NEW!! SEE CATHY AND DAVE'S REVIEW OF MY PERFORMANCE AS THEIR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AT BEAMISH PARK HOTEL IN 2011 HERE
Sarah was my youngest bride-to-be in five years and Beamish Park Hotel was a new wedding venue for me in County Durham - so all was set for a great day of wedding photography!
David and Sarah and I had lots of fun on our pre-wedding portrait shoot six or seven weeks before the wedding celebrations, and of course, they were relaxed and chilled on the day because we were not strangers, they knew what to expect on their wedding day and I wasn't going to stop the fun for lots of 'groups' or take them away from their guests for hours on end to 'create' images.
Sarah was certainly one of my happiest ever brides, she was sky-high all day and just loved the whole wedding 'thing', she was just sooooo excited.
I met with her and her mum and 'the girls' at her home in Pelton near Chester le Street as she got ready for the day, but as soon as she put on her magnificent Charlotte Balbier wedding gown on, bought from The Wedding Dress Company in Corbridge, the tears started to flow!
She was sooo happy!
Once I had captured some photographs of Sarah looking so beautiful in her dress, it was a quick dash further up the village where David and his 'entourage' were walking to the church. Walking and running backwards isn't the most graceful or best way to walk to church, but it made some nice photographs - and luckily it was me doing all the backwards stuff, not David and his groomsmen!
So, there were more tears from Sarah as she arrived at church with her grandad, but she was actually keeping things together very well, David seemed to be cool, calm and collected, though when the vicar hadn't turned up seven minutes before the off, there was a slight look of concern on his face.
As is the case with most Church of England venues nowadays unfortunately, I could only take photographs from the back of the church, but that is the legacy of years of amateur photographers, becoming 'wedding photographers' on a Saturday and taking photograph at innapropriate moments in the service, walking around and flashing at every opportunity.
Professional photographers are now not distinguished from the crowd, so great opportunities to take photographs of tender touches and smiles as the bride comes down the aisle and the tears and laughter and first kiss are missed or photographed from afar.
What a pity.
Once outside, the 100 guests milled around to congratulate the happy couple and happy they were, so happy. This allowed for lots of photographs of happy smiling guests with bride and groom as the backslaps, cuddles and kisses flowed and luckily they remembered the vicar's instructions not to throw confetti until we got to the gates of the church. I think Sarah was still picking the coloured paper from her dress, hair and everywhere else a few hours later!
Beamish Park Hotel is a very nice weding venue and there are nice areas for photographs, despite there being no formal grounds. It is bright and airy, with good staff and a nice modern relaxed feeling about the place. I took more informal images around the drinks reception before speeches which were held at the front end of the wedding breakfast so that everyone could enjoy their food and drink and relax!
This is one wedding develpment and trend that is for the good - I have seen many wedding speeches cancelled over the years because of nerves and even sickness.
David's brother and Sarah's chief bridesmaid gave entertaining and slighly embarrassing speeches at times for the couple, but there were laughs and (more) tears all round and a large round of applause from appreciate guests!
Once over, this gave me the chance to take Sarah for 5 minutes to finish off some photographs and to spend 10 minutes photographing some key groups of mums and dads and grandparents and close friends. These were completed quickly with a laugh and a smile as my favourite time to take important group shots is AFTER the wedding breakfast when people have had a few glasses of champagne and good food and everyone is so much more relaxed.
So, that was me finished for the day, a little earlier than many of my weddings, but it was a great day for Sarah and David and their families and friends and my last view was of Sarah, one of my very happiest of brides, was her smiling and beaming away with her guests as I headed off home.
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If you would like me to photograph your wedding, relaxed and natural with no bother or hassle or drama, to capture the fun and the ambiance and the happiness of your great day, ring me now to make sure your date is not taken, I'm happy to travel all over the country and destination weddings abroad too - Ring me in the office until 6pm on 01429 423165 or on my mobile 0778 7150966
SMALL INTIMATE WEDDINGS AT THE BEAMISH PARK HOTEL FROM £750.00, WEDDINGS STARTING LATER IN THE DAY FROM £1150.00 AND typical summer wedding 10 hour coverage is £1450.00 Ring me on 0778 715 0966.
CHECK YOUR DATE FOR 2012 / 2013 / 2014
DIRK VAN DER WERFF
