Showing posts with label
Tyne and Wear Wedding Photographer.
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Showing posts with label
Tyne and Wear Wedding Photographer.
Show all posts
I've said it before and I'll say it again.....I have the best job in the World. Fact! Why? Because it's so varied. Every wedding is different AND you get to be an intimate part of a couples most special day. Not many people get that opportunity. And I get to capture it all.....freezing moments in time.
With Zara and Jonny, I decided that all weddings are different.....just some weddings are more different than others! 18 months ahead of their big day, Zara and Jonny contacted me with a view to capturing their magical day......those 18months were hilarious! Quite simply! I've spoken to the other suppliers who worked with Zara who all agreed! Zara made it clear from day 1 that she did not want a traditional wedding. She told me to throw the rule books out the window. As time went on I would get texts and emails from her "I've gone an booked a VW Camper for the bridesmaids", "I've got a Morris Minor Police Car for the flowergirls and pageboys". And then came the big one......"We'd like to do our pre-wedding photoshoot in a cemetery!" The images from that are here. So you kind of get the feel for what I was playing with here. :o)
The day itself was a treat. Cloudless skies, 20+ degrees and hardly a breath of wind. At Zara's mums, there was the usual frantic preparations going on. It was also the first time I'd seen her nervous and getting a bit flustered. The pageboys were ready in their suits and Converse trainers and looked ultra cool. Outside I heard the clip clop of hooves as the horses and carriage that would be taking Zara to Washington Old Hall arrived. That really set the nerves jangling.
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Flowers by Stem Ginger
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Over at The Hall everything was ready and thankfully it was icy cool in the room where the ceremony would take place. Jonny arrived with best man and usher in tow. He seemed to be taking everything in his stride.
Now, I knew this was going to be a fun day....but I also knew there would be a lot of emotion. One thing I do with every couple is try to get to know them. I've got to know these guys really well over the past 18 months and got to know their story. I know every couple getting married love each other but Zara and Jonny were head over heels like I've never seen before. Little messages posted on each others walls on Facebook etc. But what I wasn't prepared for was just how electric the room would be once Zara arrived. The bridesmaids were all in tears! As the ceremony went on more and more people were reaching for hankies. And then Zara and Jonny's personal readings to each other were read out. Gone!!!! Everyone in the room, me, the registrars....everyone in tears!
After the ceremony we had a bit of fun in the garden. Now, remember what I said about throwing the rule book out the window?? There was no formality in what we did. Zara was just Zara. Her personality was oozing! And again, it was hilarious! The colours in the gardens though were stunning. Bright greens and purples everywhere. And it complimented Zara's dress, designed and made by House of Mooshki, perfectly.
The reception....sorry, tea party was at The Stella in Washington. It had be turned into a quaint village hall for the day! Tea cups, scones, finger buns, sandwiches and sweets everywhere.
And then the first dance......Paul Weller's "You Do Something To Me" sung by Zara and Jonny's friend on acoustic guitar. Simple but stunning.
People ask me why I love my job so much.....it's the people I work with that make it brilliant. Without folks like Zara and Jonny, and everyone else I've photographed over the past 9 years, my job and life would be very dull!
Thank you Zara and Jonny for planning such a wild, fun, funky and individual day!!!! It's been an absolute pleasure working with you!
I'm delighted to announce that my image from Darren and Victoria's wedding in October 2011 has been voted as Image of the Month for January on The Wedding Community. I am absolutely delighted with the news especially as the competition was stiff. There were so many exceptional images and I really didn't think I would win.
I'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who voted for the image. I really does mean a hell of a lot to me.
And one final word, if you're getting married do 2 things:
1) Drop me a line to arrange a consultation to see how I can create mind blowing wedding images and capture your memories and emotions of your magical day
2) Visit the Wedding Community for ideas and advice on how to make your big day truly reflect who you are. http://www.theweddingcommunity.com/
OK, so it's been a superb year for me. I took the brave decision to go full time with Jamie Penfold Photography at the start of the year (January 17th to be precise!). It's been scary at times but it's the best decision I have ever made. I've worked with an amazing set of of couples who have made 2011 just brilliant for me. A HUGE thank you to everyone I've worked with this year.
And so for my little winter treat. For anyone who is getting married in January, February or March 2012 and have still not secured their wedding photographer, I'm offering a 10% discount to anyone booking me for weddings in the first 3 months of the New Year.
You will get a pre-wedding photoshoot and your images on an online portfolio. For more info, to arrange a consultation or to book me, simply contact me on info@jamiepenfold.com.
OK, I admit it. When I look at the new fixture lists when they come out I do tend to look and see what weddings I'm covering are going to clash with big fixtures. The only problem is I'm a long suffering West Ham supporter. So how was I to know that the Tyne/Wear derby was going to clash with one of my weddings. The first I really knew about it was when Colin, the gentleman who was giving Judith away, mentioned it to me when I arrived at Judith and Glenn's house on the Saturday morning. More of the match later....
So, another sunny day without a hint of a breeze in the air. Judith and Glenn were getting married at Beamish Park Hotel, one of my favourite wedding venues owing to the beautifully bright and airy atrium the ceremonies take place in. At their house, there was the normal pre-wedding chaos with the three young bridesmaids, Elizabeth, Freya and Erin running around with excitement while the adults hurriedly tried to get everything and everyone ready. Judith arrived back from the hairdressers, chatted with her bridesmaid Kate for a bit, nervously smiled and went to finish getting ready.
Over at the hotel the room was decked in white chairs with bright pink bows. In the sunshine that was beaming in the pinks were so vivid. The harpist arrived, set up and then asked for the air conditioning to be turned off. This was going to be a warm one!
Glenn had mentioned to me during our final planning meeting that he was being driven to the hotel in his friends car. This intrigued me. I waited on the steps as some of the guests began to trickle in...and then I heard the dull roar of a powerful car engine. When it came into sight, you couldn't miss it.....I bright yellow Ferrari, followed by 2 Porches. The car park was beginning to resemble the Top Gear studio. Meanwhile, the men were busily checking who had a signal on their phones and whether anyone had access to the latest scores from The Stadium of Light. It soon became clear that this wedding party were all Newcastle United supporters. More of that to follow.....
Glenn was looking nervous as he took his place at the front of the atrium, Anthony, his best man, doing his best to keep him amused followed by a bit of micky taking from Mark and Barry, the two ushers. All four were decked out in white morning suits, Glenn with a matching white tie, the rest of the men with pink ties.
The bridesmaids arrived in a huge stretched limo followed by Judith and Colin in a beautiful new Rolls Royce. It was HUGE! Judith stepped out of the car to reveal a stunning lacy vintage wedding dress. She nervously smiled as she entered the hotel.
By this point the atrium was boiling! But this didn't seem to be noticed by the guests as Judith glided down the aisle to meet Glenn. The nerves evaporated. Judith later admitted she had to keep staring at Glenn's ear because every time she look him in the eye she felt she was about to lose it and she didn't want to cry. A beautiful ceremony was topped by the harpist playing and singing Sting's Fields of Gold.
The next surprise for me (and most of the guests) were the goldfish which were swimming in bowls in the middle of each table. I loved it....if only they would stay still long enough for me to photograph them.
Outside, doves were released while most of the male side of the wedding party were becoming more and more distracted with the events in Sunderland. I gathered everyone together on the steps of the hotel for a big group photo. No sooner had the picture been taken, a cheer went up from various parts of the group. Newcastle had scored.
And that was that. Meals and speeches finished and a bit of fishing done to re home the fish, the band warmed up for the evening reception and then the DJ introduced Judith and Glenn to the dance floor where they danced to Take That's Greatest Day, ably accompanied by Elizabeth.
Judith and Glenn - have a fantastic honeymoon with Elizabeth on the Disney Cruise. Have fun and I'll see you soon.
