July 2009 | DIRK VAN DER WERFF - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

WEDDING AT THE CRAB AND LOBSTER NEAR ASENBY, THIRSK, FOR NICK AND FAY

THE CRAB AND LOBSTER .... KNOCK, KNOCK ... READY TO REVEAL A WEDDING PARTY INSIDE .....
THE FAMOUS RESIDENT OF THE HOUSE AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS  ... PART OF A VERY QUIRKY WEDDING LOCATION!
FAY'S BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS ARE DELIVERED TO THE CRAB AND LOBSTER
TIME FOR TEXT MESSAGES TO FRIENDS, CHAMPAGNE AND RELAXING WHILE WAITING FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY TO COME AROUND AT THE CRAB AND LOBSTER
FAY'S BEAUTIFUL WEDDING DRESS - READY FOR HER BIG DAY AT CRAB MANOR 
SO RELAXED .. FAY WAITS  AS THE TIME DRAWS CLOSE

DETAIL FROM FAY'S BEAUTIFUL WEDDING DRESS
HOW GREAT DOES FAY LOOK? A FABULOUS PHOTOGRAPH OF FAY JUST 10 MINUTES BEFORE SHE DECENDED THE STAIRS TO BE MARRIED TO NICK AT THE CRAB AND LOBSTER - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
SMILES ALL THE WAY FOR FAY ... READY FOR NICK!
PINK WAS THE ACCENT COLOUR FOR THE DAY ..... FAY AND HER FATHER AND ATTENDANTS HEAD OFF TO THE WEDDING CEREMONY - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
WHOOPS .. THE TINY BRIDESMAID FINDS SOMETHING MORE INTERESTING!
SHE'S BACK! OUR BRIDEMAID MAKES IT BACK TO THE WEDDING PARTY AS THEY HEAD TOWARDS THE CONSERVATORY AT THE CRAB AND LOBSTER
ONE OF THE GUESTS CHILLS OUT WITH A DRINK ON THE LAWN IN THE SUNSHINE AT FAY'S SUMMER WEDDING
HOLD ON TIGHT!  IT WAS ALL A BIT OVERWHELMING FOR ONE YOUNG LADY, SO CLINGING ON TO MUM WAS THE BEST IDEA - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
I  COMPLETED FAMILY GROUPS OF COURSE - QUICKLY. BUT AFTERWARDS THERE WERE JUST AS INTERESTING PHOTOGRAPHS TO TAKE OF THE MORE SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY CHATTING AWAY TO FAY.
HAPPINESS AND FUN DURING THE SPEECH BY FAY'S FATHER!
NICK ENJOYS HIS WEDDING DAY CHATTING TO FRIENDS AFTER THE WEDDING BREAKFAST AT THE CRAB AND LOBSTER
CANDLELIGHT ILLUMINATED THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE AS SHE CHATS WITH FRIENDS IN THE RESTAURANT AT CRAB MANOR
FUN AND LAUGHTER MAKE BETTER GROUP PHOTOGRAPHS - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
ONE OF MY FAVOURITES ... A SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPH OF FAY'S BEAUTIFUL WEDDING BOUQUET FOR THE DAY
FUN AND LAUGHTER FROM'THE IBIZA GANG'
NICK MAKES HIS SPEECH ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE FAY WHILE GUESTS LOOK ON AND THE BEST MAN AWAITS HIS TURN
STILL HAVING FUN - FAY AND HER 'GIRLS' HAVING A GIGGLE
LOVE IS .. NICK AND FAY ENJOY THEIR TIME TOGETHER AT CRAB MANOR
A KISS TO SEAL A WEDDING .. FAY AND NICK ONLY HAVE EYES FOR EACH OTHER - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE CRAB AND LOBSTER
DANCING AWAY TO THE BLACK-EYED PEAS AT THEIR WEDDING RECEPTION ON THE EVENING AT CRAB MANOR
It's a wedding venue with a difference - The Crab and Lobster and Crab Manor Hotel at Asenby near Topcliffe in North Yorkshire has always been a popular wedding venue with brides and grooms who didn't want a 'corporate' wedding.
Something a bit different, something a bit quirky if you will, and over the past couple of years I've covered a number of weddings at this country house near Thirsk.
Fay and Nick certainly wanted somethinga bit different, and once they had visited Crab Manor, they knew it was the place for them!
I met with Fay and her mum Pauline and Fay's Gran about 18 months or so ago and talked about their forthcoming day. It was memorable for me as her Gran had made a beautiful cake and along with a cup or two of tea, it was like we were all old friends by the time I left!
Luckily for me, Fay and her mum and gran were convinced, so I guess Nick only needed a little arm twisting to sign me up as the official photographer for their wedding celebrations.
The pre-wedding shoot went well during a sunny evening at Hartlepool Marina about 8 weeks before the day - this hour or two is a great time for us to get to know each other again, often we have not seen each other for a year, sometimes two, so we chat about the day and talk about how plans are shaping up and then take a few photographs too (Join me on Facebook to see some of the photographs from their pre-wedding portaits HERE).
So, the great day arrived and I was down to North Yorkshire early on the day, even though the wedding wasn't until 3.30pm It's always nice to be on site, get settled, get my bearings and meet up with the bride as things start to come together!
There were plenty of laughs as Fay and her mum and best friends got to work to finish dressing the room with some last minute touches and the florist was finishing things off. There were lots of photographs to be had of course as the girls were getting ready - and it was good to see that the famous 'Sasquatch' or 'Yeti' was still in his usual place at the top of the stairs.
An early guest was trying to persuade me to give away the 'secret' location of the beer barrel in the main house, which is for the use of the (mainly) male guests during the day and evening!
Nick arrived about 1.30pm with his best man and went in search of his friends at The Crab and Lobster terrace - and while they were already ordering a pint to steady their nerves, Nick was trying to get a print out of his speech after deciding that maybe it was a bit risky having his speech to read ONLY off his iPhone!
The small conservatory at The Crab and Lobster seats about 35 people, so often guests have to stand at the back too when the ceremony is on, or even stand outside on the lawn and listen to the proceedings - very pleasant on a VERY, VERY warm day. It was so sticky and warm, and it didn't let up at all during the celebrations.
The ceremony was over in a sprint and all the guests along with Fay and Nick spilled out onto the lawns for some welcome refreshments!
The last thing I ever do is start hearding people into groups, my plan is always to let everyone chill out and relax and have a few glasses of champagne and canapes for an hour or so , grab a couple of 'essential' small groups with mums and dads and grandads and grandmas in a five minute spell.
I then wait until after the wedding breakfast and speeches to gather up those other important relatives and guests and spend another five minutes cracking jokes with them all as we get some more group shots, but 95% of all my images at a wedding are all informal and relaxed, showing the happiness and fun of the wedding celebrations. Nothing stiff or formal at all.
Fay's dad got his speech out of the way as soon as the reception started and once pudding and coffee had been served, we all piled out onto the terrace for the speeches by Nick and the best man - both drawing wild applause!
Time to grab the bride and groom for 10 minutes as it was now close to 8pm and the evening guests arriving. Neither Nick or Faye particularly enjoy having their photographs taken, so a quick ten minutes was probably more than they could bare, but I made it quick and we headed back to get the cake cutting and the first dance - or the first shuffle as they put it before some more upbeat tunes filled the dancefloor with their friends and relatives!
It was a great day for Fay and Nick, a day of happiness and fun and relaxation for their families and as I headed up the A19 back north "I got a Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas was still ringing in my ears
If you would like me to photograph your wedding at The Crab and Lobster, in a relaxed, professional and natural way, with no bother or hassle or stress, then ring me now to check your date for 2012 or 2013 or 2014 at Crab Manor or The Crab and Lobster ... from £1000
ADD ME AS A FRIEND ON FACEBOOK WITH NO OBLIGATIONS TO SEE MORE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM FAY AND NICK'S WEDDING, AND LOTS OF OTHER ADDITIONAL WEDDINGS.
Don't lose your day! RING 0778 715 0966

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

RACHEL AND JONATHAN'S PRE-WEDDING PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY BEFORE THEIR WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL NEAR DARLINGTON



Rachel and Jonathan are busy people, very busy people - and they live in Bristol. Like a lot of my brides and grooms, they live and work outside of the north of England, but come back to get married, and do all their research, and often their bookings, via the internet. We first caught up at their wedding venue, Headlam Hall near Darlington, with Rachel's mum and we seemed to make a connection and so I was delighted when they said they wanted me to be a small but important part of their wedding day at Headlam Hall on Saturday 8th of August 2009. We have kept in touch by e-mail and telephone since, and I know they have planned my kind of wedding.....

Chilled out, relaxed, a great happy day of celebration with their closest family and friends and with a photographer that will blend into the background and capture all the fun and happiness of their great wedding - with a minimal interuption for those 'must-have' formal photographs, which I aim to complete in about 15 minutes.
The rest of the day will be spent capturing nice, natural, contemporary photography of their day. So, it was great when they visited Rachel's home in Durham recently to grab an hour to walk around the city withg them, the cathedral and river to talk about the big day and to take some photographs.

Pre-wedding portrait photography is all about bonding, and creating confidence in my ability to produce the kind of photographs they wish for, on their wedding day with no hassle, or stress, and so that on the day, we're not strangers.
Which is just what we did - and we had a laugh or two as well and made some nice photographs too, from which I will frame their favourite and take it to the wedding with me as we are so close to the date now. Enjoy the photographs ... DIRK VAN DER WERFF

LOUISE AND IAIN'S PRE-WEDDING PORTRAIT SHOOT AT JESMOND DENE BEFORE THEIR WINTER WEDDING AT JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL


I first met with Louise and Iain and their parents for high tea at Jesmond Dene House Hotel way back in spring of 2008.

We seemed to get on well, and they had picked my photographs out of a whole load of favourites they found while researching wedding photographers on the internet.

Originally from the north east of England, they were working in Dublin at the time, so it was a busy weekend for them and their family, but I felt we got on well - there was a positive feeling in the air and I was so pleased when I got a phone call while working in Barcelona, from Iain in Dublin. to say that they wanted me to share their day and be their official wedding photographer on Saturday December 19th 2009.

They are FUN people, and their wedding is going to a great relaxing wedding day full of laughter and love with all their most important family and friends around them.

I always meet with a bride and groom before their big day, it gives us another chance to talk, walk and chat about the big day, instill confidence and relationship, so that when it comes to the wedding day, they're not worried or stressed about me and about photography, because they realise that all of my best photographs will come from them and their family and guests having a fantastic day of celebration, chilled out and happy.

It's my aim to have as good a time as everyone else. I will be working ever so hard of course, but it will be such a pleasure to be part of the day.

During our walk and talk in Jesmond Dene, a place which was so important in their courtship and engagement I took some lovely photographs too - so I hope you also enjoy their favourite


DIRK VAN DER WERFF

KIRSTEY AND MARK'S WINTER WEDDING AT WYNYARD HALL


THE BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL AT WYNYARD HALL - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
KIRSTEY MAKES HER WAY INTO THE CHAPEL AT WYNYARD HALL IN JANUARY IN HER BENJAMIN ROBERTS DRESS
GUESTS IN THE CHAPEL AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL FOR MARK AND KIRSTEY'S WEDDING
HAPPINESS AND A JOKE WITH THE VICAR IN THE CHAPEL DURING THEIR WEDDING - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
THE ROOM ALL SET FOR THE WEDDING BREAKFAST IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLD JANUARY DAY AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HIOTEL
LOVE IS ... THE FRONT COVER OF KIRSTEY AND MARK'S WEDDING BOOK
ONE FOR THE ALBUM - MARK AND KIRSTEY ALL LOVED UP ON THEIR WEDDING DAY - PHOTOGRAPH BU DIRK VAN DER WERFF
THE WEDDING BREAKFAST MENU
KIRSTEY'S BEAUTIFULLY MADE WEDDING CAKE

A HAPPY AND CONTENTED PORTRAIT OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM TOGETHER
ENJOYING THEIR FIRST DANCE TOGETHER AS MAN AND WIFE
Wynyard Hall is a great venue for a wedding - not just for those of you from North East England - as brides from across the UK are choosing it as a wonderful exclusive use wedding location stacked with history and outstanding architecture and rooms.
I first met with Kirstey and Mark at their home in Wynyard when they contacted me by e-mail with an expression of interest in having myself as their official photographer. We seemed to get on well and shortly after I had a phone call to say that they would like me to be a small but important part of their day!
In the meantime, Kirstey gave birth to their beautiful daughter Eleanor, and they brought her along on the pre-wedding portrait photography session I try to have with all my brides and grooms. It allows us to meet up at the beach or a country park or a place special to the bride and groom, talk weddings and bond a little - so we're not strangers on the day of their wedding.
Saturday was a bit overcast, but the sun did pop out for about 30 minutes before the ceremony, which gave me time to wander around the magnificent Wynyard Hall and take some photographs for the album.
About 1pm Mark and his brother turned up and started unloading important things .. like toys and a pram, before checking out the main room and retiring for a small beer to settle their nerves.
That gave me the chance to drive through the Wynyard Estate grounds to their house on the edge of the golf course to meet with Kirstey and her bridesmaids and parents, before dashing back to the Hall to introduce myself to the vicar.
Wynyard Hall is one of only three wedding venues in the UK where you can have a church ceremony or a civil ceremony - as it has its own 18th century chapel.
Kirstey's Rolls Royce turned up bang on time, and parked a close to the pathway to the chapel as possible as it was a bit muddy underfoot!
The service was short and sweet, and despite one minor wobble when a tear or two tried to escape from her, Kirstey and Mark handled the formals very well indeed. We all headed out of the door and into the main hall for canapes and drinks so I had the chance to capture lots of relaxed photographs of the guests around the piano.
After an hour or so, I managed to 'borrow' Kirstey and Mark for 10 minutes to take some photographs with them on their own - Kirstey's Benjamin Roberts wedding dress looked fantastic - and then straight after I photographed a few quick formals with their parents and Nana, before everyone headed into the main room for the wedding breakfast and the speeches.
It all seemed to happen very quickly and before long, the conservatory was set up and they were on the floor for their first dance!
A great day for their wedding at Wynyard hall - all relaxed and hassle free, just like I enjoy all my weddings!
Once Kirstey and Mark are back from their honeymoon in Thailand, they will send relatives and friends a link to a partner password-protected website where you can view all the photographs I took of their wedding at Wynyard.
I hope you enjoy this SNEAK PEAK before they return!
If you would like me to be the official photographer at your Wynyard Hall Country House Hotel wedding in winter or any other time of the  year, anywhere in the UK or across the world, I would be delighted to hear about your plans.
Ring me in the office until 6pm on 01429 423165 or on my mobile at anytime 0778 7150966 . RING NOW! DON'T LOSE YOUR DATE.

DIRK VAN DER WERFF 2011

HEADLAM HALL WEDDING VENUE FOR RHOANNE AND ANDREW

RHOANNE'S BEAUTIFUL DRESS
RHOANNE'S BEAUTIFUL DRESS IN DETAIL ... PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
ANDREW GETS READY FOR HIS BIG DAY AT HEADLAM HALL
SMILE PLEASE !!  BRIDESMAIDS TAKE THEIR OWN PHOTOGRAPH AT HEADLAM HALL
RHOANNE AND ANDREW IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR CEREMONY AT HEADLAM HALL
HAPPY TIMES ..... PARENTS, FAMILY AND GUESTS ON THE MAIN LAWN BEFORE THE SPEECHES
GUESTS WERE GETTING UP AND SINGING DURING THE SPEECHES - GREAT FUN!
LOVE IS .. A KISS TO SEAL A GREAT DAY AND GREAT SPEECHES FOR THEIR WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL ... PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SHOTS FROM THE DAY .. RHOANNE AND ANDREW HAVE A MOMENT TO THEMSELVES - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
LOVE  ......  HAPPY TIMES FOR THE YOUNG COUPLE
TIME FORT A QUICK FEW GROUPS SHOTS .. SHORT AND SWEET .. I CARACK THE (AWFUL) JOKE .. AND GET THE REACTION!
A LOVELY FAMILY GROUP ON THE TERRACE AT HEADLAM HALL
A TENDER MOMENT FOR ANDREW AND RHOANNE
RHOANNE SWISHES HER DRESS ON THE LAWN AT HEADLAM HALL - PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
FIRST DANCE RECEIVED A STANDING APPLAUSE - PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF
AND TIME TO ENJOY THE CAELIDH .. A GREAT DAY FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT HEADLAM HALL
I first met with Rhoanne and her father at Headlam Hall last year and they outlined their plans to me for a beautiful wedding to fiancee Andrew - relatives and friends would be travelling from as far away as Chile to Headlam Hall.
It all sounded so nice, and we hit it off so well, that I was thrilled when I was asked to be her official photographer for the day's wedding celebrations.
 Headlam Hall is certainly one of my favourite locations for a wedding, it's so laid back and really well manged that weddings go without a hitch.
I met with Rhoanne and her bridesmaids in the main bridal suite just before she put on her magnificent dress and she was really calm and collected - though just itching to get into her dress!
Meanwhile Andrew was getting ready in his kilt with one of his groomsmen before meeting with the registrar. The sun was out, the weather was warm, the main wedding room was ready and looked so light and white and romantic for the ceremony.
Both Andrew and Rhoanne looked really calm and confident, and once the ceremony was over - with one or two tears from bridemaids and family, it was a slow walk through guests blowing soap bubbles over the couple and onto the terrace for champagne and canapes.
Everything was so relaxed and laid back, which was just how the couple wanted things to be, and hopefully, the way that I blend in and become part of the families for the day, was just right too.
We took a ten minute break for all the family photographs that needed to be captured on such a day of record, with no hassle or stress for anyone so smiles came easily on the beautiful lawn in front of the main house.
Reception was a whole lot of fun with spontaneous outbursts from all the tables with guests singing verses from different love songs, which meant that the bride and groom had to kiss each time - there's was lot of laughter, and especially at the speeches and the animated life story that Andrew's brothers put together.

That left us ten or fifteen minutes for Rhoanne and Andrew and I to stroll among the grounds, get some fresh air and take some nice natural photographs before we headed back inside for the wonderful first dance and a mad Ceilidh that was still going strong when I left after 10pm.
IF YOU ENJOYED THESE IMAGES ... WHY NOT HAVE A LOOK AT RACHEL AND JONATHAN'S WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL?
I hope you enjoy this SNEAK PREVIEW of their wedding at Headlam Hall 
If you would like me to be your official photographer at Headlam Hall then I would be delighted to be a small but important part of your day.
DON'T LOSE YOUR DATE!!!!
RING ME NOW for 2012 / 2013 / 2014 weddings - in the office until 6pm on 01429 423165 or on my mobile at any time 0778 7150966.... let's talk - tell me about your plans, and if you would like to meet, I will travel to you, or lets have a pot of tea at Headlam Hall, or if you live or work outside of the area, or the country, we can chat on Skype, or meet when you are back in the area.
RING NOW - DON'T LOSE YOUR DATE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF