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| CRATHORNE HALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: 2ND TIME LOVE WEDDINGS KATH COMES DOWN THE AISLE AT CRATHORNE HALL WITH HER TWO PROUD SONS TO MEET LOUIS |
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| CRATHORNE HALL HOTEL - A HANDPICKED HOTELS WEDDING VENUE IN NORTH YORKSHIRE |
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| BEAUTIFUL WEDDING BOUQUET |
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| SISTERS, SISTERS ... |
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| LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AT CRATHORNE AHLL |
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| DETAIL |
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| WEDDING CAKE DETAIL |
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| LOUIS GETS A LITTLE HELP |
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| MY LOVELY BRIDE-TO-BE ... READY FOR HER DAY |
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| SISTERS TOGETHER .. FOREVER |
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| LOUIS GREETS THE REGISTRAR |
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| FULL OF SMILES .. LOUIS CALM COOL AND COLLECTED |
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| KATH'S MUM ENTERTAINS HER FRIENDS |
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| MY BRIDE KATH'S WEDDING BOUQUET AT CRATHORNE HALL |
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| THE LADIES DESCEND THE STAIRCASE AT CRATHORNE HALL TO MEET LOUIS |
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| KENDAL STRING QUARTET DO THEIR THING AT CRATHORNE HALL |
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| WAITING FOR HIS BRIDE |
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| JUST MINUTES AWAY ... |
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| SMILES ALL THE WAY .. KATH AND HER SONS COME DOWN THE AISLE |
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| THE LOVE IS IN KATH'S EYES AS LOUIS MAKES HIS VOWS |
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| THE MARRIAGE IS SEALED |
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| APPLAUSE ALL ROUND - HOW LOVELY - MAN AND WIFE !! |
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| HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY .... |
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| CRATHORNE HALL STAFF LINE UP TO CONGRATULATE THE HAPPY COUPLE |
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| CONFETTI HAPPINESSS |
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| THE GATHERED THRONG OF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES |
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| A CUDDLE FOR MUM |
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| FRIENDS HAVE FUN ... |
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| MY HAPPY COUPLE - KATH AND LOUIS |
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| LOUIS AND HIS BROTHERS TAKE SOME RELAXATION TIME |
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| A QUICK GROUP SHOT WITH KATH'S HUSBAND LOUIS AND HER SONS AND HER SISTERS |
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| THE WEDDING RECEPTION LIT BY CANDLELIGHT AT CRATHORNE HALL |
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| BEAUTIFULLY LIT TABLE DECORATIONS |
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| TAKING THE APPLAUSE AS THEY ENTER THE RECEPTION ROOM AT CRATHORNE HALL |
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| FRIENDS AND RELATIVES - CLAPPING THE HAPPY COUPLE INTO THE ROOM |
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| THE MEAL IS OVER .. TIME TO MINGLE WITH FRIENDS |
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| KATH TAKES IT EASY WITH FRIENDS |
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| LOUIS MAKES HIS SPEECH |
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| OUR MAID OF HONOUR ENJOYS THE SENTIMENTS |
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| LOUIS' BROTHER WAS A LAUGH A MINUTE .... |
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| HAPPY AND CONTENT |
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| KATH TAKES THE APPLAUSE AND MAKES HER SPEECH |
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| HURRAH! |
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| VERY HAPPY - NEW OUTFIT, AND FIRST DANCE WITH HER HUSBAND |
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| TAKING CENTRE STAGE - KATH ENJOYING THE DANCING |
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| TWO OF KATH'S SISTER ENJOYING THE FUN |
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| EVEN LOUIS GETS INVOLVED IN THE EPIC THAT WAS 'LOVE TRAIN' ... ! |
Kath and Louis had such love for each other it was hard not to be emotional when they were saying their vows, but surrounded by their closest friends and relatives they had a great day of celebration.
Kath had rang me a few months previously and asked if I could be a small but important part of their wedding day, and it all sounded so nice that I immediately said that I would love to, the venue for the wedding and the reception changed in the meantime, but when I heard the final destination was to be Crathorne Hall, I had no doubts that it would be a great day!
I normally work on my own, but on this occassion Wendy had engaged the services of a wedding planner, The Chic Wedding Company headed up by Wendy Smulski so it was exciting to be part of an extended team who were working together for their client.
I met with Kath and Louis at Crathorne Hall, and we seemed to get on very well indeed as I outlined what I would be doing on their wedding day, basically being in the background, keeping things relaxed and natural as they just enjoyed their wedding day to the full.
A few weeks later I met with Kath and Wendy and they seemed happy enough to let me get on with the way I normally capture my weddings - all about trust and confidence.
As part of the trust and confidence, I also said I would pop along to The Cleveland Tontine the evening before their wedding at Crathorne Hall where they were having a birthday celebration for Louis attaining the great age of 70, bringing all their family and friends from the north and the south where Louis and his family are from.
It was lovely to chat and meet with family members for 45 minutes so before they enjoy a sumptious meal.
Next day I was at Crathorne Hall a few hours before things got underway and checked in with a very excited Kath and one of her three sisters as she prepared for the wedding - all was calm and cheerul, then bumped into Louis as he wandered smartly around Crathorne checking out last minute details and hugging and kissing anyone who went past - luckily, most of them were his family and friends!
Come the moment, he was cool as a cucumber "I don't do stress Dirk" he told me while Kath was truly glowing as she came down the aisle flanked by her two sons, the Kendal String Quartet playing, with a smile as wide as anything when she saw Louis' face beside her.
A few readings later, it was kissin' time and they both (literally) hopped and skipped out of the room!
There was plenty of time for the happy couple to meet and greet their closest and nearest with a few family photographs thrown in just for measure - especially for Kath's delightful Mum - we were 'sparring' all day!
The wedding breakfast was an absolute delight (thanks folks!) and the speeches from Kath's sons and Louis and his best-man-brother were first class, then Kath surprised everyone with a few words that brought a lump to the throat, with lots of cheering and whooping and 'a hollering led by the Master of Ceremonies - a personal friend of Louis - Nigel who had come all the way from London as well to be a special part of the day - quite the entertainer and great company!
Kath just had time to get changed into her evening gown before they were led to the dancefloor at 10pm to celebrate their wedding.
I left not long after after a storming version of Love Train from the assembled guests - with laughter and happiness ringing in my ears!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF
