Easby Hall and Crathorne Hall wedding photography review

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER REVIEW FROM REBECCA AND SERHIY, AT EASBY HALL AND CRATHORNE HALL

Easby Hall and Crathorne Hall wedding photography review from Rebecca Bodnar

 Well, where do I begin in writing a review of Dirk?! 

Okay deep breath and here I go! If your looking for the short review then here it is… 

" .... Book Dirk if you want stunning wedding photographs that will capture every detail to perfection and make you and your husband/wife look amazing....." 

If you want the long review to back this up then keep reading!

When you set about planning a wedding you have a huge list of things to tackle. Finding a photographer was for me one of the boring jobs on the list.

Firstly I didn't know anything about photography and secondly I thought it was really expensive for what it was.

I completely underestimated how important a photographer would be! 

His support leading up to the wedding was astonishing, he was there offering help as if our wedding was the only one in his calendar. He is always at hand even when the help is way and above his role of a photographer. … 

For instance when I was finding it nearly impossible to find a particular grey silk handkerchief the next thing I knew he was asking his wedding contacts if they knew of anywhere to find one!! His knowledge is better than any wedding magazine and through his contacts he helped us contact a videographer who he knew would do a brilliant job. We also had a lovely christmas card from him wishing us a happy last christmas as Mr and Miss! 

All of this would be irrelevant if he was useless with a camera however after seeing our photographs it is all just icing on the cake.   

Dirk has a little quote that we giggled at when we first met him. …'its all about confidence and trust, confidence and trust' he said. 

At the time we thought it was a typical photographers chat up line! (Sorry Dirk). However when it came to the tense planning weeks before the wedding, he was the one person that we had complete confidence and trust in to produce brilliant photographs. On our wedding day he arrived like he was an old friend and took relaxed photographs of everyone without being intrusive and over bearing. When we needed him too, he took charge of getting the photographs my husband and I had requested without faffing about so we didn't miss being with our guests.

My only concern with Dirk was that his laid back and chilled out attitude might not produce any photos that I haven't already seen of myself, after all a bride wants to look her absolute best on her wedding day! 

However within 24hours of the wedding he produced picture after picture of my husband and I that took our breath away. One happy bride!!        

I am sat here a week after our wedding with a range of photographs that make me smile, giggle and cry.

Dirk has managed to capture every detail of our wedding that I was afraid we would forget in years to come. My dress is now in a bag hung up but I just need to look at the photos he has given us to be transported back to the laughter and happiness of day.

He is worth every penny and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.

I will definitely not underestimate a photographer again!

Easby Hall Wedding Photographer and Easby Abbey Wedding Photographs for Rebecca and Serhiy: Wedding Reception at Crathorne Hall

CRATHORNE HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: EASBY ABBEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS
SERHIY AND REBECCA ONLY HAVE EYES FOR EACH OTHER AFTER THEIR WONDERFUL WEDDING CELEBRATIONS

EASBY HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY:
FOLLOW THE SIGNS

EASBY ABBEY WEDDING VENUE

EASBY CHURCH WHERE REBECCA AND SERHIY WERE MARRIED NEAR RICHMOND NORTH YORKSHIRE

SISTERS, SISTERS ....  GIGGLING AWAY WHILE THE LOVELY LADIES FROM LA BELLE VOUS TAKE CHARGE

CHECKING THAT THE HAIR IS JUST RIGHT

THE FLOWERS HAVE ARRIVED!

THE BRIDESMAID DRESSES AND THE VEIL, STAND WAITING

REBECCA'S BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET

THE BOUQUET''S ALTOGETHER

STILL ALL IS CALM

BRIDE AND BRIDESMAID GIGGLES

JIMMY CHOO WEDDING SHOES

JIMMY CHOO WEDDING SHOES FOR REBECCA'S WEDDING DAY

EYES CLOSED!

BABY TALK FOR REBECCA

IT MUST BE WEDDING DRESS AND VEIL TIME SOON !!

ORDER OF SERVICE AND CONFETTI

CONFETTI TIME

KNITTED FIGURES OF SERHIY AND BECKY AT THE CHURCH

GYPSOPHILA TIES AT THE CHURCH

BUTTONHOLES FOR THE GENTLEMEN

GIGGLES FOR THE LADIES .. SHOULDN'T BECKY BE GETTING READY YET?

MEANWHILE, ON THE TOP FLOOR, SERHIY GETS READY ... 

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS BROTHER

BECKY'S RING IS SAFE ... 

THAT BRIDE REALLY SHOULD BE GETTING READY BY NOW ..... 

OK, THE DRESS IS ON, JUST THE ZIP TO FINISH OFF

THE VEIL GETS SOME ATTENTION FROM HER SISTER

PESKY VEIL ... 

CALM AND CONTENT BRIDESMAID

CHECKING IN THE MIRROR

ALL IS WELL

HAPPY TO GET MARRIED NOW

HOW BEAUTIFUL DOES BECKY LOOK ?

MUM AND DAD WAITING FOR THE FIRST GLANCE OF BECKY

FATHER OF THE BRIDE ..  WAITING PATIENTLY

EVERYONE WAITING FOR THE BRIDE TO BE ... 

HERE COMES THE BRIDE AT EASBY HOUSE

BECKY LOOKS STUNNING

BEAUTIFUL BECKY

CINEMATOGRAPHER BAZ GETS IN CLOSE

SMILES ALL ROUND FROM THE BRIDE TO BE

FATHER AND HIS DAUGHTER ..... READY FOR THE CHURCH

HYDRANGEAS AND TEA-LIGHTS IN AND AROUND THE FONT

THE WEDDING CAR ARRIVES

SERHIY LOOKS FORWARD AS BECKY ARRIVES BY HIS SIDE

OUR BRIDE ARRIVES WITH A BIG BEAMING SMILE !

ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE A CHOIR IN A CHURCH

BECKY'S UKRANIAN BROTHER IN LAW GETS TO SIT NEXT TO MR CONVERSE HIMSELF !

BECKY LOOKING DEEP INTO SERHIY'S EYES DURING THE VOWS

THE KISS !!

THE CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY

BECKY STOPS FOR A  CHAT ON THE WAY UP THE AISLE !!

GUESTS WERE DESPERATE TO THROW CONFETTI !!

IT'S A LONG WAY FROM UKRAINE, BUT SERHIY ENJOYS HIMSELF IN THE BRITISH SUNSHINE!

HAPPY TO BE MARRIED

SHES GOT THE LOOK!

BECKYS BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET

SERHIY IS A VERY HAPPY MAN

THE VERY HAPPY BRIDE AND GROOM

QUICK PORTRAIT WITH EASBY HALL IN THE BACKGROUND

THEY MAKE EACH OTHER VERY HAPPY

GREAT PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE GROUNDS OF EASBY HALL SHOWING EASBY ABBEY AND THE CHURCH WHERE THEY WERE MARRIED

THE HAPPY COUPLE AT EASBY HALL

QUICK KISS WITH THEIR WEDDING CARD AT EASBY HALL NEAR RICHMOND NORTH YORKSHIRE

UNUSUAL SET-UP FOR CRATHORNE HALL WEDDING

THE BEAUTIFUL WEDDING CAKE

BEAUTIFUL WEDDING FLOWERS

THE SEATING PLAN

THE RECEPTION ROOM AT CRATHORNE HALL

BECKY'S SPEECH WITH EMBARRASING PHOTOGRAPHS TOO !!

BECKY'S FATHER MAKING HIS SPEECH

BECKY LISTENS EXCITEDLY TO SERHIYS SPEECH

SERHIY RECKONS HE DID A GOOD JOB!

BECKY'S CHILDHOOD TIGER CAP COMES INTO THE SPEECH !

JUST FOR OLD TIMES SAKE !

TIME FOR A FEW PORTRAITS BEFORE THE EVENING GUESTS ARRIVE

BECKY SHOWS OFF HER BEAUTIFUL KENNETH WINSTON WEDDING DRESS

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY ...... 

BECKY'S KENNETH WINSTON WEDDING GOWN FROM MIRANDA MARIE BRIDAL'S SHOP IN YARM LOOKS STUNNING ON THE STAIRCASE AT CRATHORNE HALL

WEDDING FLOWERS BY CANDLELIGHT

THE EVENING GUESTS ARRIVE TO CANDLELIGHT AT CRATHORNE HALL

FIRST DANCE KISS

THE SURPRISE DANCE BY BECKY AND THE GIRLS AFTER THE FIRST DANCE

BECKY GETTING INTO THE SPIRIT

BECKY LEADS THE LADIES IN THEIR WEDDING DANCE AT CRATHORNE HALL!

Easby Hall and Easby Abbey weddings in North Yorkshire are among my favourite wedding venues, and when they come in a package with a wedding reception at Crathorne Hall AND a fabulously relaxed bride and groom too, well, it quite makes my weekend!
Rebecca and Serhiy are lovely people who met and fell in love at work in hospital as midwife and obstetrician / gynaecologist, then it was time to get married, which is where I came in!
This is Becky's original Facebook message to me:
Hi Dirk
I have just been looking at your lovely wedding photographs online and was wondering about your availability for April 11th?
We are struggling to find someone that we like and fits the budget so hopefully you can help!
We are starting off our day at Easby Hall in Richmond North Yorkshire then heading to Easby Abbey church which is a stones throw away. Our reception is at Crathorne Hall in Yarm.
Hopefully you can help!
Becky x
So, we met up and we got on like a house on fire, Serhiy seemed a nice fella too, if a little quiet and shy, but that's why they wanted nice relaxed wedding photographs, with no bother of hassle, just a lovely documentary record telling the story of their day.
A few days later I met with Becky and her Mum at Crathorne Hall for tea and biscuits, and the deal was done!
We then spent the next few months before the wedding chatting online, re-assuring her about different things to do with the day and generally bonding.
A few days before the wedding I met with them at the church at Easby Abbey for their dress rehearsal, met with bridesmaids and Serhiy's brother from Ukraine who was to be the best man. Sadly, because of the political troubles in Ukraine with Russia, Serhiy's parents and other members of his family couldn't travel from Ukraine for the wedding, very sad, so his brother being there was very important!
I turned up bright and early at Easby Hall, a beautiful house overlooking Easby Abbey and the church where they were to be married and all was calm and well.
Serhiy and his brother were on the 2nd floor and rebecca and her bridesmaids and parents were on the 1st floor. All was calm, very calm and it was great to see everyone. After my greetings I walked down to the church to make some establishing images, and bumped into my friend Baz Rayaz of Studio North Weddings who was creating an amazing cinematic film of the wedding celebrations.
The beautiful old church was looking lovely, the sunshine was out, it was quite warm, just right for a day of wedding celebrations.
The flowers had arrived when I returned, and the Jimmy Choo wedding shows were begging to be photographed - of course!
Becky's brides were happy and chilled and I loved the colour of their bridesmaid gowns. Becky's wedding dress looked resplendent, it was a Kenneth Winston bridal gown from Miranda Marie bridal shop in Yarm, a wonderful place with great customer service!
Becky's Mum and Dad were chilled out too, just very excited for the day, while Serhiy and his brother were Mr and Mr Relaxed when I took the long trek through Easby Hall to the top floor apartment to catch up with them as they got ready.
I could see the guests starting to gather around the church from the top floor, so it was time to get the dress on and go and get married.
Becky loved her wedding gown and fitted it like a dream - and with just one zip at the back, she was in it and looking amazing within minutes!
Becky's dad was waiting at the stairs as we did a few family photographs and Baz lined up a video shot of her entrance, then we were outside with the lovely jaguar for a few quick photographs before I dashed down the hill to the lovely church to meet the vicar and the bridesmaids and took my position at the front of the church for Becky's entrance.
She looked stunning and Serhiys reaction said it all.
Before long, after lighting candles for the families, we were outside the church for lots of kisses and cuddles from their guests before we headed off to the Abbey ruins for a few family photographs with Becks grandparents and with the happy couple themselves.
It was a 40 minute drive from easby near Richmond to Crathorne Hall near Yarm for the wedding reception and wedding breakfast, and luckily the sun had followed up there too!
We had time for some nice relaxed images of their guests and then we were in for a sumptious wedding meal (thanks you folks!) and some lovely, touching speeches, Becky stepping in with her own speech as Serhiys brother doesn't speak English.
Afterwards, we had a little bit of time to capture some photographs in the lovely grounds at Crathorne Hall, while Baz and his team completed some more footage, then back to the hall to greet evening guests and have the first dance and cutting of the wedding cake.
After the first dance - Becky and a dozen of her friends surprised her gathered relatives and friends with a spectacular dance routine which they had practised for a few weeks before - and it brought the house down!
It was time to say my goodbye's and offer my thanks to the family and Rebecca and Serhiy themselves at the end of a stunning wedding day for the happy couple.
If you would like me to capture natural, happy wedding photographs of you and your family and friends, RING ME NOW on 0778 7150966 to CHECK YOUR DATE. I only photograph a limited amount of weddings each year, so that it is always a personal service and never a production line.
Prices from £1250 with everything you need!
Catch me on my Facebook Business page too
DIRK VAN DER WERFF