Hexham House - Kristina and Richie
Kristina and Richie decided to postpone their wedding day at Healey Barn when it became apparent that Covid restrictions at the time would not allow them to have the day that they wanted, so instead, they chose to get married at their local registry office - Hexham House with their closest family and friends present and keep the day at Healey Barn for a big celebration when Covid 19 would no longer hamper their plans. We had never worked at Hexham House before, so it came as a pleasant surprise to see how lovely the building was, surrounded by parkland with the abbey serving as a stunning backdrop to their family photos. Afterwards, we all headed back to Kristina and Richie’s home for an outdoor drinks reception in their garden and some takeaway food. It was a fab few hours with a fab couple, and we can’t wait to join them for day 2 of their celebrations next week!
Healey Barn - Freyja and Glen
"We can not thank you enough for all the work you have done to capture our wedding day. The photos are better than we could have ever wished for and we can't wait to share them with our family as they have captured our day so perfectly. You were both such a pleasure to be around on the day itself and created a wonderful and fun atmosphere to be in.”
“Our wedding video is incredible and we have already had so many compliments from our family on the quality and amazing storytelling. You have captured moments that otherwise, neither of us would have seen from my mum waving to my brother as we walked down the aisle to Glen's dad cracking a joke as Glen introduced my dad and for this, we will be forever grateful. I have watched it countless times now and every time it takes me back to the best day of my life. Somehow you have captured everything we felt on the day and we sincerely appreciate everything that you have done to create unforgettable memories for us that will last a lifetime. Freyja and Glen x”
The start of 2021 was very quiet for us, as it was for everyone in the wedding industry due to Covid 19 causing havoc and putting the country into lockdown again. By the time Freyja and Glen’s big day came around in April, they had to alter their plans - delay their big day by a week, and downsize to 13 attendees, but they did it! At the time, wedding receptions and socialising indoors was not permitted, so their wedding day consisted of their wedding ceremony and a few drinks in the courtyard - 2 hours in all. It was a gorgeous, intimate wedding, with a fun-loving couple, and their awesome family, and we loved it!
As so many of their friends and family could not attend, they looked for a videographer to film the moment that they became husband and wife. Without finding the right person for the job, they asked us, and so on this wedding day, we also shot our first wedding film! I am not including it, as for the time being we are not thinking about changing direction - however, who knows one day? It was great fun to try something different, and going on their comments, they loved the result!
Aykley Heads register office - Daiana and Simon's 2020 lockdown wedding
2020 was tough for us all, but it’s hard to imagine what couples trying to get married that year went through. I have so much respect for all of them - for those who re-arranged their weddings and suppliers for later dates, and for those stoic couples who got married as soon as was allowed. Daiana and Simon were the last of our 6 couples who refused to give in and got married in 2020 after Covid 19 came on the scene. Their original date was planned for only a few days after the national lockdown in March, but their big day finally came around in December. Their large wedding at Beamish Hall became a much more intimate occasion at the Aykley Heads register office in Durham. It may not have been the day that they originally envisaged, but it was no less special. They escorted one another into the room where their four guests watched as they gave their vows, and family and friends braved the downpour to surprise the happy couple as they left the registry office, resulting in an impromptu and very romantic first dance in the car park!
Day two of their wedding day is now only a few months away. Over two years after their original date, they will finally be able to celebrate with all of their family and friends at their dream wedding venue - Beamish Hall, and we can’t wait to be there to photograph all of the fun!
Beamish Hall - Sarah-Jane and Daniel's 2020 lockdown wedding
We’ve known Dan for a long time now, he is a former barman at Beamish Hall, later becoming one of their wedding coordinators. He met Sarah-Jane while working at the Hall where she worked behind the scenes in housekeeping. These two are a match made in heaven, they are always having a giggle together, and are so much fun to be around. We were thrilled when they asked us to photograph their big day at the place that they first met.
Of course, as it did for so many, Covid 19 got in the way of their plans, and the large wedding that they had planned had to be re-thought. The result was a wonderfully intimate wedding day with a guest list of just 6, along with Nigel and myself, and our good friends Janet and Chris from One Digital Image (Video) bearing witness to their nuptials. Family and friends joined them outside after the ceremony to congratulate the happy couple.
It was a real joy to have been a part of their special day. Sarah-Jane and Dan, thank you so much for having us along! We wish you all the luck in the world and a lifetime of love. x
Seaham Hall - Andrea and Christopher's 2020 lockdown wedding
I’m looking back today, remembering Andrea and Christopher’s wedding at Seaham Hall. They were married in September 2020 when restrictions for weddings were beginning to ease. While numbers were still restricted and they could not have an evening party and dancing, they were still able to have the day that they wanted.
Here are a few of their pictures from their 2020 lockdown wedding at Seaham Hall.
Auckland Castle - Sarah and Will's 2020 lockdown wedding
Sarah and Will certainly didn’t have it easy planning their 2020 wedding, but enduring setback after setback, and refusing to let Covid get too much in their way, they somehow managed it. There was no other setting more perfect for Sarah and Will than Auckland Castle - her father is the current Bishop of Durham, and Auckland Castle is the Bishop’s official residence, and no one more perfect to perform the ceremony than Will’s father who is an Army Chaplain. Their ceremony in the Chapel of St Peter was beautiful, filled with sentiment, funny stories from Sarah and Will’s childhood, and so much love for the two of them. It was wonderful to witness. They along with their families could not have made us feel more welcome. The atmosphere throughout our time with them was amazing and is something that we won’t ever forget.
Of course, it’s been a little while since their wedding - with a very busy 2021 leaving us little to no time for blogging, but even so, I very much wanted to share their special day with you, along with their words below.
(Please note, we haven’t included many photographs of guests mingling and chatting, simply to avoid any potential issues related to social distancing).
“AMAZING!
They are so fantastic we couldn't be happier with them! We are struggling to stop looking at them... Dad who has seen his fair share of Wedding photos over the years says these are the best he's ever seen! Thank you so much, we also got loads of positive comments from friends and family who were there, saying how great you both were!
Will and Sarah”
"THANK YOU SO MUCH NIGEL AND CHRISSIE! We are so so grateful for all the time and energy you have invested in creating our amazing Photo's, we absolutely love them! Trying to do a wedding in 2020 has certainly been an experience! But your continued help and support and sense of humour really made things so much easier for us. You worked tirelessly with us on changing dates and so many plan B's we lost count. On the day, you made us feel completely at ease and you've been able to capture the day for us perfectly. It was clearly evident how much you both love your jobs! We had such a great day and we couldn't recommend you guys as photographers more! P.s. If anyone is reading this, wondering whether to book Nigel and Chrissie, then please... go for it, honestly, you really won't regret it!”
