Wedding Photography Wentbridge House | Wedding Photographer Leeds | Emily and Gavin

            

Emily and Gavin chose a Sunday for their wedding at the beautiful St John's church in Oulton.  The weather was typical of a weekend in June - raining!  Arriving at Emily's mum, Elaine's house, where the girls were getting ready, we were greeted by Emily who was more than a bit sad that the weather was a let down and she told us that it had been throwing it down since 4 am!  Well, we weren't up quite that early!  A bit of reassurance that she would still get great pictures regardless of the weather and she did cheer up.  We all cheered up a lot more when the rain stopped shortly before we left for church and it didn't appear again for the rest of the day.  Emily had apparently bought her wedding dress two and a half years ago and what a stunner it was!  She had chosen a very striking hot pink colour scheme and the bridesmaids looked gorgeous in their dresses.  What a bonus that they were all dressed before we had to leave so the pictures of them fastening Emily's dress were made all the more special - much nicer than pjs and dressing gowns!  We met a slightly nervous Gavin for his photographs before Emily's arrival and as we've known Gavin's family for a long time, it was so nice to catch up with his brother and best man, Ryan, and their mum and dad, Ann and Paul.  Emily arrived on time with her proud mum who had the privilege of giving her beautiful daughter away.  We love working at St John's church, not just because it's lovely and light inside and makes for great photographs but because the vicar is really accommodating when it comes to allowing us both the photograph the ceremony and we appreciate this a lot as it allows us to do the best job we can for the couple.  Following Emily and Gavin's marriage, we completed the group shots really quickly at the church before the couple headed off down the long pathway into a shower of confetti, jumped into their car and set off for Wentbridge House for the reception.  As wedding photographers at Wentbridge House we know that it has a beautifully kept lawn but we were concerned that following the heavy rain, it would be soaking wet.  Not ideal for ladies wearing high heeled shoes!  However, the sun came out as everyone arrived and the guests were able to enjoy a Bucks Fizz drinks reception on the lawn whilst we photographed Emily and Gavin with their car.  Returning to the guests, some fun shots with the bridal party were captured along with a handful of photographs of the new Mr and Mrs Ellis before the wedding breakfast and speeches, which included a lovely slideshow of pictures of Emily growing up, put together by her mum who described the day as "Perfect!"  Emily and Gavin, we are so happy that the sun came out for you.  You really deserve a perfect wedding day.  Thank you for choosing us to capture it for you and we hope you like the pictures! 

If you were a guest at Emily and Gavin's wedding, please feel free to leave a comment below - thank you.

Wedding Photographer West Yorkshire - Thank You Cards

It was so lovely to receive two thank you cards from delighted couples last week, one of them accompanied by a stunning bouquet of flowers.  We really appreciate it when our amazing brides and grooms (and a bride's mum and dad), take the time to express their thanks because after all, we are just doing the job we love!

The first card came from Natalie's mum and dad, Jude and Dave.  We photographed Natalie and Chris's wedding at St Luke's church in Sharlton back in September.

"Dear Janet and Alex, thank you so much for taking Natalie and Chris's wedding photographs.  It certainly took the stress away knowing that we were in safe hands.  Can't wait to see the finished album.  We are sure it will be amazing and a wonderful memento of a truly BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!  Thank you so much."

The second came from Chloe and Sam who's December wedding day included a deep covering of snow.  They married in Birkenshaw, Bradford and celebrated afterwards at Wentbridge House Hotel.

"Thank you for making our wedding day so perfect by taking the most amazing photos.  We are both so happy with them especially the snow ones which are fantastic.  You were both brilliant on the day and helped everything run smoothly.  It was the perfect Christmas winter wedding with snow on top and we now have great photos to remember just how amazing it really was."

Wedding Photography Wentbridge House Hotel

Wedding photography Bradford and Wentbridge House Hotel - Chloe and Sam - 4 December 2010

  

When Chloe and Sam booked us as their wedding photographers, they expected that being a December wedding, it was likely to be cold.  What they didn't expect was the thick snow which descended on the country at the end of November - much earlier than we usually get it!  So Chloe's dad, Bryan, had the unenviable task of clearing the snow outside the church to make it easier for the wedding cars to get access.  We arrived at Bryan and Janet, Chloe's mum and dad's house to a hive of activity as the girls got hair and make-up done.  Leaving the hussle and bussle for the quiet haven of Bryan and Janet's bedroom for a while, we set to work on photographs of Chloe's beautiful princess dress, her shoes, perfume, jewellery, flowers and wellies!  A text message from Chloe the evening before the wedding day confirmed that she was well and truly prepared and something as trivial as eight inches of snow wasn't going to stop her getting the photographs she wanted.  Leaving the ladies, we met Sam and the boys at the church.  The colour scheme the couple had chosen, along with the snow, the holly tree in the church grounds and a nativity scene inside all added to the festive theme of this winter wedding.  A quick chat with the kindly vicar and permission to photograph the wedding ceremony from both the front and the back of the church was granted.  The arrival of a Hummer full of bridesmaids in wellies caused a lot of laughter and shortly afterwards, Chloe arrived with her proud dad.  This is the first time we've seen a change of footwear in the church doorway - from bridal wellies to bridal shoes!  Following the ceremony, the family groups were taken care of inside the church before Chloe and Sam headed out to be showered with confetti.  At this point, it started raining and it was still raining when everyone arrived at Wentbridge House.  As professional wedding photographers in West Yorkshire, the weather is something we have to take in our stride but eight inches of snow and freezing rain is something of a challenge.  However, Chloe was an absolute star - pulling on her wellies in the car and stepping out with a big smile ready to take on anything!  She was so delighted to see the stunning snowy landscape of the gardens at Wentbridge House Hotel and she was adamant that no matter what, she and Sam were having their photographs taken in the snow.  She only shouted at Sam a couple of times for not holding the umbrella over her properly!!!!!  Sam - you were brilliant too, going along with whatever we suggested but at least you were wrapped up a bit more warmly than Chloe.  It must have been a spectacle - a beautiful bride in a huge wedding gown, carrying a red umbrella, a handsome groom and two photographers struggling through the deep snow.  Freezing is an understatement!  But it was well worth it for the amazing images we got.  After a few photographs around the Christmas tree in the hotel reception, we left Chloe and Sam to join their guests, drink champagne and thaw out whilst we photographed the wedding breakfast room which looked fabulous in its red and gold colour scheme.  Even the favours for the wedding guests had a Christmas theme - red Christmas tree baubles, individually personalised by hand - beautiful.  After the wedding breakfast and the speeches, we had a little time before the evening guests started to arrive and as was still raining, we decided to be kind to Chloe and Sam and work indoors.  A visit to the bridal suite and a short trip around the hotel resulted in some romantic images for the new Mr and Mrs Pickles before they took to the floor for their first dance.  Thank you for inviting us to capture your fabulous winter wedding.  Snow can be unwelcome but on this occasion, it made Chloe and Sam's wedding day and their pictures all the more special.  Hope you're enjoying a fabulous honeymoon in Mexico where we suspect it's just a bit warmer.   

        

If you attended Chloe and Sam's wedding, please leave a message - thank you.

Wedding Photographer Wentbridge House

Wedding photography at St Margaret's church, North Elmsall and Wentbridge House for Emma and Scott on 17 August 2010

A Tuesday for the marriage of Emma to Scott in the same church where Emma's parents were married, and a rainy weather forecast turned out to be wrong, thankfully, except for a tiny bit of drizzle later in the day.  The couple had been trying to plan their wedding day for a long time, but when Scott joined the RAF, he couldn't take any leave until he had completed his training.  We were privileged because we had been chosen as the couple's wedding photographers long before they actually fixed a date and we were so happy when everything finally came together and the date was booked. 

As West Yorkshire wedding photographers, we were delighted to be asked to capture Emma and Scott's day.  They are a lovely couple and Emma is the first member of Wentbridge House's staff to celebrate her wedding at this beautiful venue.  Our first port of call was in the bridal suite where Emma, sister Amy and mum, Lorraine were getting ready.  Emma's fairytale gown was hanging against the wood panelling in the room and  her Vivienne Westwood shoes caused a bit of a stir, so much so that David, the videographer, took a picture of them and texted it to his wife to show her! 

After capturing some images as Emma's dress was laced up, we said goodbye to the girls and set off for the picturesque St Margaret's church to meet up with Scott and his attendants.  Scott looked very handsome in his RAF uniform.

This beautiful horse made friends with a bridesmaid as we waited for our bride.

Emma arrived in an elegant Bentley with her proud dad Steve.  The car was a big surprise from her mum and dad and we had been let into the secret.  Emma thought she was being driven to church in the family car but she couldn't figure out how she would fit into it wearing that huge dress and just who would be doing the driving...

After the ceremony and confetti at the church gate, we set off for Wentbridge House.  With a small wedding party consisting of close family and friends, the groups were quickly in the bag and the only time it decided to drizzle was when everyone was out on the lawn for the big group shot.  With Alex hanging out of the bridal suite window ready to take the photographs, we did appreciate you guys not running for cover because the drizzle only lasted for about a minute or two, allowing us to continue outside - just what we were hoping for.

Emma made it very clear at our meeting before the wedding that her photographs were very, very important, she was up for anything we suggested and she really wanted some fun shots.  We were happy to oblige and so were Emma's beautiful bridesmaids.  We love a happy, fun wedding. 

Beautiful, smiling Emma in that fabulous dress - stunning!

The newly married Mr and Mrs Dickens had some photographs taken together we before we headed inside to photograph the wedding breakfast room and their incredible wedding cake.

Our plans to take some artistic and contemporary images after dinner, in a location which might not be an obvious choice for wedding photographs, came together in what remained of the daylight.  Wind isn't usually welcome on wedding days but it came in very useful for this perfectly timed shot which we just love!  Emma was a star when it came to working with us to get these images. 

The couple's first dance...

Our coverage of Emma and Scott's special day ended with the couple and their guests releasing Chinese lanterns on the lawn, which was another surprise they hadn't known anything about.  Both sets of parents really did them proud with a wonderful day which was a pleasure to be part of.

If you are family or friends of Emma and Scott, please feel free to leave a comment in the box provided - thank you.