Shotton Grange - Amy and Mark

“Me and Mark wanted to thank you again for being our wonderful photographers yesterday. From keeping us calm in the morning and capturing some special quiet moments, to gathering us all together for fun photos. You were both so patient and friendly and a fantastic couple to have taking photos at our wedding. Thank you again! We are so grateful.”

“Wow! Where to even start… you capture the most raw and magical moments and we have had the best time sat looking through them crying and laughing. Myself (the bride) find certain situations incredibly overwhelming and you both helped to put me at ease throughout the whole day… although most of it is a blur to us both. We are forever thankful to you both for helping us capture memories to cherish for a lifetime. We cannot wait to share these with our family and friends.”

Sister venue to The Parlour at Blagdon, Shotton Grange opened its doors in 2019 and so is still a fairly new venue to our area - especially considering much of its first two years were spent during a pandemic, but despite this, it has become very popular. The classic design of the Manor house, and the rustic vibe of the coach house, along with the fabulous walled garden are ideal for a relaxed wedding with an outdoorsy feel.

Amy and Mark booked us for their 2020 wedding at the Parlour at Blagdon way back in 2017. A year later, they were given the option to marry in Shotton Grange instead. They loved the new venue so jumped in feet first and went with it. Like so many, their wedding which was due to take place in March 2020 had to be postponed. Finally, over four years after they first booked us, their wedding day arrived. Their day was filled with lovely moments, from Mark shedding a tear when we saw his bride walking down the aisle, to their little girl keenly getting involved as they said their “I do’s.” I loved Amy’s Boho style and stunning florals, and her and Mark’s laid-back, fun-loving nature made it a joy to work with them.

The Parlour at Blagdon - Nicole and Will

“We had a look through the photos this afternoon and oh my god we love them so much. We cannot thank you enough!! Nicole & Will”

If you are looking for a venue with an informal vibe and boho feel, The Parlour at Blagdon is definitely worth a look. The style of a venue can really affect the atmosphere of the day, and every wedding that we have photographed here has been fabulously fun, relaxed, and a joy to photograph. During the national lockdowns, the team at the Parlour renovated the charming cottage that sits directly next to the venue and landscaped its gardens, so now they have the perfect spot for a bride to get ready for her wedding, and the happy couple to escape to at the end of the day.

In September, Irish bride, Nicole, and local lad Will travelled up from their home in London to be married at the Parlour at Blagdon. Our fun-loving, laid-back bride and groom celebrated their day with their nearest and dearest - who I have to say, were some of the liveliest wedding guests we’ve ever come across. The day was so much fun, from the guests cheering and whooping as they said their “I do’s”, to some seriously hilarious wedding speeches regaling funny stories of how they got together. It was a fabulous day with these two, and we are so thrilled that we were able to be a small part of it!

Matfen Hall - Kirsty and Carl

We have worked at Matfen Hall in Northumberland many times in the past, but Kirsty and Carl’s wedding was one of our first since their big refurbishment. There were so many changes made that it felt like working in a brand new venue. The approach has been significantly improved with planting, a turning circle with fountain, and stunning statues of stags flanking the entrance, they have re-landscaped the front terrace and refurbished the interiors. The great hall has kept its original grand staircase, but walls have been knocked out to enlarge the space, and the ceiling has been given a new mural. The dining room is now decorated in scrumptious tones of duck egg blue and gold, the bar has been redesigned, and even the bridal suite has taken on a new, more luxurious look.

Kirsty and Carl’s big day was another beaut that I had to share with you. Kirsty got ready for their ceremony in the bridal suite and was able to take a peek out of the window to see Carl’s surprise grand entrance by helicopter. After their ceremony in the great hall, and a drinks reception in the bar, we took a turn around the venue for a few photographs of the newlyweds. Their wedding breakfast was followed by their first dance back in the Great Hall, ending the night with sparklers and a bit of dancing in the Vault bar.

Durham School and Durham Castle - Harriet and Alex

“Wow, you guys, we don’t know how to begin to thank you for yesterday. We had the best day ever and you played such an important role in that. Thank you so much for all your hard work, you are absolutely amazing!!”

“Wow!!!!! They are absolutely amazing, we are blown away!!! Can’t believe it’s us haha! Thank you so so so much. We love them SO much and are so over the moon!!!”

Another WOW is justified here I think, Harriet and Alex’s wedding was just amazing! They were married in a place very dear to our own hearts, Durham School Chapel, the same chapel that Nigel and I were married in ourselves, and then went on to our favourite wedding venue, Durham Castle. The whole day was filled with beautiful moments - from gazing out at the majestic Durham Cathedral, to dancing on Prebends bridge - and our beautiful bride spinning in the dress she loved so much, looked like a scene straight out of a movie. I couldn’t imagine a dress more perfect for Harriet. Their wedding was a dream to photograph, and we loved every moment.

It was great to work once again alongside our friends from One Digital Image who were capturing their memories on video.