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
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.
The Parlour at Blagdon - Victoria and Andy
The Parlour at Blagdon has always held a special place in Victoria and Andy's hearts. For many months they would visit as a treat for their two children to enjoy some of the best homemade ice cream in the North East, for the children to play in the courtyard and Wendy house, and for some good old fashioned county side fresh air. When the time came to begin planning for their wedding they as all couples do chatted about what they wanted their wedding to be. They wanted their wedding to be relaxed and informal for their guests and wanted it to be somewhere quirky and fun and a little bit different. At the time the Parlour was not open as a wedding venue but they decided to have a chat with Nigel the manager of the about the possibility of using it for their wedding reception, an idea that he took up whole heartedly. Two years later the big day arrived.
Victoria and her bridesmaids got ready at Haselor House, one of the gorgeous cottages at Burradon Farm before heading over to St Nicholas Church in Cramlington. The sound of the church bells accompanied by a steel band set up on the lawns of the church created a wonderful atmosphere as Victoria arrived and equally as she and Andy, and their guests exited the ceremony. I could never have imagined how wonderful it would be to hear 'Under the Sea' from the disney film 'The Little Mermaid' played on steel drums, the last piece of music played as they left for their wedding reception.
The Parlour at Blagdon certainly didn't disappoint, it delivered every hope that Victoria and Andy had for their wedding day. The staff did a wonderful job, working together ensure that everything went perfectly and looked stunning. The Willow room was dressed to perfection for their wedding breakfast, the courtyard was filled with fresh flowers and of course ice cream was provided to all of the guests. A small but perfectly formed wedding venue and we loved every moment working there.
Having seen some of Victoria and Andy's wedding photographs, Nigel got in touch. We are now very proud to now call ourselves a recommended partner of the Parlour at Blagdon and look forward to lots more weddings at this quaint and quirky venue.
Lumley Castle - Charlotte and Tom
Charlotte and Tom travelled all the way from Australia to realise their dream of being married in an English Castle. They brought with them their parents, Charlotte's brother and her best friend, with a much larger party planned for a couple of weeks later back in Melbourne. They had hoped and dreamed of snow to help paint the scene of their perfect English winter wedding and wonderfully they were not disappointed.
It was our honour to capture their very intimate wedding day and to get to know these eight amazing people. Congratulations to you both and we with you every happiness for your future lives together.
