Amelia and Stephen - January 2010 (North Shields Registry Office)

What a way to kick off the year! During the week when we had all the snow at the start of Januayr I received a phone call "We're getting married in 2 weeks and need a photographer.." I met Amelia and Stephen a couple of days later and commented about the snow, with the three of us hoping that the white stuff would have been long gone in time for the wedding at North Shields Registry Office.

Well, the snow might have gone, but on the day itself, the wind was still there and it was bitterly cold. For those who haven't been to North Shields Registry Office, it is a beautiful old building situated on top of an exposed bank over looking the River Tyne. So the wind was whipping around the old building as the guests and bridal party arrived.

Needless to say, there wasn't much hanging around to get photos done, especially the bridesmaids who were turning blue! Luckily it was much warmer inside the Registry Office. North Shields Registry Office is the only registry office I know of which does not permit any form of photography during the ceremony. I tried to get a few sneaky, discreet shots away but a stealy stare from the registrar soon put a stop to that. Compare that to Alnwick Registry Office in Northumberland where they practically invite you to get as close to the couple as possible and you soon see the gulf in attitudes different venues have. I'm not aware of any other Registry Offices which apply such a strict rule.

We shot the bridal pictures at Tynemouth Castle...again, limited owing to the bitter wind whipping down the Tyne. In between shots we had a visit from the local constabulary. Luckily they weren't interested in our cars being parked on double yellows and were simply on their beat. Them trying to get into some of the shots didn't help us as we were trying to stop Amelia turning blue by getting the shots off quickly.

All in all, a very cold but enjoyable day.