Amble Wedding - Helena and Kevin's Wedding (The one that took me back to the start)

July 22nd 2000.  My wedding day.  The day my journey as a wedding photographer, somewhat unwittingly, began.  You might ask what this has to do with with Helena and Kevin's wedding....well stick with me here.  It all becomes clear!  My wife, Jo, and I got married in Amble, the town we both grew up in.  Funnily enough at the church, whose social evening seven years earlier I was dragged to by my parents, only to meet Jo, who was equally bored at said event.  We've been together ever since....so it wasn't all that bad!


But what has this got to do with my journey as a wedding photographer and Helena and Kevin's wedding?  Well, you see, we had a photographer who, shall we say, didn't do the job properly....he certainly didn't do what we asked for; capture the day, the memories, the friends and family.  No, rather he just wanted to do group shots, and take a long time over them, and despite a lot of protestation, continued to do his own merry thing.  The result being, Jo and I have nothing that represents our day!  And that was the moment.  Because of that moment I was asked by friends, who knew I had been hooked on photography since a young age, to capture their weddings, knowing that I wouldn't let anybody feel the disappointment Jo and I did and still do have!


Fast forward 12 years....I was contacted by Kevin's mum, Linda.  "Can you photograph my son's wedding in June?  It's a St Cuthbert's in Amble and the reception is at The Masonic Hall in Amble".  The same church and reception venue to my wedding.  It would also be the first time I had visited the church since my wedding.  Jo looked at me and said "You know this is what you've been waiting for.  The chance to show how it should have been done."  The more I thought about it, the more I felt like everything had come full circle.  I was delighted!


So, I met with Helena and Kevin at their house to talk through the plans.  They had been making table decorations for their wedding, spraying plant pots with gold spray paint.  I left with an interesting woozy feeling!   Immediately, though Helena told me she was petrified of the camera!  She hated having her picture taken.  I reassured her that we'd sort this at the pre-wedding shoot.  She wasn't kidding!  She really was scared of the camera!  However once she relaxed she was a complete natural, a joy to photograph, as was Kevin.  

Logistically, their wedding day could have been a nightmare owing to the Olympic Torch Relay going through Amble on the day of their wedding.  However by the time I arrived there was no sign that there had been anything happening....and certainly no sign of the torrential rain we'd be expecting!


At St Cuthbert's I was greeted by some familiar faces, church wardens Helen and Mac and Aubrey the organist.  I took a few moments to look around to see if anything had changed but it was more or less how it was 12 years ago.  One by one family members arrived.  I honestly felt like one of the family the way they all chatted to me.  

When Helena arrived at the church, Helen pressed the buzzer to tell Aubrey to begin the bridal march.  I remember exactly how I felt when I had heard the buzzer: nervous anticipation.  I remember being frozen to the spot and was too nervous to turn around to see Jo walk down the aisle.  Thankfully, Kevin turned.  His looked starstruck as Helena made her way towards him.

The ceremony was a lovely short service...not too much fuss but still had an edge of emotion to it.  As the register was signed, the choir sang Ave Maria and then the ceremony was done.  We decided to do the bridal shoot in Warkworth, using the medieval bridge as a backdrop.  There were tourists milling around and I could see Helena getting nervous again.  I still don't think she believes me, but Helena was so easy to photograph.  I honestly do not know why she hates the camera so much.  Such a joy to work with!

With speeches done and first dance done (with a couple of helpers), I left Helena, Kevin and family to enjoy the rest of their night at The Masonic Hall.  With an hours drive back to base I couldn't help but reflect.  It had been a good day; a day that saw me feel angry at how I was treated by my photographer but more importantly a day that had also made me feel very happy.  Happy that I had captured the wedding the way a wedding should be; done the way the happy couple wants it doing whilst also telling the story of the day, capturing the magic and the emotions.  And the reaction from Kevin and Helena to their images has been mindblowing.  

It has been an absolute joy capturing their wedding.  Thank you Helena and Kevin for asking me to do it.  I hope you had an amazing time in Paris and I'll see you very soon!

Gayle and Iain's Wedding in Amble, Northumberland - The Wellwood Arms (The last one of 2011!)

You have a new Facebook message! the iPhone piped up.  Looking at my inbox I saw the name and thought "Wow! now that's a blast from the past!" When I saw Gayle's name I started trying to work out the last time I had seen her and realised I must have been about 10 years old!!!....24 years ago!


Turns out that through a chain of friends she knew a couple of my previous brides and was given my name, however, hadn't realised initially that I was the same Jamie that used to irritate her when I was younger!  You see, her parents used to manage the Sun Hotel in Warkworth, Northumberland.  My mum was their receptionist and my dad their barman in the evenings.  Gayle was a couple of years above me at school but used to keep an eye on me while mum and dad were working.  After mum and dad moved on to pastures new we fell out of contact....until this summer when she sent me a message out of the blue.  


She started telling me about her plans for her wedding; relaxed, low key, no fuss.  Simple church ceremony at The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Amble followed by a get together for family and friends at the recently refurbished Wellwood Arms.  She wanted images that reflected the mood of the day, very few formal shots and mainly shots of the guests enjoying themselves.....oh and there'll be kilts too!  And it will be at night.  Now, if you've read previous posts, you'll know that Amble is my old stomping ground, it's where I grew up and eventually got married before moving down to Tyneside.  I couldn't wait to get back to the old surroundings.


As usual with all my couples, Gayle, Iain and I met several times to go through the plans.  But invariably we ended up talking about old times, our parents and my father in law....who it turns out plays darts with Iain!  


Come the big day, the skies were clear of cloud but it was bitterly cold!  I really didn't envy Iain and his party wearing kilts!  I had a quick look in at The Wellwood and was completely blown away by the old place.  It had completely changed from the last time I was there about 10 years earlier!  It was stunning!  Real ales on the bar, wooden floors, beautifully decorated.  And the wedding decorations were gorgeous too...I know it's a term that makes a lot of people shudder but verging on the vintage style.


Over at the tiny Sacred Heart Church, I was firmly put in my place by the priest.  "You stand there, you don't move!  I don't want any of that flash stuff in here and I certainly don't want you moving around!"  Picture Father Jack mixed with Father Ted....but I warmed to him.  An old school priest, set in his ways BUT with a wicked sense of humour.  "I can promise you, there'll be no Runrig in here today" he confidently told Iain!


Gayle arrived and looked amazing.  Her dad wowed everyone by walking her down the aisle despite being a double leg amputee.  And that, for Gayle was the most nerve wracking moment.  Iain was emotional throughout the ceremony (although he claims he had something in his eye).  A nice, simple ceremony to match Gayle's wishes for the day.


Iain's brother, playing the bagpipes, led the guests out of the church and across to the Wellwood Arms where they were greeted by my old friend Pete Brown, crooning away in the back lounge.  I first met Pete at a wedding I did down in Bishop Auckland and have remained in contact since.  A seriously talented singer!


For the rest of the evening, Gayle and Iain mingled with their guests who were served fish, chips and mushy peas in cones followed by sticky toffee pudding (Pete and I can confirm the sticky toffee pudding was amazing!).  Iain's son, Jamie, was superb in his role as best man and kept everyone entertained with his speech, calling Gayle "the evil stepmother"!!!


The first dance.....think Neighbours!!  

There were a lot of familiar faces from my past there.  Some people I recognised but couldn't put a name to the face...and one person I completely didn't recognise who was a great friend from when I was small and walked passed several times without realising who they were!  But I can't be blamed for that as we hadn't seen each other for over 20 years!  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!


For me, it was the perfect end to a perfect year.  A nice way to finish my year with.....my first as a full time photographer.  I couldn't have dreamt of a better way to conclude 2011 and I cannot thank Gayle and Iain enough.


Until next time....

Sacred Heart Church, Amble

Pete Brown