DIRK VAN DER WERFF - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Wynyard Hall Wedding Photography Midweek for Helen and Daniel

MIDWEEK WEDDINGS AT WYNYARD HALL:
RAW EMOTION ..  HELEN AND DANIEL THANK HELEN'S MUM ROBINA AFTER HER READING DURING THEIR WEDDING CEREMONY AT  WYNYARD HALL

MIDWEEK WEDDINGS AT WYNYARD  HALL

MAKE-UP UNDERWAY .....

BEAUTIFUL AUTUMNAL COLOURS FOR THE BUTTONHOLES AND CORSAGE

ORDER OF CEREMONY CARDS

BRIGHT AUTUMNAL COLOURS FOR THE BRIDESMAIDS

MORE AUTUMNAL COLOURS FOR DANIEL

NO SIGN OF PRE-MATCH NERVES THERE FOR DANIEL

THE BENJAMIN ROBERTS DRESS IS ON THE MOVE!

LAST TOUCHES FOR ONE OF THE BRIDESMAIDS

HELEN'S BENJAMIN ROBERTS WEDDING DRESS ... READY TO GO

IRREGULAR CHOICE WEDDING SHOES .. THE CHOICE OF MANY OF MY BRIDES IN 2012

THE FLOWER GIRL AND PAGEBOY ARRIVE .... !

DETAIL FROM THE FLOWER GIRL LUCY

LUCY FINDS SOMETHING VERY ENTERTAINING AS HELEN GETS READY

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT MUM'S?

HAPPY .. AND READY TO GO AND GET MARRIED TO DANIEL!

BEAUTIFUL DETAIL FROM HELEN'S WEDDING GOWN

HERE COMES THE BRIDE ...... KEITH WALKS DOWN THE AISLE WITH HELEN AT WYNYARD HALL

HAPPY TO MEET OTHER - AND GET MARRIED!

ALL RELAXED NOW THEY HAVE MET EACH OTHER ... 

THE RINGS ARE IN SAFE HANDS WITH BENJI THE BEST MAN

KISSIN' TIME .... !

ROBINA READS HER POEM ..... TO TEARS ALL ROUND!

LUCY AND HER MUM SHOW THEIR EMOTION

THANK YOU ...... DANIEL AND HELEN THANK RIBINA FOR HER EMOTIONAL READING ...

ALL IS WELL ..... SMILES ALL ROUND AFTER THE CEREMONY

HELEN CHATTING WITH ONE OF HER NIECES

THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE MIRROR ROOM AT WYNYARD HALL

CLASSICAL .... HELEN AND DANIEL WITH THEIR ART-DECO WEDDING CAKE

TIME TO WALK AND CHAT .... THE HAPPY COUPLE WALK BACK THROUGH THE IRROR ROOM WHERE THEY WERE MARRIED

HOW MUCH FUN ARE THE GIRLS HAVING WITH THE CONFETTI

ONE MUNCHKIN HAVING LOTS OF FUN WITH THE CONFETTI ....

BEST PART OF THE DAY I BELIEVE .. COVERING DANIEL'S HAIR WITH CONFETTI .....

SHOES AND CONFETTI ....

BLOWING, I BELIEVE, IS THE BEST WAY TO GET CONFETTI OFF A BRIDE'S HEAD ...  :)

KISSIN' TIME AT WYNYARD HALL IN THE AUTUMN LEAVES ....

BACK IN THE MIRROR ROOM FOR SOME DRESS IMAGES

.. AND TIME FOR A QUICK PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MUNCHKINS WITH DANIEL AND HELEN

TIME TO PLAY AS WELL .... 

CLOSE-UP OF THE WEDDING CAKE

A FORMAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE HAPPY COUPLE

LAUGHTER FROM HELEN AT HER FATHER'S SPEECH

ADMIRATION IN HER EYES FOR KEITH'S SPEECH

SMILES FROM ONE OF THE MANY GUESTS

BENJI THE BEST MAN LOOKS RELAXED BEFORE HIS SPEECH

HELEN'S BROTHER ENJOYING THE SHENANIGANS .....

LAUGHTER AT THE SPEECHES

A PORTRAIT OF HELEN'S GRANDFATHER AT THE WEDDING BREAKFAST

CAPTIVATED BY THE SPEECHES

ATTENTION FROM HELEN AS DANIEL MAKES HIS SPEECH

KEEPING IT LIGHT .. BENJI MAKES HIS ENTRANCE!


... AND THE FIRST DANCE COMES ALONG ALL TOO SOON ....
Midweek weddings are becoming more and more popular, especially for small intimate weddings with your closest family and friends, 2nd weddings and commitment ceremonies.
Wynyard Hall led the way in the north of England over the last two or three years, and many other prestigious and exclusive wedding venues have followed suit.
Helen and Daniel thrilled their family when they booked historic Wynyard Hall for their Thursday wedding and had a wonderful relaxed day of celebrations in a fabulous wedding venue on a lovely Autumn day.
Helen and Daniel are a lovely fun-loving couple who have been with each other almost from school, 14 years in fact, but the time came to make a life-long commitment to each other and they chose the magnificent Wynyard Hall to make their vows.
We had a great time on the beach with their chocolate labrador Poppy a few weeks before the wedding  during their pre-wed portrait session which is actually more about bonding than it is about the photography, so that on the day, we're not strangers and everyone can just get on and have a great day of celebration.
It was a busy scene when I arrived at Wynyard Hall with Helen and her Mum Robina, her grandmother and bridesmaids and flowergirls and make-up and hair people all busy and chattering away ...
Helen was totally chilled out, and there was a definite air of excitement, especially when her father Keith turned up and cracked a few jollies for us all!
Daniel was on time too when I popped downstairs to photograph florist Adam Prest arranging his wonderful creations to be part of the day.
Daniel 'scrubbed up well' according to his brother Benji - his best man!
Other groomsmen were busy photographing Kaith's kit-car that were were to use later in the day for some photographs with Helen and Daniel.
When I arrived back upstairs, Helen and her bridesmaids were de-camping to her bridal suite from the bridal preparation area and carefully carrying her beautiful Benjamin Roberts wedding dress .. my second bride in 5 days with a Benjamin Roberts dress, almost as popular as Maggie Sottero wedding gowns with my brides this year!
There were a few tears from Helen when her father arrived to escorrt her down the stairs to be married to Daniel, and once the ceremony was underway, it was Helen's Mum Robina's time tyo make EVERYONE cry, yes, including me, with her poem during the service as part of her reading:

Magic Moments

There’s a Magic Moment in everyone’s life when hopes and dreams come true,
And we are gathered here today to share this dream with you.
We’ve been doing something wonderful that’s Keith Robina Carol and Rob
It’s something very special, a very important job.
It seemed just yesterday, we held you in our arms
So small and pink and perfect, we fell for your infant charms
So proud and happy to be a parent,
We shared together our first magic moment.
It hasn’t been plain sailing we’ve had our ups and downs
Happy smiling faces and a few angry frowns
We shared your dreams and watched you grow,
Enjoyed your achievements, supported when you were low.
We loved and cared for Helen and Daniel in every little way.
Now here we are in the Mirror room to share their wedding day.
We’ve worked so hard at our special job, that’s Keith Robina Carol and Rob
There’s only one thing left to do we’ll send our wishes straight to you.
We wish for you health, wealth and happiness as you start you new life
As you become Mr. & Mrs. Meggs, husband and wife.
So this is your Magic Moment, when your hopes and dreams come true.
And we are privileged today to share this dream with you.
With love, joy and pride we’re happy to say, “I’m your parent”,
For this certainly has to be our most precious Magic Moment!

Robina Blackwood

It's probably not very professional for the wedding photographer to be crying during a wedding, but you would be amazed how many times I wipe a tear away during a wedding day!
The happiness on the faces of Helen and Daniel showed that they had been announced as Husband and Wife ... so it was time to celebrate the fact!
We had an hour or so while the newlyweds clinked glasses with their friends and shared hugs and cuddles, backslaps and handshakes with their closest friends and relatives then we popped outside for a quick confetti shot ... the children were DESPERATE' to throw confetti .. so we sat Helen and Daniel down so that the little ones had a chance .. they had such fun!
After a few quick photographs with the beautiful Autumn colours, with Keith's kit-car and some family groups shots, we were ready for the entertaining speeches and the wedding breakfast (thanks folks!)
Afterwards almost 100 more people were starting to arrive to enjoy the evening celebrations with the happy couple, who smiled throughout, meeting and greeting their friends before were were ready for cutting of the wedding cake and a first dance.
As I left, there were lots of laughter and happiness as the guests enjoyed the atmosphere and Helen and Daniel thanked me for my contribution to their day.
I hope you enjoy this limited Sneak Peek of their midweek wedding at Wynyard Hall
If you would like me to photograph your midweek wedding at Wynyard Hall or any other top wedding venue, then RING ME NOW on 0778 7150966 to CHECK YOUR DATE as I only photograph a limited amount of weddings each year ... so it's NEVER a production line for me and you always have my full attention with top-notch customer experience and customer service.
VIEW ALL THEIR WEDDING IMAGES HERE ..  Get the passwords from the bride and groom or their family members
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Morritt Wedding Photography for Dominique and Shaun

THE MORRITT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
DOMINIQUE PLACES THE RING ON SHAUN'S FINGER

THE MORRITT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS:
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN .... !

THE MORRITT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY:
DOMINIQUE .. JUST CHILLIN'

DOMINIQUE'S BEAUTIFUL 'BLUE BY ENZOANI' WEDDING GOWN BY BENJAMIN ROBERTS

BEAUTIFUL DRESS DETAIL

DOMINIQUE BRINGS THE DRESS DOWNSTAIRS TO GET READY .. NOT LONG NOW!

IN MEMORY ....

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

TROUBLE WITH THE HOOP MAYBE .. ?

EVERYONE SWEEMS TO BE PONDERING ON THIS ONE ....  !

HANGING THROUGH A WINDOW FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE ..... EASY THIS PHOTOGRAPHY LARK .. AND DOMINIQUE LOOKS STUNNING!

... AND WE'RE READY!

SOME PEOPLE OF COURSE WERE NOT QUITE READY ... HAVING TOO MUCH FUN!

HERE COMES THE BRIDE ....

SHAUN LOOKS PRETTY CHILLED OUT HERE ...

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY ... DOMINIQUE ARRIVES!

FANCY SEEING YOU HERE !

I DO .... DOMINIQUE PLACES THE RING ON SHAUN'S FINGER ....

SOMETHING IN THE READINGS TICKLES DOMINIQUE'S FANCY ....

THE BLESSING ... 

A SMILE AND A GIGGLE AS THE REGISTER IS SIGNED AND THE DEAL IS DONE .. 

KISSES ALL ROUND AFTER THE CEREMONY

HOW LOVELY ..... GUESTS GOT TO TAKE HOME THEIR OWN CUPS AND SAUCERS!

THE SEATING PLAN .. BEAUTIFUL WORK FROM PURPLE PEACOCK BESPOKE STATIONARY

ONE FOR THE FAMILY ARCHIVES .... SHAUN SO CHILLED OUT HE HANGS ON TO HIS BEER!

SPEECHES ARE UNDERWAY ...... AND APPLAUSE IS REQUIRED FROM DOMINIQUE!

HAPPY GUESTS LISTENING TO THE SPEECHES

DANIELLE, DOMINIQUE'S SISTER ENJOYS THE FUN

THE MASK ...... TEARS OR LAUGHTER ..... YOU DECIDE!

BRIDESMAID ENJOYING THE SPEECHES TOO!

HAPPINESS FLOWETH OVER!

DOMINIQUE'S AUNT WHO FLEW IN FROM THAILAND ....

BOYS TOGETHER ..... HAPPY AFTER A SHED LOAD OF BEER .. READY FOR THE DANCING!

OFF TO THE BRIDGE .......

WE SHOUD HAVE DONE THIS WITH AN OLYMPIC TORCH .. DOMINIQUE LOOKING STUNNING IN THE LATE EVENING LIGHT ..

LIKE AN ANGEL .....

THE BRIDESMAIDS ..... LOOKING GOOD!

AN ANTIQUE FINSIH FOR THIS PORTRAIT OF THE HAPPY COUPLE TOGETHER

DOMINIQUE SEEMED TO PREFER THIS PHOTOGRAPH FOR THEIR THANK YOU CARDS!

VERY SMART PAUL SMITH SHOES FOR SHAUN
FIRST DANCE HAPPINESS FOR DOMINIQUE AND SHAUN

The Morritt is a great wedding venue on the borders of the Durham Dales, just off the A66 on the way to the Lake District at Greta Bridge and has been a very popular wedding venue since I was a young man - which is a lot of years ago!
Dominique and Shaun are a great couple, who booked their wedding with me just after her sister, Danielle and her partner Graeme did, almost two years ago.
I did try to persuade Dominique that she should perhaps wait until after her sisters wedding before she booked me, just in case ..... but there was no persuading her, thank goodness!
I photographed Danielle and Graeme's wedding at Redworth Hall on New Year's Eve, and all went swimmingly, so it was great to be part of the lovely Davies family yet again when Dominique special day arrived one beautiful October day.
When I arrived, all was calm in the Davies househild .. after all, it was only ten months since their other daughter's wedding .. and Dominique is a calm young lady anyways, so there was lots of giggles and laughter as the bride and her sister and good friend got ready for the day.
Relatives had flown in from Thailand, and I knew other had flown in from all over the world as Shaun's job entails him being abroad an awful lot.
Dominique's beautiful Benjamin Roberts' Blue by Enzoani dress was a sight for sore eyes .. just beautiful - and she had just the figure to pull it off too!
It was all hands on deck as she stepped into the dress and she looked pretty as a picture, and I actually had to step outside the house and poke my camera through an open window to frame her the way I needed her and the beautiful dress to look just right - a strange way take photographs .... but that's what you get with me!
I wished everyone well and headed off to St Peter's Church at Wolviston Village to meet up with Shaun. He and a close friend had gone to the bottom of the cemetry at the church to pay their respects to a friend who had died, before he came to the church to greet his arriving guests.
He was pretty chilled out with a big smile on his face - he was really looking forward to being with Dominique!
The bridesmaid's and Dominique's Mum arrived with Dom and her father not far behind .. she was precisely 25 minutes earlier to her wedding than her sister Danielle was to hers - bragging rights in the bag!
Upon arrival, guests were given beautiful blue bags containing the order of service and the plans for the day, produced by Natalie Moralee of Purple Peackock - and everyone had remarked on how beautiful they were!
Dominique's face lit up as she walked to Shaun's side, and both their smiles were non-stop as they took their vows and listened to their friend's readings, before we headed out into the Autumn sunshine for lots of kisses and handshakes, before time for a quick confetti photo opportunity then we all headed off for 45 minutes travel to The Morritt at Greta Bridge.
The weather was really amazing, and it gave us an opportunity to enjoy the autumn day as we gathered later for a group shot on the lawn which involved a perilous photograph (for me..) from the roof above the gardens ...  shouts of 'Jump' and 'Don't Jump' appeared to be hilarious ...  :) We also enjoyed the special talents of David Diamond  an excellent close-up magician
The speeches came first and involved a few lumps in the throat, crying and an unintentional swear word from the best man that proved to be the comedy moment of the day!
Afterwards we enjoyed the bride and groom's  hospitality (thank you!) with the wedding breakfast for guests before clearing the room for the evening reception to be prepared.
We went for a quick walk to the famous bridge before darkness fell and grabbed a few fun images with the bride and her bridesmaids before we enjoyed the cutting of the cake and a first dance with the groom and the father of the bride taking turns with Dominique before the party really got underway!
It had been a great day of fun and celebration with their closest friends and relatives at a great wedding venue in The Morritt which everyone really enjoyed!
If you would like me to photograph your wedding at The Morritt, or anywhere else in the UK or abroad ..  RING NOW AND CHECK YOUR DATE on 0778 7150966!
I only photograph a limited amount of weddings each year, so that it never becomes a production line, and that you are always important and valued clients ... you're NEVER just another bride and groom!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Professional Wedding Photographer - or friend?

PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY .. OR USE A FRIEND?
I often hear tales of brides and groom-to-be  delegating the task of their wedding photography to a friend or an Uncle, or a relative with a lovely new camera they received at Christmas.
Indeed, like all full-time professional wedding photographers, I have also had experience with losing out to 'a freind' with a camera who is 'quite good' at photography and will save the couple 'a fortune' ... 
You know where I am going to go with this, or rather, I'm not .. but I thought I would put some LINKS on this page as I come across them so that you can make up your own opinion ...... 
Sometimes I take up 2.5% or 5% of a bride's budget .. on other occasions maybe as much as 35% .... but for those people, whatever they spend on my services, they know how important photography is to them as part of their overall budget for their wedding, they have done their research and decided that lots of natural photography, keeping mums and dads and grandparents happy too, is the way to go .....
Read some of the sad stories and see some of the awful images from a wedding day disaster, HERE on RockNRollBride .. .and HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU PAY FOR YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY ... ?
£500 ...  £1500 .... OR £4,000 .... WHICH WOULD YOU CALL HIGH-END ? .. See HERE
DIRK VAN DER WERFF