garden viewing area! I had already had my birthday presents early that morning and wasn’t expecting anything else! As the fire works began, they played a song which started with the lyrics - ‘wishes do come true’ to which Luke then got down on one knee and the fireworks were going crazy in the background! It was just magical.'
What was the inspiration behind your wedding?
'When we started planning the wedding we knew we both wanted quite a big wedding with the wow-factor to go with it, and we definitely got that with Lartington Hall. We wanted everything to be that little bit extra, but still classy. We wanted a neutral and champagne colour theme, which happened to match perfectly with the venue – it was fate! I’d almost say we wanted a regal-feel to it, from the tall, rounded centrepieces and the large cake to the gold painted pillar-cases in the ballroom. Everything was just how we imagined – perfect!” We couldn’t recommend Lartington Hall enough to future bride and grooms.'
What was the most memorable or your favorite part of your wedding day?
'Without a doubt our favourite part of our wedding day was the Singing waiters! When planning the wedding we knew they were definitely going to have to be part of our day! We felt that sometimes at the wedding breakfast there is a bit of a lull and everyone becomes a bit tired after a big meal so it was just the perfect thing to get everyone lively again and up on their feet. The atmosphere they created was amazing, everyone was up dancing, singing and having a fab time! So many of our guests commented on how unique and brilliant it was to have at a wedding breakfast!'
Why was photography important to you and why did you choose 2tone Photography ?
'Our photos of the day were one of our main focuses when wedding planning. We found 2tone photography at a wedding fayre and instantly knew nigel and chrissie were for us! We knew from looking at their past albums that they had captured some amazing pictures of other bride and grooms special days and that’s exactly what we wanted! Their pictures seemed so crisp, clear and deep in colour, and that was exactly what we were looking for, something that said bold. Nigel and Chrissie are so lovely too. They work with such a relaxed attitude and it’s almost like having friends photograph your wedding. I would definitely recommend having a pair of photographers, that way, so many more images from different angles are able to be captured and I would not hesitate to recommend 2tone to any bride and groom.'
Do you have any advice for brides and grooms who are currently in the planning process?
'Our advice for future Bride and Grooms would be to go ahead with any plan or factor that you really want on your day. You only get to do it once, so bite the bullet and book it! Even if it means saving those few extras pennies, you wont regret it!
What is your favorite part of being married now?
'Our favourite part of being married now is planning our future together! We cant wait to see what the next couple of years bring for us! Our least favourite part is not having a wedding to plan haha! Enjoy every single minute of it.'
Venue: Lartington Hall
Venue styling: The Whole Schbang
The wedding dress: Bespoke Victoria Kay - Happily ever after Darlington
The jewellery - Ivory & CO
The hair: Hair by Jordan Simone Darlington
Makeup - Heather Francesca Pro artist and studio
The bridesmaid's dresses - Tracy Wilson Bridal specialist
The men's suits: Slaters - Newcastle
The wedding cake: Creations by Paula Jane
The flowers: The whole schbang
The stationary - Linda Whyte @ The Wedding Stationery Company
The magician - Stephen Knight
The singing waiters - Main course singing waiters
The day time musicians - Amici Musicali
The evening band - Hip Hop Hooray
The photobooth - Party Pics photobooth hire
The videographer - One Digital Image
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.
Beamish Hall - Joanne and Steve
Joanne and Steve chose Beamish Hall for their glorious early summer wedding day this year. It was one of those days that the weather just couldn't make up it's mind. Showers in the morning, crazy wind during their drinks reception, and some beautiful summer sun later, which made for some amazing portraits. It was a day for fun and cheer, filled with love and wonderful moments and a joy to attend.
Venue: Beamish Hall
Venue styling: Beamish Extras - Beamish Hall
Hair: Lisa Cameron
Make up: Patrycja firmanty
Entertainment: Hip Operation - evening band & Snaparazzi photobooth
Wynyard Hall - Danielle and Phillip
It was a pleasure to return to the magnificent Wynyard Hall for Danielle and Phillip's late spring time wedding. They chose to be married in Wynyard Hall's beautiful Mirror room moving over to the Ballroom for their wedding breakfast and the conservatory for their evening reception.
It was a treat to once again work along side our friends, Janet and Chris from One Digital Image wedding videos as well of course as the fab team at Wynyard Hall.
Congratulations to Danielle and Phillip, wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness.
