Sarah & Craig’s Tipi Wedding

This Bride and Groom wanted a relaxed chilled out wedding day and a party in the evening so The New Plough in Newcastle was the perfect venue.

The day started for me with the Bride, Sarah and her family at home getting ready with hair, makeup and a few drinks even the father of the bride got in on the act.  It was great fun.  The whole day was seemless and very chilled.  When Sarah walked into the tipi I am sure I heard Craig take a big breath to hold in his emotions, she looked amazing and her dress was just perfect.  Surrounded by family and friends they became Husband and Wife to the joy and excitement of all in the tipi.

Following the reception drinks and yummy cocktails, I took the happy couple down the road to an open space to take their pictures.  It was a lovely part of the day where the couple got to chat and relax with each other, the joy of photographing with a long lens is that I can’t hear what they are saying to each other so I can just observe and capture the natural interaction between them and only posing them when I needed to.

We then went back to the New Plough for the reception meal, speeches and of course the party in the evening with the band Hip Operation which was fantastic fun.

Here’s a quick look at the highlights from their big day.

The New Plough is the perfect venue for couples that want a venue that is a little different.  If you are looking for a wedding photographer in the North East please get in touch.

Eshott Hall-Wedding Photography|Newcastle Wedding Photographer

Vanessa and Cameron are two of the loveliest people  I could ever hope to meet, being asked to shoot their Eshott Hall wedding photography was just wonderful. The whole day had a relaxed and natural flow to it, simply perfect!

They had their ceremony in the grounds of the Hall, the rain had threatened to call an end to the plan but just at the 11th hour the sun broke through and it was glorious, the most emotional part of the day for me was when Vanessa made her entrance she looked simply stunning and there was a real sense of love in the air as the couple exchanged their vows, rings, and two red roses.  Afterward, we headed back to the main building and the drinks reception was soon in full flow with laughter filling the air, it was such a happy day.

I love photographing weddings at  Eshott Hall, the venue is perfect for a romantic and private wedding day.  Lots of places to provide beautiful backdrops to their newlywed pictures.  I sneaked them off for a little time alone to take their portraits before we went into the dinner reception.

The speeches were very emotional and extremely moving with the bridesmaid doubling up as the Best Woman, simply because she brought her two friends together, set them up on a blind date and the rest is history.  Both dads made heartwarming speeches and you could feel the love that everyone has for Vanessa and Cameron.

What better way could there be to finish this wonderful day than to have everyone was on the dance floor joining the happy couple and boogying the night away!

Many thanks to Vanessa & Cameron for inviting me along to capture your special day, it was an privilage to do so.  I wish you lots of love and happiness for your future together xx

If you are also looking for a photographer for your Eshott Hall wedding please send me a message HERE

The Vermont Hotel in Newcastle is a fantastic venue to work at. It is a classic 1930’s art deco style Hotel in the heart of Newcastle with a roof top terrace which has great views over the Newcastle city skyline, making it a very chic location for your wedding day ceremony and reception.

It was lovely to be back at The Vermont for Claire and David’s wedding day. I was thrilled when they asked me to be their wedding photographer for the day. Their wedding day was classic but not formal, relaxed and centered on their family and friends. All in all, a really wonderful day.

Here are our favourites from their day

Wedding photography in the North East covering Newcastle and the Durham and Sunderland

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Affecting Wedding Plans

Hello lovely 2020 couples.

It is an extremely worrying time for everyone at the moment with the  UK government announced that all pubs, cafes, bars, and restaurants to close on the 20th and the continuing instruction to stay at home you must be very concerned about your wedding day plans. A majority of retail shops, salons, Hotels/Wedding venues have announced that they are closing and this will have a direct influence on if your Wedding going ahead as planned or not.

If your Wedding is unable to go ahead on your original date or you wish to postpone it’s important to act as quickly as you can. It is also crucial you follow the instructions below:

I know you gave a lot of your mind and not sure what to do but You MUST:

• If the planned date is not going ahead get as many free dates as possible from your Wedding venue. 

• Contact all of your suppliers who offer their services on the day and send them your list of new dates. They will let you know which dates they are free, vendors are all working together on this and you will have the day of your dreams. Pencil in the new date and contact the suppliers so you can confirm that they are available, once this is done, confirm with your venue.

• To give you peace of mind, all monies paid will be transferred across to your new date with no extra cost to pay. However, if you choose to cancel your booking then contract terms and conditions will still apply.*

If you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are ALL in this together and we WILL get through this together.

Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Michelle xx

Why book a professional wedding photographer?

Yes its true everyone’s got a camera on their phone, there are some apps that take really good photos on them and most people know someone who has a good camera and likes to take pictures but is that the same?
Are you thinking of asking that friend with a nice camera if they’ll be your wedding photographer.

Here are a few reasons why you really should be looking for a professional wedding photographer to capture your wedding?

Be our guest – You want your guests to enjoy the day!

Wedding photographers work over 10 hours on a wedding day.  Taking pictures all day long, your friend /family member might not be able to relax and enjoy the day as your guest. Let them come and enjoy themselves!

ERROR – Professional photographers carry back-ups!

Do not chances – the wedding day is too important.  I always carry a back-up camera on me throughout the day, so if the worst happens, I can still capture those one-off moments. In addition to a back-up camera, I carry spare lenses,  batteries, flashes, and memory cards (lots of them) sewing kits, pain-killers, hair grips, and tissues.

Just turn up on the day, take a few pictures that would be great

Yes okay, you may think that there really is nothing to it, but you are not going to ask the chef if your friend can come in and use his kitchen to cook the food because they do a great Sunday roast!  There’s more to it than meets the eye. 
The reality is that the professional photographer will have planned out the whole day in advance, working with your timetable of the day, watching the weather, knowing where the sun will be and when it will set, it’s all about the light!  They work with your venue, mapping out some great locations for photographs, making sure your day runs smoothly. 
They will spend several-day editing and enhancing all your photos to make them look as beautiful as possible.

Professional photographers have invested time and money into their craft, sourcing the right equipment, and training because they love what they do. A good photographer wants to get the WOW factor, to capture images you will want to frame and hang on your walls. 
Whereas your guests will be wanting to catch up with family members, your photographer will be concentrating on your photography.

Anyone can buy the professional camera but tt’s really not all about the gear

Professional photographers have spent countless hours with a camera in their hand, they know it back to front. But it’s much more about the artistry, how to compose a shot, how to take stunning images in all different lighting and weather conditions, how to take beautiful photos all day long. Auto mode on the camera doesn’t mean you can just point and click and expect wonderful wedding photography.

Accidents will happen! – Professional photographers are insured

Where there is blame there is a claim.  We have some amazing venues available for weddings in the North East from stately homes to country barns, they offer wedding days to thousands of brides every year but…. what If your friend who you’ve asked to take your photos breaks something at the venue, or injures themselves or someone else while taking pictures for you, what happens?  Did you know that most wedding venues will require an insurance certificate from the photographer.

Please remember, your photos are the only lasting memory of the day, the food, cake, and flowers will not survive- don’t take any risks. You’ve only got one chance to capture those memories, so you need a photographer who you can totally trust.

Ready to secure your Professional Wedding Photographer?

Hello and welcome to the highlights of Helen and Richard’s wedding at The Grand Hotel Tynemouth. It was a lovely day from start to finish. In the morning Helen had a quick trip to the hairdressers Ticketyboo in Whitley Bay to start her bridal transformation. After a little processco and hairspray Helen travelled back to Laurel House, which is part of the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth , to get ready with her ladies. These ladies call themselves the T club (the T will always be a secret) which is a friendship that was formed years ago and they have become each others anchor.

The morning was not without a few hick ups. Helen’s goddaughter had unfortunately left her flower girl dress at home in Wales. So after visiting nearly every TKmaxx between Wales and Newcastle the dress was posted overnight and arrived at 10am – thank you Royal Mail! So what’s a bride to do when the flower girls dress has arrived in the post? That’s right, get the ironing board out! Honestly we had such a giggle getting ready to walk down the aisle. It was fabulous to be with these ladies.

In the meantime Rich and the Gentlemen had arrived in the bar at The Grand Hotel to get a few drinks and settle some nerves. Richard was all smiles, as this was the day he had been waiting for. He took a last sip of his drink as he went in to the Orchard Room to wait for his bride!

He did not have to wait long, as it‘a a short walk from Laurel House to the Grand Hotel, and thankfully the rain held off! Within 30 minutes they were husband and wife and their smiles where infectious.

Following their “I do’s” they went back in to the bar area as the Orchard Room was to be transformed for afternoon tea. It was the ideal time to complete their family photographs. We took their portraits on the staircase at the Grand Hotel as by then the rain was coming down very heavily and nobody wanted to get wet. The staircase makes for a wonderful backdrop for photographs.

Afternoon tea was served and it was delicious! That’s all I can say!!!

The couple then took time to relax and prepare for the evening celebrations were they would have more of their friends arrive to enjoy an evening of dancing! These girls love a little bit of Abba

To Helen and Richard, I wish you all the best for your future together. You have found that person you cannot imagine being without and that fills my heart with joy for you both.

Love Michelle xx

I’ve shot a fair few weddings at The Copthorne Hotel in Newcastle now and I’ve got to hand it to Anthea and Ollie… this was definitely one to remember  You see these guys are just great fun, there’s no other way to describe them, and their day was completely unique to them.  It was relaxed, fun, definitely romantic, and at the end of the day  it was one big party with all their nearest and dearest.  

I love talking about weddings, but instead, let’s find out what Anthea and Ollie thought about their wonderful wedding day….

The Love Story
We met in Ibiza 10 years ago whilst we were both on holiday. We knew in Ibiza that we were meant for each other and that we met our soulmate. We had a long-distance relationship for 6 years and although hard at times we always had our exciting goal of living up here together and getting married at heart.

The Best Part Of The Wedding Day
Olly- Anthea walking down the aisle and our first dance.

Anthea – Us saying our vows to each other and our first dance.

The Dream
We wanted to share our love for each other and our love for Ibiza with our nearest and dearest. It was great fun giving everyone a taste of Ibiza in Newcastle! Glitter, glow sticks and great music!

The Wedding Details
The dress I chose was the complete opposite of what I thought I wanted. I wasn’t even going to try it on but after trying a fitted fishtail style dress I knew I wasn’t going to be able to throw shapes at the reception in it! When I tried my dress on I felt like a princess and loved that I could actually move and breathe! I loved the lace detail and sparkles. I came across some fab ideas on Pinterest for wedding flowers. I loved the idea of floral fans as I felt they were in fitting with our Ibizan theme, quirky and beautiful. It was a hot day so they came in useful too!

Why Was Photography Important To You?
Photographs contain memories and moments forever and it was important to us to find someone who we connected with to capture our special day.

After meeting Michelle we quickly realised how incredible she is! Her passion, style, and attention to detail (even things we had not thought about) blew us away. Michelle gave us so many ideas and guidance for other parts of the wedding and really helped guide us into making some important decisions. On the day Michelle was fantastic and so many of our guests have commented on how great she was and how much she helped out. At the start of the day, she was helping the hairdressers with my hair and later fixed my underskirt in my dress! She really went above and beyond on our day and we recommend her highly to anyone.

The Advice For Future Brides And Grooms
Don’t be afraid to choose things out of the ‘norm’ if it’s what you both love. Your wedding is a celebration of your love as a couple so give people a taste of your personality and interests. Most importantly… have fun and enjoy every moment!

The Best Part About Being Married
Being able to call each other husband and wife every day!