As a Yorkshire wedding photographer, you have to be ready for anything, and I mean ANYTHING.
Such is the importance of a wedding day, you have to be prepared for all types of weather – rain, snow, sleet and believe it or not, yes sunshine! Sunshine can create its own unique problems.
Unfortunately though, the problem we had at Rachel and Matthews wedding at the Chevin Country Park Hotel on 5th February 2011 was rain – and lots of it!
I knew it was going to be a wet day but when we arrived for the Bridal preparations, my face broke out into a huge grin. I walked into Rachel’s parent’s house and saw the light coming in through the massive windows and knew we were going to be fine. The house is one of those wonderful places where around every corner is a photographic opportunity, Paul and I could literally have spent a whole day there just shooting the bridal preps. Jeanette & Steve, you have a wonderful home, thank you for making us feel so welcome and for your kind hospitality.
I left Rachel, bridesmaids Louise, Louise, Tracey, Jayne, Jenny and of course Mum and Dad, Jeanette and Steve, in the capable hands of Paul and I headed up to the Chevin Country Park Hotel to spend some time with the boys.
Upon arrival, the rain had stopped and I took Matthew, best man Andrew (also known as Woo), the ushers Dave, Dave, Josh and Dad Paul out for some boy’s shots in the grounds. Sometimes posing is the wrong thing to do, sometimes it is just better to let the lads goof around and have a bit of fun and this is what we did. This can often be a great way to combat pre-wedding nerves, let the boys be themselves.
When Rachel arrived in the gorgeous Jaguar, the rain had started again, so out came the brollys that we take to every wedding and we escorted Rachel and dad Steve into the Hotel.
The look on Matthews face when Rachel walked in was special.
All through the boy’s shots before the ceremony, the lads had been lads, goofing around, having a bit of fun, doing what lads do best, but when Rachel walked in, Matthews face said it all. When he turned and looked up the aisle, you could see the emotion on his face, the love, the joy, and the nerves. It was pretty special.
The ceremony, conducted by the Leeds Registrars, went without a hitch. When you consider that in all the years I have been the Resident / Recommended Photographer at the Chevin Country Park Hotel, I have never seen the Lakeside so full, you could have heard a pin drop during the vows and exchanging of the rings.
Due to the weather, all the group shots took place indoors in the Lakeside and the Garden Lounge and once completed, we then went into the conservatory for the Speeches which were brilliant. Many words spoken from the heart!
Following the wedding breakfast, we set up for the evening reception and I can honestly say that the next morning, my jaw was still aching from laughing so much. Again, the Woodlands Suite was rammed to the hilt with many of Rachel and Matthews friends attending the evening reception. Tucked away in the corner was our studio set up and we didn’t stop all night. The pink and blue boxing gloves were particularly popular, along with the silly hats. There may be one of two of you receiving emails form Rachel and Matthew in the next few weeks with images attached and the words underneath “How much will you pay me NOT to publish this on Facebook”
Come 10.30pm we just didn’t want to go, but there comes a point where the cameras go away and we let the happy couple spend some camera free time with their family and friends.
Rachel and Matthew are one of those couples that it is a pleasure to spend any time with. Whenever you are with them, you spend most of your time laughing and smiling and this is testament to what they think of each other. As a professional wedding photographer in Yorkshire, one of things I am constantly looking for from a Bride and Groom is those little looks, the little touches, the smiles, the hugs, the tears and these were in abundance all through the day. Rachel and Matthew are one of those couples where if the other person is not in direct line of sight, they will look for the other person and when their eyes meet, as they did during the evening reception, across a very crowded room with over 120 people in it, their faces light up when they see each other. It was magical to see it.
Rachel & Matthew – 5th February 2011 was the first chapter in your new life together. It is the start of your new journey and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you both all the very best for the future. Thanks for letting us be a part of your special, fun filled day!
The slideshow below is just a small selection of images from the day. Rachel and Matthews online album is expected to be available on 25th February 2011 and may be viewed on our Yorkshire wedding photography website at www.markpearsonphotography.co.uk (View Your Wedding). If you would like to join me in wishing Rachel and Matthew all the very best and a few words of congratulations, please use the comments box below the slideshow.
Mark & Paul
The slideshow above is low resolution for preview purposes only and does not reflect the high quality of the images. All Images and content are © 2011 Wedding Photographer Yorkshire and Wedding Photographer Lancashire – Mark Pearson Photography
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