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| ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LANCHESTER COUNTY DURHAM |
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| PART OF THE BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH WHERE CATE AND ANDREW WERE MARRIED |
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| THE FLOWERS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED ... AND LOOKING BEAUTIFUL |
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| APPARENTLY THIS IS CATE AND ANDREW ... I THINK THEY LOOK A LITTLE STIFF .... |
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| LAST MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MAKE-UP |
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| CATE AND HER MUM ... READY FOR THE WEDDING DAY CELEBRATIONS - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| CATE BUSY SWISHING ABOUT IN HER JENNY PACKHAM WEDDING GOWN AS 'THE GIRLS' GET READY ... |
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| TIME FOR SOME LAST MINUTE CHECKS FOR CATE AND HER MUM IN GRANDMOTHER'S MIRROR |
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| EVERYTHING IS GOOD .. TIME TO LAUGH AND RELAX! |
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| ... AND TIME FOR A RFLECTIVE QUIET MOMENT AS CATE WAITS FOR HER CAR TO THE CHURCH |
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| THE BEAUTIFUL AMULET THAT MATCHED CATE'S HAIRPIECE AND THE STRAPS ON THE JENNY PACKHAM WEDDING GOWN - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF |
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| TIME FOR ONE QUICK PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE GIRLS BEFORE WE HEAD OFF TO GET CATE MARRIED TO ANDREW! |
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| CATE AND HER FATHER MARTIN ARE MARCHED UP THE ROAD BY TRADITIONAL PIPER |
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| PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ? CATE IS MOMENTS FROM BEING MARRIED .... PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| ANDREW AND KATE AT THE ALTER IN ALL SAINTS CHURCH LANCHESTER |
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| THE BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH |
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| COOL, CALM AND CASUAL AND RELAXED ... MARRIED AT LAST! |
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| ...AND, WE'RE OFF TO MATFEN HALL .. NOT SURE WHERE THE HORSE CAME IN, PERHAPS IT WAS A LUCKY HORSE I SUGGESTED? NO, JUST WALKING BY ..... ! |
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| MATFEN HALL AWAITS ...... |
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| SUNLIGHT THROUGH THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW FALLS ON THE WALL DECORATION AND FLOWERS IN THE GREAT HALL AT MATFEN |
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| MUSIC AND ATMOSPHERE AS THE GUESTS ARRIVE |
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| THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARRIVE |
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| TIME FOR A KISS AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE OF THE RECEPTION |
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| CATE, RELAXED AND HAPPY, CAUGHT IN THE COLOURED REFLECTIONS OF THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE GREAT HALL AT MATFEN - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF |
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| ANDREW AND CATE ... SO HAPPY AND RELAXED WITH THEIR DAY AND WITH THEIR WEDDING |
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| PLACE CARDS FOR THE WEDDING BREAKFAST |
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| RELAXED BRIDAL PORTRAIT PLEASE! CATE CATCHES THE RAYS OF THE SUN AT MATFEN HALL IN HER BEAUTIFUL WEDDING GOWN AND CLUTCHING HER LOVELY WEDDING BOUQUET |
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| I LOVE A LOVELY BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE - CATE LOOKING GREAT - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF |
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| TIME FOR FRSH AIR AND SOME THINKING TIME .. THE FIRST DANCE IS NEXT, AND EVERYONE EXPECTS! |
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| ANDREW SCOOPS UP CATE IN HIS ARMS AT THE END OF THEIR FIRST DANCE ..... |
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| AND SWINGS HER ROUND TO THE CHEERING CROWD OF WEDDING GUESTS ....... PHOTOGRAPHS BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| ... AND FINISH IT ALL OF WITH A KISS! |
Cate's mum Maria booked me way before I met with Cate herself as she had been so impressed with some of the relaxed images I create at some of the lovely weddings I'm asked to be part of.
I had photographed weddings before at All Saints Lanchester Catholic Church, and it's a lovely bright welcoming church and Canon Bob Spence is a fun chap and welcoming of professional photographers, while weddings at Matfen Hall in Northumberland are always a treat!
I'd been chatting with Cate on Facebook and Maria on the phone in the run up to the wedding and even popped in to say hello the day before as I checked on the timings between the two venues ... and all was remrkably fine and relaxed - and so it proved to be on Cate's wedding day too!
Driving through Durham on my way from the east coast, the sky was dark and foreboding, and the rain was really coming down, but heading west of Durham the skies were clearing and as I arrived at their home, the blue skies appeared and the sun was out, and it was out to stay for a beautiful April wedding!
Cate and 'her girls' were busy in the main bedroom having their make-up done, while mum and dad were busy ferrying bacon sandwiches and champagne around the place. I was promised something special with Cate's wedding gown, and so it proved to be with a stunning Jenny Packham wedding dress with beautiful jewel encrusted straps and even an amulet and hairpiece to go with the outfit ... just stunning, and I just knew that Andrew would be knocked out when he saw Cate coming down the aisle towards him!
I took some lovely photographs of Cate and Maria as they both got ready for the day, while dad Martin went through his speech downstairs and kept out of the way!
I greeted Andrew and his brother and best friends at the church as the guests and family arrived and said 'hello' to Canon Spence. I gave him one of my A3 San Francisco books of Nicola's wedding at the church the previous year - he was thrilled that his church looked so fine!
Before long, the bridesmaids had arrived, Andrew had gone rather quiet and we awaited Nicola and her dad to make their entrance, and I'm sure that the whole church were amazed at the beauty of Cate and her dress!
Soon the ceremony was over, and Cate and Andrew, who only had eyes for each other, greeted their closest and nearest and dearest outside before we headed off in convoy to Matfen Hall, a 30 minute drive away.
There was classical music, canapes and champagne on our arrival and 15 minutes later when the beaming happy couple came down the grand staircase in the Great Hall at Matfen, there was a great round of applause.
Soon, the speeches started, from the staircase while 120 people gathered below to laugh and to wipe away a tear, especially at a tale about Cate's grandmother's diary as tributes were paid and tall tales told about Andrew (!), before we swept in for our wedding breakfast.
We had time for a few formal happy family photographs before new guests arrived for the evening ceilidh celebrations, and word had speared that Cate and Andrew had been practising a first dance for some time!
The moment came and Andrew and Cate danced around the Great Hall of Matfen Hall to warm applause and loud cheering as Andrew at the end of the dance lifted Cate into his arms and kissed her.
Oh how we cheered!
One of Cate's guests took the video below of their special dance on their iPhone 4 .. it's worth watching!
And so the ceilidh started, many people danced the night away, and after capturing the fun, it was my time to wish the happy couple goodnight and thank their parents for their fine hospitality and friendship for the day.
I hope you enjoy this 'sneak peek' of a few of the 500 or so final edited images of the great wedding celebrations.
Cate and Andrew will have access to the password protected website soon where you will be able to see all their wedding images .. they will email the password out to you so you can once again enjoy their fabulous wedding celebrations!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF
Cate and Andrew's first dance at Matfen Hall .. there's a grey haired photographer getting in the way and then he disappears up the stairs! Sorry Cate ... :)
If you would like me to be the official photographer at your wedding at Matfen Hall, or in Northumberland or across the north east, anywhere in the UK, or your destination wedding abroad, I would love to hear about your plans. Please ring me in the office on 01429 423165 until 6pm or anytime on my mobile 0778 7150966 and let's chat and check your date!!
Dirk
