December 2009 | DIRK VAN DER WERFF - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

HOLY ISLAND WEDDING IN LINDISFARNE CASTLE

HOLY ISLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: LINDISFARNE CASTLE ON HOLY ISLAND - BATHED IN THE SUNRISE ON WINTER SOLSTICE
LINDISFARNE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
MARK AND LYNN'S WEDDING WAS ON THE DATE OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE, DECEMBER 21ST, SO I WAS UP AND OUT ON THE BEACH EARLY ON
HOLY ISLAND AND LINDISFARNE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY:
THE BUS TO TAKE GUESTS TO THE CASTLE ARRIVES ON HOLY ISLAND FOR THE WEDDING
AND THE WEDDING CAR ARRIVES TOO!
LYNN AND HER DAUGHTER STEPHANIE READY FOR THE BIG DAY!
MARK AND GUESTS HAVE A FEW REFRESHING DRINKS BEFORE THE WEDDING  IN LINDISFARNE CASTLE
TIME FOR A WEE SMALL SDRAM TOO!
THE SHIP INN MEETING PLACE BEFORE MARK AND HIS SON AND ATTENDANTS DECIDED TO WALK TO THE CASTLE FOR THE WEDDING!
MARK HEADS OFF ACROSS THE FORESHORE FOR HIS OWN WEDDING - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
READY FOR THE WEDDING?
THE WEDDING PARTY SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE SKYLINE AS THEY HEAD TO LINDISFARNE CASTLE - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
READY FOR THE OFF .. THE BUS FOR GUESTS
THE DOUBLE DECKER BUS HEADS TO THE CASTLE
A BEAUTIFUL WINTER WREATH ON THE DOOR OF LINDISFARNE CASTLE AWAITING THE WEDDING PARTY
LYNN'S DAUGHTER ALL DRESSED UP FOR THE WEDDING - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
LYNN AND MARK TAKING THEIR VOWS IN THE TINY CHAPEL
FRIENDS IN ONE OF THE ROOM AT LINDISFARNE CASTLE ENJOYING A FEW DRINKS
MARK AND HIS BEST MAN PETE HAVING SOME FUN AT LINDISFARNE CASTLE AFTER THE WEDDING CEREMONY
MARK IS A LONG STANDING SUPPORTER OF HARTLEPOOL UNITED FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS AND WANTED TO MARK HIS WEDDING WITH A GOUP PHOTOGRAPH ON TOP OF THE CASTLE IN THE WINTER SUN
JUST ABOUT TIME FOR A QUICK PHOTOGRAPH IN THE FREEZING COLD ON 21ST DECEMBER
CUPCAKES ALL WITH NAMES OF PAST FAVOURITE PLAYERS FROM MARK'S FAVOURITE FOOTBALL TEAM!
THE CAKE TOPPING ... AGAIN A REFERENCE TO HIS BELOVED  HARTLEPOOL UNITED AND THEIR MONKEY MASCOT!
A TENDER MOMENT AS MARK REFERS TO LYNN IN HIS SPEECH
MARK AND HIS BEST MAN PETE AT THE WEDDING BREAKFAST
LINDISFARNE CASTLE CATCHING THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
Lynne and Mark's wedding on Holy Island, off the Northumberland coast, in Lindisfarne Castle, the iconic religious retreat in North East England was fun, fun, fun from beginning to end.
I set off early, in fact the day before to make sure that I was on the island in case the dreadful winter snowstorms caused me problems - the last thing I want to do is ring a bride and tell her that I can't make it!
It had taken me a LONG time to drive home through the snow and ice from Louise and Ian's wedding at Jesmond Dene House Hotel the night before .. it was a scary drive and I arrived back at base at 11.30pm after failing to secure a hotel room in Newcastle for the night.
So, with trepidation, I set off for Holy Island 10 hours later to make sure that I made the tide. In case you don't know, Holy Island is cut off from the mainland of the north east coast of England by the tide twice a day - and a causeway is uncovered to allow you to make the journey on and off the island. To my surprise, the A1 northbound was totally free of snow and ice on one lane all the way - so it took just two hours.

My sleeping bag, spade and associated paraphenalia to survive being trapped in my car seemed a little bit over the top .... ! Well, you have to be prepapred!
So, I was on the island with Lynn and Mark by 1pm on Sunday 20th December and they weren't getting married until Monday ... so, it would have been rude not to have accepted their invitation not to have a beer or two ... By evening, all their guests were on the island and we met in the Ship Inn where mark was staying, while I had bunkered down in The Manor House Hotel.

It was great for once to spend more time with a bride and groom than just 10 hours on the day of the wedding - though of course I usually meet with the couple a few times before the wedding anyway - and the pre-wedding shoot makes sure that we bond a little and that we're not strangers on the day!
It was Lynn and Mark's second time around wedding and their teenage children were all there from university as well as their nearest and dearest friends and relatives - 40 in total.
Next morning, I was up with the larks and determined to get a decent shot of Lindisfarne Castle at dawn on the winter equinox ...... it was a beautiful dawn - but freezing!
Not long after I met with Lynn and her daughter Stephanie as they got ready and then headed over the The Crown and Anchor to catch Mark and his best man Pete and their guests gathering before 'The Men' WALKED to the castle .. that was FUN!
After walking with them and capturing some great images there was the great hilke from the foot of the castle to the keep - dangerous in ice cold weather and very slippy underfoot - and no, I wasn't in high heels. In fact, I wore hiking boots and a suit and tie - truly suited and booted. I didn't want to be a casualty of the weather.
Poor Lynn and Steph were FREEZING when they made it to the keep, so I guided them to the nearest radiator to thaw out before they headed to the civil ceremony, where Mark had gone VERY quiet ....
Over almost in an instant, we then chilled out, had a few glasses of fine champagen and headed to the top level of the castle for some photographs as quickly as possible. There was a previous arrangement with The National Trust for mark to fly the flag of his favourite footbal team - Hartlepool United - from the castle, but that was over-ruled from London and we had to make do with a team shot!
The rest of the day followed their reception in The Manor House Hotel - full of fun and laughs, and after I finished about 8.30pm and waited for the tide to turn, the weather forecast didn't look too good, so I made the decision to stay on the island for a second night and enjoy the fun quiz in the Ship Inn with all the guests!
The next evening, they invited many more of their families and friends to a fantastic party!
What a great day or two for everyone and a fantastic wedding celebration for Lynn and Mark - I was exhausted!
If you would like me to be a small but important part of your wedding on Holy Island at Lindisfarne Castle, then I would be delighted to hear about your plans - telephone me on 0778 7150966 at any time to CHECK YOUR DATE!
With photography options for small intimate weddings midweek from £750, larger gatherings from £1200 and 'The Full Monty' all day and beyond  - perhaps for a two day family and friends gathering on Holy Island to capture the spirit and the fun of your celebration from £1500

READ MY WEDDING REVIEWS HERE
READ ABOUT COST / PRICES / INVESTMENT HERE



DIRK VAN DER WERFF

JESMOND DENE HOUSE DECEMBER WEDDING FOR LOUISE AND IAIN

JESMOND DENE HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY:
JESMOND DENE HOUSE READY FOR LOUISE'S WINTER WEDDING
JESMOND DENE HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
ALL WARM AND COSY ....

JESMOND DENE  HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOS: IAIN AMD HIS MATES RELAX WITH A FEW CHEEKY BEERS AT A LOCAL PUB

VERA WANG WEDDING GOWN FOR LOUISE

A PERFECT WINTER WEDDING BOUQUET

TIME TO RELAX IN THE MINUTES LEADING UP TO THE WEDDING AT JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL

WOW!!!  NOW THAT'S A WEDDING CAKE - IAIN'S BROTHER MADE IT AS A WEDDING PRESENT!

A FEW MOMENTS ON THEIR OWN AT JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL DURING THEIR WINTER WEDDING


JESMOND DENE HOUSE WEDDING: READ THEIR REVIEW HERE!
Iain and Louise are fun loving people ...... they love nothing but a good laugh and knew they didn't want to be stood around posing all day during their wedding celebrations - they would rather be with their friends and relatives having a great time - ideal for my style of photography.
We had a ball at their wedding at Jesmond Dene House Hotel in Newcastle.
I first met with them and their parents at the wedding venue when they were meeting with other photographer - they were there for Sunday lunch and to interview wedding photographers - no pressure then!
Luckily for me, as I had travelled from another wedding in Leeds the previous day, they already said that they loved my work - and just wanted to make sure that I was the kind of man they could get on with.
I must have impressed all of the six strong interviewing panel and Iain rang me while I was in Barcelona the following week to say that he and Louise wanted me to be their official photographer - even though it was 2 years and months away!
We kept in contact throughout, at the time Iain and louise were working in Dublin, Ireland but all their plans centred around working and living back in Newcastle when their wedding took place.
I took some lovely pre-wedding portraits of them in Jesmond Dene a few months before the wedding and it was just like meeting old friends - relaxed and enjoyable, so when their wedding date finally arrived on 19th December, I was really looking forward to it!
I popped into Jesmond Dene House Hotel a few hours before the start of the ceremony - just to say Hello to Louise before things got going and she was already made up and raring to go, if not a little nervous!
Iain on the other hand was in a local pub to settle his nerves with some of his best friends, but I knew he was nervous. I dashed back up to the hotel and started taking some photographs of Louise in her Vera Wang dress she bought in Dublin and before long the registrar was ready to go, Iain was on site and the wedding was go ..
The cermony was short and sweet but fun, in the grand hall of the old schoolhouse at this exclusive use wedding venue and although light levels in winter are always low, the ambiance of the lights and the candles and high ceilings make for a very atmospheric venue, it just takes a bit of experience to create the right images.
After, the giant Jenga, giant Connect 4 got the guests in the mood for the fun to come and gave me an opportunity to grab some relaxed family groups and 10 minutes with the bride and groom before the reception. The cake was something to behold and created by Iain's brother, Anthony who is Head Chef at the famous Pumphouse Hotel in Durham. 110 individual cakes with a biscuit base, filled with chocolate mouse and spray painted and decorated - heaven!
The fun really started with the evening reception where party games were the mainstay of the fun - from musical chairs, statues and an amazing, frantic game of space hopper races really put the fun into a great day of celebration for Iain and Louise - they had such a great day with their nearest family and friends.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE 300 OR SO IMAGES I CREATED AT THEIR WEDDING TELLING THE STORY OF THEIR DAY .. READ ABOUT COSTS HERE, READ MY LATEST REVIEWS HERE
If you would like me to photograph your wedding at Jesmond Dene House Hotel in Newcastle, showing the fun and the celebrations of your great day, ring me on my mobile 0778 7150966 TO CHECK YOUR DATE and tell me all about your plans!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

ELLINGHAM HALL WINTER WEDDING FOR AMY AND FRASER

ELLINGHAM HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND -  A GREAT PLACE FOR AN INTIMATE FAMILY WEDDING
A BEAUTIFUL WINTER WREATH ON THE FRONT DOOR AT ELLINGHAM HALL
LATE WINTER LIGHT WITH A WARM AND INVITING ELLINGHAM HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND
A LITTLE HELP TO GET READY AMY?
AMY AND FRASER FLEW ALL THE WAY FROM CALGARY IN CANADA TO THEIR WEDDING IN NORTHUMBERLAND, ENGLAND
JUST TIME FOR A QUICK GROUP SHOT BEFORE THE WINTER SUN DISAPPEARS IN DECEMBER
ONE FOR THE FAMILY - SO IN LOVE AT ELLINGHAM HALL
THE BEAUTIFUL TABLE LAYOUT AT ELLINGHAM HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND - FOR A BEAUTIFUL WINTER WEDDING
A CLOSE UP ON THE CANDLELIT TABLES
APPLAUSE ALL ROUND FOR THE BEST MAN'S SPEECH - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
PLENTY OF SPACE INSIDE FOR AN INTIMATE FAMILY WEDDING GROUP
FIRST DANCE AND TIME FOR THE STETSON TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE ALL THE WAY FROM CALGARY, CANADA AT FRASER AND AMY'S INTIMATE WINTER WEDDING AT ELLINGHAM HALL IN NORTHUMBERLAND - PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
Amy and Fraser met at university in Aberdeen and since then have travelled the world from their original family homes in Scotland and Northumberland.
Nowadays they live in Calgary in Canada, so organising a wedding from thousands of mles away was never going to be easy - but thanks to the internet and some great organisational skills - they did it - in style!
Amy had seen a wedding that I had photographed for Liz and Steve at Ellingham Hall, a beautiful exclusive use wedding venue in Northumberland last year on my BLOG and e-mailed to to ask some questions. Once I had done that she was determined, on the basis of my wedding blog and my website that she wanted me to be a small but important part of her wedding at Ellingham Hall!
Fraser and Amy visited Northumberland in September - and we met for the first time and got on really well, and I met with her mum too. We e-mailed each other a few more times, and last Saturday, finally was the date for the BIG day at Ellingham Hall.
It was a gray overcast day, drizzling rain and there was fog too on the roads as I made my way though Newcastle and then headed up the A1 past Alnwick, but once I was in the beautiful Ellingham Hall, all decked out with Christmas trees and decorations and open roaring fires, I was transported to a much nicer place!
Amy's mum came to greet me and before long I was watching and photographing all the decorations and detail pieces which come in so handy when I come to designing their wedding album - and Fraser appeard wearing his kilt but he was wandering about in his running shoes! Cool calm and collected!
Amy was tucked away on the third floor having her hair styled and all around the lovely old house, people were appearing in their wedding finery.
The service was short and sweet - with lots of laughs and immediately after the ceremony we headed straight outside as there was only about 10 minutes of daylight left and we knew we wanted to get a good group shot of everyone together.
After that was a relaxing hour or two with canapes and drinks before heading into the main hall, decked out with candles and decorations for our dinner and speeches before chilling out for a while in the reception room and the main lounge as the ceilidh band set up.
Then Fraser and Amy surprised us all by putting on their cowboy boots for their first dance and Fraser donned a wonderful stetson which made him look so handsome for their first dance!
The candles .. the music .. the ambiance and the fun stayed with me as I headed for a long drive down the A1 back home. 
A great day for everyone!
I hope you enjoy a SNEAK PEAK of a few of the images from their great day.
If you would like me to be a small but important part of your day in Northumberland at Ellingham Hall - then ring me ijn the office on 01429 423165 until 6pm or on my mobile 0778 715 0966 and  tell me all about your plans!


NEW !!  READ THEIR  REVIEW OF MY PERFORMANCE ON THE DAY HERE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF