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 Photographers Yorkshire

Wedding photography in Yorkshire for Nicola and James at Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell and Aldwark Manor, Alne near Wetherby on 11 September 2010

It was our pleasure to capture Nicola and James's big day and be part of the celebrations as Miss Brown became Mrs Brown - Nicola and James sharing the same surname even before they tied the knot!

Nicola knows us very well, as she has been a bridesmaid at two weddings we have photographed - Claire and Danny's first and then Rachel and Matt's in August last year.  Shortly afterwards, we were delighted to hear the news that Nicola and James had named the day and wanted us to be their wedding photographers.  Nicola joked that she has a wardrobe full of assorted bridesmaid dresses!  Today it was her turn to be the bride and absolutely gorgeous she looked too!

Usually, our first location when photographing a wedding is with the bride as she gets ready for the ceremony, but James had other ideas, so our first stop was at the couple's home where a very important person posed for the camera - Baxter, the Westie.  He did allow James in some of the photographs!  We joked with James that the first chapter of their storybook album was already sorted before we'd even started with Nicola's preparations!  We then left for Linda and David, Nicola's parents' house, where they girls would be getting ready.

We were greeted by Nicola's dad, David, who had been left holding the fort while the girls had their hair done and with the dress and accessory shots in the bag just as Nicola arrived back, we had time to get some portraits of her and capture some great pictures as her mum, Linda, and sister, Caroline fastened her dress.

Driving to the church in Rothwell, it started raining.  We parked up, headed for the pub next door and were welcomed by James's beaming through the window.  He'd managed to secure himself a  glass of Peroni!  A few shots later and the rain had stopped - perfect timing for James's and his attendants' photographs outside.

As Leeds wedding photographers, we have worked at Holy Trinity church a couple of times before and the rule had been that we could only photograph the ceremony from the back, which was what we were expecting today.  However, the ceremony was being conducted by a different vicar and a quick chat with him established that we could capture the marriage service from both the front and the back - fantastic!

Following the ceremony and some enthusiastic throwing of confetti at the church gate, we left for Aldwark Manor so that we could be there for Nicola and James's arrival ready to get photographs of them with their Beauford.  A new venue for us, Aldwark Manor has a very attractive frontage featuring a lovely fountain.

After working through the group photographs we went inside to photograph the wedding breakfast room which was beautifully decorated in a purple and white colour scheme.

Best men Dan and Gaz had worked really hard putting together a hilarious presentation about James which had everyone in hysterics.  Credit must go to you guys for coming up with something very funny and very inventive.  It was difficult to keep the camera steady!

With only a short window of remaining daylight and some ideas for photographs for Nicola and James together before the evening party started, we invited them to spend some time with us outside to make the most of the soft evening light.  It's great when an idea comes together as well as this one did - we just love this image and hope Nicola and James to do!

A band played the couple's first dance, Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. 





Thank you Mr and Mrs Brown for booking us as your wedding photographers.  It was a privilege to share your day and to photograph Nicola as a beautiful bride this time!

Please leave a comment about the couple's big day or about the photographs - 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!