Slaley Hall Wedding Photography in Northumberland for Sharon and Martin

SLALEY HALL WEDDING: ST MARY'S CHURCH PONTELAND WEDDING:
ST MARY'S CHURCH PONTELAND  NEAR NEWCASTLE - THE VENUE FOR SHARON AND MARTIN'S WEDDING

PONTELAND WEDDINGS: WEDDING SHOES AT THE READY .....

PONTELAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
THE SHIRT AND WAISTCOAT FOR SHARON'S YOUNG SON AWAIT FITTING ....

SHARON CHECKS THE HAIRSTYLE WITH TRACY

SHARON'S JIMMY CHOO PERFUME FOR HER WEDDING

DETAIL FROM THE BEAUTIFUL HAND-MADE WEDDING GOWN

DETAIL FROM SHARON'S BESPOKE WEDDING DRESS

SHARON'S DELIGHTFUL SON IS HELPED UP THE STAIRS TO SEE HIS MUM AFTER HE HAS BEEN DRESSED WITH HIS WEDDING SUIT!

YOU CAN SEE THE HAPPINESS ON SHARON'S FACE MINUTES BEFORE SHE LEAVES FOR THE CHURCH TO MARRY MARTIN!  PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

WAITING FOR THE BRIDE AT ST MARY'S CHURCH!

THE BEST MAN LOOKS MORE NERVOUS THAN MARTIN INSIDE THE CHURCH ....

MARTIN AND SHARON ARE MARRIED IN ST MARY'S CHURCH PONTELAND

HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT WRITTEN ACROSS THE FACES OF THE HAPPY COUPLE INSIDE CHURCH ... PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

SEALED WITH A KISS ....... IT'S MAN AND WIFE TIME!

SHARON AND MARTINS SON STRAINS TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST ROOM IS SET FOR THE GUESTS

WHITE FEATERS DECORATE THE TABLES FOR THE WEDDING BREAKFAST AT SLALEY HALL

TIME FOR A FEW MINUTES TOGETHER IN BETWEEN RAIN SHOWERS AT SLALEY HALL

SHARON SMILES AT THE COMMENTS MADE BY HER COUSIN AT HER WEDDING BREAKFAST AT SLALEY HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND

SHARON'S SON WALKS THE WALK ON THE DANCEFLOOR AT SLALEY HALL

FIRST DANCE TIME ...... HAPPY LOVE BIRDS ON THE DANCE FLOOR!

SEALED WITH A KISS - SHARON AND MARTIN AT SLALEY HALL - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

SHARON AND MARTIN WATCH THEIR FANTASTIC FIREWORK DISPLAY IN NORTHUMBERLAND

SHARON AND MARTIN VIEW THEIR FABULOUS FIREWORK DISPLAY TO MARK THE CULMINATION OF THEIR WEDDING CELEBRATIONS AT SLALEY HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Slaley Hall was the wedding venue for Sharon and Martin after their church wedding at St Mary's in Ponteland, Newcastle.
Their wedding was one of the latest I have ever booked, we met for the first time at their home in Ponteland while Martin was home for a few days from working abroad just 5 weeks before their big celebration ... life had just been too busy, and luckily, I was free that day!
Often I first meet with my bride and grooms a year or two or even three before their wedding and after they book me, it's great to catch up five or six weeks before their wedding celebrations to catch up and get a feel for the day with a walk on the beach or at a country park and share a pot of tea. That means that we're not strangers on the day, and things go swimmingly. In their case I drove 2 hours north to their holiday cottage near Beadnall not far from Bamburgh Castle only 5 days before their actual wedding date to have a chat and do some pre-wedding photos on the beach with their delightful young son ... phew, we were all cutting it a bit short, but the chemistry between us felt right and they wanted me to be a small but important part of their fabulous wedding!
On the day I was up and out early to Ponteland as Sharon got ready with Tracy Taylor Arbid of Beautiful Bridal Makeovers providing not just the skills of hair and make-up, but head massage the night before too and she also helped Sharon with her dress, one which was hand-sown and modified to her exact specifications, so the wedding gown was totally unique!
Even when her cousin arrived to check how things were progressing, he was amazed how chilled out everything was as time flew on towards 12pm
Sharon had some beautiful pieces of jewellery to photograph as well as her Jimmy Choo perfume and her lovely son's beautiful wedding outfit and shoes!
Soon it was a dash off to the church to say hello to the Vicar, meet Martin and his best man and groomsmen and before long Sharon was at the church with her cousin to give her away.
The service went in a dash, and despite being confined to  the back of the church most of the time I captured the flavour of the ceremony, before we headed out into sunshine - which hadn't been forecast, and to grab a few informal family and friends photographs on the green outside the famous church.
Slaley Hall was a venue I had not been back to in the previous year or so, since Ajey and Teedah's lovely Indian wedding I photographed there. Luckily the rain stayed away, but the high winds meant that most guests didn't venture outside very much - though I did manage to get Martin and his bride outside for a few location photographs, before we headed into one of the function rooms that had been beautifully dresses to Sharon's design for the wedding breakfast and speeches.
This was my second wedding in two days in Northumberland - after Kathryn and Richard's wedding at Matfen Hall, but it was just as much fun, with tears and laughter from the wedding speeches and a beautiful wedding breakfast.
Time was moving on and soon enough evening guests were arriving and the first dance was upon us!
Martin and Sharon had asked me to stay longer than normal, which I am always happy to accommodate when there is a firework display!
And What a Firework Display! The fireworks were all set off to a Take That song and someone behind me  was heard to say: "I don't think Newcastle's New Year fireworks are better than that!" at the end of a quite astonishing display.
So, all done, it was kisses for the bride Sharon and a shake of the hand for Martin as I bid them goodnight and wished them a lovely honeymoon.
If you would like me to photograph your small intimate wedding at Slaley Hall in Northumberland or your HUGE Asian wedding in Northumberland at Slaley Hall then please do ring me at anytime on 0778 7150966 and tell me all about your plans!

SEE Rowena and William's wedding at Ellingham Hall HERE

VIEW Amy and Fraser's winter Ellingham Hall wedding HERE

HAVE A LOOK at Liz and Steve's wedding at Ellingham Hall HERE

SEE Danielle and John's wedding a few miles away from Ellingham Hall at Bamburgh Castle and Budle Hall in Northumberland HERE

VIEW a small intimate 2nd wedding in Northumberland at Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island, just a few miles from Ellingham Hall HERE

WOODHILL HALL is another weekend wedding venue in Northumberland, while you can also have a three day long wedding weekend at GUYZANCE HALL in Northumberland too.

A WINTER WEDDING AT LANGLEY CASTLE FOR KATE AND CHRIS IS HERE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Matfen Hall Wedding Photographer for Kathryn and Richard

MATFEN HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN NORTHUMBERLAND - THE VENUE FOR KATHRYN AND RICHARD'S WEDDING

MATFEN HALL WEDDING PHOTOS:
KATHYRN'S DEMETRIOS WEDDING GOWN WAITING FOR A BRIDE TO BE ... 

MATFEN HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY:
BRIDESMAIDS AT THE READY AT MATFEN HALL

KATHRYN'S MAKE-UP GOING ON AT MATFEN HALL

LAST MINUTE LIPSTICK AND GLOSS ADJUSTMENT!

AFTER A FEW TEARS AND TANTRUMS IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE CHILDREN SHOULD HELP WITH MUMMY'S HAIR!

LOOKING EVERY INCH THE ELEGANT SOPHISTICATED BRIDE IN HER BEAUTIFUL DEMETRIOS WEDDING DRESS AT MATFEN HALL - OUR BRIDE FOR THE DAY, KATHRYN! PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

THE SUN STREAMS IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS TO HIGHLIGHT KATHRYNS DRESS AT MATFEN HALL

PRETTY IN PINK - AND IVORY TOO!

STUNNING .... KATHRYN READY FOR HER WEDDING TO RICHARD .... PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

CANDLES AND FLOWERS REFLECTED IN ONE OF THE LARGE MIRRORS IN MATFEN HALL

A MAN IN WAITING ... RICHARD NERVOUSLY LOOKS UP FOR HIS FIRST GLIMPSE OF KATHRYN

HERE COMES THE BRIDE ... DOWN THE GRAND STAIRCASE AT MATFEN HALL

TIME FOR THE HANDOVER OF THE RINGS .....

RICHARD READS FROM HIS VOWS TO KATHRYN

TIME FOR A CELEBRATORY KISS ONCE THE COUPLE GET OUTSIDE IN THE DUTCH GARDEN AT MATFEN HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND

THE LOOK OF LOVE .....

DID I TELL YOU IT WAS VERY WINDY AS WELL AS VERY SUNDAY? KATHRYN'S DRESS GOES WALKABOUT IN THE WINDY CONDITIONS AT MATFEN HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND

HAPPY DAYS ... KATHRYN BASKS IN THE GLOW OF MARRIAGE .. AS WELL AS THE WIND AT MATFEN HALL!

NO, RICHARD HASNT HAD ENOUGH OF THE DAY, HES A BIT EMBARRASSED BY THE BEST MAN'S SPEECH!

FUN WITH HER GUESTS AFTER THE SPEECHES AND WEDDING BREAKFAST AT MATFEN HALL

THE BEAUTIFUL DETAIL ON THE DEMETRIOS DRESS - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

LOVELY TO SEE SWEET PEAS IN A BOUQUET - AND SO FRAGRANT TOO!

CAPTURED IN THE WINDOW LIGHT - KATHRYN AND HER WEDDING GOWN IN ALL THEIR GLORY AT MATFEN HALL

THE COLOURED LIGHTS FROM THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE GREAT HALL CATCH KATHRYN'S DRESS

KATHRYN AND HER WEDDING GOWN BATHED IN THE COLOURED LIGHT FROM THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE GREAT HALL AT MATFEN HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

RICHARD AND HIS BEST FREINDS HAVING A DANCE-OFF AT MATFEN HALL BEFORE THE REAL FIRST DANCE!

KATHRYN AND RICHARD TAKE THE APPLAUSE AS THEY TAKE THEIR FIRST DANCE AS MAN AND WIFE

Matfen Hall in Northumberland is one of the premier wedding venues in the north of England - and was the perfect wedding location for Kathryn and Richard who flew in from their home in The Cayman Islands in the Carribean back to their beloved North east of England for their wedding.
Kathryn's mum Sheila first contacted me about their wedding after her friend, the mother of Sarah, my bride from Beamish Park Hotel last year passed on my details and I kept in touch with Kathryn and Richard through my Facebook page and finally met them when they came home for Christmas - and we completed their pre-wedding portrait shoot on the snow covered beaches at Seaburn!
They flew in a week before the wedding and I popped in to see them the day before on my way down past Sunderland after a pre-wedding shoot on the beach at Beanall in Northumberland and a location scout at Bamborough Castle and Budle Hall for a wedding booked there later in the year for a couple flying in from Australia.
I was amazed at how chilled out everyone was - including Mum Sheila and her husband Dave who I had liased with about the wedding while Kathryn and Richard were working abroad.
On the day, I arrived good and early and the signs were good - three empty Lanson champagne bottles on the bed and the girls were still getting their hair finished off by Tracey Taylor Arbid and her team from Beautiful Bridal Makeovers.
Once again, everyone was really relaxed and happy, Kathryn in particular was really looking forward to her wedding!
Kathryn looked stunning before she even put her wonderful Demetrios bridal gown on, and there were gasps even from her bridesmaids as she stepped from her room after Mum had helped her on with the wedding dress - it was going to be a good day!
I spotted Richard downstairs in the bar, chatting away with his close friends and family and he also looked pretty chilled out - though I knew that often changes 10 minutes before the bride appears down the fabulous stairway in the Great Hall at Matfen Hall.
I grabbed a photograph about 15 minutes before of Richard looking up to the ceiling... there was some pressure there, but he was handling it well, and as I came down the staircase after the bridesmaids to move to the front of the guests as Kathryn came down the aisle, he was cool as a cucumber - on a very warm day and Kathryn's mum Sheila and her father David handled the tears very well indeed!
The service seemed over in a flash and then it was outside to enjoy the Caribbean sunshine that they had brought with them, though it was a touch on the windy side!
There was lots of backslapping and kissing and cuddling and handshakes going around as relatives and guests enjoyed the lull in proceedings before we headed inside for the wedding breakfast after grabbing a few family groups and some images of the bride and groom on their own in the gardens at Matfen Hall.
The wedding breakfast was first class, as ever at Matfen Hall (thank you folks .. appreciated!), the speeches fun and entertaining with a few tears here and there, then  most people managed to get outside for some fresh air and relax before the evening guests arrived and the staff at Matfen Hall turned around the rooms and the Great Hall for the evening entertainment by well known singer Paul Martin and the first dance.
Richard, as you can see was encouraged to do his dance by his friends on the main lawn at Matfen before the one with his new wife!
A great day for both Kathryn and Richard and their families and a pleasure to have been part of their families for the day!
If you would like me to be a small but important part of your wedding day, anywhere in the UK or abroad, then ring me at anytime on 0778 7150966 ... Facebook me or Skype Me (aqphotos.com) and check your date NOW.
Check out Cate and Andrew's recent wedding at Matfen Hall

HAVE A LOOK AT THESE OTHER NORTHUMBERLAND AND NEWCASTLE WEDDINGS I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED RECENTLY!

Nikki and David's wedding at Guyzance Hall in Northumberland, HERE

Jennifer and Simons wedding at the Tynemouth Grand Hotel HERE

Danielle and John's Bamburgh Castle wedding in Northumberland HERE

Sharon and Martin's Slaley Hall wedding in Northumberland HERE

Rowena and William's wedding at Ellingham Hall in Northumberland HERE

Have a look at my BRIDAL INSPIRATION BOARD on Pinterest for NORTHUMBERLAND WEDDINGS - HERE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF