Dave & Stella...Back from Afghanistan to marry in Scotland

After a four year romance Dave asked Stella to marry him. That was on the 28th November exactly one year later on 28th November 2010 Dave and Stella were married in Gretna Green. Dave who is originally from Isla an island off the west coast of Scotland returned from serving in the army in Afghanistan to marry Stella.

The day started with everyone getting ready in the award winning boutique hotel Smiths in Gretna Green...Stella was just a natural infront of the camera she chose cornflower blue as her theme for the day....



Dave also was very relaxed and a real pleasure to work with....



Stella, her father and bridesmaid Amy with Gretna piper Craig arriving at Anvil Hall....



Inside Anvil Hall lit by the natural light streaming through the windows no flash..



After the ceremony the family were all so happy to have witnessed Stella and Dave's perfect day..



Then it was off for some romantic photographs in the snow...Just in case your worried that I sat Stella directly in the snow there are several layers of blankets under her!! I am not that cruel to get a good pic! I have a variety of props that come with me to help me out in all situations! The background shows the fields surrounding Smiths Hotel.







Thanks to Dave and Stella for letting me capture their special day, I had great fun!

Tony & Lucy..Snow in Scotland

The snow looked so fantastic as Lucy and Tony married at the contemporary boutique hotel of Smiths. Lucy and Tony met on a snowboarding holiday. A whirlwind holiday romance and the rest is history!

I started out at Lucy’s parent’s home to capture some of the details of Lucy's fabulous Cymberline dress, flowers and shoes…
I used an antique chair in Lucy’s parents home to photograph the flowers against this had sentimental value to Lucy as it had been hand stitched by her grandmother. Lucy’s flowers were by her cousin Christina at Flowertime in Stanwix, Carlisle.



Meet Archie, Tony and Lucy’s son who was happy just giving his mum a kiss..



The handsome groom Tony greeting guests as they arrived at the wedding….



Lucy looked amazing as she arrived with her father at Smiths in a Bentley Continental from Reays..



During the ceremony at Smiths exchanging vows.



After the family photographs were taken we had to get out in the snow for their romantic photographs. I always find new places to photograph at the best hotel in Gretna Green...



Photographing in snow is fantastic because the light is the most flattering as it bounces white reflections all over skin tones, not that Tony and Lucy needed any help in looking Fabulous!



I really enjoyed photographing your wedding and meeting lots of your friends whose weddings I have also photographed in previous years. Thanks for a great day and I hope you had a great honeymoon in New York and enjoy your slideshow!

Ryan & Andrea... late November at Comlongon

Comlongon Castle looked amazing as Ryan and Andrea held their very intimate wedding there two weeks ago. Ryan and his family who had travelled from Ireland were there alongside Andrea's family to see these two special people get married. They met each other on the internet and after searching for the perfect venue they decided that Comlongon was the place to seal their love for one another.



I started out taking them with their families as they got ready in opposite ends of the Castle..



Andrea was getting ready in the fabulous cottage in the grounds of the castle..Thanks to Laura Kerr for doing such a great job of Andrea's hair and make-up.



The autumn leaves on the trees were fabulous against the blue sky and as the light of the day started to fade Andrea and Ryan met in the keep of the castle.



Everyone was waiting for them and with the sound of the roaring fire in the background they exchanged their vows.



Andrea and her sister Natalie looking gorgeous in the keep after the ceremony..



Ryan and Andrea opted for a 3pm wedding and so the light started to fade fast but we managed to get in some shots of the exterior of the castle....





The sky looked very dramatic and dark... a big storm came but we took refuge inside the castle and with the rain and hail hammering down on the windows I said my goodbyes.

Ryan and Andrea I wanted to say a big thanks to you for choosing me to take your photographs you were great to work with and I loved all those Irish accents!! I hope you loved the island of La Gomera where you honeymooned it is a very special place!

Peacocks at Armathwaite in the snow!

I was super excited to meet the lovely Stephen and Alexandra at their wedding day at Armathwaite Hall. They were two of the nicest people to photograph so natural and great fun. Stephen is a Geordie as well so that was an added bonus!

Alex had spent lots of time planning her special day and the theme of the weddings was peacock feathers.



On arrival at Armathwaite Hall we were met with the magnificent view of Bassenthwaite Lake made even more special with a dusting of snow on the mountain peaks. It looked amazing with the last of the autumn leaves falling this was a fabulous backdrop for a fabulous couple!

It all started with Alex's stunning Maggie Sottero gown and beautiful flowers by Bloomsberry.



Alex has an eye for detail so these photographs were important to her! They will look great in the contemporary styled album that they have selected.

Alex you looked amazing!



Stephen looking very dapper...



Signing the register they were so happy..



Confetti...



The view that makes Armathwaite Hall so special...



The leaves I like to incorporate the seasons into my photography..



Alex and Stephen had booked the services of a local caricature artist who had made the table plan and other details at the wedding...



The reception and cake followed through the peacock theme.



Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon in Las Vegas and St. Lucia!!

Gavin and Joanne....Sunshine, glamour and a Helicopter ride up on Knotty Hill!

The weather was glorious when Gavin and Joanne tied the knot in the pretty village of Barton, nr Penrith in the Lake District. I was super excited for many reasons about this wedding not only did I have a stunning couple to photograph but fantastic locations, a Bakerwood marquee and the sun ...well that was the icing on the cake!
It all started out at Joanne's parent's home. Joanne you looked stunning!



The family are very well known in Ullswater and have the most amazing gardens and views of the lake from their home. With a chaise lounge all laid out in the garden we were set!! The girls looked fabulous.....



Gardenalia had designed the beautiful floral arrangements and Joanne looked amazing in her Ian Stuart gown.



Meanwhile at the church my assistant JK was having fun shooting the guys....



The bridesmaids just before going into church..



During the ceremony we were limited on light and movement but still captured some great moments...



Back at the reception a stunning marquee on the shores of Howtown this was the wedding entourage and wow what a lineup it was!



The thought of been able to shoot on top of a mountain was a fantastic idea and wow we had to get there by helicopter. The difficult part was trying to keep quiet as Joanne had told me a couple of weeks before about this surprise. Gavin had no idea until the day came about what the surprise gift was going to be! This image brings back some great memories as we put on the headsets and headed up over the marquee and across the Lake.



It is very difficult to land a chopper in the Lakes but if you own the viewpoint your sorted! This is the view from Gavin and Joanne's hill Knotty Hill and so it is a very special place to them and with such an incredible view and such an incredible place it was a real privilege for me to go there with them for some romantic photographs! JK was waiting for us on the other side and got this shot... Once landed we had a five minute opportunity to shoot to the max as the chopper kept spinning!



The light was perfect..



A view to die for...



So many great angles...



And then back to the helicopter to be flown to the reception and the guests in style!



Back at the reception we had some great fun with the bridal party...



The Bakerwood marquee was amazing as always!! They really are the best at what they do! Joanne and Gavin had named there tables after places they had been together and added photos of their trips. The flowers looked so elegant in tall vases designed again by Gardenalia.



Gavin and Joanne thanks for letting me be a part of your special day.... it was truly fabulous. I have seen many weddings but yours really blew me away!

Looking forward to hearing more about your honeymoon in the Maldives... To see more of Gavin and Joanne's amazing wedding click here to see their slideshow.

Samantha & Pearse ..Vintage theme at the Crown

Samantha is the kind of girl that everyone is instantly drawn to. Pearse is an Irish gentleman with a great sense of humour and they looked so happy last Saturday when I photographed their wedding at The Crown in Wetheral. Family and friends had gathered from Joanne's home town of Penrith and from across the water from Ireland.

Joanne had based her accessories and dress around a vintage look and the subtle pinks in the flowers made by Cochranes in Longtown complimented the scheme as the girls arrived at the Crown...



Samantha's sister Joanne and her little daughter Poppy who had fallen asleep on the way to the Crown she looked so cute!!



Samantha just before she got out of the fabulous Cream Rolls Royce supplied by Mr Henderson Cars of Distinction... This could be my favourite image of the day!



Waiting for Samantha to arrive Pearse was feeling just a little nervous...



During the ceremony at The Crown a harpist played to the guests which sounded beautiful...



Afterwards we went to the station and a few locations around Wetheral for some romantic photographs.









After family photographs were taken family enjoyed a fab reception thanks to The Crown. The tables looked amazing thanks to the creative flair of Samantha who had carefully selected her vintage themed table decorations. The flowers at the reception were by Aroma florists in Carlisle.



I hope you are having a fab time in New York and all the best in your new life together in Ireland!