KIRSTEY AND MARK'S WINTER WEDDING AT WYNYARD HALL

THE BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL AT WYNYARD HALL - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

KIRSTEY MAKES HER WAY INTO THE CHAPEL AT WYNYARD HALL IN JANUARY IN HER BENJAMIN ROBERTS DRESS

GUESTS IN THE CHAPEL AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL FOR MARK AND KIRSTEY'S WEDDING

HAPPINESS AND A JOKE WITH THE VICAR IN THE CHAPEL DURING THEIR WEDDING - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

THE ROOM ALL SET FOR THE WEDDING BREAKFAST IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLD JANUARY DAY AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HIOTEL

LOVE IS ... THE FRONT COVER OF KIRSTEY AND MARK'S WEDDING BOOK

ONE FOR THE ALBUM - MARK AND KIRSTEY ALL LOVED UP ON THEIR WEDDING DAY - PHOTOGRAPH BU DIRK VAN DER WERFF

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST MENU

KIRSTEY'S BEAUTIFULLY MADE WEDDING CAKE

A HAPPY AND CONTENTED PORTRAIT OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM TOGETHER

ENJOYING THEIR FIRST DANCE TOGETHER AS MAN AND WIFE

Wynyard Hall is a great venue for a wedding - not just for those of you from North East England - as brides from across the UK are choosing it as a wonderful exclusive use wedding location stacked with history and outstanding architecture and rooms.

I first met with Kirstey and Mark at their home in Wynyard when they contacted me by e-mail with an expression of interest in having myself as their official photographer. We seemed to get on well and shortly after I had a phone call to say that they would like me to be a small but important part of their day!
In the meantime, Kirstey gave birth to their beautiful daughter Eleanor, and they brought her along on the pre-wedding portrait photography session I try to have with all my brides and grooms. It allows us to meet up at the beach or a country park or a place special to the bride and groom, talk weddings and bond a little - so we're not strangers on the day of their wedding.

Saturday was a bit overcast, but the sun did pop out for about 30 minutes before the ceremony, which gave me time to wander around the magnificent Wynyard Hall and take some photographs for the album.

About 1pm Mark and his brother turned up and started unloading important things .. like toys and a pram, before checking out the main room and retiring for a small beer to settle their nerves.

That gave me the chance to drive through the Wynyard Estate grounds to their house on the edge of the golf course to meet with Kirstey and her bridesmaids and parents, before dashing back to the Hall to introduce myself to the vicar.

Wynyard Hall is one of only three wedding venues in the UK where you can have a church ceremony or a civil ceremony - as it has its own 18th century chapel.

Kirstey's Rolls Royce turned up bang on time, and parked a close to the pathway to the chapel as possible as it was a bit muddy underfoot!

The service was short and sweet, and despite one minor wobble when a tear or two tried to escape from her, Kirstey and Mark handled the formals very well indeed. We all headed out of the door and into the main hall for canapes and drinks so I had the chance to capture lots of relaxed photographs of the guests around the piano.

After an hour or so, I managed to 'borrow' Kirstey and Mark for 10 minutes to take some photographs with them on their own - Kirstey's Benjamin Roberts wedding dress looked fantastic - and then straight after I photographed a few quick formals with their parents and Nana, before everyone headed into the main room for the wedding breakfast and the speeches.

It all seemed to happen very quickly and before long, the conservatory was set up and they were on the floor for their first dance!

A great day for their wedding at Wynyard hall - all relaxed and hassle free, just like I enjoy all my weddings!

Once Kirstey and Mark are back from their honeymoon in Thailand, they will send relatives and friends a link to a partner password-protected website where you can view all the photographs I took of their wedding at Wynyard.

I hope you enjoy this SNEAK PEAK before they return!

If you would like me to be the official photographer at your Wynyard Hall Country House Hotel wedding in winter or any other time of the  year, anywhere in the UK or across the world, I would be delighted to hear about your plans.
Ring me in the office until 6pm on 01429 423165 or on my mobile at anytime 0778 7150966 . RING NOW! DON'T LOSE YOUR DATE.

DIRK VAN DER WERFF 2011