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

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.   

Durham Castle - Rachel and Andrew

Together Rachel and Andrew travelled half the world to be married in our beautiful Durham Castle.  From their home in Vancouver Canada, they journeyed back to the place that they first met and the place that they studied to say their vows joined by all of their friends and family.  Guests travelled from all over the world to attend and to witness their becoming husband and wife.  Despite the distance, they carefully planned their special day with perfect precision, assuring that the day was as perfect as it could be, and indeed it was.  

In his days as a Durham university student, Andrew sang in the Durham Castle chapel choir putting him in the privileged minority allowed to marry in the beautiful Tunstall Chapel.  We have photographed couples in the chapel many times before now and have always more than appreciated it's beauty, the stunning gold gilt decorative panels and alter, the chequered floor and the beautiful quality of light, but as such a rarity, we never before had been given the opportunity to photograph a wedding in the chapel.  It was a joy and simply wonderful to witness.

Andrew started his day at the Raddison Blu hotel in Durham while I met Rachel in the Royal County Hotel for her preparations.  Dani Mua provided Rachel's beautiful make up, Colin Cook was on hand as their wedding Master of ceremonies to assure that the whole day went smoothly and the brilliant Snaparazzi supplied their photobooth.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their wedding day last July.

Durham Castle - Catherine and Michael

Catherine and Michael flew all the way from their new home in Malaysia to be married in the place that they met, the historic city of Durham, heading over to the iconic Durham Castle in the heart of Durham for their wedding celebrations.  

We joined them before the ceremony at the Castle as they prepared for the day ahead.  Catherine was lucky enough to have been given the Castle's state room, the Bishops Suite to prepare for the wedding.  The walls of the sitting room are decorated with 17th century Flemish tapestries, and the four poster bed dates back to 1760, fit for royalty and a wonderful space for Catherine to get ready.

Catherine and Michael were married in St Cuthbert's Catholic Church in Durham after which they left together to go to Prebends bridge for a few photographs - a place that they share many memories of college days together.  Meanwhile their guests headed back on foot over the Kingsgate bridge and to Durham Castle for the wedding reception.  

Catherine and Michael arrived to the Castle and were met with energy and laughter from their guests enjoying a drinks reception on the inner bailey of the Castle.  After a few words from the maid of honour, everyone headed into the castle for the wedding breakfast in the Great Hall.  

As a special surprise for the guests, Catherine's father and his band took to the stage just after her and Michael's first dance to provide them all with music to dance to, making sure that the party was in full swing in no time and the dance floor stayed full.

It was a great day with a great couple, it was fast paced, fun and a joy to be a part of.  Here's a few from the day...

Durham Castle - Ruth and Andrew

Historic Durham castle is one of our all time favourite venues.  Filled with stunning light and so many creative opportunities for photographs - as well as of course simply being a stunning setting for a wedding. Nigel and I were naturally delighted to return for Ruth and Andrew's wedding day.  

Ruth and Andrew travelled all the way from Auckland in New Zealand to be married in St Mary's Church in Blackhill going on Durham Castle for their reception.  I was an incredible day with a fantastic crowd and certainly a day to remember. 

Working alongside our friend, the talented Richard Leng from Real Life films co.