Doxford Barns - Sarah and Max

Our first wedding at Doxford Barns in Northumberland was for Sarah and Max.  A stunning venue filled with rustic charm and perfect for lovers of the outdoors.  Max met us as we arrived, getting out of the car, he pulled us in for a huge bear hug.  Their warmth continued throughout the overcast late August day, brightened by their mutual cheerful and relaxed disposition.  Two people so likeminded in every way, beginning their married life together.

Thank you to you both for your warmth and friendship, it was a joy to attend your beautiful wedding day.

How did you meet? How did he propose? What is your story?

"Max and I met at work. I worked in the box office of a music venue and he worked for the security that were contracted for events taking place there. 

We were going on holiday to Center Parcs and he was locking the house up. I’d moved his bag into the back of the car and when he got in he started panicking about where his bag was. This was odd; he’s never normally like that. I had no idea why but then brushed it off and we headed off. When we got there we checked in as normal, and went for a walk. I didn’t have a clue he was about to propose but we stopped at one point in the forest and went down on one knee. Instead of crying or anything all I could do was laugh. Turns out he was panicking about his bag because it had the ring in it! I feel so awful now for laughing, sorry Max!"

What was the inspiration behind your wedding? 

"We just wanted to have a day filled with fun and joy and laughter - a day the two families could really come together. Pinterest was also a big help!"

What was the most memorable or your favorite part of your wedding day?

"The most memorable part has to be the registrar calling Max by the wrong name in the middle of the ceremony! It was hilarious then and still is now! As for the favourite, the first dance was pretty special for us. One of our favourite songs played acoustically by my cousin. It was a beautiful rendition."

Why was photography important to you and why did you choose 2tone Photography?

"Photography was so important because it’s the way of capturing those little moments you may miss, forever, and telling your own story through images. We chose Nigel and Chrissie because, from meeting them once, we knew they could do just that for us."

Do you have any advice for brides and grooms who are currently in the planning process?

"Make sure your plans are for you, no one else. Everyone else will be happy for you both no matter what you plan.  Take it easy in the immediate run-up to and on the day itself.  Take a few minutes to just be together after you’re married. You’ll thank yourselves for it afterwards!"

What is your favourite part of being married now?

"Our favourite part of being married is just being together! Being able to share memories and planning our future together is so much fun."

Venue: Doxford Barns

The wedding dress: Ronald Joyce - Robyn - purchased at Something Special, Low Fell

The men's suits: Slaters Menswear

Wedding cake: Sarah’s mum

Flowers: Sarah’s mum

Hair and Make up: Hair: Danielle Hurst, make up: Sarah’s sister

Entertainment: DJ: AMV Live

Guyzance Hall - Laurie and Gavin

Laurie and Gavin’s wedding day was filled with the essence of summer.   The sun shone for the happy couple all day.  The bride’s beautiful bouquet was filled with summer time colour, pale pinks, blues and purples, the bridesmaids were dressed in brightly coloured floral dresses - each carrying a simple bouquet of Gypsophila and the plaid waistcoats for the men created a more relaxed feel to their attire.  Perfect for this great couple who wanted to enjoy their day in a relaxed manner, spending time with their guests and enjoying the grounds of the Hall.

Our paths first crossed back in 2010 when we photographed Gavin’s sister Rebecca’s wedding to Chris at Longhirst Hall.  Even after all of this time, Laurie and Gavin remembered us and asked us to join them on their own big day.  It was an honour to photograph for their family once again.

Laurie and Gavin chose to be wed at the beautiful Guyzance Hall in Northumberland.  The carefully planted gardens were in full bloom and the scenery was simply stunning.   Laurie’s hair was styled by her personal friend and talented hair stylist, Victoria Noble whose own wedding we are really looking forward to photographing later this year at the Blagdon Parlour.  Laurie wore a vintage inspired silk and lace wedding dress with a vintage styled hairpiece.  The bridesmaids put a huge amount of thought into the gifts that they chose to give to the bride, a home made memory scrapbook filled with photographs of fun times together and four additional gifts, one each for the old poem, 'Something old, Something new, something borrowed and something blue'.  In memory of her mother, Laurie tied a locket with a photograph onto the stems of her bouquet and a memorial balloon release was arranged for everyone to take part in after the wedding meal.  For the guests after the meal, Laurie and Gavin arranged for Scoops and Smiles to bring their ice cream van ‘Millie’ up to Guyzance Hall, a caricaturist creating funny portraits of each of the guests and a hog road for the evening.  It was great to work alongside Danny from ‘Shoot me now’ wedding films and Jess Avison from AMV providing the music.    

It was an amazingly fun day filled with happiness, love and sentiment.  We loved every moment of it!  

Wynyard Hall - Lizzie and Alan

Lizzie and Alan's wedding day was a thing of beauty.  The weather was nothing out of the ordinary, flat but dry, a little overcast and perhaps not as sunny as you might hope for in the month of July but everything this about this wedding was perfect.  A wonderful couple, kind hearted and so much in love, a stunning venue, pretty details and a fantastic crowd to help them celebrate.  The things that made this wedding truly beautiful was the moments, and moments between moments, the love for this couple plain to see from their family and friends, their love for one another, sweet and gentle and everlasting.  A surprise for the groom in the form of a favourite song played in the statue gallery resulting in an impromptu first dance,  a perfectly timed gust of wind catching the veil, a private short walk alone and a gallant groom carrying his new wife to save her shoes from getting dirty.  Even silly selfie sticks and ice cream after dinner for all along and fun photo ops found their way perfectly into the day.  The groom's liking for Marvel and the character, the Flash led the way for Nigel to create a groom's portrait using flash of course, making him look like his own kind of super hero.  It was most certainly a day to remember.

It was wonderful to work alongside such a talented group of people for Lizzie and Alan's wedding day.  Janet and Chris from One Digital Image capturing their wedding video, Jess Avison from AMV playing the acoustic guitar, Marissa Bennett make up, Scoops and smiles supplying the ice cream, the Ultimate wedding DJ, Sara's Kitchen who supplied the cake and dessert bar, Silver Birch for the stationary, and not forgetting the amazing team at Wynyard Hall. 

We along with Lizzie and Alan were delighted when Wynyard Hall requested to use the image above for the front cover of their latest wedding brochure, for their website, magazine advertisements and for their latest wedding fair banner.  I have to say, it looks pretty amazing and it seems for now that Lizzie and Alan have become the faces of Wynyard Hall.  Pretty cool huh!

Here's the pictures!