Redworth Hall - Lisa and Chris
It had been a little while since we had been to Redworth Hall and so we were thrilled when Lisa and Chris invited us back to join them on their wedding day. We left home on a crisp cold February day to journey a few miles south to meet them for their wedding preparations at Redworth Hall and were surprised to find when we got there the thin layer of snow that had settled on the ground surrounding the hall when seemingly there was no snow at all anywhere else. The scene was beautiful and magical.
The day was filled with energy, spirits were high and fun loving Lisa and Chris just shone in front of the camera. Their wedding was an absolute joy to attend and wonderful to document.
Here are a few images from their day...
Doxford Hall - Nicola and John
John proposed to Nicola in front of Cinderella's castle and so of course there was always going to be something romantic and magical about their wedding day. The date was set for January, our first wedding of 2015. It was bitingly cold, the kind of cold that causes your cheeks to glow red but the light was simply wonderful. A gorgeous low golden sun for the entire day, a wedding photographers dream come true.
Elegant Nicola looked simply breathtaking in her Justin Alexander wedding gown. The classic cut gown with Sabrina neckline looked effortlessly stylish and suited her perfectly. She chose a hand-tied wedding bouquet by Allison Janes and classic pearl jewellery to complete her look for the day.
A quiet word of love and encouragement from her father before walking her down the aisle became a memorable moment for Nicola and as her proud father gave her hand away no words needed to be spoken, John's admiration and appreciation for his beautiful bride was written right across his face.
The day continued in the same way, stylish and elegant, informal emotional and fun. Warm hearted and kind Nicola and John along with their family and friends filled the day with laughter and love. It was a simply magical day and wonderful to be a part of.
Nicola and John's wedding day is featured in the current issue of Belle Bridal magazine.
Venue: Doxford Hall
Bride’s Dress: Justin Alexander 'style 8728'
Bridesmaids: Lou Lou, Just perfect.
Grooms suit : Slaters
Flowers : Allison Janes
Cake: The Cake Garden
Stationery: Wishcrafts
Entertainment: Prime Entertainments
Venue Styling: Simply Bows and Chair covers
A Wynyard Hall wedding - Wedding videographer Jon marries Cassandra
Professionally our paths have not crossed and so it was not until after we had photographed Jon and sweet Cassandra's wedding day in April that we learned that Jon is a very talented wedding videographer working within the North East area, his business - Top Table Films. Working in the film industry for more than 10 years, he is a rising star in the world of weddings and certainly one to look out for. They were married in their local church, St Brandon's Church in Brancepeth, four miles outside of Durham, going on to the gorgeous Wynyard Hall for their a Midsummer Night's Dream themed reception which was really brought to life by florist Adam Prest's creative arrangements, table centres and candle displays.
Jon says:
"Although we did not want a 'themed wedding' we did want the day to blend and work together. To do this we decided that our day would take on a midsummer Night's Dream theme. We wanted it to be magical, elegant and something a little different (with a little sprinkling of fairy tale for good measure too)"
I began my day with Cassandra and her family at their home in Low Willington near Crook.
It was great to work with Danni from Danni MUA doing Cassandra's wedding day make up.
Cassandra's stunning gown was a Justin Alexander creation.
Nigel met the lads at Cassandra and Jon's home in Ushaw Moor.
An ivory vintage wedding car took Jon and his best man Mark to St Brandon's before heading back to collect Cassandra and her dad.
I love this photograph of Cassandra, she is always happy and smiling and has a real positive energy about her, to this to me really sums her up. She is glowing with excitement and adrenaline, I can hardly remember a happier bride.
Jon's father Eric played the church organ for their processional, recessional and hymns.
An old church with a modern interior, St Brandon's Church suffered a terrible fire in 1998, it has since been completely refurbished and is now spacious, airy and bright.
A little rain kept everyone inside the church after the ceremony however it didn't last long, with much better weather greeting us later at Wynyard Hall.
Cassandra and Jon chose an April wedding day, perfect timing for Wynyard Hall's wonderful daffodils that spread right across the extensive estate.
A little blustery but no more rain meant we could get a large group show of the whole party.
It's always worth adding a little time into your schedule for portraits of just the two of you alone. Together we explored the grounds of the Hall and created some wonderfully romantic photographs for our happy couple.
The ballroom looked wonderful with Adam Prest's impressive table arrangements, collaborating with Posh Chair Covers and Bows in charge of the table and chair linen and the five tired wedding cake created by Kelly Ann's Cakes.
Jon Says:
"Each layer was a different flavour - red velvet, raspberry, lemon, chocolate and Cointreau and carrot cake. The cake was finished off by Adam, who added the flowers on the morning of the wedding"
The evening entertainment was by The Ultimate Wedding DJ.
In Jon's words:
"As we are sure every couple says...the whole day was perfect and that is honestly how we feel. The church ceremony was very special to us specifically the sermon by the Rev'd Rick Simpson and the fact that people had travelled the length and breadth of the country to be with us meant the world."
Thank you to you both for inviting us to photograph your beautiful wedding day. It was an honour and a pleasure to witness. See you in two weeks at Lisa and Paul's Matfen Hall wedding when we will work together for the first time!
The Suppliers:
Photography: 2Tone Photography
Venue: Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley
Bride’s Dress: Justin Alexander at Just Perfect, Shotton
Bridesmaids: Dessy at Rosina Brown, Stocksfield
Men’s Suits: Woven, Durham (with matching ties and pocket squares by Dessy)
Hair: Hair Haus Hair & Beauty, Bishop Auckland
Make-up: Dani MUA
Flowers: Adam Prest
Cake: Kelly Ann’s Cakes
Stationery: Amber Black Wedding Stationery
Entertainment: The Ultimate Wedding DJ
Chair Covers: Posh Chair Covers & Bows
A winter wedding at Langley Castle - Natalia and Tom get married!
Is it possible to know within the first few moments of meeting someone that you are about to begin a life long journey together? Tom certainly thinks so. On his wedding day, Tom happily told me that it was love at first sight for him from the moment that he set eyes on Natalia sitting across from him in the university library. He found the courage to go and talk to her the next day, they began dating and very quickly he won her heart.
They chose a crisp and fresh day in late december for their wedding at Langley Castle in Northumberland.
As usual, Nigel met the lads as they suited up for the big day ahead, while I headed over to see the girls in one of Langley castle's feature rooms.
Natalia looked simply stunning, wearing a fish tail dress, full length veil with lace detail and holding a bouquet of deep red roses.
The ceremony, festively decorated with the wedding theme colours of red, gold and silver was held in the Josephine restaurant. The fading light outside and the candlelit interior made for a very cosy and inviting feel.
Weddings are filled with emotion and moments to capture, it goes without saying, but the ceremony it's self is one of my favourite times of the day. The look in Tom's eyes as Natalia makes her way down the aisle, the moment they are pronounced man and wife, and that very fleeting moment shared between the two of them just after they shared their first kiss, it's magic to witness.
Our good friend Paul Lytton, a talented magician did a great job of entertaining the guests after the ceremony.
I have to say, hat's off to this girl!! Don't forget that this is a late December afternoon, gradually getting cooler as the light faded and she looks sensational! Thank you to you both for braving the cold and allowing us to take these incredible shots, we hope that you treasure them for many years to come.
The wedding breakfast and evening party was held in the Stuart Suite at the top of the castle decorated in the same red, silver and gold. The speeches are another all time favourite time of a wedding day for me. I love the unreserved outbursts of emotion, the laughter, the crying, the proud look on the bride's fathers face and the embarrassed expressions from the groom during the best man's speech. These are the moments that bring back memories.
Natalia and Tom take to the dance floor for their first dance as man and wife surrounded by their friends and family.
Congratulations to you both and thank you for letting us be a part of your day, wishing you both a lifetime of happiness x