St Mary's Lighthouse Wedding - Louise and Ryan (aka the one with all the Converse)

I've had number of my brides over the past few months commenting about my love of shoes!  I've got to admit, I do like shoes and when it comes to weddings I love seeing things a little different or eye catching.  When I arrived at Louise's mum's house on her wedding morning I was in for a treat.

One of my closest friends in the wedding industry, Donna from The Timeless Table, coined a phrase about me which has stuck and is what I have become affectionately known as in the industry:  The Converse behind the Camera.  I've become known for my love of Converse trainers and for wearing them while working.  I've even had people come up to me at wedding fayres and say "You're the Converse behind the Camera".  

So when I asked Louise to get her shoes so I could get shots of them she said "You're going to love these".  Pure white Converse!  AMAZING!!!!!!!!

Over at Ryan's parent's house, the were nerves....a lot of nerves.  Throughout the planning process Ryan has had this very quiet air of calmness about him.  However that morning, the quietness was replaced by pure silence broken only by the odd nervous chuckle and questions about the day.

At the church in Forest Hall, the vicar was merrily going about his business.  This was a man who loved his job and he had a keen interest in photography.  A very chatty man, he was keen to ensure I had a good vantage point so I could "get the brides reactions".

Ryan was too nervous to turn around a look at Louise walking down the aisle.  However he stared into the lens to try and see Louise's reflection

The moment the call went out for some washing up liquid!

The ceremony was filled with laughter including Louise getting a fit of the giggles part way through.  Those regular readers of my blog will know about my love of music and listening out for the quirky song choices at weddings.  When signing the register the sound system opened up and a live concert audience could be heard.  I'm actually sad enough to have recognised the piece of music purely from the audience noise before any chords had been struck up..... Dire Straits "Local Hero".....a song that always sends shivers down my spine and always reminded me of Newcastle when I was away living in the South East.  But the best was yet to come.

With the ceremony over, there was silence as Louise and Ryan hovered by the alter waiting for the sound system to kick in again.  And then it started... *dum dum dum. du dumdumdum dudum* Any takers??  Yup....Queen's Another One Bites the Dust!  Big thumbs up from the photographer.....who incidentally is a massive Queen fan and plays drums in a Queen tribute band!

With the weather closing in a spots of rain starting to fall we headed to St Mary's Island for bridal photos where tourists and passers by offered their congratulations.  There were a few eyebrows raised as Louise hitched her dress up to show off her Converse and then started running around on the sand chasing Ryan.   

Louise and Ryan's reception was held at The Lindisfarne Club in Wallsend which was decorated with balloons and lit with the most elaborate set of disco lighting I've come across in 9 years of covering weddings.  The UV lighting offered up an interesting outlook to the wedding!!!!

It has to be said though, the music at the reception was outstanding!  A full on cheesfest!  I sat on the stage watching the evening's festivities singing along to David Essex, The Real Thing and other top party tunes!  I honestly did not want to leave!!  

And one last thing to close off Louise and Ryan's wedding post:

You didn't think I was going to miss out on the fun....The Converse Behind the Camera, in front of the camera

Pre Wedding Photoshoot - Katy and Neil at Marsden Beach, South Shields, Tyne and Wear

When people ask why I do pre wedding photo shoots with my couples I tell them it's to:


a) get to know the couple better and vice verse.  I never want to be a stranger on their big day.  It's important for them to feel comfortable with me


and


b) to defuse the nerves about having their photo taken.  Most people say to me they hate having their photo taken.  The pre wedding photo shoot is designed as an hour of fun to show the couple there is nothing to worry about.


And this was definitely the case with Neil and Katy.  We decided to have a stroll along Marsden Beach in South Shields.  It was a glorious warm Sunday afternoon.  It couldn't have been better.  We spent an hour or so on the beach messing around skimming stones etc.  I was impressed with Katy's shoes and how effortlessly she scrambled over the rocks in them!!!!


In the car park afterwards, Neil said "I was really nervous about doing this today.  I was really nervous about getting my photo taken on the wedding day.  But this was so easy!  There's nothing to worry about is there?"  My point proved!  :o)


Anyway, here is a selection of images from our day on the beach.

Victoria and Darren's Wedding in Gateshead (aka The One on The High Level Bridge)

"It's going to be quite low key, informal but special" said Darren when we first met up and he started describing his vision for his and Victoria's wedding.  Darren was taking a very hands on approach with the wedding.  They were both taking the lead with the arrangements and every question I asked was answered by both of them in unison.  

My idea for the wedding photography was to use the inner city setting and give an industrial meets romantic theme.  I had no idea though where to do the bridal shoot until a week or so before the big day.  Darren and Victoria were happy for me to make the suggestions but I was stumped....that was until I saw Get Carter a week before the wedding.  Everyone knows the car park scene, and God knows I've spent enough time at the now demolished structure taking photos.  That would have been an ideal spot. But there is a scene where there is a chase along the High Level Bridge.....and that's when it hit me.  The architecture of Stephenson's masterpiece was perfect....almost cathedral-like.  I was going to use the lines, the arches and the changing light patterns to create something a bit different.  I ran the idea past Darren and Victoria...."Go for it".  

The day before the wedding I made a comment on Metro Radio's Facebook Page in response to their question asking what people were doing at the weekend.  Next thing I knew I was live on air talking about wedding photography and my plans for the wedding the next day.  "The High Level Bridge?  Well that's different" was the response from DJ Brian Moore.

The big day arrived and at Victoria's mum's house there was the normal chaos you expect pre-wedding.  Bride and bridesmaids ran around the house frantically looking for things that had gone missing, putting hair in place and "generally flapping" as Victoria's brother put it.  He sat quietly, completely aghast at the commotion going on around him.

At St Patrick's Church, I was in for a real surprise.  From the outside, it looks like any normal run of the mill inner city church.  I ascended the stairs to enter the church, walked through the doors and was completely blown away by what lay before me.  It was simply stunning.  The church warden was there and said "Impressive isn't it?".  The interior did not match the outside!  

The priest then came over and gave me strict instructions about what I could and couldn't do. "And you only take two pictures of the register.  Two and two only.  No more!" he said.  Well, you can't say fairer than that!

Darren paced about outside before coming in, joking with guests as they arrived, before he was told off by the priest for handing out the Order of Service.

I always talk about the emotion of the day.  There was something electric here.  Darren's jokiness soon changed to quiet calm....but underneath it all, you could see he was nervous.  Victoria arrived and likewise, although very quiet, was clearly nervous.  

As soon as Darren turned to look at Victoria, his face lit up and the emotion got the better of him as he read his vows out.  Nothing a shoulder rub from his best man wouldn't sort out.

At the High Level Bridge, the sun shone through the ironwork.  It was a cloudless day and strangely warm for October.  The shadows were perfect and there was hardly a person in sight.  Darren and Victoria, just like every couple before them, admitted they were a bit nervous about getting their photos done.  You wouldn't have known it.  They were naturals and were more than happy to pose for shots.

The reception was at The Elephant on the Tyne in Gateshead with great views over the River Tyne.  The guests relaxed in the lounge before the wedding breakfast which was followed by the speeches.  Darren's speech goes down as the longest Groom's speech I've witnessed. I thought he was joking when he showed me a folder full of paper, but nope, that was the speech.  


45 minutes in, the manager came over to me "We need to tell him to wind up soon.  We've got the band here waiting to set up!"  The speech was straight from the heart, and didn't just acknowledge his love for Victoria, Darren acknowledged his love for Victoria's daughter, his parent's and his friends.  At the same time though, it wasn't lost on anyone how long his speech was taking and the laughs and giggles got louder and louder as the speech went on.  Eventually, the manager passed a note via the best man to give Darren a nudge.   I've never seen a best man so relieved to be told he had to get his speech done quick sharp!

And with that, everyone retired to the bar and riverside while the main room was transformed and the band warmed up for the evening.  

The first dance was to Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars and afterwards Darren and Victoria admitted it was the most nerve-wracking part of the day.  However when the band started up with Wilson Pickett's Land of 100 Dances, Darren stood on the edge of the empty dance floor.  He looked at me.  I gave him a nod and he was off like a man possessed.  Before she knew it, his mum was being dragged onto the dance floor!  And that's how the night continued. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the day and I hope Darren and Victoria had a blast in Gran Canaria for their honeymoon.  All the best for the future guys and keep in contact!