Wedding Photographer The Metropole Hotel, Leeds | Jade and David

We were so delighted when Jade's parents, Michele and Kevin, booked us for Jade and Dave's St Anne's RC Cathedral, Leeds wedding photography.  It all came about after an enquiry from Michele's close friend, Karen, who wanted to surprise Michele with the gift of a photo session and a portrait of Jake and Holly, Michele and Kevin's dogs.  We had a great time in the studio, we got on so well with Michele and Karen, and we captured some lovely photos.  From this chance portrait enquiry, we were privileged to be chosen to be the Leeds wedding photographers for Jade and Dave, as they tied the knot in this spectacular cathedral, in keeping with family tradition, before celebrating at The Metropole Hotel, Leeds, again a very special venue for Jade's family.

Jade got ready at her parents' house and it's difficult to imagine a more relaxed bride.  We captured images as she styled her own hair and got some beautiful detail shots, including photos of her fabulous bouquet of yellow orchids.  Family and friends had played a huge part in making this wedding so special.  A friend of Michele's did everyone proud with her floristry, and her son, Craig, who was a pleasure to work with, provided some very artistic and creative videography.

We parked the car at the hotel and took the ten minute walk to meet the boys and start the wedding photography at St Anne's Cathedral.  After the total washout and severe flooding in this area the day before, it was a huge relief that the rain stayed away and although it was windy, this was a small price to pay after the devastation of the previous day.  Due to there being a service in the church immediately before the wedding, we had to work outside to photograph Dave and his attendants, and the bridesmaids, before Jade's very early arrival with her parents, in a Rolls Royce from Lavelle Classic Cars.  She looked so beautiful in her lace dress and she didn't show even a hint of nerves as she walked into the ceremony with her proud dad.

After the ceremony we stayed back at the cathedral as it made sense to get the family group photos done inside straight away, where there is a lovely backdrop and loads of space, rather than leaving it until we got to the hotel.  Just before we left to start The Metropole Hotel, Leeds wedding photography we gathered everyone together on the cathedral steps for a big group photo and some pretty good confetti throwing, resulting in a lovely sequence of colourful images.

We had a little time before the wedding breakfast to concentrate on photographing the new Mr and Mrs Pickering together outside the hotel with the car and inside on the staircase. We decided on a more arty approach for these and we hope that Jade and Dave will love the images which will look amazing as big photos in their Italian storybook album.

The wedding breakfast room looked absolutely stunning!  The couple had chosen vintage style, rose patterned chair sashes, and we were so impressed by the attention to detail and the obvious hard work and effort that had gone into making the room look so lovely.  There was a tea theme going on, which included tea caddies, china cups and vintage style teapots on the tables, as well as loads of beautiful flowers.

After the wedding breakfast and speeches, we spent a few minutes with the couple outside, before they returned to their guests for the start of the evening celebrations.  We captured the cake cut and first dance and we ended our coverage as everyone partied.

Thank you Michele, Kevin, Jade and Dave for choosing us to be West Yorkshire wedding photographers on this very special day.  Thanks must also go to Karen because it's down to you that we met them in the first place!

Please leave a comment if you were a guest and if you are looking for a Met Hotel, Leeds wedding photographer, please get in touch, and Like us on Facebook.

All images are copyright Alex & Janet Durasow.

Wedding Photographer Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield | Rachel and Brian

Rachel and Brian booked us for their Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield wedding photography following a recommendation and they booked us on the spot as soon as we met.  It's such a huge compliment to be recommended and fantastic when the couple are so sure that you are for them that they don't feel the need to go away and discuss it.  

They chose a very popular date to get married, the first Saturday in August.  The whole of their celebrations took place at the same venue and we started our coverage with Rachel upstairs in one of the hotel suites.  There was lots of laughter and a lively atmosphere and most of the giggles were as a result of the hairdresser's amusing comments and observations which kept everyone, including us, entertained as Rachel had her make-up and hair done.  We photographed her accessories and her dress, which had the most beautiful detail on the back.  

We went downstairs to take photographs of Brian and his best man, meeting Rachel's mum on the way.  She was on her way up to join her daughter and present her with an usual wedding gift, a skateboard.  There was an ongoing joke that Rachel would be getting a skateboard as a wedding present!

We almost managed to complete Brian's photographs with his family before the rain started, but we had to move everyone under the covered entrance for the last few.  Once our groom joined his guests  to mingle for the last few minutes before the ceremony, we went back up to Rachel and hoped that by the time it was over, the rain would have stopped!  

Lovely registrars made for a lovely civil ceremony, and the recessional to "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" was followed by a Buck's Fizz drinks reception in the lounge.

Rain threatened for the whole of the group photo session and during the course of the day the weather threw everything at us, from wind, bright sunshine and the wet stuff, but Rachel and Brian and their guests took it all in their stride and we managed to get just about everything they wanted before the wedding breakfast, leaving only the bridal party fun shots with their great best man and bridesmaids, and a short couple photo session, to be done after the meal and speeches.  It was dry and overcast by this time and the light was perfect for photography.

Rachel had said she hated photographs of herself but we hope that these will prove her wrong as she looks beautiful!  We really enjoyed working with her to create some gorgeous bridal portraits which will be stunning as large images in the couple's Italian storybook album.    

Thank you very much for choosing us as your Cedar Court Huddersfield wedding photographers. We hope you love your preview images and we look forward to seeing you soon to show you all of them and discuss the design of your album.

Were you a guest at Mr and Mrs Haigh's wedding?  If so, please feel free to comment.  To enquire about our services as your Huddersfield wedding photographer, please give us a call on 01977 730159 and if you like our work, why not Like us on Facebook?

Wedding Photographer Monk Fryston Hall Hotel | Andrea and Sean

An extremely busy weekend of four weddings in four consecutive days ended with us being Monk Fryston Hall wedding photographers for Andrea and Sean, sharing their Monday celebrations, which was also our wedding anniversary.  After thinking it was impossible that we would be lucky enough to have dry weather for four days on the trot, we were proved wrong and Andrea and Sean enjoyed a scorcher!

We arrived at the couple's home in York and after we'd captured some pretty detail shots, including the gorgeous beading on the back of Andrea's beautiful dress, she got ready and we were able to get some photographs of her with her mum and bridesmaids in the garden, before we left everyone to their final preparations and made the trip over to Monk Fryston village to meet Sean and start the St Wilfrid's Church, Monk Fryston wedding photography.

Sean looked very striking in his Dress Stuart tartan kilt and drape, his attendants were dressed in kilts in various tartans and the Scottish theme continued with a piper who played in the church grounds as the guests arrived.  He also played as everyone gathered at Monk Fryston Hall for the drinks reception after Andrea and Sean had tied the knot.

Andrea arrived with her mum and although we were restricted to taking photographs from the back of the church only, the vicar was lovely and very considerate towards us.  He took the time to chat with us before Andrea arrived, and although he didn't allow photographs to be taken from the front, it was obvious that he did care that ours shouldn't be compromised and he requested that the wedding guests enjoy the ceremony and to leave the photography to the professionals.  His service was a long one, but a joy to listen to and very personal to Andrea and Sean.  It was made even more special as Sean's son, Richard, sang during the register signing.  Afterwards the newly married couple exited the church into the sunshine and we nipped across the road just ahead of them to begin the Monk Fryston wedding photography where they were welcomed with a shower of red rose petals, and a butterfly release, which was a gift from Andrea's close friend, Jane.

Extremely bright sunshine meant finding a bit of shade for the family group photos but it was very hot and we decided to photograph the wedding breakfast room and table details a little earlier than planned, leaving Andrea and Sean to spend some time with their guests, and wait until after dinner to walk around the beautiful grounds with them for their couple photo session, when it had cooled down significantly and the light was much softer.

After the wedding breakfast room was cleared the band played and Andrea and Sean danced their first dance before inviting everyone onto the floor to join them.  A huge thank you Mr and Mrs Hall for booking us to be your wedding photographers at Monk Fryston Hall Hotel.   If you were a guest, please feel free to comment, if you like our images please Like us on Facebook and if you are looking for a wedding photographer for this beautiful venue, we'd love to hear from you.