Crathorne Hall Wedding Photographer Review from Kathryn and Gareth

CRATHORNE HALL WEDDINGS REVIEW:
KATHRYN AND GARETH ON THE LAWN AT CRATHORNE HALL

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEWS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY BUSINESS ....

IT GIVES MY POTENTIAL BRIDES AND GROOMS SOME OF THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO PROCEED TO A MEETING......

So .. here's Kathryn's (much delayed!) review of my part in her and Gareth's wedding at Crathorne Hall!

".......It’s difficult to truly put into words how much Dirk was part of our big day…really how many other wedding photographers do you know would drive two hours across the country to do a pre-wedding shoot to get to know us… by climbing a mountain in the Lake District with us and his kit? 

Dirk, I’m sure you remember that day; we had such blustery fun taking you back to the spot in which we got engaged!

I think if we hadn’t worked it out beforehand we knew then that we had made the right choice in Dirk as our wedding photographer.

After Gareth proposed and I set about taking the reins to organise our wedding, as the groom, one of Gareth’s few tasks was to find a photographer. Our first meeting with Dirk at Crathorne Hall for a coffee was very relaxed and informal and seeing some of the recent wedding images he’d captured made our decision very easy.

After nearly three years of being married we still look back and agree Dirk was just fabulous on our wedding day.

On the run up to the wedding day Dirk was happy to spend as much time with us as we needed to discuss the photos and manage my general excitement. The day itself just happened, and our family and friends had a fabulous time. The sun shone as you wouldn’t believe for September – a photographer’s worst nightmare so I’m told, but this wasn’t in the least bit reflected in the pictures.

Looking back I barely remember Dirk being there, but he was and many of our guests commented that if he hadn’t been harbouring a camera or two they’d never have known he was our photographer. 

Dirk captured our wonderful day in a storyboard of images, each moment special to us and is a reminder of a day which we both cherish.

The hardest decision then was choosing from all of the great pictures for the album and Dirk’s patience as I kept changing my mind because I really was spoilt for choice! The end result a perfect album and a very happy couple. The framed picture of our mountain adventure as a wedding gift was a lovely touch.

I now realise how lucky we were when Dirk agreed to be our wedding photographer, thank you.

If there is a bride-to-be out there in need of a wedding photographer, I can’t recommend Dirk enough....."

How lovely !

Crathorne Hall Wedding Photographer for Karen and Gavin

CRATHORNE HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
GOT HIM!!!  KAREN CELEBRATES RECEIVING HER MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE TO GAVIN AT CRATHORNE HALL!

CRATHORNE HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS
THE CEREMONY ROOM ALL DRESSED AND READY FOR KAREN AND GAVIN

KARENS MORI LEE / MEDELINE GARDNER WEDDING GOWN READY FOR THE DAY

BENJAMIN ADAMS SHOES FOR KAREN

KAREN AND ATLANTA AS WILL ARRIVES !

BEAUTIFUL WHITE ZANTDESCHIAS FOR THE BRIDESMAIDS

THE FINAIL BOWES ARE THREADED AT THE BACK OF KAREN'S DRESS BY HER ABLE ASSISTANT TINA

DETAIL FROM KAREN'S BEAUTIFUL MORI LEE WEDDING GOWN

THE BRIDESMAIDS AND THE FINAL TOUCHES .....

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAID BETHANY

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAID ATLANTA

WILL'S BUTTONHOLE AND CRAVAT DETAIL

GAVIN AND HIS BEST MAN MICHAEL ... WAITING!

MR HAPPY AS KAREN ARRIVES BY HIS SIDE ... 

HAPPINESS ALL ROUND FOR KAREN AND GAVIN AS THEY TAKE THEIR VOWS AT CRATHORNE HALL

WILL WAS HAPPY TOO .. AND LED THE GUESTS IN A GIGGLE OR THREE DURING THE CEREMONY .. ESPECIALLY AT THE SOLEMN PARTS ..

A KISS SEALS THE MARRIAGE VOWS

THE HAPPY COUPLE .. TIME FOR A QUICK PHOTOGRAPH BEFORE GREETING THEIR CLOSEST FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AFTER THE CEREMONY AT CRATHORNE HALL

PIMMS O'CLOCK !!

THERE'S ALWAYS ONE .... GAVIN'S GRANDAD ENJOYING HIMSELF!

GIGGLES ALL ROUND FOR THE GIRLIES

A SPECIAL TRIBUTE AND PLACE FOR KAREN'S MUM ... 

KARENS' FABULOUS CAKE FROM CELEBRATION CAKES AT PETERLEE

GAVIN AND HIS BEST MAN MICHAEL ..  CHILLIN' ....

GAVIN MAKES HIS SPEECH ...

.. AND KAREN APPRECIATES IT AS WELL!

A GOOD  GUEST REACTION TOO

TINA ENJOYS THE SPEECHES TOO ...

MICHAEL BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN WITH HIS SPEECH .... 

LAUGH A MINUTE FROM GAVIN

A HEARTFELT SPEECH FROM KARENS OLDEST FRIEND .. ABOUT HER MUM

TIME FOR THANKS

ELLIE ENJOYING THE FUN AT CRATHORNE HALL

WILL SHOWING THE REST HOW TO BREAKDANCE .....

IN LOVE THIS ..  SO, SO HAPPY ..  KAREN AND GAVIN DURING THEIR FIRST DANCE .... 

DANCIN' GIRLS ......

ATLANTA LEADS THE DIAMOND ALL STARS CREW

THE DANCING IN FULL SWING ...  WITH KAREN LEADING THE GUESTS IN DANCE!

Crathorne Hall is like an old friend, always there for you and brings a smile to your face.
As a professional wedding photographer I get to attend wonderful weddings all over the country, but this North Yorkshire wedding venue always feels like coming home.
Karen and Gavin are a fine couple of people, truly suited to each other and their children Will and Atlanta, supported by a great group of family and close friends.
Like many of my brides and grooms they were attracted to my wedding photography because they were not comfortable in front of a camera and they knew that 95% of the photographs I would take would be taken naturally, as it happened, but that I would also keep family in mind with those all important photographs too.
Karen had not long come back from Las vegas where she helped Atlanta and many, many other young people in threee crews at the World Hip-Hop Dance championships along with other parents, so everything  was on a pretty tight schedule in the build-up to their big day.
Members of Diamond Allstars also performed at the end of the evening for family and friends.
Karen and Gavin had managed to schedule their wedding quite quickly for  August after a cancellation meant that a prime August Saturday became available at Crathorne Hall, and although the weather wasn't brilliant, surprise surprise ...  everyone had a fantastic day of celebration.
Getting ready was whole lot of fun too ... little children (Will) and big children too with Tina and karen sorting out the dress and enjoying the Champagne .. although I did open the champagne bottle for them as things were getting a bit busy :)
I met with Gavin too as he was leaving his room with his best man ... he looked pretty chilled out to be honest - I was impressed!
Karen's  Mori Lee wedding gown by Madeline Gardner was amazing .. she looked a million dollars in it! The detail was lovely and she just loved to SWISH that dress, although like all my brides was constantly stopped in her tracks by MEN walking on it!
Karen was also in the wedding 'zone' .. really chilled out and enjoying the build up, and she loved it when Will appeared too looking as smart as a new pin!
Tears all round!
Time was moving on, and I bumped into Gavin's mum in the corridor as I headed down to the room where the service was to be .. there was a BIG gathering of friends and relatives already and Gavin was in the middle of them, trying to settle his pre-match nerves!
As Karen came down the aisle after her flower girl and bidesmaids, with Will to give her away, there were a few tears flowing, but Gavin managed to hold the flow back - he was just so proud to see their son and his bride at his side!
More tears around the room as Karen lit a candle in memory of her Mum and made a lovely speech declaring her love for Gavin, with a rousing cheer and applause as she held the marriage certificate up high!
We had just about 45 minutes before we were called for the wedding breakfast, and it was spitting and drizzling too, so most stayed inside and I made some really nice informal images of folk chatting and backslapping and kissing and cuddling as they enjoy the Pimms.
I managed to pull together a few important family groups in record time, with charm and a smile to keep everyone chilled out.
After some lovely heartfelt speeches we enjoyed a magnificent meal courtesy of the catering team at Crathorne Hall (thanks folks .. ) and we had a little time to enjoy a little fresh air, in what was a dark, dank evening (AUGUST !!) before it was time for the first dance and time for Diamond All Stars how to REALLY  dance!
They were hugely talented and brought the house down .... though I didn't see gavin join in for some reason, though his son certainly knew how to breakdance!
A great Crathorne Hall wedding celebration for two of the nicest people you could ever meet.
I hope you enjoy this SNEAK PEEK .. View ALL  their photographs HERE  .. but you will need the passwords from the bride and groom ... 
If you would like me to be your photographer at Crathorne Hall or any other wedding venue in the UK or abroad, ring me now and tell me all about your plans on 0778 7150966 NOW!
I only photograph a limited amount of weddings each year so it never becomes a production line .. so CHECK YOUR DATE! See additional images from this wedding on my Facebook page HERE
Look at some rcent images from Crathorne Hall weddings on my Pinterest Mood and Inspiration board HERE
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Hall Garth Hotel Wedding Photographers Darlington for Joanne and Tony

HALL GARTH HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY:
JOANNE AND TONY HAVE SOME FUN IN THE WALLED GARDEN AFTER THEIR WEDDING

DARLINGTON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY:
ST ANDREW'S CHURCH AYCLIFFE VILLAGE - READY FOR THE WEDDING OF JOANNE AND TONY

DARLINGTON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS:
CHECKING OUT THE WEDDING DRESS AS PREPARATIONS GET UNDER WAY

JOANNE'S DRESS .... WAITING

A SELECTION OF WEDDING SHOES FOR BRIDES AND BRIDESMAIDS AND MUNCHKINS

SUBTLE GREY BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES

MUNCHKINS WAIT ON THE STAIRS AS OLDER BRIDESMAIDS HAVE THEIR MAKE-UP APPLIED

JOANNE AND HER MUM AND CLOSE FRIENDS SHARE A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE TO GET THE CELEBRATIONS UNDERWAY

COOL, CALM AND RELAXED - JOANNE'S ENJOYING HER WEDDING DAY

THE FLOWERS HAVE ARRIVED FROM FLOWERS BY NATRASS

THE RINGS ... READY AND WAITING

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR ....

FIRST MUNCHKIN IS READY!

QUICK SHOT OF THE BUTTONHOLES BEFORE THEY DISAPPEARED ....

ANOTHER MUNCHKIN .. READY FOR THE WEDDING

HAIR DETAIL FOR MUNCHKIN BRIDESMAID

MORE HAIR DETAIL

... AND YET MORE DETAIL

SOMETHING BORROWED .. SOMETHING BLUE .. PINNED INTO THE INSIDE OF JOANNE'S WEDDING DRESS

EVEN BRIDES-TO-BE HAVE TO HELP OUT WITH LAST MINUTE CHORES ....

JOANNE WITH HER MUM AND DAD - READY FOR THE CHURCH AT AYCLIFFE VILLAGE

BRIDESMAIDS EVERYWHERE .. GATHERING AT THE CHURCH

SMILE PLEASE ....

JOANNE WAS A LITTLE LATE, SO THE VICAR STARTED SOME COMMUNITY SINGING WITH THE YOUNGER BRIDESMAIDS ...
I ALMOST JOINED IN!

SHES HERE!

CONCENTRATION ETCHED ON JOANNE'S FACE AS SHE WAITS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH DOOR

QUICK PORTRAIT OF JOANNE AND HER FATHER OUTSIDE CHURCH

TONY CATCHES SIGHT OF HIS BRIDE-TO-BE IN THE CHURCH

NOT EVERYONE PAID ATTENTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS ...  :)

THE GUESTS AND LITTLE GUESTS GATHER AROUND TONY AND JOANNE AT ST SNDREW'S CHURCH AT AYCLIFFE VILLAGE

SMILES ALL ROUND FROM TONY AS HE BEGINS TO RELAX AFTER THE CEREMONY

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS TOO ....

THE ROOM READY AT HALL GARTH HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB

BROTHERS IN ARMS .. AND DAD TOO!

A CANDLE LIT ON THE TOP TABLE IN MEMORY OF TONY'S MUM

JOANNE ENJOYING HER FATHER'S SPEECH

THE SPEECHES ARE GOING DOWN WELL!

MR HAPPY ... 

MEMORIES OF MUM ... SAD TIMES FOR TONY

SHOELESS BRIDESMAIDS GET GIFTS AS WELL!

JOANNE WITH HER COUSINS WHO MADE A SPECIAL WEDDING DAY BOOK FULL OF MEMORIES!

SMILE PLEASE .....

JOANNE SHOWS OFF THE DETAIL OF HER DRESS AT HALL GARTH MANOR HOTEL

JOANNE CHILLING OUT WITH HER DAUGHTER IN THE SUSHINE ... WITH A PASSER-BY ... 

TONY AND HIS MIRIAD OF MALE ATTENDENTS AT HIS WEDDING TO JOANNE!

THESE LADIES WERE COMPLAINING THAT I HADN'T TAKEN THEIR PHOTOGRAPH ...... SO I DID

UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOING WASN'T VERY GOOD, DESPITE THE SUNSHINE AND SOME RUNNERS FELL AT THE FIRST .....

.. AND SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT   VERY FUNNY INDEED .... 

FIRST DANCE BROUGHT OUT THE SMILES ....

.. AND THERE WAS STILL TIME FOR MORE TEARS AND A GROUP HUG ..... EMOTIONAL, AND HAPPY TIMES INDEED

It had been some time since I photographed a wedding at Hall Garth Hotel and Golfing Country Club near Darlington, so it was good to be back there again for Joanne and Tony's wedding.
Joanne and Tony are a fun loving couple who found their love with each other after previous relationships - and they are such a good match, they make me laugh, and they make their friends and closest relatives laugh too - as well as each other, so it was always going to be a day filled with fun!
I arrived at Joanne's home just after they arrived back from the hairdressers and all the children were very excited, while Joanne was an oasis of calm .. which rather surprised her too!
It wasn't long before the first bottle of champagne was open and Joanne and her senior bridesmaids helped out with make-up and keeping all the munchkin bridesmaids happy .. and they sure looked beautiful as they came one by one down the stairs for everyone to see, quite lovely!
Joanne's dress was a dream, and was proudly displayed upstairs for freinds and relatives to view.
The wedding was slated for 11.30am, quite an early one nowadays, so time was moving on as Joanne also came down the stairs, all ready for her wedding as her father arrived at the house.
A few quick photographs with the munchkins and parents before I headed off to St Andrew's Church in Aycliffe Village, a church almost 1000 years of age and a local landmark.
Tony and one of his three brothers who was best man arrived at the church just as I did - he was as nervous as Joanne was calm! He said he was fine until he started on his cravat and that set his nerves off ... poor fella!
The large guest  list were all arriving at the same time and they tropped off towards the church doors where Tony's sons were handing out the orders of service, and by the time the start time came around, only two cars full of bridesmaids had arrived, where was the bride and father?
So, we had a little time on our hands, I went and told Tony and the guests that Joanne was DEFINITELY turning up, but would be ten or fifteen minutes later than expected, which was good news, then the vicar and the munchkin brides decided to have a little sing-song as they were waiting by the church door.... I almost joined in!
Joanne eventually turned up about 15 minutes late, but everyone was pretty chilled out about it all, the service seemed to be over in no time and before long we were outside in the sunshine and heading off to Hall Garth  Manor Hotel and Country Club.
The dark clouds and rain from the morning had pretty much disappeared and replaced with humid warmth, though it was later when Mr Sunshine arrived.
Because we were running late, we had just 45 minutes before the wedding breakfast to let everyone chill out and get into the wedding spirit.
I managed to get an important group photograph of Tony and his three brothers and his father just before we went in for dinner (thanks folks!) and some quite emotional speeches - a place had been left at top table for Tony's Mum who had passed .. marked with a lit candle and ribbon.
Once the speeches were out of the way, we headed off into the sunshine for some important family photographs which we organised between us quite quickly then I got involved in an adult version of ring 'o roses which quickly degenerated with the alcohol, sunshine and slippy grass, and before long I had three female guests sprawled on the lawn ... Hmmm, nothing to do with me boss!
By now it was time for a few quick photographs of Tony and Joanne who kept saying how time had flown so quickly .. so quickly in fact that it took an age just to get from the main building to the walled garden as the evening guests were arriving and of course EVERYONE wanted to congratulate the happy couple and tell Joanne how well she looked in her fab dress!
So, a few quick photographs in the walled garden, back into the main building where the first dance had been put back an hour as things had been running so late from earlier in the day, but before long Tony and Joanne were on the dance floor surrounded by their closest friends and relatives, we officially cut the cake, then it was time for me to say my farewells and goodbyes to their parents and thank the happy couple for their hospitality and wish them a Happy Honeymoon before I headed home after a long day at the office!
I hope you enjoy a Sneak Peek of their happy day of celebration with their closest family and friends. If you would like me to be a small but important part of your wedding, capturing natural, happy photographs of your wedding day, anywhere in the UK or abroad, RING ME NOW on 0778 7150966 and CHECK YOUR DATE.
View ALL their wedding photographs HERE once they are back from their honeymoon - ask them or their parents once they have arrived home from their honeymoon!
FACEBOOK PREVIEW HERE
I only photograph a limited amount of weddings each year so it NEVER becomes a prodiuction line, every wedding is always special to me .. so, RING ME NOW!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF