Wedding Photography at Oulton Hall - Melissa and Gareth

Almost exactly two years ago, we were the Leeds wedding photographers for Claire and Neil when they married at the Woodlands Hotel in Gildersome.  Today it was such a pleasure to be at the stunning location of Oulton Hall to capture Melissa and Gareth's celebrations.  Melissa is Neil's sister and we always feel very privileged when a brother or sister of a previous client asks us to photograph their wedding too and it was so nice to see a few familiar faces - Melissa's mum and dad, Mandy and Brian, brother Neil and sister in law Claire, plus a new addition to the family - Neil and Claire's cute baby son Alex.  We joined Melissa and the girls in the Knaresborough Castle suite and as we arrived, Melissa was in the make-up chair.  After photographing Melissa's gorgeous Sophia Tolli gown and all the other girly bits and pieces, including her bouquet of cabbages - ornamental cabbages that is - we left the girls to finish getting ready and went to find Gareth, Craig and David for their photographs.  The weather forecaster got it right and we enjoyed a lovely, dry day with no wind - perfect.  The boys' shots were soon in the can and we were back with Melissa who by now was almost ready for the ceremony.  The Leeds registrars were fantastic, allowing us to capture the civil ceremony as Melissa and Gareth tied the knot.  With a fairly short drinks reception, we worked quickly through the group shots which left time to get some photographs of the newly married couple around the spectacular grounds of Oulton Hall before we went indoors to photograph them on the staircase and the Repton Room all set up for the wedding breakfast.  With dinner and speeches over, including a very touching one from Melissa's dad, the sky was almost at that perfect dark blue colour, so the couple joined us outside for some evening shots.  As artistic wedding photographers, we just love it when the bride and groom are happy to spend some time with us between the end of the wedding breakfast and the start of the evening party.  This is when we create some of our most beautiful images.  After capturing Melissa and Gareth's first dance as husband and wife and a father and daughter dance too, we left everyone to party.  We have to say thank you to attendants Kirsty, Sarah, Craig and David for all their help in making everything run so smoothly.  Their help was invaluable and much appreciated.  Thank you so much Melissa and Gareth for asking us to share your wedding day.  Have a fabulous honeymoon!

If you were a guest a Melissa and Gareth's wedding, please feel free to leave a comment below - thank you.    

Wedding Photographer Oulton Hall

Wedding photography at Oulton Hall for Emma and Carl on 7 August 2010

As West Yorkshire wedding photographers, today was a very special day for us as well as for Emma and Carl.  It was the culmination of two years' of planning for Emma and her friend Sarah, who married last month.  These lovely ladies planned their celebrations together, came to see us at wedding fairs, were bridesmaids for eachother, chose the same videographer, make-up artist and photographers (us!)  It was a pleasure to be greeted by so many familiar and friendly faces!

We caught up with the girls in their spacious suite where we set to work capturing images of Emma's amazing champagne coloured gown, Vera Wang perfume, her wow factor Jimmy Choos and her very unusual bouquet of hessian leaves and diamantes.

  

We left the girls for a while to meet up with Carl and his attendants who had arrived in style in a Hummer.  We were joined by Darryl and Brian Pease from Evolution Video Productions who we really enjoy working with.

After playing with the guys for a while, we returned to find Emma almost ready to be escorted downstairs for the ceremony by proud dad, Carl.

Following the civil ceremony in the Repton Room, it was outside for confetti and group photographs, which the rain decided to disrupt.  Nothing unusual there, it is British summer time!  As Leeds wedding photographers, we love working at Oulton Hall, which not only has beautiful grounds, it also has a very impressive entrance which provides some cover from the rain, so we made good use of this area for some of the group shots.  Who cares if the photographers get soaked, as long as the bridal party doesn't?  Today was a day of shower dodging and making the most of the intermittent dry spells but Emma and Carl were brilliant and more than happy to work with us.

Emma's sister, Ali, was an absolute star when it came to running around, gathering guests together for groups, helping make everything run smoothly, fixing a hiccup earlier in the day and generally making sure that her sister, Emma, had the most fantastic wedding day.  Your efforts didn't go unnoticed Ali and your help was very much appreciated - thank you.

With the groups done and a welcome dry spell, Emma and Carl joined us for a few photographs outside and then on the staircase before it was time to capture some images of the Repton Room all dressed in its beautiful, elegant cream and champagne colour scheme.

After the wedding breakfast and speeches, Emma stood up to make a speech of her own which was very emotional as she thanked her new husband for allowing her to have the wedding of her dreams.  For us, it was such a privilege to be part of the wedding of Emma's dreams.

The sun had shone throughout the wedding breakfast and speeches and we were looking forward to making the most of it for some more romantic pictures of the new Mr and Mrs Simpson.  We were out for no more than two minutes when the rain started again!  We love this image which is one of a sequence taken as Emma dashed for cover!  Run Emma - but keep smiling!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Never mind - we got some gorgeous images inside, like this one of our stunning bride...

Emma and Carl took to the floor for their fun first dance as husband and wife and soon after, we said goodnight.  Thank you so much for booking us to photograph your amazing day.  Have a fantastic honeymoon guys. 

We will miss seeing Emma and Sarah at wedding fairs!

 

Wedding photographer Oulton Hall, Leeds

Wedding photography in Leeds for Joanne and Matthew, St Mary's church, Kippax and Oulton Hall, Leeds on 29 May 2010

What a difference a day makes!  Joanne and Matthew's wedding day was rainy - in fact, it hardly let up all day long but the weather was definitely not going to spoil the celebrations as this lovely couple tied the knot at St Mary's church in Kippax and celebrated afterwards at the beautiful Oulton Hall.  A favourite of ours!

As today's wedding ceremony was an early one at 11 am, our first stop of the day was at around 8.30 am at Oulton Hall, where Joanne's mum, Isabel was looking after things whilst Joanne was at the hairdresser.  We knew in advance about Joanne's very important shoes - Jimmy Choos - and her gorgeous Sophia Tolli gown was just stunning!

Next stop was downstairs to meet the guys before we left for the church.   On arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the vicar, Mandy Rhodes, a lovely lady who placed no restrictions on us regarding the photography and allowed us the freedom to capture Jo and Matt's marriage ceremony.  We are very grateful to her for being so accommodating.

A peak outside at the end of the ceremony confirmed that the rain hadn't stopped, so we took care of most of the family group photographs inside the church before the umbrella covered guests showered the new Mr and Mrs Varley with confetti at the church door.

As Oulton Hall's beautiful entrance offers some cover from the weather, we were able to keep Jo and Matt dry whilst we photographed them with their car, as well as completing the larger family groups in the same location.  Who cares if the photographers get wet?  It's all part of the most enjoyable job in the world and as professional wedding photographers in West Yorkshire, we are always determined to get great photographs for our couples regardless of the weather.

With the big group shot completed from the gallery inside, we decided to make the most of the staircase for some photographs of the couple together as well as this black and white image of beautiful Jo before going into the Repton Suite to photograph the room all set up in the spring garden theme that Jo and Matt had chosen.  Jo was overjoyed when she saw how amazing the room looked.

After the wedding breakfast and speeches, a very short break in the weather allowed us to get outside for a few minutes without umbrellas to take some photographs around the fountain which was something we'd been keeping our fingers crossed for all day.  It has to be said that Jo and Matt were fantastic and the weather didn't dampen their spirits one bit.

Jo and Matt's guests joined them in the Claret Jug where the couple took to the floor for their first dance to a very unusual choice of music - Zorba the Greek!  Matt loves Greece and anything Greek, so this was the perfect choice for him.  The couple are now enjoying a long honeymoon in where else, but Greece! 

Thank you Jo and Matt for choosing us to share your very special day.  You are an amazing couple and we loved every minute of working with you!