September 2012 | DIRK VAN DER WERFF - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Staincliffe Hotel Wedding Photographer for Anne Marie and Jo

HARTLEPOOL STAINCLIFFE HOTEL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
ANN MARIE AND JOE AFTER THEIR WEDDING AT THE STAINCLIFFE HOTEL SEATON CAREW
BRIDE'S BOUQUET BY FLOWERS FOR AFAR


STAINCLIFFE HOTEL WEDDING PHOTOPGRAPHS:
JOE AND HIS BROTHERS AND HIS SON .. READY TO GET MARRIED!

ANN MARIE'S BEAUTIFUL WEDDING GOWN - ALL THE WAY FROM ABERDEEN

ANN MARIES LOVELY NECKLACE FOR HER WEDDING

THE CEREMONY ROOM AT THE STAINCLIFFE HOTEL, SEATON CAREW

A PHONE CALL TO SAY MUM IS HERE!

MUM GETS THE FULL BEAR-HUG!

A BOUQUET FOR THE BRIDESMAID

ANN MARIE'S MUM WITH HER CLOSEST FRIENDS .. READY TO ENJOY THE WEDDING!

STEADILY DOWN THE FAMOUS STAIRCASE AT THE STAINCLIFFE HOTEL - ONCE A PRIVATE HOUSE.

IN THE SUNSHINE AS SHE WALKS TO THE CEREMONY - AND MEET JOE!

SMILES FROM ANN MARIE FOR JO AS SHE ARRIVES BY HIS SIDE

THE CEREMONY UNDERWAY AT THE STAINCLFFE HOTEL

SMILE PLEASE .. THE SMALL PARTY LINES UP TO PHOTOGRAPH THE BRIDE

QUICK PHOTOGRAPH FOR MUM ..  WITH HER SONS AND DAUGHTER

SMILES FROM ANN MARIE'S BEST FRIEND

CHAMPAGNE WITH STRAWBERRIES ... 

A BIG JOB FOR A FLOWER GIRL AND MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

SMILES ALL ROUND FOR THE SMALLEST GUEST!

AN IMPROMTU DANCE FROM JOE'S BROTHER - THE BEST MAN .. AT DANCING AS WELL APPARENTLY!

HOW COULD YOU TELL IT WAS A SCOTTISH WEDDING ?

AT MOST WEDDINGS THE GIRLS CHECK OUT THE BRIDES WEDDING RING ... NOT AT THIS ONE!

ANN MARIE .. STUNNING

ANN MARIE AND JOE IN THE CEREMONY ROOM AT THE STAINCLIFFE HOTEL

ANN MARIE AND THE SCOTTISH PIPER DEREK, FIND LIGHT RELIEF WITH JOE AND HIS BROTHER

IT'SNOT EASY BEING A BRIDE ...  SHOES OFF FOR ANN MARIE

GIGGLES ALL ROUND FOR ANN MARIE AND HER BEST FRIEND AND JOE'S BROTHER - THE BEST MAN

TIME FOR A NICE BRIDAL PORTRAIT

A SCOTTISH THEME FOR THE NAPKINS

A LOVELY MOMENT FOR ANN MARIE'S MUM

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY .. ANN MARIE ENJOYING HERSELF LISTENING TO THE SPEECHES

MUM IS ENJOYING THE SPEECHES TOO

LOOKS LIKE A VICTORY SALUTE FROM THE BEST MAN

HEAVENS ABOVE ... ANN MARIE ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT OF HER BROTHERS SPECH

A FEW LAUGHS FOR JOE'S SPEECH

... AND BROTHERLY LOVE AFTER THE SPEECH TOO

ANN MARIE SHOWS OFF HER LOVELY WEDDING GOWN FROM PRONOVIA

VIEW SARAH AND MARTY'S STAINCLIFFE HOTEL WEDDING HERE
VIEW RECENT HARTLEPOOL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS HERE
SEE ME ON FACEBOOK HERE
ALL MY RECENT WEDDINGS ARE HERE

Anne Marie and Joe and such a lovely couple, who met each other late in life, but wanted to enjoy every minute of their time together - as man and wife!
I met with them for the first time just 4 weeks before their wedding date, at the Staincliffe Hotel in Seaton Carew near to Hartlepool on the north east coast of England.
They were warm and inviting people who had done their research, checked out my website and this blog and enjoyed the relaxed documentary nature of my images which they felt would fit in with their small wedding for 30-40 close friends and relatives. They were based in Aberdeen, where they had met through work and friends, but Ann Marie's Mum and other relatives were in Hartlepool, so Joe decided he would import his brothers, and son and friends south from Scotland for a few days of celebration.
We got on very well and at the end of the meeting we agreed that I would be a small but importasnt part of their wedding celebrations!
I managed to put them in contact with  Scottish Piper, Derek Millmoor to add to their celebrations so there was a real Scottish feel - especially with the kilts too!
On the day when I arrived, Joe was already in his finery, and introduced me to his two brothers and to his son who had travelled up from Knaresborough in North Yorkshire - they looked very smart indeed!
Ann Marie was taking her time getting ready for her wedding, with her best friend and a few others in the room to for moral support and to pour champagne!
Ann Marie's Pronovia wedding gown from Perfect Bridal Rooms in Aberdeen was truly lovely and her Benjamin Adams shoes were TINY she was going to blow Joe's socks off when he saw her!
Things were running a little late when I returned to see Ann Marie after popping downstairs to see Joe and the guests assembling, her buttons on the back of the dress were proving more problematical than anyone thought, and as much as I tried, my short stubby fingers were no good! Luckily, Ann Marie had realised earlier that she knew the receptionist from the hotel from her school days, and I invited her up to the room (she was keen to see the dress anyways ..  ) to help out!
Once we were sorted, Derek led Ann Marie and her brother down the main staircase and outside into the sunshine to make our way to the dark ceremony room where Joe was bricking it!
The ceremony was short and sweet, Joe kept his tears, whereas Ann Marie's Mum did not!
I led the bride and groom and their small party into the private garden at the back of the hotel where champagne was served, and we all chilled out in the sunshine for a while, before heading back inside when the wind got up, to hang about the bar area, meet and greet and chill out with their closest friends and relatives.
Speeches were first, and short and sweet, and the wedding breakfast was really, really nice (thanks folks!).
I had a little more time to gather a few more family images I needed to have as part of my documentary coverage of their wedding, then it was first dance and happiness aT the way!
I enjoy 2nd weddings and small weddings, often more-so than 'standard' weddings, so it was a pleasure and a privilage to share Ann Marie and Joe's wedding day and I hope my sneak peek of their wedding celebrations give you a flavour of their happy day!
If you would like me to photograph your small intimate wedding, 2nd wedding or civil ceremony, RING ME NOW ON 07787150966 and tell me all about your plans.
Don't leave it too late, I only photograph a limited amount of weddings every year, and many key dates disappear quickly!
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Wynyard Hall Wedding Photographs in Autumn for Victoria and Jonathan

WYNYARD HALL WEDDING: THE CHAPEL AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL

WYNYARD HALL COTTAGES:
VICTORIA CONTEMPLATING HER WEDDING DAY AS THE MAKE-UP IS FINISHED

NICKI MACFARLANE FLOWER GIRL DRESS FOR VIOLET!

THE NICKI MACFARLANE FLOWER GIRL DRESS AWAITS VIOLET - WHEN SHE WAKES UP!

VIOLET IN THE LAND OF NOD ........ NOT LONG NOW YOUNG LADY!

JONATHAN SHOWS HIS ROMANTIC SIDE .... 

VICKYS FAB DRESS AWAITS CENTRE STAGE AT HER WEDDING TO JONATHAN AT WYNYARD HALL

VICTORIA'S DI HASSALL WEDDING SHOES

DI HASSALL WEDDING SHOES

STILL TIME FOR A CHAT WITH MUM AND DAD!

YAY!  VIOLET IS AWAKE AND NEEDS HER 'BED HAIR' SORTING OUT!

NEARLY READY ..... THE DRESS IS GOING ON AND VICKY CAN'T CONTAIN HER EXCITEMENT

VICTORIA'S BEAUTIFUL HAIR PIECE

ROPE TIE FOR VICTORIA'S AUTUMN BOUQUET FROM ADAM PREST

THE LADS WERE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB ... :) LET'S HOPE KNOW ONE FINDS OUT  THEY DROPPED THE ORDERS OF SERVICE!

LAURA AND KELLY LOOKING GOOD IN THEIR BRIDESMAID OUTFITS FROM VIETNAM!

THE GUESTS START TO ARRIVE AT THE CHAPEL

JONATHAN PUTS ON A BRAVE FACE ..  A VERY BRAVE FACE!

VIOLET COMES DOWN THE AISLE AHEAD OF HER MUM

COOL, CALM COLLECTED .. AT THE SIDE OF HER FATHER

THE RING GOES ON JONATHAN'S FINGER .. AND THE DEED IS DONE

VIOLET WANTS A CLOSE-UP OF THE PROCEEDINGS!

PRAYERS ARE SAID IN THE CHAPEL

THE BEAUTIFUL CHOIR BRING DOWN THE HOUSE WITH A TAKE THAT SONG!

CONFETTI EVERYWHERE AND I'M BEHIND THE ACTION AGAIN ... 

ACTUALLY, I MADE THEM DO IT TWICE ...  :)

HAPPINESS FROM VICTORIAS FRIENDS

VICTORIA CHECKS THAT NO ONE HAS GONE SWIMMING!

ALWAYS NICE TO GET THE FRIENDS IN PHOTOGRAPHS TOO!

BEAUTIFUL DETAIL FROM THE YOUNG LADY FROM JAPAN!

VISITORS FROM AFAR ...

ONE OF JONATHAN'S SIX BROTHERS WITH HIS JAPANESE WIFE AND SON

HAPPINESS FROM ONE OF THE MANY YOUNGSTERS ENTERTAINED BY THE MAGICIAN WHILE THE SPEECHES WERE ON

BEAUTIFUL TABLES AND CENTREPIECES FROM ADAM PREST AT WYNYARD HALL

MORE DETAILS ... 

FROM THE OTHER ANGLE

MARBLE WEDDING CAKE FROM CELEBRATION CAKES AT PETERLEE

ALL THE TABLE NAMES WERE AFTER FAMOUS COUPLES

CHAIR COVER DETAIL

YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS HOW SHY JONATHAN ALLEGEDLY IS FROM THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF HIM MAKING HIS SPEECH!

KATIE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL WHILE LISTENING TO THE SPEECHES

MOTHER OF THE GROOM ENJOYING HER SON'S SPEECH

THE SPECHES WERE ENTERTAINING .....

GUESTS ENJOYING THE CONVERSATION AND FOOD

VICTORIA MAKING HER OWN SPEECH - BRAVE GIRL!

JONATHAN AND ALL HIS BROTHERS !

TIME FOR A FEW MOMENTS TOGETHER AT WYNYARD HALL

LOVING HER DRESS AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL

A TENDER MOMENT FROM BROTHER TO SISTER

VICTORIA LOOKING GREAT AT WYNYARD HALL BEFORE HER EVENING GUESTS ARRIVE

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY .. VICTORIA SPOTS HER DAUGHTER ACROSS THE ROOM

THE CONSERVATORY ALL LIT UP AND SPARKLY READY FOR THE EVENING RECEPTION

FIRST DANCE, NO PROBLEM!

A LITTLE BIT OF FREESTYLE ACTION!

THE HAPPY COUPLE ENJOYING THEIR TIME ON THE DANCEFLOOR

VICTORIA AND HER FRIEND KATIE DANCE WITH THE DRESS TO THE BEER PIGS!

HAVING A BRILLIANT TIME TO THE ROCK BAND, THE BEER PIGS .. AND, GOODNIGHT!

Wynyard Hall weddings in Autumn are a lovely time - especially if the weather is kind.
Victoria and Jonathan's wedding was a great relaxed day for them and their families, and although the weather wasn't brilliant, it didn't spoil the fun one bit....
This was my sixth wedding of the year at Wynyard Hall - with two more to come!
I've always said that weddings are all about the people you share your day with .. it really is, the venue, the bling the, well everything is a side-show to your closest family and friends - but I have to admit, that a magnificent wedding venue like Wynyard Hall is the icing on the cake!
There were some great wedding professionals involved in Victoria and Jonathan's wedding, she knew how important it is to have some of the best people in the wedding industry in the north being part of her day.
I also knew that both of them didn't particularly enjoy having their photographs taken ... which is why I came in!
They realised that 90% of the images I create on the day are  'real' iomages taken as they happen .. so everyone can really relax and enjoy the celebrations.
It was the first time that I had met a bride on her wedding day in the new cottages they have created on the Wynyard Estate - just inside the golden gates, and I was very impressed with how lovely they are, with lots of natural light.
Vicky's hair was already complete when I arrived but her beauty therapist and make-up artist Diana Young was still applying the finishing touches when I arrived.
Vicky's gorgeous daughter Violet was fast asleep in the huge double bed, she would need all the energy she had to make sure she lasted the day - especially as Vicky had splashed out with a beautiful Nicki Macfarlane bridesmaid dress - the designer who made the dresses for Kate Middleton's bridesmaids at her wedding to Prince William!
The bridesmaid dresses were from Vietnam and very different too, quite striking with feathered fascinators and everyone loved their outfits!
Adam Prest arrived with the flowers and bouquets, he was also doing the striking centrepeices for the tables and Victoria had given him full reign to be creative with whatever he fancied - and she was delighted with the results!
Lots of Autumn colours and twigs and foliage .. they looked fabulous!
By this time Violet was awake, getting her 'bed hair' straightened and into her dress...  I popped down to the hall to check things out there and guests were starting to assemble for the 1pm ceremony in the beautiful chapel at Wynyard Hall  Country House Hotel, and by the time I was back, Violet was full of life, the bridemaids were ready and it was time for Victoria to get her wedding dress on!
She really did look terrific when the girls had buttoned her in, and she was sooo looking forward to seeing Jonathan and becoming his wife!
Joanthan was in the bar for a small 'livener' when I met him, and he admitted to his nerves, and he seemed very quiet in the chapel a few moments before Vicky arrived with her father in the car.
By the time she had walked down the aisle and he had seen Violet 'lead  the parade' he seemed an awful lot happier, though with a wonderful choir in the stalls singing poignant songs, there were tears to be had before we left the chapel too!
The newly married couple left the chapel to a flurry of confetti  from the friends and relatives as the brisk autumnal wind caught it all and blew it around in swirls!
There was time for catching up with friends in the statue gallery with drinks and canapes, while the children enjoyed a magician in the conservatory as the speeches started.
We all enjoyed a fantastic wedding breakfast (thanks folks..) then rounded up a few groups of friends and relatives for some informal group photographs before the evening guests started to arrive!
Cake cutting ..  first dance and then dancing to the Beer Pigs seemed to be going down well before I said my thanks to all four parents, hugged Vicky AND Jonathan before heading into the night, and another set of happy clients!
If you would like me to capture a true reflection of your great day of wedding celebrations at ANY venue ANYWHERE in the UK or aboard, ring me now and CHECK YOUR DATE! Call me on 0778 7150966 NOW !
DIRK VAN DER WERFF