Wedding at Waterton Park, Wakefield

Yesterday's wedding was just down the road at the Waterton Park Hotel at Walton near Wakefield.    Stacey and Tom had seen my wedding photographs in the Waterton Park wedding brochure and had got in touch with me from there.  Due to the Wakefield registrars being busy on their wedding day (can't imagine why!) they were only able to offer Stacey and Tom a 3 o'clock slot.  Since it now starts to get dark just after 4 then it didn't allow us much time to get in some photographs in the daylight.  It was decided that the best course of action would be to capture the couple and wedding party photographs outside in the daylight before moving into the library for the family photos.  One of the great benefits of Waterton Park is that they always keep this room available, so we can always take great group shots whatever the weather.  Besides getting all of our couple shots done while it was still light, we were also very fortunate to have the benefit of a decent sunset.  After the meal we took the opportunity to get some rather special shots around the hotel, including a rather unusual shot in the bedroom that they requested, before Stacey and Tom joined their evening guests in the Squires to make full use of Shane's fantastic lights on their first dance.

A 2 Hour Wedding in Wakefield

Last week-end was our busiest of the year so far.  Alex and I were at Thorp Park on Friday photographing a wedding while Yvonne had a video at The Old Golf House at Outlane, Huddersfield. Saturday saw us at The Village in Leeds for another video whilst Sunday was long day at the beautiful Oakwell Hall in Birstall.  The long week-end finished with a very different wedding - 1 couple with 5 guests at Wakefield Registry Office, followed by photos in Thornes Park in Wakefield.  Now at every wedding that I attend I like to challenge myself.  Quite often if it is a venue that I attend often, such as the Waterton Park Hotel, then I always try to think of a new photo to take every time.  In this case, it was to be how many good quality photos we could take in the two hours that we were going to be there  for.  I was hoping for around 150 or so.  In the event the wedding party were a really nice crowd and we had a lovely, relaxed wedding and managed to get 341 good photos. Result!  Here are a few of them.  Today it's a video at Wentworth Castle whilst Alex is at Waterton Park,  tomorrow wedding photography at Wentbridge House.  Busy, busy!

Beckie and Robbie's Wedding at the Crab Manor Hotel at Asenby near Thirsk

Wedding Photography Crab Manor Hotel, North Yorkshire

The second wedding of the week-end started in Gildersome for the bridal preps.  This was going to be a special wedding!  Beckie is a florist and so was making her own flowers, her mum is a dressmaker who made the wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses, and the reception was at the Crab and Lobster, aka the Crab Manor Hotel, which is my favourite restaurant in the whole of Yorkshire which just happens to have fantastic grounds for photos, in addition to fantastic food! If you like seafood then you just have to go there, but book first.  The place is really popular!  So I was looking forward to great flowers, beautiful dresses and superb photos!  The ceremony was held at Beckie's local church, Gildersome Baptist Church.  We had already met the minister, David, at the rehearsal a couple of nights before.  I have to say that in all my 19 years in the wedding business I have never met an officiant who was so welcoming.  He even offered me a choice of chairs for the signing photo to raise Beckie to the best height at the table for the photograph!  After the ceremony specially made buns were served to all the guests who were not travelling to the reception.  The church had actually been completely full with standing room only at the back.  David's services must be legendary!  The church also possesses the most wonderful deep red wall which provided a fantastic backdrop for some bridal portraits.  Beckie and Robbie travelled up to Asenby in a beautiful 1965 VW camper van.  I have seen a few of these at weddings but this was definitely the best example that I had ever seen, provided by All Cool Camper Hire  Beckie had only asked for a small number of group photos which gave us plenty of time to use the extensive grounds at Crab Manor with the couple.  There was hardly a cloud in the sky and glorious sunshine, which we used to great effect to provide a beautiful rimlight on Beckie's hair.  After the meal and speeches (which were held outside as the weather was so nice - was this really the first day of April?) we took the opportunity to get some shots of the couple using a video light as the main light source in some of the wonderful rooms of Crab Manor.  I was sorry to leave after the first dance, but at least I shall be back there in less than a week's time for a family birthday meal.  Did I mention that the food is to die for?