Our talented friend, Karen, aka the Vintage Cake Fairy, married her Dami, whose parents travelled from Sri Lanka, at Hazlewood Castle on the most beautiful autumn day, Karen's favourite time of year. All wedding bookings are a massive privilege but when a discerning and artistic professional chooses you for her own wedding it does give you that warm and fuzzy feeling. The couple had two dates and two venues in mind and we were so disappointed that we weren't available on the first date but it was wonderful how things turned out. The first date and venue they ditched because we were already booked, wow, what a compliment! And on the first date the weather was truly atrocious all day long but Karen and Dami struck gold on their big day with dry weather and the soft light that if you're lucky can come with late autumn. As recommended Hazlewood Castle wedding photographers we are very familiar with the venue but this was a spectacular and unusual mix of an English castle wedding with Sri Lankan tradition and a dream to capture for a West Yorkshire wedding photographer. Mel from Passion Flowers created the spectacular florals and with Susy from Sweetspaces, the two of them brought Karen's vision for the perfect autumnal themed wedding into reality. We have to mention the cake, made of course by Karen, because we knew that it would be something amazing. The couple even sourced a beer barrel (in Wales!) on which Karen's creation took pride of place in the Great Hall alcove. The civil ceremony in the Old Dining Room was a joy to capture and featured a group of Sri Lankan dancers, who heralded first the groom and then the bride into the ceremony. After we'd finished the groups we went on the mad but very enjoyable dash around the venue to capture as much as possible of the locations the couple love before we lost the daylight, shortened the day before when the clocks went back. The golden leaves made for some wonderful images and with careful timing and working closely together to make it happen we managed those perfect twilight shots in the castle's courtyard. After the wedding breakfast Karen changed into a red sari, assisted by Dami's mum. It was an education seeing the skill that goes into fitting a sari. The warm tones of the wallpaper in the Victoria Room and the soft, low lighting worked perfectly for some pictures before the first dance and the evening party. We even managed to get all three flower girls together with Karen in some of these pictures, something that had been impossible earlier in the day when one little person really wasn't in the mood to play. A wedding full of celebration, spent in the company of warm, friendly people, Karen and Dami, we loved sharing your incredible wedding and what an amazing album you're going to have! Thank you so very much for choosing us for your Hazlewood Castle wedding photography.
