Crathorne Hall - Lesley and Matthew

Lesely and Matthew's wedding took place at the beautiful Crathorne Hall near Yarm.  I asked Lesley to tell us more about their day...

"Matt & I met on a friends 21st in Durham, in 2011.  From our first date I knew he was the one, I have had butterflies ever since."

"Christmas 2014, Matthew proposed to me in the most amazing way! We’d finished opening our presents on Christmas morning sat by the tree, he said to me “Do you think that’s everything?” He passed me a large, flat box. I thought “what on earth could this be...” it was a Millie’s cookie with pink writing asking me to marry him! First thing I did was question “REALLY?”, I couldn’t believe it, so excited! I Immediately said YES after that!  I was pregnant when Matt proposed to me.  Millie was born in 2015, she will always have the story that she was named after a cookie!"

"We wanted our wedding to be a happy and unforgettable day.  It truly was one of the best days of our lives, we had everyone around us who cared, friends and family, each other and our little girl, Millie.  Unfortunately we have lost some loved ones over the years we have been together and beforehand. We wanted to try and include as much as we could so they were with us that day also."

"There was so many memorable parts to the wedding!  Walking down the aisle and seeing Matthew standing there, and our first dance.  At the end of the night feeling accomplished, we had the most amazing day and I’d like to think everyone had a great time!"

"Photography was massively important to us.  We wanted to treasure our memories and what better way can we do it?
We chose 2tone photography as both Chrissie's and Nigel's photography skills are brilliant. What a lovely couple to work with, they listened to everything we wanted and they followed through with it on the day. The quality and thought that goes into their work is unbelievable. I recommend them to friends who are getting married all of the time."

"My piece of advice to couples getting amrried is don't get stressed. Your day will be amazing.  Everyone says it but it’s completely true.  Your day goes so quick, so make sure you take five minutes just both of you to take it all in."

Here is a look at their amazing day...

Venue: Crathorne Hall Hotel

Venue styling: The First Class Wedding Company

The wedding dress: Northallerton Bridal Outlet

The men's suits: Bakers Tailoring

Wedding cake: Mother in Law

Flowers: Claire Metcalfes

Hair and Make up: Hair: Ashleigh Bennett. Makeup: Emma Christie

Entertainment: The Ultimate wedding DJ

Healey Barn - Lizzie and Alessio

This is Lizzie and Alessio's wonderful wedding at St Peter's Church in Low Fell, and Healey Barn in Northumberland, the perfect venue for this stylish and relaxed couple.

As a recommended supplier at Healey Barn, we are in the very fortunate position of being a regular visitor to this great venue.  It's rustic styling, woodlands and rolling coutryside views never fail to impress us.  It was a joy to return for Lizzie and Alessio's big day last May.

"We both worked at Costa Coffee whilst I was at school and college. After I finished university Aless and I worked in the same store when he asked me to go out to a drink and we’ve been together since. Aless booked a trip to Copenhagen where he took me to Tivoli Gardens, where we sat and had a drink then he popped the question."

"We both loved every second of our day, but our first dance was very special. We will never listen to the proclaimers (500 miles) in the same way."

"We chose 2tone because their work was exactly the style we were looking for. They were also extremely thorough throughout the whole planning and extremely professional. We are over the moon with our photographs and wedding album, they couldn’t have captured the day any better."

Venue: Healey Barn

The wedding dress: Mia Sposa

The men's suits: Moss Bros

Wedding cake: Family and friends

Flowers: Wildflower

Hair and Make up:  F.A.C.E - Sarah Stonehouse

Entertainment: The Ultimate Wedding DJ

Vallum Farm - Katy and Gareth

Chilled vibes down on the farm for Katy and Gareths wedding in Northumberland.

I first met Katie and Gareth at a wedding fair in the Sage, Gateshead.  It was moment when you get the feeling that its just meant to be, simply we just clicked.  A naturally fun loving couple, their enthusiasm for life, energy and love for one another simply shone from every direction.  Their day was a sensation. 

For their wedding day, Katy and Gareth wanted an elegant and traditional wedding ceremony with a good old fashioned knees up that their guests would be in no hurry to forget.  Vallum Farm in Northumberland, with its relaxed vibe and countryside location, was simply perfect.   

"We met the old fashioned way...in our local nightclub in Morpeth over ten years ago. We both used to get on the same bus to work and Gareth told me he had admired me from afar :-) He spotted me out that night and offered to buy me a drink. We got on instantly, talking about our love of music and the rest is history! Journeys to work were never the same again!" 

"We cannot recommend 2tone highly enough...if you want a gorgeous team, who are professional, friendly, great fun and also will take the most beautiful photographs on your day Nigel and Chrissie are who you need."

Katy's stunning florals were created by Christine at Lavenders Blue in Morpeth.

Beautifully intricate, Katy's wedding dress with illusion neckline and criss cross beaded detail was the Hazelwood gown by Enzoani, sourced from Kathryn Truemans bridal boutique in Morpeth. 

Katy and Gareth were married in the stunningly beautiful St Mary's Church in Morpeth.

"Our favourite moment was dancing down the aisle after saying our vows to each other in the most beautiful church, surrounded by the people we love. The feeling of pure happiness was amazing."

Vallum Farm's remote countryside location was perfect for their relaxed and informal wedding reception.  

"We wanted a super fun day filled with the people we care about the most and things that we love...good people, good food, good music and good booze!"

"Don't get stressed about the little things...as they really don't matter.  Concentrate on the things that are most important to you and focus on these.  Let your bridal party help - they'll love being part of your planning.  Enjoy every minute - it's a super special, exciting time!"

"Our favourite place to go on holiday is Tenerife - Gareth proposed to me at night, on the beach, before taking me to our favourite restaurant. He was very nervous - I don't know why as it was perfect and of course I was going to say yes!"

Katy and her mum Chris put their creative talents to use to dress and style the marquee for the wedding breakfast, put together on the day by Vallum farm's co-ordinator Jane.  I loved their creative table plan, put together using lavender plants, stocks and gyp, along with hurricane lanterns, wicker hearts and welly boots! 

They opted for not one, but two wedding cakes.  Their cupcake tower was created by a lovely friend of Katy's, while their six tiered cheese cake was created by the Cheese Shed.

"Photography was incredibly important to us...Nigel and Chrissie have captured moments and memories that we will treasure forever." 

"We chose Nigel and Chrissie not only because they are incredibly talented and experts in what they do but because they are fantastic people who we knew we would enjoy spending time with on our wedding day. They really listen to what you want, offer fantastic advice and make you feel incredibly relaxed and at ease. We are so pleased we found them."

"Marriage hasn't really changed anything but our favourite thing is knowing that we are a strong team facing life and it's challenges, its ups and downs, it's highs and lows together, no matter what. There is always someone there who has your back. We are best friends, soulmates and partners in crime! :-)"

Katy and Gareth, thank you for the fun, and laughs and for your friendship.  Congratulations to you both once again, and heres to a life time of love and happiness!  xx

As always, it was great to work alongside the talented Mike Sreenan was in charge of the wedding video.  Click here to see Katy and Gareth's wedding video preview.  

Venue: St Mary's Church, Morpeth and Vallum Farm

Venue styling: Katy and Chris (Mother of the bride) with huge help from Jane at Vallum.

The wedding dress: Enzoani from Kathryn Trueman

The men's suits: Slaters

Wedding cake: The Cheese Shed and a lovely friend of Katy's

Flowers: Lavenders Blue

Hair and Make up: Hair by Victoria Alder and Makeup by Emmy

Entertainment: The Good Souls and DJ Mark Young

Videographer: Moonriver Films (Mike Sreenan) 

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