CRATHORNE HALL BRIDE AND GROOM IN NORTH YORKSHIRE ....

Karen and Andy may have left their wedding plans later than most - they managed to do the whole thing in just 6 months!
I met with them and we semed to get on well during the consultation - even though I managed to turn up the night before my appontment!

Luckily, my personality and photography won them over and they booked me to be their official photographer at Crathorne Hall near Yarm in North Yorkshire - one of my favourite wedding venues in the north of England, and a place where I have photographed four wedding this year.

The staff at Crathorne Hall are most attentive and on top of their game, and the country house hotel has a wonderful atmosphere, all cosy and warm and welcoming - with wonderful grounds.
Karen and Andy wanted their wedding like many of my brides and grooms, relaxed, fun and a wonderful day of celebration, no messing around with photography for hours on end and lots and lots of images of their close family and guests enjoying themselves - letting me capture the ambiance and atmosphere and fun of the day.

I met with Andy and his close friends at the Crathorne Arms and he confessed to a few nerves - in fact he didn't finish his pint! Karen on the other hand was so chilled out that she wasn't even getting into her wedding dress until 15 minutes before and was fashionably 10 minutes late for her civil cermony!

The brief service over, it was time to chill out and relax for an hour or more before the wedding breakfast and I managed to gather family and friends together for 10 minutes for a few family keepsake photos - all captured as quickly and as naturally as possible ... Karen and Andy were having a great time and I even managed to get a few minutes with themto get some nice portraits - as they didn't want to be out of their comfort zone too long!

There were some great speeches - even from Karen and almost as it was over and we had finished our meal, guests for the evening were turning up and it was all go again ......

If you would like me to be the official photographer at your Crathorne Hall wedding - ring me on 0778 7150966 NOW!

My latest wedding news and photographs HERE

View recent testimonials HERE:

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

WEDDING AT HALLGARTH GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB DARLINGTON FOR MELANIE AND GAVIN

MEL LOVES DRAGONFLY'S!

THE WEDDING BOUQUET

NORTON CHURCH FOR MEL AND GAV

SMILES ALL ROUND AT THE CONFETTI SHOT

DELIGHT AT THE CLOSE-UP MAGICIAN DURING THE WEDDING DAY

MELANIE'S WEDDING CAKE - WITH DRAGONFLY'S OF COURSE!

CAKE AND DRAGONFLY DETAILS!

TIME FOR EACH OTHER

FIRST DANCE ROMANCE TOO!

It's been a long while since Mel and Gavin met me for the first time at a wedding fair at Redworth Hall Hotel.
Nearly two years ago, and in the meantime, we have met a few times, including a pre-wedding shoot and Mel also gave birth too!
Gavin and I talked though Facebook a lot and he also kept me up to date with wedding plans every couple of weeks - all part of the service!
Finally, their wedding date appeared on the horizon and it was a beautiful day for their wedding at Norton Church on the Green near Stockton on Tees where family and friends gathered for a lovely informal service and then we headed off to Hallgarth Hotel Golf and Country Club near Darlington for their wedding breakfast and evening celebrations.
The sun stayed out most of the day, everything was cool and chilled out, with laughter aloud and Mel's choice of having a magician to entertain her guests before the wedding breakfast worked out really well!
Gavin excelled with his speech - though he confessed later that he couldn't remember any of it - and Mel's love of dragonflies was everywhere - even on her beautiful dress and cake!
I managed to grab 15 minutes before the evening guests arrived to get a few images of the happy couple together too - it was a great day for all their family and close friends - and I hope this small selection of images from the 350 final edited photographs that they will choose from for their wedding album gives you a flavour of their wedding!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO BE THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AT YOUR WEDDING ANYWHERE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND, ACROSS THE UK OR ADESTINATION WEDDING ABROAD...... PLEASE RING ME ON MY PERSONAL MOBILE NO. 0778 7150966 TO CHECK YOUR DATE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE WEDDING VENUES HEADLAM HALL WINS SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR HONOUR

One of my favourite wedding destination venues in the north of England, Headlam Hall, which has been owned by the same family for 30 years has won the prestigious Small Hotel of the Year in the North East Tourism Awards.

Headlam Hall is in the hamlet of Headlam, near Gainford in Teesdale, west of Darlington, County Durham and beat off competition including Seaham Hall near Sunderland and Close House Hotel near Newcastle, to win the gold award.

Headlam Hall’s Managing Director Thomas Robinson said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award which is an acknowledgement of all the hard work and dedication of our staff.

By winning the Gold Award, Headlam Hall is now put through as the North East winner to the national Enjoy England Excellence Awards, which will be announced in a glittering ceremony on 23rd April 2010.

MY PHOTOGRAPH IS OF RHOANNE AND ANDREW'S WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL A FEW WEEKS AGO

RACHEL AND JONATHAN'S WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL IS HERE

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO BE THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AT YOUR WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL, PLEASE RING ME ON MY PERSONAL MOBILE NO. 0778 7150966 IT'S A SUPERB LOCATION FOR YOUR VERY SPECIAL DAY AND AVAILABLE FOR EXCLUSIVE USE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

BRIDAL GATHERING - THE NORTH EAST'S BIGGEST BRIDAL SHOW AT RAINTON MEADOWS

CATHERINE AT CRATHORNE HALL IN NORTH YORKSHIRE DURING HER WEDDING TO CHRIS ... PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Bridal Gathering wedding show being held at Rainton Meadows this Sunday, March 27th 2011 from 12pm from the people behind the north east's finest wedding magazine Belle Bridal.

With over 100 wedding vendors / suppliers, it should be perfect for an afternoon out if you live anywhere in the north east.

It starts at 12pm and last until 5pm .. lots of goody bags of course .. a bridal fashion show ... a FREE champagne lounge area.
I will be there of course - so pop along and say hello - and have a look at my fabulous San Francisco wedding books - which can feature up to 400 photographs from your wedding - brilliant when most books can only feature your favourite 80!

See you there!

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

TWO WEDDINGS AT CRATHORNE HALL IN A WEEK - UPDATED ...

As I often say on my BLOG, Crathorne Hall Hotel near Yarm in North Yorkshire is one of my favourite wedding locations in the north of England.

It has style and elegance, the staff are great, the ambiance is fantastic and the building and grounds are just great for photography!

On Saturday I was privileged to be a part of Sarah and Martin's wedding at Crathorne Hall - even though the weather was pretty awful most of the day, and today I am the official photographer at Karen and Andy's wedding at Crathorne Hall.

UPDATED!!! My photograph is from Sarah and Martin's wedding at Crathorne Hall - as she makes a last minute check in the mirror before greeting her guests!

If you would like me to be the official photographer at your Crathorne hall Hotel wedding, just ring for FREE on 0800 804 7270 or my mobile on 0778 7150966

MORE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE HERE

My latest wedding news and photographs HERE

View recent reviews, wedding albums and video slideshows HERE:

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Headlam Hall Wedding Photography for Rachel and Jonathan

HEADLAM HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
RACHEL ARRIVES AT ST GODRIC'S CHURCH IN DURHAM IN A CLASSIC JAGUAR - PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

RACHEL HAPPY AND SMILING AS HER FATHER LEADS HER DOWN THE AISLE

APPLAUSE FROM RACHEL'S PARENTS AS THE COUPLE EXCHANGE A KISS IN ST GODRIC'S CHURCH

SMILES ALL ROUND FOR THE HAPPY COUPLE

RACHEL AND JONATHAN IN THE 'SECRET GARDEN' OF ST GODRIC'S CHURCH WHICH OVERLOOKS DURHAM CATHEDRAL

BEST DRESSED YOUNG LADY AWARD GOES TO ....

ALL READY FOR THE WEDDING BREAKFAST AT HEADLAM HALL

THE BEAUTIFUL WEDDING BREAKFAST MENU AT HEADLAM HALL

CANAPES ANYONE?

TIME FOR A NICE RELAXED GROUP PHOTOGRAPH - PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY AS RACHEL AND JONATHAN LISTEN TO THE SPEECHES - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

RACHEL 'SWISHES' ACROSS THE MAIN LAWN AT HEADLAM HALL

LOVE IN THEIR EYES ..... THE HAPPY COUPLE ONLY HAVE EYES FOR EACH OTHER - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

A MOMENT TOGETHER IN THE WALLED GARDEN CAUGHT BY THE LATE EVENING SUN

... AND TIME FOR THE FIRST DANCE

NEW!!
CHECK OUT NICK AND AMANDA'S WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL HERE
ENJOY ROHANNE AND ANDREW'S WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL HERE
HAVE  A LOOK AT CHARLOTTE AND CHRIS' WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL HERE
Rachel and Jonathan wanted a really chilled out wedding with their closest family and friends at St Godric's Church in Durham with a beautiful reception at the incomparable Headlam Hall near Darlington - and they got their wish!
Both training to be dentists, I had met with them at Headlam Hall with Rachel's mum too about 18 months or so before their wedding, just chatting and laughing about their plans for their wedding in Durham and their plans for their reception at Headlam Hall.
I was delighted when they asked me to be their official photographer and we kept in contact by e-mail before meeting a few weeks before their wedding when we went for a walk and a chat around the river in Durham on their pre-wedding portrait session.
It was a beautiful day in August and the gathering friends and relatives at St Godric's Church on the hill close to Durham were full of excited chatter about the day ahead. Jonathan was calm cool and collected, and later, when Rachel arrived in her beautiful classic Jaguar car, not only did she look stunning, but she was also pretty cool and relaxed too.

The wedding ceremony was fun too, and the clergy were kind enough to allow me to discreetly take photographs during the ceremony from the front of the church - usually no bother in a Catholic church, but rare in a C of E Church nowadays.
The 'secret' garden lay down pas a car park, and through a covered walkway, and down the side of a house which opened out into quite the best viewpoint of Durham Cathedral I have seen - and terrific for a few formal family wedding photographs before we headed to Headlam Hall.
Headlam Hall, along with Crathorne Hall is one of the finest wedding venues for civil ceremonies and receptions for many, many miles around. One of my all time favourite venues.
Service, attention to detail and staff are second to none - highly recommended
Champagne and canapes on the terrace with the vast gardens at the guests' disposal gave me the chance to capture the fun and atmosphere of the day and after an hour or so of relaxed conversation in the sun, I quickly gathered close relatives together together with siblings and bridesmaids for a few quick, relaxed group shots and one main photograph of the whole party on the lawn - total 10 minutes, everyone was smiling, that laughed at my silly jokes and the photographs looked great!
Into the Edwardian Suite for the wedding breakfast which was superb as always, and then tears, laughter and fun during some excellent speeches - giving me lots of photograph opportunities.
By the end of the fun, it was 7pm and it was time for me to grab Rachel and Jonathan for 15 minutes to create some nice photographs of them together in the grounds - but return them in time to greet their evening guests and ready themselves for their first dance and the fun of the evening ahead!
When I left the party was in full swing ... and I was off to edit their photographs so they would be ready on their return from the Far East from honeymoon.
I hope you enjoyed a small number of the 400+ final edited images which documents their fantastic wedding at Durham and at Headlam Hall.

If you would like me to capture great natural images at your Headlam Hall wedding, then ring me anytime on 0778 7150966. READ MY LATEST REVIEWS HERE

My latest wedding news and photographs HERE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

PRE-WEDDING SHOOT - ON TOP OF A FELLSIDE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT WITH KATHRYN AND GARETH BEFORE THEIR WEDDING AT CRATHORNE HALL IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

PRE-WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT ROMANCE FOR KATHRYN AND GARETH .. DESPITE THE HIGH WINDS ON THE TOP OF THE FELLSIDE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

I'm a sucker for punishment ..... most brides and grooms are quite happy getting together with me on a beach or a local country park or a favourite spot in a beautiful city like Durham or York for their pre-wedding portrait photography.

It's nice when they want it done in Paris or in Nice  ........ but I was caught out a little bit when Kathryn and Gareth said they would like to have their photographs taken on top of a fellside in the Lake District ... :)

That's where they became engaged to be married during the Christmas holidays, so they wanted to have their pre-wedding shoot on the top, so they could see the Lancashire coastline, the mountains of Cumbria and probably my house on the north east coast at the same time!

So after a 2 hour drive across to meet them at Gareth's parent's house, it was up the fell we went.

Now, at slightly more than 50 years of age, I didn't want two Doctor's of Medicine out-yomping a rather unfit photographer, so I travelled light with just one camera and lens and flashgun and aimed to stay at the front, stopping only when they stopped for a breath of fresh air.

I was praying they would stop every 100 feet at one point. We did have a laugh or two and I was wondering if their Doctorate's meant they could also offer first aid as a paramedic would and if they had the direct number of a air ambulance crew to hand ...

Anyway, we got there, it was blowing a gale and we could JUST about see the Lancashire coast and the Cumbrian Mountains .. so we didn't hang around too long as the pub beckoned and the thought of a pint of real ale was very attractive as we headed down through the gloom ...

The whole point of a pre-wedding shoot is a bonding session really, so that we are not strangers on the wedding day, we feel as though we know each other a little and of course, if we also manage to create some nice images too - all the better.

So, I hope you like the one that we chose together to represent the yomp up the Fell (above) which will be framed and displayed with the wedding cake at their wedding at Crathorne Hall in North Yorkshire, and the additional ones below which actually feature me leaning into the howling wind and Gareth and Kathryn trying to keep their footing at the top as the wind blew in from the Atlantic.

You pre-wedding shoot comes as part of your wedding photography package with me.

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

SMILES ALL ROUND ... DESPITE THE HOWLING WIND! - AND THE LANCASHIRE COASTLINE IS IN THE DISTANCE

HANG ON!! KATHRYN AND GARETH HOLD ON TIGHT AS WE GET TO THE TOP WITH THE HIGH WINDS

DESPITE THE HIGH WINDS .. THERE'S TIME FOR A CUDDLE AND A BIT OF BLUSTERY ROMANCE - PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

... AND GARETH KINDLY TOOK A PHOTOGRAPH OF ME TOO!