Wedding - Penny & Simon

Church - Trinity Church, Gosforth
Reception Venue - Jesmond Dene House Hotel

A new ceremony venue and a return to JDH for me at this wedding. Penny & Simon had planned some wonderful details and level of elegance to their wedding that I don't often see. From the favours to the bride's maid's dresses, to the table centre peices and the personalised plate on the wedding car. Not to mention the tallest wedding cake I've ever seen! A wonderful day for a wonderful couple finished off with a personal favourite of mine - casino tables at the evening do. Tricky to photograph but great fun for the guests.
Henry

Wedding - Nadine & Tony

Location: Alnwick Gardens
Make up by: Louise Lunn
Live music by: Jason Isaacs

If you've seen either Top Gun or An Officer and a Gentleman (and you are female) then you may be about to suffer a little jealousy. For what women who has seen those films doesn't secretly harbour a desire to marry a man in uniform? Tony wasn't acting either, he's a genuine captain in the Merchant Navy. Nadine and Tony had been planning their wedding day for more than two years and I've had the very pleasant experience of being involved in that process for most of that time. Being witness to ideas taking shape and excitement growing for the big day made it feel like I was more a guest than their photographer. I strive to do the best I can for all my clients but this time felt different, I really wanted to capture something truly special for Nadine and Tony. Nadine especially had invested so much of herself in every detail of the wedding, add to that the fabulous venue of Alnwick Gardens and there really was an unlimited amount of photography. I didn't stop shooting until past 11pm, which is always a good indication that I'm getting decent pics and enjoying myself. The weather wasn't amazing but the rain we had actually presented me with even more photographic opportuinities - never underestimate the value of a shiny wet floor when it comes to making photographs... see the last pic below if you don't believe me. As for the ceremony, well I don't mind admitting to wiping away the odd tear on weddings past but this time I nearly had to leave the room! A truly wonderful civil ceremony, one of the best I've ever had the privelledge of capturing. The Pavillion was used for the ceremony, speeches and evening reception. A versatile space if ever there was one and great for photography. The first dance and evening do were enhanced by the ever fabulous Jason Isaacs. Nadine had booked Jason around the same time as me (nearly two years prior) which is fortunate as he is one of the best swing singers around. Another great detail for the end of the one of the best weddings I've ever photographed.
Henry

Wedding - Catherine & Ben

For this wedding I travelled to Gloucestershire and a part of our emerald isle that I'd never been to before. The beautiful village of Rockhampton (it was much more peaceful than the name suggests) was the location for Cath & Ben's ceremony, then just a short drive to a place called Hill for the reception. A stunning setting for a stunning couple. The day of the wedding was actually the first time I met the groom, which is totally out of the ordinary for me. Whereas Cath had spent a little time with me for the pre-wed shoot , Ben couldn't be there and was faced with the prospect of being photographed by a complete stranger. Many grooms would have been phased by this (one of the reasons I do a pre-wed shoot) but to his credit Ben took it in his stride. The large number of ushers and a few beers with lunch might have helped but he certainly didn't look that nervous. The reception venue was a marquee in the grounds of a beautiful old Victorian manor house called Old Down Manor known locally as Hill Court - check out the last picture. This was definitely one of those weddings where I wouldn't have minded being a guest!
Henry