October 2011 | DIRK VAN DER WERFF - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Beamish Wedding Photography Review from Cathy and Dave


CATHY AND HER BEAUTIFUL WEDDING GOWN AND BOUQUET AT BEAMISH PARK HOTEL

Cathy and David were a great couple to work with on their wedding day, starting out at Beamish Park Hotel, before heading over to St Mary's Church Ponteland and then heading back to Beamish park Hotel for their wedding breakfast with their closest family and friends.
Unfortunately, I have been unable to BLOG about this wedding as I usually do, for security purposes.
That happens a few times a year, but I have been given special permission to use one image which doesn't identify my lovely couple to go with this review of their time spent with me.
".... When we first started looking for wedding photographers, we realised it wasn’t going to be easy.
All the websites of the photographers we stumbled across showed photograph upon photograph of formal, cheesy poses, brides and grooms peeping out from behind trees or set up ‘wacky’ faces from the bridal party.
Not exactly photos you’d want to have on your living room wall for years to come... 
In a moment of frustration, I think I typed something like ‘relaxed wedding photography, no cheesy poses’ into Google and Hey Presto, Dirk’s name came up!
From our first meeting, we knew we weren’t going to have to look anywhere else for our wedding photography.
Dirk knew exactly what we wanted, but answered all our questions, and he was even happy to meet the parents before the big day. Even though he encouraged us to look around and make sure we were happy with our choice, we didn’t bother, knowing that Dirk would do the job exactly as we wanted.
And Dirk didn’t disappoint!
Despite the torrential rain on our pre-wedding shoot, we had a fun and relaxed afternoon in Durham a few weeks before our wedding, and he settled all nerves by ensuring he stayed in contact right up until the big day.
I was so excited to get a text from him saying ‘I’m on site, will be there in a second!’ on the morning of our wedding, knowing that he would get some lovely shots right from when he arrived!
I’d read reviews on Dirk’s website about how well he fits in on the wedding day and sure enough, every single guest we spoke to after the wedding commented on him.
Everyone said what a lovely bloke he was – one guest even said ‘that was the only wedding photographer I’ve seen who I’ve actually liked – I usually want to punch them by the end of the day after they have made the guests wait around for three hours before herding them into some ridiculous formal pose’.
Dirk was the opposite – the group shots were taken in about a minute and every single person is smiling from ear to ear!
Dirk was with us from 11 until around 9 on the day of the wedding, and he was hard at work for every single second. He even became like a third bridesmaid (minus the dress…), helping me with flowers and gifts when I was looking a little overwhelmed!
He took us away during the lull before the disco for a maximum of five minutes to get some photographs of the two of us alone – nobody even noticed we had gone and they turned out to be some of our favourite pictures!
Because of our jobs, we had asked Dirk if he wouldn’t mind leaving our photographs off Facebook and his BLOG, and we were very grateful to him for respecting our wishes.
Our photographs were ready for viewing less than a week after the wedding, and a gorgeous box with over 600 photographs was waiting for us on our return from honeymoon.
We love every single picture as they are so relaxed and everyone looks so happy – the photographs really tell the story of the day and we’ve looked at them over and over again since the wedding.
Thank you, Dirk – we couldn’t have picked a better wedding photographer!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Matfen Hall Wedding Photography Review from Cate and Andrew

CATE AND HER MUM ... READY FOR THE WEDDING DAY CELEBRATIONS - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

TIME FOR SOME LAST MINUTE CHECKS FOR CATE AND HER MUM IN GRANDMOTHER'S MIRROR

EVERYTHING IS GOOD .. TIME TO LAUGH AND RELAX!

THE BEAUTIFUL AMULET THAT MATCHED CATE'S HAIRPIECE AND THE STRAPS ON THE JENNY PACKHAM WEDDING GOWN - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

TIME FOR ONE QUICK PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE GIRLS BEFORE WE HEAD OFF TO GET CATE MARRIED TO ANDREW!

CATE AND HER FATHER MARTIN ARE MARCHED UP THE ROAD BY TRADITIONAL PIPER

ANDREW AND KATE AT THE ALTER IN ALL SAINTS CHURCH LANCHESTER

THE BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH

COOL, CALM AND CASUAL AND RELAXED ... MARRIED AT LAST!

...AND, WE'RE OFF TO MATFEN HALL .. NOT SURE WHERE THE HORSE CAME IN, PERHAPS IT WAS A LUCKY HORSE I SUGGESTED? NO, JUST WALKING BY ..... !

MATFEN HALL AWAITS ......

SUNLIGHT THROUGH THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW FALLS ON THE WALL DECORATION AND FLOWERS IN THE GREAT HALL AT MATFEN

MUSIC AND ATMOSPHERE AS THE GUESTS ARRIVE

THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARRIVE

CATE, RELAXED AND HAPPY,  CAUGHT IN THE COLOURED REFLECTIONS OF THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN THE GREAT HALL AT MATFEN - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

ANDREW AND CATE ... SO HAPPY AND RELAXED WITH THEIR DAY AND WITH THEIR WEDDING

PLACE CARDS FOR THE WEDDING BREAKFAST

RELAXED BRIDAL PORTRAIT PLEASE!  CATE CATCHES THE RAYS OF THE SUN AT MATFEN HALL IN HER BEAUTIFUL WEDDING GOWN AND CLUTCHING HER LOVELY WEDDING BOUQUET

I LOVE A LOVELY BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE - CATE LOOKING GREAT - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

AND SWINGS HER ROUND TO THE CHEERING CROWD OF WEDDING GUESTS ....... PHOTOGRAPHS BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

... AND FINISH IT ALL OF WITH A KISS!
Cate and Andrew are a great couple and I had been looking forward to their wedding for a long time!
Cate's mum Maria booked me way before I met with Cate herself as she had been so impressed with some of the relaxed images I create at some of the lovely weddings I'm asked to be part of.... This is Cate's review of my part in her wedding to Andrew at Matfen Hall in Northumberland.
"Dirk had been a recommendation from a friend of my mam’s. We took a look at his blog and website, my mam snapped him straight up ... then we met him! 
It could have been risky, but we loved the relaxed style of his photographs, and we had a lot of trust in the personal recommendation.
We did not need to worry. 
Dirk came out to my parents’ house to meet us in Lanchester and he was full of energy and enthusiasm, and really made us feel confident he would deliver the photographs we wanted.
It’s obvious he loves his job, and the amount of brides he has as friends on Facebook is a clear marker to me that he’s great at his job, and cares about giving each of us the best photographs of our big day.
Dirk was thorough and professional throughout the whole journey. Our pre-wed shoot had Andrew on edge at first, but Dirk explained it’s better to get that feeling out of the way well before our wedding, and on the day we could relax knowing Dirk that little bit better, and comfortable he knew exactly what we wanted from him.

Our friends were oblivious that he was our professional photographer, fitting in so well and joining in the fun.
As expected, we had hundreds of photographs from Dirk to peruse from the long day.

All absolutely gorgeous!
He had captured the relaxed pictures of our friends and family just as we’d hoped. And even though we wanted to keep the group photos to a minimum, when we squeezed more in on the day, Dirk took it in his stride and kept us extremely happy.
He even found time to keep my bridesmaids happy with their photo requests!
Andrew and I hadn’t warned him that we had a special first dance planned, but he caught it all, and we’ve got magical photographs to remember it, with all our friend’s faces watching. Their reaction was priceless!
He stayed long into the evening, longer than he’d planned, but seemed to be enjoying spinning around in the middle of the ceilidh dancers, ducking inbetween, producing some great action shots!
After our wedding, Dirk kept in touch, ensuring we would get our perfect album, and we did. He swapped photographs around, trimmed and rearranged (even airbrushing annoying dress tags out of shot!).
I felt Dirk gave us a real personal treatment, so enthusiastic and excited about our day.

Seeing all his brides’ comments on facebook, you can tell he’s a complete professional, and he manages to give us all a five star treatment! 
Thank you Dirk!! .... "
Cate and Andrew Key
SEE THE ORIGINAL SNEAK PEEK BLOG POST HERE
If you would like me to be the official photographer at your wedding at Matfen Hall, or in Northumberland or across the north east, anywhere in the UK, or your destination wedding abroad, I would love to hear about your plans. Please ring me anytime on my mobile 0778 7150966 and let's chat and check your date!! 
HAVE A LOOK AT THESE OTHER NORTHUMBERLAND AND NEWCASTLE WEDDINGS I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED!
Danielle and John's Bamburgh Castle wedding in Northumberland HERE
Sharon and Martin's Slaley Hall wedding in Northumberland HERE
Rowena and William's wedding at Ellingham Hall in Northumberland HERE
Kathryn and Richard's Matfen Hall Wedding HERE
... AND GET IN THE MOOD WITH MY Northumberland weddings inspiration board HERE on Pinterest
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Wynyard Hall Wedding Photographers: Alex and Jon's Autumn Wedding at Wynyard Hall

WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL, ENGLAND GRAND ENTRACE BATHED IN AUTUMN SUNSHINE FOR THE WEDDING OF ALEX AND JON

ALEX CONCENTRATING ON HER EARRINGS AT WYNYARD HALL

BEAUTIFUL WEDDING BOUQUET TO GO WITH ALEX'S CLASSICAL MAGGIE SOTTERO DRESS

A MAGGIE SOTTERO DRESS FOR ALEX ... WAITING FOR IT'S PLACE AT THE CENTRE OF HER WEDDING TO JON AT WYNYARD HALL

ALEX IS VERY EXCITED TO TRY ON HER WEDDING DRESS AT WYNYARD HALL

YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH AS ALEXS SISTER HELPS HER WITH HER MAGGIE SOTTERO WEDDING DRESS AT WYNYARD HALL

THERE'S LOTS OF ACTION UNDER THE DRESS AT THIS POINT AND YOU NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO HELP OUT!

SUPER CHILLED .... AND TIME FOR CHANNEL .... 

STILL TIME FOR A LAUGH AND A SMILE, EVEN THOUGH SHE IS THINKING ABOUT HER TWO YOUNG SONS

ALEX'S FATHER IS A VERY PROUD MAN!

THE CLASSICAL LINES OF A BEAUTIFUL MAGGIE SOTTERO WEDDING GOWN

ALEX EVEN HAS TIME FOR A WAVE TO HER FRIENDS AS SHE COMES DOWN THE AISLE TO GREET JON

SMILES ALL ROUND .... SHE'S AT THE FRONT, READY TO BE WED

A LOVELY DETAIL SHOT OF HER DRESS AND BOUQUET

HAPPY TO GET MARRIED .. ALEX LISTENS TO THE SERVICE

JON IS A VERY PROUD HUSBAND TO BE .. 

THE WEDDING RING GOES ON .. NOT LONG NOW!

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY ....... ALEX AND JON EMBRACE AS THEY ARE ANNOUNCED AS MAN AND WIFE AT WYNYARD HALL

JON'S MUM LOOKS PRETTY PLEASED TOO!

THE TENSION IS BROKEN AND IT'S TIME TO WALK OFF AND ENJOY THE WEDDING CELEBRATIONS AT WYNYARD HALL

STILL TIME TO TAKE THE APPLAUSE!

TWO OF THE BRIGHTEST COLOURED GUESTS AT WYNYARD HALL!

SISTERS, SISTERS ... HAPPY DAY FOR ALEX AND HER SISTER AND CHIEF BRIDESMAID!

THE BEST MAN MUST BE SOMEWHERE CLOSE BY ...  ! JON TRIES TO ROUND LIAM UP FOR HIS PHOTOCALL!

... AND HERE HE IS!  BEST MAN AND GROOM TOGETHER IN THE AUTUMN SUNSHINE AT JONS WEDDING AT WYNYARD HALL

THE BEAUTIFUL WEDDING CAKE AT WYNYARD HALL

TIME FOR A QUICK FORMAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM .. BACK TO THE FUN .. !

SMILES ALL ROUND FROM THE YOUNGER GUESTS

THE AUTUMN SUNSHINE MEANS THE YOUNGER GUESTS HEAD OUT INTO THE GROUNDS BEFORE THE SPEECHES!

GOOD NATURED BARRACKING FOR THE GROOM AND BEST MAN FROM THEIR FRIENDS AT WYNYARD HALL

MMMMM .. THE WEDDING BREAKFAST MENU AT WYNYARD COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL

EVEN THE GUESTS FOUND THE TOP TABLE ANTICS FUNNY!

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP LAUGHING SOMETIMES AT THE BEST MANS SPEECH

APPLAUSE ALL ROUND FOR THE BEST MAN LIAM'S SPEECH

CHEERS .. SPEECHES OUT OF THE WAY !

ALEX CATCHES THE LAST RAYS OF THE AUTUMN SUN AS I PHOTOGRAPH SOME BRIDAL PORTRAITS

LOVE THE HALF SILHOUETTE AND LIGHT ON THIS PHOTOGRAPN IN THE BALLROOM

ALL LOVE ON THE DANCEFLOOR

.. AND FRIENDS JOIN IN TOO AS THE PARTY REALLY GETS STARTED!
Wynyard Hall Country House Hotel has been a great addition to the wedding venue choices for brides getting married in the north of England.
It's a stunning venue full of history and now, after almost three years, it is firmly on the map of brides and grooms to be.
This year I have photographed five weddings there, each one different, each one personal and intimate in their own way, whether with 30 people or with 200 people.
Alex and Jon wanted a relaxing day, no pressure, no hassle and their two charming young sons were to be an important part of their day of celebration as they made their commitment to each other.
Alex and I had chatted quite a few times on the phone and by email and met twice before the wedding, and Jon joined us the second time at their home just a week or so before their wedding day at Wynyard. 
I was booked for the wedding, because they knew I would just let them get on with having a great family celebration and capture almost all the photographs naturally, showing the fun and the happiness of the day, though we would also make time to make sure that parents were kept happy with key group shots that we managed to get through very quickly with a laugh and  smile.
At most of my summer weddings this year I was wiping raindrops off my camera, so a glorious blue sky and bright sunshine greeted me on an October day back at Wynyard Hall .. what a treat!
Alex was busy with her youngest son when I arrived, so we sat and had a chat, just the three of us in her palatial room at Wynyard Hall ... sooo different from many brides and grooms, but Alex was REALLY chilled out! Jon was taking care of their elder son so I went off to have a look around the layout of the upcoming ceremony in the ballroom (my favourite room....) and the conservatory where the wedding breakfast was to be (again, my favourite room in Wynyard Hall for a wedding breakfast .. so light and airy and LOTS of space compared to other rooms).
I was back up to see Alex and the bridesmaids as they got ready - Alex in her Maggie Sotttero wedding dress, after saying hello to Jon as he arrived at the hall, and all was still relaxed and calm - and so it stayed as the time for Alex and Jon to get married.
Jon was pretty chilled out too and I had my fingers crossed that he would enjoy the day as much as Alex, it had been such a hectic past year for them both, but as she came down the aisle with her father Jon beamed a smile and Alex beamed an even bigger smile, and I think we all knew that it was going to be a really lovely day!
There were lots of nice informal images to be taken as all the guests and the happy couple kissed and cuddled and backslapped and bear hugged the guests, and as they all enjoyed the sunshine on the terrace overlooking the lake, we got our heads together and spent five or six minutes gathering Mums and Dads and siblings for some (less than ) formal groups, organised and taken with a smile and a laugh before we headed in for the wedding breakfast.
At the end of the wedding breakfast (thanks folks!) , the speeched came and went with huge smiles, whistling from guests and standing applause in particular parts, before Alex's parents and the newly weds headed of to their rooms to make sure their sons were changed and happy and comfortable before the evening celebrations!
Although it was dark now, it was a chance to get around a few more of the guests and get some more photographs to keep everyone happy, before the first dance with Jason Isaacs who kept everyone dancing for an hour.
Then it was time to leave ..  I said my farewells and thanks for hospitality, everyone seemed very happy, and yet another guests says: " I didn't realise you were the professonal photographer, I just thought you were a member of the family ... ". Which how it works really. Result!
There will be more on Facebook in the coming days, so add me as a friend HERE
See Caroline and Antony's Wynyard Hall wedding HERE
View the sneak peek of Kirstey and Mark's wedding at Wynyard Hall HERE
See the sneak peek of Nikki and Steve's 2nd time around wedding HERE
Caroline's review of my photography on their day at Wynyard hall is HERE
View Nikki's review of me HERE .. and her husband Steve's review of my photography and customer experience HERE.
If you would like me to be a small but important part of your day at Wynyard Hall, all day coverage for 2013 / 2014, up to ten hours is £1600.00, weddings later in the day from small £1250 and midweek intimate weddings at Wynyard Hall with just 25 guests or less for £850 - ring me NOW! Coverage includes superb customer service, great customer experience, a pre-wed portrait shoot with a signing in board, up to ten hours coverage of your celebrations, a presentation box with up to 500 hard copy prints of all your final edited digital images, a password protected website so you can show your wedding to those friends and relatives abroad or who were not able to travel and a CD of all your final edited images for you to make unlimited personal copies.
A3 wedding books with up to 40 pages and 180 images are from £400 with lots of options and choices.
Ring me on 0778 7150966 and tell me all about your wedding plans at Wynyard Hall, or any other wedding venue or location anywhere in the UK or your destination wedding anywhere in the world!
Don't delay, book today!

AN INSPIRATION BOARD OF MY RECENT WEDDINGS AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY  HOUSE HOTEL
DIRK VAN DER WERFF