GILL AND TIM'S INTIMATE FAMILY WEDDING AT THE BOWES MUSEUM IN TEESDALE

What a great day I had photographing Gill and Tim's lovely wedding at The Bowes Museum and their wedding breakfast overlooking the most fantastic views of Teesdale.

They were always enthusiastic about relaxed, chilled out photography to document their great wedding celebrations, but I also managed to grab a few minutes with them at Bowes Museum to produce some stylish images.

The rest of the day allowed me to capture the fun and ambience of their wedding in a magnificent historic building and onward to an amazing marquee setting for champagne, and great food by specialist caterer Alexander MacMurray with some excellent speeches from family and friends.

The Picture Gallery in The Bowes Museum is an amazing setting for any wedding - especially so if you are looking for a different type of wedding venue. Aileen Risbey, who co-ordinated the wedding and her colleagues did a great job, while the eight magnificent floral displays by Grace Hunter of Darlington Flower Club were quite unbelievable in their scale.

Gill looked fabulous on the day and had a great time with her close friends and relatives while Tim and his brothers looked extremely smart in their top hats and tails.

If you would like me to photograph your wedding at BOWES MUSEUM, in a relaxed, professional and natural observational way, with no bother or hassle or stress, then ring me now to check your date for late 2010, 2011 or 2012. ADD ME AS A FRIEND ON FACEBOOK WITH NO OBLIGATIONS, TO SEE MORE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM GILL AND TIM'S WEDDING, AND LOTS OF OTHER ADDITIONAL WEDDINGS.More information and weddings here on my WEBSITE . Don't lose your day! RING FOR FREE ON 0800 804 7270 or 0778 715 0966DIRK VAN DER WERFF

INTIMATE SECOND WEDDING ON HOLY ISLAND AT LINDISFARNE CASTLE

LINDISFARNE CASTLE ON HOLY ISLAND - BATHED IN THE SUNRISE ON WINTER SOLSTICE

MARK AND LYNN'S WEDDING WAS ON THE DATE OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE, DECEMBER 21ST, SO I WAS UP AND OUT ON THE BEACH EARLY ON

THE BUS TO TAKE GUESTS TO THE CASTLE ARRIVES ON HOLY ISLAND FOR THE WEDDING

AND THE WEDDING CAR ARRIVES TOO!

LYNN AND HER DAUGHTER STEPHANIE READY FOR THE BIG DAY!

MARK AND GUESTS HAVE A FEW REFRESHING DRINKS BEFORE THE WEDDING  IN LINDISFARNE CASTLE

TIME FOR A WEE SMALL SDRAM TOO!

THE SHIP INN MEETING PLACE BEFORE MARK AND HIS SON AND ATTENDANTS DECIDED TO WALK TO THE CASTLE FOR THE WEDDING!

MARK HEADS OFF ACROSS THE FORESHORE FOR HIS OWN WEDDING - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

READY FOR THE WEDDING?

THE WEDDING PARTY SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE SKYLINE AS THEY HEAD TO LINDISFARNE CASTLE - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

READY FOR THE OFF .. THE BUS FOR GUESTS

THE DOUBLE DECKER BUS HEADS TO THE CASTLE

A BEAUTIFUL WINTER WREATH ON THE DOOR OF LINDISFARNE CASTLE AWAITING THE WEDDING PARTY

LYNN'S DAUGHTER ALL DRESSED UP FOR THE WEDDING - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

LYNN AND MARK TAKING THEIR VOWS IN THE TINY CHAPEL

FRIENDS IN ONE OF THE ROOM AT LINDISFARNE CASTLE ENJOYING A FEW DRINKS

MARK AND HIS BEST MAN PETE HAVING SOME FUN AT LINDISFARNE CASTLE AFTER THE WEDDING CEREMONY

MARK IS A LONG STANDING SUPPORTER OF HARTLEPOOL UNITED FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS AND WANTED TO MARK HIS WEDDING WITH A GOUP PHOTOGRAPH ON TOP OF THE CASTLE IN THE WINTER SUN

JUST ABOUT TIME FOR A QUICK PHOTOGRAPH IN THE FREEZING COLD ON 21ST DECEMBER

CUPCAKES ALL WITH NAMES OF PAST FAVOURITE PLAYERS FROM MARK'S FAVOURITE FOOTBALL TEAM!

THE CAKE TOPPING ... AGAIN A REFERENCE TO HIS BELOVED  HARTLEPOOL UNITED AND THEIR MONKEY MASCOT!

A TENDER MOMENT AS MARK REFERS TO LYNN IN HIS SPEECH

MARK AND HIS BEST MAN PETE AT THE WEDDING BREAKFAST

LINDISFARNE CASTLE CATCHING THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Lynne and Mark's wedding on Holy Island, off the Northumberland coast, in Lindisfarne Castle, the iconic religious retreat in North East England was fun, fun, fun from beginning to end.
I set off early, in fact the day before to make sure that I was on the island in case the dreadful winter snowstorms caused me problems - the last thing I want to do is ring a bride and tell her that I can't make it!
It had taken me a LONG time to drive home through the snow and ice from Louise and Ian's wedding at Jesmond Dene House Hotel the night before .. it was a scary drive and I arrived back at base at 11.30pm after failing to secure a hotel room in Newcastle for the night.
So, with trepidation, I set off for Holy Island 10 hours later to make sure that I made the tide. In case you don't know, Holy Island is cut off from the mainland of the north east coast of England by the tide twice a day - and a causeway is uncovered to allow you to make the journey on and off the island. To my surprise, the A1 northbound was totally free of snow and ice on one lane all the way - so it took just two hours.
My sleeping bag, spade and associated paraphenalia to survive being trapped in my car seemed a little bit over the top .... ! Well, you have to be prepapred!
So, I was on the island with Lynn and Mark by 1pm on Sunday 20th December and they weren't getting married until Monday ... so, it would have been rude not to have accepted their invitation not to have a beer or two ... By evening, all their guests were on the island and we met in the Ship Inn where mark was staying, while I had bunkered down in The Manor House Hotel.
It was great for once to spend more time with a bride and groom than just 10 hours on the day of the wedding - though of course I usually meet with the couple a few times before the wedding anyway - and the pre-wedding shoot makes sure that we bond a little and that we're not strangers on the day!
It was Lynn and Mark's second time around wedding and their teenage children were all there from university as well as their nearest and dearest friends and relatives - 40 in total.
Next morning, I was up with the larks and determined to get a decent shot of Lindisfarne Castle at dawn on the winter equinox ...... it was a beautiful dawn - but freezing!
Not long after I met with Lynn and her daughter Stephanie as they got ready and then headed over the The Crown and Anchor to catch Mark and his best man Pete and their guests gathering before 'The Men' WALKED to the castle .. that was FUN!
After walking with them and capturing some great images there was the great hilke from the foot of the castle to the keep - dangerous in ice cold weather and very slippy underfoot - and no, I wasn't in high heels. In fact, I wore hiking boots and a suit and tie - truly suited and booted. I didn't want to be a casualty of the weather.
Poor Lynn and Steph were FREEZING when they made it to the keep, so I guided them to the nearest radiator to thaw out before they headed to the civil ceremony, where Mark had gone VERY quiet ....
Over almost in an instant, we then chilled out, had a few glasses of fine champagen and headed to the top level of the castle for some photographs as quickly as possible. There was a previous arrangement with The National Trust for mark to fly the flag of his favourite footbal team - Hartlepool United - from the castle, but that was over-ruled from London and we had to make do with a team shot!
The rest of the day followed their reception in The Manor House Hotel - full of fun and laughs, and after I finished about 8.30pm and waited for the tide to turn, the weather forecast didn't look too good, so I made the decision to stay on the island for a second night and enjoy the fun quiz in the Ship Inn with all the guests!
The next evening, they invited many more of their families and friends to a fantastic party!
What a great day or two for everyone and a fantastic wedding celebration for Lynn and Mark - I was exhausted!
If you would like me to be a small but important part of your wedding on Holy Island at Lindisfarne Castle, then I would be delighted to hear about your plans - telephone me in the office until 6pm on 01429 423165 or on my mobile number 0778 7150966 at any time.
With photography options for small intimate weddings midweek from £750, larger gatherings from £1200 and 'The Full Monty' all day and beyond  - perhaps for a two day family and friends gathering on Holy Island to capture the spirit and the fun of your celebration from £1595

READ MY WEDDING REVIEWS HERE

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DIRK VAN DER WERFF