Wynyard Hall - Laura and Jonathan
Laura and Jonathan's wedding day at Wynyard Hall turned out to be the last wedding that we would photograph before the UK locked down due to the Covid 19 pandemic. They were married only two days before the national lockdown was announced, but aside from the chatter about the pandemic, and more hand-washing than usual, it didn’t affect their day at all.
Laura got ready in the cottage within Wynyard Hall’s walled gardens, it was the first time that I had been inside the cottage, and I loved it. Not too big, not too small, cosy, and traditional. A lovely spot to get ready for a wedding. Nigel met the lads in the Wellington bar down in the Hall. Wynyard Hall is one of the only local venues that has its own consecrated chapel, and weddings in the chapel are always so beautiful. Laura looked stunning in her lace gown as she walked down the aisle to meet her groom. After a rather emotional ceremony, the newlyweds enjoyed drinks with their friends and family in the Statue Gallery.
Every year, around March to the beginning of April, Wynyard Hall’s grounds fill with thousands upon thousands of daffodils, which made for gorgeous pictures of the happy couple together, we took a walk around the grounds and took in the views of the lake before heading back inside for their meal and a few really fab speeches in the large conservatory. After the room was turned around, the party began. They cut their cake and hit the dancefloor. Everyone got up out of their seats and gave it their all, even the Nana’s and Grandad’s. It had been quite a while since we’ve seen such a full and enthusiastic dancefloor, and as it happens, we haven’t seen one since. I am so looking forward to seeing jam-packed dancefloors again, hopefully, it won’t be too long away now.
South Causey Inn - Vicky and Steve
Vicky and Steve’s wedding in early March last year at the South Causey Inn was a family affair that not only joined a really wonderful couple together as man and wife but it was also the day that their two boys became brothers. I remember meeting all four of them at Wynyard Hall’s wedding fair all the way back in February 2019, and we just clicked straight away, it felt like we were meant to be their wedding photographers, and I was so happy when they felt the same and booked us for their big day.
Vicky is one of those people with a really infectious personality, she brings laughter and fun to every conversation and Steve is in the truest form of the words, a proper gentleman. Together they light up every room that they enter, and their boys could not be more charming if they tried. During the ceremony, Vicky’s son proudly walked his mam down the aisle, while Steve’s son took the role of the best man, making sure that the rings were handed over on time. They both did a top job. After a wonderful drinks reception with friends and family, we headed outside for a few photographs with the newlyweds. It was, as seemed to be the norm at the time, another very blowy day, but the wind did not deter either of them and we had a lot of giggles as we explored the grounds together. They shared a meal with their family and friends in the Old barn dining hall and listened to some really great speeches, one of which was written by Steve’s son and read out by Steve’s brother. We stayed with them all the way through to the evening do, and after the first dance and a bit of dancing, we left them to party into the night.
It was such a good day with such a fun and exhilarating couple, I wish we could do it all over again!
They have planned an action-packed honeymoon with their boys to Orlando in Florida, which sadly had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Guys, I hope you get out there soon, all four of you really deserve this amazing holiday. I’m sure it’ll be well worth the wait.
Ellingham Hall - Becks and Mark
Becks and Mark chose the gorgeous rural retreat, Ellingham Hall in Northumberland for their wedding last February. There were so many things that I loved about their wedding, Beck’s stunning vintage-inspired wedding dress, the deep reds of her floral arrangements and bridesmaids dresses and how they looked alongside the men’s blue suits, and the long table arrangement in their wedding breakfast decorated with eucalyptus garlands running down the centres of the tables - but most of all, I loved the laid back nature of their wedding, with the clear focus of celebrating with their family and friends.
I hope you enjoy looking at Beck’s and Mark’s beautiful wedding day.
Wynyard Hall - Rebecca and Michael
Wow, wow, wow! If you are going to have a black-tie wedding, this is how you do it! Rebecca and Micheal were one of the few lucky couples who were able to be married in 2020 without limitations or restrictions. Their elegant and sophisticated wedding took place at Wynyard Hall last February.
There was not a dry eye in the room as Rebecca walked down the aisle of the grand ballroom, following her and Michael’s daughter and escorted by her brother. There were smiles and one or two tears from the guests as they exchanged vows and rings, and joy spread through the room for the happy couple as they were pronounced man and wife. It was another extremely windy day, and the sky was desperately trying to rain so we stuck to sheltered areas for their pictures - but Wynyard Hall being what it is, is not short of wonderful places for photographs. After their meal and some fabulous speeches in the conservatory, they took to the dancefloor for their first dance as man and wife. They had told us before their wedding how much they liked our more dramatic artistic wedding portraits, and so as guests began to tuck into the evening buffet, we stole away with them to Wynyard Hall’s stunning Brooks chapel for a few more shots with one or two more outside in a similar style. It was a wonderful day with a wonderful couple. I just can’t wait to get back to shootings weddings like this again.
“THANK YOU! You were both so fantastic on our wedding day and we are so happy that we found you to capture our day. What can I say.... the pictures are amazing! You really did capture some amazing moments. We shed a few tears looking through them last night. You guys are fabulous and so talented at what you do. We can’t thank you enough!!
Rebecca and Micheal”
South Causey Inn - Jade and Craig
It has been so good looking through our first weddings from 2020 again, and reliving what were some pretty epic occasions. It's doing my soul so much good to see pictures of people hugging and celebrating together, knowing that we will be back there again soon. Jade and Craig’s wedding last February was indeed epic, despite it blowing a hooley almost all day. Wind is always the most tricky weather for a wedding photographer, even more so than rain, but when you have a bride and groom who just laugh all day, how could we go wrong!
Jade and Craig were married just a few miles away from us at the South Causey Inn in County Durham. It’s an awesome venue to work at, trendy and cool inside with some lovely views of the surrounding countryside outside. Nige met the lads at their home, while I joined the girls in one of South Causey’s cosy bedrooms. Jade looked stunning in her fitted lace gown, and her rose bouquet with lots of greenery was just gorgeous. They were married in the chapel and went on to have a meal with their family and friends in the Old Barn dining hall. After dinner, the wind dropped to a more manageable level, so we ventured out to explore the grounds with the newlyweds. The weather as it was before dinner, there was no way we were going to ask the guests to pop outside for confetti, but after the meal, they were all only too happy to join us which turn out to be a great kick-starter to their fab evening do.
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.
