Wedding Photography Wentbridge House Hotel

Wedding photography Bradford and Wentbridge House Hotel - Chloe and Sam - 4 December 2010

  

When Chloe and Sam booked us as their wedding photographers, they expected that being a December wedding, it was likely to be cold.  What they didn't expect was the thick snow which descended on the country at the end of November - much earlier than we usually get it!  So Chloe's dad, Bryan, had the unenviable task of clearing the snow outside the church to make it easier for the wedding cars to get access.  We arrived at Bryan and Janet, Chloe's mum and dad's house to a hive of activity as the girls got hair and make-up done.  Leaving the hussle and bussle for the quiet haven of Bryan and Janet's bedroom for a while, we set to work on photographs of Chloe's beautiful princess dress, her shoes, perfume, jewellery, flowers and wellies!  A text message from Chloe the evening before the wedding day confirmed that she was well and truly prepared and something as trivial as eight inches of snow wasn't going to stop her getting the photographs she wanted.  Leaving the ladies, we met Sam and the boys at the church.  The colour scheme the couple had chosen, along with the snow, the holly tree in the church grounds and a nativity scene inside all added to the festive theme of this winter wedding.  A quick chat with the kindly vicar and permission to photograph the wedding ceremony from both the front and the back of the church was granted.  The arrival of a Hummer full of bridesmaids in wellies caused a lot of laughter and shortly afterwards, Chloe arrived with her proud dad.  This is the first time we've seen a change of footwear in the church doorway - from bridal wellies to bridal shoes!  Following the ceremony, the family groups were taken care of inside the church before Chloe and Sam headed out to be showered with confetti.  At this point, it started raining and it was still raining when everyone arrived at Wentbridge House.  As professional wedding photographers in West Yorkshire, the weather is something we have to take in our stride but eight inches of snow and freezing rain is something of a challenge.  However, Chloe was an absolute star - pulling on her wellies in the car and stepping out with a big smile ready to take on anything!  She was so delighted to see the stunning snowy landscape of the gardens at Wentbridge House Hotel and she was adamant that no matter what, she and Sam were having their photographs taken in the snow.  She only shouted at Sam a couple of times for not holding the umbrella over her properly!!!!!  Sam - you were brilliant too, going along with whatever we suggested but at least you were wrapped up a bit more warmly than Chloe.  It must have been a spectacle - a beautiful bride in a huge wedding gown, carrying a red umbrella, a handsome groom and two photographers struggling through the deep snow.  Freezing is an understatement!  But it was well worth it for the amazing images we got.  After a few photographs around the Christmas tree in the hotel reception, we left Chloe and Sam to join their guests, drink champagne and thaw out whilst we photographed the wedding breakfast room which looked fabulous in its red and gold colour scheme.  Even the favours for the wedding guests had a Christmas theme - red Christmas tree baubles, individually personalised by hand - beautiful.  After the wedding breakfast and the speeches, we had a little time before the evening guests started to arrive and as was still raining, we decided to be kind to Chloe and Sam and work indoors.  A visit to the bridal suite and a short trip around the hotel resulted in some romantic images for the new Mr and Mrs Pickles before they took to the floor for their first dance.  Thank you for inviting us to capture your fabulous winter wedding.  Snow can be unwelcome but on this occasion, it made Chloe and Sam's wedding day and their pictures all the more special.  Hope you're enjoying a fabulous honeymoon in Mexico where we suspect it's just a bit warmer.   

        

If you attended Chloe and Sam's wedding, please leave a message - thank you.

West Yorkshire Wedding Photographers

Wedding photography at St Luke's church, Sharlston and the New Wheatsheaf, Whitwood for Natalie and Chris on 4 September 2010

Natalie and Chris's wedding day was one of perfect weather and understated elegance.  It was a privilege to be asked to capture their celebrations, not least of all because Natalie's dad, Dave, was a wedding photographer in Wales in another life and we knew how much of a compliment it was for him to trust us with photographing his beautiful daughter's wedding.

Our first stop was at Dave and Jude, Natalie's mum and dad's house where we got to work on photographing Natalie's lovely, elegant wedding gown and her accessories, including something else Chris didn't know about - a pair of striking red satin shoes.  Natalie made us laugh because she said that she had been trying to wear the shoes in a bit to make them more comfortable before the wedding but because Chris didn't know about them, she kept sending him out whilst she wore them around the house, including while she did the ironing!  Natalie was determined to be ready before we left so that she could have photographs with her mum and dad and also with one other member of the family - Cari!

Leaving Natalie to her finishing touches, we met up with the boys at the church to capture their pictures before the ceremony.  As Wakefield wedding photographers, we have worked at St Luke's church before and it was nice to be back. 

With permission from the vicar to photograph the ceremony from the front and the back, we got some brilliant images as the couple exchanged vows.  Natalie's expression throughout the ceremony was one of pure joy and just beautiful to watch and to capture. 

To give the couple more variety in their images, we had arranged for them to join us at Queen's Park in Castleford for their pictures together after the ceremony.

After spending some time getting some relaxed photographs of Natalie and Chris together, we headed off for the New Wheatsheaf and shots of the red London bus which had transported the guests from the church.

With confetti throwing and group shots taken care of, it was time for some laughter with the bridal party.

A beautiful, elegant bride and those wicked red shoes...

Dave had already briefed us to watch out for Jude's expressions when he started his speech, as he had two versions of it - one which they had worked on together and which Jude had vetted - and another one...  The plan was that he would tear up the original and read from the second one.  Jude's face was a picture!

After a delicious meal which the family very generously invited us to, it was outside for a few minutes to make the most of the last of the late summer daylight before Natalie and Chris were asked to take to the floor for their first dance.

Our sincere congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Hughes and our thanks to Dave and Jude for allowing us to capture this very special day.  It was wonderful to join you all and we've really enjoyed getting to know you during the run up to the wedding.

If you are a member of Natalie or Chris's family or one of their friends, please leave a comment.

Wedding Photographers at the King's Croft, Pontefract

Wedding photography at the King's Croft Hotel, Pontefract for Adele and Peter on 31 August 2010

As wedding photographers in West Yorkshire, the King's Croft is one of our local wedding venues and today it was a pleasure to join Adele and Peter as they tied the knot.

We met up with Adele and were greeted by a hive of activity with a lot of people going about their preparations.  Adele had chosen a wedding gown to cause a stir - it was some impressive dress!  There were no flowers because Adele isn't keen on them, so instead, she chose a bouquet made entirely of clear and black crystals which complimented the very elegant black and white colour scheme perfectly.

This was the first wedding we have ever photographed where, due to his commitments, we had not met the groom before the day and as we hadn't had the opportunity to get to know Peter beforehand, we were aware that we needed to help him to quickly feel relaxed and confident with us.  We needn't have worried, as Peter was an absolute pleasure to spend time with, very quickly getting into the swing of things and really enjoying his photo session. 

Adele and Peter's wedding plans hadn't exactly gone smoothly.  However, they couldn't have wished for a better day or better weather, so maybe it was meant to be.  As well as it being their wedding day, it was also very much about their two fantastic sons, with the focus of the day being very firmly on family.  Adele and Peter are an amazing couple and it's so obvious how devoted they are to eachother and to their boys.

Adele and Peter were married in a very personal civil ceremony in the Queen's Suite, beautifully conducted by the lovely Rosalyn Field who we love working with.  She does make a wedding ceremony very special.

A lucky chimney sweep greets the newly married couple.

After the group shots were in the bag, we took Adele and the rest of the girls for some fun.  The girls were really up for playing to the camera and as Pontefract wedding photographers who love a happy, relaxed wedding, this was something we really enjoyed.  You lot made us laugh!

After the wedding breakfast and the speeches, we made the most of the warm summer evening to have some fun with Adele and got her to really show off that stunning dress!

  

The new Mr and Mrs Middleton took to the floor for a fast and lively first dance - the first of four!  One for themselves, one for each of their boys and one for the Adele and the girls.  A wonderful wedding full of fun, love, laughter and the importance of family.  Congratulations to you both and a big thank you for allowing us the privilege of being there to capture your celebrations.

If you are family or friends of Adele and Peter, please leave a nice comment for them.

Wedding Photographers West Yorkshire

Wedding photography Castleford and Rogerthorpe Manor for Kelly and Adam on 28 August 2010

A local wedding for a lovely local couple, Kelly and Adam, at All Saints' church in Castleford, followed by a reception at Rogerthorpe Manor.  We were the photographers for Adam's sister, Rachel when she married Matt in the same church last year.  Today it was fantastic to share Kelly and Adam's special day and to be surrounded by quite a few familiar and friendly faces.

We arrived at Kelly and Adam's house to capture Kelly's preparations.  Her bridesmaids all had matching shoes and Kelly's amazing Pronovias Spanish dress had such a "wow" factor. 

We met up with Adam and the boys at the church and kept them occupied for a while.  We had a lot of fun taking their photographs.  We particularly like this mean and moody shot! 

 Beautiful Kelly arrived with her proud dad, David.

As always at this, our local church, the vicar was very generous when it came to photographing the ceremony, which is something we really appreciate.  It was so nice to be able to capture Kelly and Adam's marriage service and some of the beautiful architecture inside the church.

Kelly's mum, Jeanette, had let us into a secret.  She'd organised a dove release for her daughter and new son in law.  Not sure what Adam was expecting to emerge from the basket because he did look a bit worried as the doves made their escape!

As regular wedding photographers at Rogerthorpe Manor, we really enjoy working at this venue.  The grounds offer a lot of opportunities for great photographs and the staff are very friendly.

There was a slight blip in the weather just as we started the groups but thankfully the drizzle didn't last long and we were quickly back outside.  With the main family groups done, it was time for some fun with the girls...

Kelly had said from the start that she wanted a colour scheme and wedding photographs that were different.  Well, she chose a gorgeous colour scheme which definitely was different.  Those burnt orange bridesmaids' dresses were just stunning!

With plans to leave our more artistic shots until after dinner, we captured some relaxed and natural photographs before everyone was seated for the wedding breakfast.

So, with Kelly's request for different wedding photographs firmly in our minds, after the wedding breakfast and the speeches were over, we borrowed her for a few minutes to create a bridal portrait that we think is a bit different.  She looks amazing!

Kelly and Adam were fantastic to work with and Adam didn't mind putting his beer to one side for a couple of minutes to cuddle up to his beautiful bride! 

A lovely late summer evening to make the most of!  Adam had ditched his jacket and Kelly had ditched her shoes by this point, walking barefoot on the grass.  A relaxed and romantic walk together made for some great pictures.

Thank you Mr and Mrs Spears for booking us to capture your fabulous wedding day.  We look forward to seeing you when you return from honeymoon and to designing an Italian Storybook for you to treasure. 

If you are family or friends of Kelly and Adam, please leave them a comment below.

Wedding Photographer Wentbridge House

Wedding photography at St Margaret's church, North Elmsall and Wentbridge House for Emma and Scott on 17 August 2010

A Tuesday for the marriage of Emma to Scott in the same church where Emma's parents were married, and a rainy weather forecast turned out to be wrong, thankfully, except for a tiny bit of drizzle later in the day.  The couple had been trying to plan their wedding day for a long time, but when Scott joined the RAF, he couldn't take any leave until he had completed his training.  We were privileged because we had been chosen as the couple's wedding photographers long before they actually fixed a date and we were so happy when everything finally came together and the date was booked. 

As West Yorkshire wedding photographers, we were delighted to be asked to capture Emma and Scott's day.  They are a lovely couple and Emma is the first member of Wentbridge House's staff to celebrate her wedding at this beautiful venue.  Our first port of call was in the bridal suite where Emma, sister Amy and mum, Lorraine were getting ready.  Emma's fairytale gown was hanging against the wood panelling in the room and  her Vivienne Westwood shoes caused a bit of a stir, so much so that David, the videographer, took a picture of them and texted it to his wife to show her! 

After capturing some images as Emma's dress was laced up, we said goodbye to the girls and set off for the picturesque St Margaret's church to meet up with Scott and his attendants.  Scott looked very handsome in his RAF uniform.

This beautiful horse made friends with a bridesmaid as we waited for our bride.

Emma arrived in an elegant Bentley with her proud dad Steve.  The car was a big surprise from her mum and dad and we had been let into the secret.  Emma thought she was being driven to church in the family car but she couldn't figure out how she would fit into it wearing that huge dress and just who would be doing the driving...

After the ceremony and confetti at the church gate, we set off for Wentbridge House.  With a small wedding party consisting of close family and friends, the groups were quickly in the bag and the only time it decided to drizzle was when everyone was out on the lawn for the big group shot.  With Alex hanging out of the bridal suite window ready to take the photographs, we did appreciate you guys not running for cover because the drizzle only lasted for about a minute or two, allowing us to continue outside - just what we were hoping for.

Emma made it very clear at our meeting before the wedding that her photographs were very, very important, she was up for anything we suggested and she really wanted some fun shots.  We were happy to oblige and so were Emma's beautiful bridesmaids.  We love a happy, fun wedding. 

Beautiful, smiling Emma in that fabulous dress - stunning!

The newly married Mr and Mrs Dickens had some photographs taken together we before we headed inside to photograph the wedding breakfast room and their incredible wedding cake.

Our plans to take some artistic and contemporary images after dinner, in a location which might not be an obvious choice for wedding photographs, came together in what remained of the daylight.  Wind isn't usually welcome on wedding days but it came in very useful for this perfectly timed shot which we just love!  Emma was a star when it came to working with us to get these images. 

The couple's first dance...

Our coverage of Emma and Scott's special day ended with the couple and their guests releasing Chinese lanterns on the lawn, which was another surprise they hadn't known anything about.  Both sets of parents really did them proud with a wonderful day which was a pleasure to be part of.

If you are family or friends of Emma and Scott, please feel free to leave a comment in the box provided - thank you.