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| OFFLEY PLACE COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: GAYNOR AND STEVE ENJOY A JOKE DURING THEIR WEDDING CEREMONY IN HITCHIN |
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| HITCHIN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: THE HISTORIC ST MARY'S CHURCH IN HITCHIN - THE VENUE FOR GAYNOR AND STEVE'S WEDDING |
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| HITCHIN HERTFORDSHIRE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: IT'S NOT EASY GETTING READY FOR A WEDDING WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG .... |
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| SMILE PLEASE .. ONE FOR THE ALBUM! |
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| THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS DANCING GOING ON AS THE BOYS WARMED UP FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE WEDDING |
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| I DO, I DO, I DO ........ THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR FROM GAYNOR |
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| LOOKING BEAUTIFUL IN HER JUSTIN ALEXANDER DRESS AS SHE GETS READY TO HER WEDDING TO STEVE |
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| MUM'S TOGATHER .... |
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| DOWN THE STAIRS TO GREET HER GUESTS |
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| LOOKING GOOD ... GAYNOR ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR CHURCH! |
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| ARRIVING AT THE CHURCH .. |
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| THE PIPER DREW THE CROWDS ..... |
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| THE BRIDESMAIDS ARRIVE .. THROUGH THE CROWDS OF ONLOOKERS |
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| GAYNOR AND HER FATHER JOHN ARRIVE AT THE CHURCH |
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| WHILE STEVE AND HIS BEST MAN LOOK A LITTLE NERVOUS! |
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| THE FIRST GLANCE .. EVERYTHING IS WELL! |
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| A CHORISTER IN A WORLD OF HER OWN DURING THE SERVICE .. |
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| A TENDER MOMENT BETWEEN THE BRIDE AND GROOM AS THE SERVICE CONTINUES AROUND THEM |
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| ANOTHER TENDER MOMENT ..... LOVE IS ... |
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| HEARTY SMILES FROM THE BRIDE AND GROOM AS THEY HEAD OUT OF CHURCH |
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| TIME FOR A TRADITIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE WEEPING WILLOW AT ST MARY'S CHURCH IN HITCHIN |
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| SISTERS ... SISTERS .. |
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| STEVE AND GAYNOR NEVER STOPPED LAUGHING ALL DAY - HERE AT OFFLEY MANOR COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL |
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| IN THE CONSERVATORY AT OFFLEY PLACE |
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| TABLE DECORATIONS ... |
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| THE WEDDING CAKE ... AND THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR! |
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| THE ADULTS MAY HAVE AVOIDED THE COLD OVERCAST WEATHER ..... |
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| .... BUT THE CHILDREN DIDN'T ..... |
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| THE WEDDING POST BOX .... |
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| WITH GAYNOR'S MUM AND DAD ... |
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| WITH STEVE'S MUM MARGARET .... |
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| WITH THE BRIDESMAIDS ...... |
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| THE BEST MAN THREW A CURVE-BALL AND CHANGED INTO A KILT WHEN WE ARRIVED AT OFFLEY PLACE - HE WAS OBVIOUSLY TAKEN WITH HIS NEW OUTFIT! |
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| HAPPINESS FROM THE GUESTS ... |
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| FUN WITH THE GUESTS BETWEEN COURSES .. |
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| CUDDLES FOR A GUEST .... |
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| SMILES ALL ROUND FOR FACEBOOK AND THE INTERNET |
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| LOOKING BEAUTIFUL .... GAYNOR LISTENS TO THE SPEECHES .... |
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| GAYNOR'S FATHER'S SPEECH - LAID BARE ... |
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| THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE BUILDING .. AND HE MADE MOST OF US CRY WITH HIS SPEECH ABOUT GAYNOR ... |
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| HE MADE GAYNOR CRY AS WELL .... |
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| THROUGH THE CROWD ... HUSBAND AND WIFE EMBRACE AFTER THE SPEECHES |
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| ... AND THERE'S A CUDDLE FOR HER MOTHER-IN-LAW TOO ... |
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| TIME FOR A QUICH PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DRESS |
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| THE YOUNGER GUESTS HAVE SOME FUN |
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| THE SCOTTISH MASSIVE ..... GAYNOR'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM SCOTLAND HAVE THEIR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN THE DRAWING ROOM AT OFFLEY PLACE |
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| GAYNOR LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AT OFFLEY PLACE |
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| LOOKING ELEGANT IN HER JUSTIN ALEXANDER WEDDING GOWN AS SHE DANCES WITH STEVE |
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| ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT OF THE FIRST DANCE |
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| ... AND TIME FOR THE CHILDREN TO JOIN IN TOO ... |
After recent weddings in Bath, Cheshire, The Lake District, and Nottingham, this time it was the leafy town of Hitchin and the lovely Offley Place Country House Hotel close by.
I didn't see any of that wonderful southern sunny weather unfortunately, but we all had a great day of celebration with Steve and Gaynor's closest family and friends who had travelled in the main from Scotland and north east England to join their friends from Hertfordshire where both had made their home.
I travelled on the Friday down the A1, a much nicer steady drive than ploughing down the M1 in my opinion, and managed to arriver an hour before their rehearsal at the church, which gave me time to check in at my hotel, then figure the route between their house, to the church, to my hotel, to Offley Place three or four times so it was clear in my head, then I dumped the car and walked the same route between the house and the church and my hotel, so it was even clearer.
It was great to meet with Gaynor for the first time, as I knew Steve from our dim and distant past .. over 30 years since we worked on newspapers together!
Good also to meet their parents and closest friends and relatives who were all involved in their wedding.
After the rehearsal, I walked across to their home and shared a few drinks with everyone, bonding a little so the next day we wouldn't be strangers - it's ALL about trust and confidence!
The weather was a little overcast as I arrived at Gaynor's house where preparations were in full swing .. the delightful children were sooo excited! There was hair to finish, make-up to be done - and thoughout it all Gaynor (like virtually everyone of my brides) was so relaxed and looking forward to her wedding to Steve.
Gaynor's parents were all so relaxed as well, so a houseful of people was hardly noticed as I beavered away capturing some lovely informal images before I headed off to St Mary's to meet Steve greeting some of their closest family and friends.
Steve is a happy and cheery chap, clearly besotted with Gaynor and his new family, and it was good to see his two grown up sons take a role in the wedding too, he was so proud!
The piper playing outside the church on a Saturday afternoon had drawn rather a crowd of onlookers as Gaynor arrived at the church with her father and bridesmaids in attendance - her smile and beautiful Justin Alexander wedding gown lit up what was looking like ominous dark clouds overhead!
There were giggles and laughs inside the church, a totally relaxed atmosphere full of love and happiness for the bride and groom and that continued outside as everyone kissed and back-slapped and bear-hugged, with just enough time to get a nice portrait of Gaynor and Steve with the famous weeping willow at the back of the one thousand year old church.
The dark clouds had turned to rain as we arrived at Offley Place .. and walking to the country house hotel from the car park was, unfortunately, about the only time the guests ventured outside in this poor summer we have had in England this year.
However, inside was all lightness and fun, with a big dollop of happiness too .. smiles were everywhere, so it was easy to capture some great images of people having a great day of celebration in honour of Steve and Gaynor.
The speeches were a whole load of fun after the sumptious wedding breakfast (thanks folks..), so it was time to gather a few of the Scottish and north east contingent together for some relaxed groups and later on members of the Round Table and the Rotary Club members with Steve for posterity!
Cutting the cake and first dance were upon us swiftly, and the happy couple had a great time on the dance floor, wowing the crowd with their moves .... and so the party continued.
By 10pm I was cream crackered, and as much as I was encouraged to down tools and join the party, my back and brain told me differently .. so it was off into the night, back to my hotel to collapse!
It was a GREAT day for Gaynor and Steve and all their closest family and friends, and I thank them for allowing me to be a part of their families for the day and have trust and confidence in me to capture their day as naturally as possible.
If you would like me to photograph your wedding ANYWHERE in the UK, or travel abroad for your wedding celebrations, ring me NOW on 0778 7150966 and tell me all about your plans
READ my latest REVIEWS HERE
OUTLINE of costs HERE ... with additional travel and accommodation outside of the north east wedding venues
VIEW ALL THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS HERE ... ask the bride and groom for the passwords ....
DIRK VAN DER WERFF
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