Middlesbrough Wedding Photographer - North East Wedding
Billy and Sarah first asked me to be their Middlesbrough wedding photographer back in 2019, but then an invasion from a virus put a hold on the whole thing. To make matters worse their original wedding venue was owned by the National Trust which decided to pull the plug on hosting weddings. After all, that to make everything even more complicated Sarah is Australian and because of the strict travel rules in Australia, her family couldn't travel to the UK. With a heavy heart, Sarah and Billy decided to postpone their wedding until things became a little clearer.
Fast Foward - 2021
By chance, a few years later Billy's older sister got in touch to ask me to photograph her Middlesbrough wedding at the beautiful Whinstonve View, you can view her beautiful wedding here.
The world was starting to look a little clearer in North Yorkshire and Billy and Sarah had been back in touch to book a new date. This time round they had decided to take things into their own hands and have a more DIY wedding rather than book a big traditional wedding venue.
Middlesbrough Wedding Photographer
Middlesbrough, situated in the North East of England, is renowned for its industrial heritage and cultural highlights, offering various possibilities for newly engaged couples planning a wedding. All around Middlesbrough, there are some beautiful wedding venues.
If you are an adventurous couple looking to explore the region, Middlesbrough is a great starting point, being in proximity to the North York Moors National Park, which boasts breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. North Yorkshire has some beautiful wedding venues including Barn Conversions and Castles.
If you are looking for a wedding venue in North Yorkshire then click here.
Additionally, the town is conveniently located near the North Yorkshire coast, providing the opportunity to visit beautiful beaches for a romantic stroll or picnic. Saltburn and Whitby offer great wedding venues that are only a short drive away and offer scenic walks, great traditional food and plenty of history.
Billy and his fiancé chose to hold their wedding ceremony in the local church, The Holly Name of Mary, located in the heart of Middlesbrough's Linthorpe Village, where his parents and grandfather still reside. Instead of opting for a traditional wedding breakfast venue such as a restaurant or hotel, they decided to go the DIY route and held their reception in the local church hall.
Billy and Sarahs Middlesbrough Wedding
I started the day at Sarah's home to capture some candid shots of her bridal preparations. Sarah's parents and sister had flown in a few days before so it was great to finally meet them. As a professional wedding photographer, I love photographing candid photos as I feel it tells the real story of your wedding day.
Here are some tips on how to capture great bridal prep photos. Click here
Billy was just around the corner at his parent's house in Linthorpe so we managed to photograph some groom prep before heading off to the Church. Holy Name of Mary is a beautiful large North East church full of history. As we headed inside I managed to catch a few moments with the vicar. I find it is really important to speak to whoever is officiating a wedding to make sure I don't step on their toes.
Billy and Sarah's Middlesbrough wedding ceremony was, beautiful, meaningful and full of emotion. There were readings from family members along with guests which always add a personal touch to a wedding ceremony.
Once the formalities were done we headed outside for confetti and group photos. As a Middlesbrough wedding photographer, I always recommend at least a few group photos so you have that visual memory for future generations.
Read my blog on how to plan your wedding schedule. Click here
Before heading off across the car park to the church hall, we decided to spend a few moments photographing those all-important portrait photos. Billy and Sarah had an October wedding, so being prepared are really important to make sure you have the best light and the weather on your side. As a professional wedding photographer, these are the things you learn over time.
We spent a few moments walking around the grounds and some of the old victorian streets in Middlesbrough. As we weren't in a pristine hotel garden as a professional photographer you have to be a little creative. I love old red brick builds and autumn is my favourite time of year so I was in my element photographing Billy and Sarah's wedding photos. What made it better for me is that the area meant so much to Billy having grown up just a few streets away. Having this type of connection to an area on your wedding day means so much to me. I think it makes it a little more meaningful on the day.
Afterwards, we headed inside for food and drinks. I take this time to take a step back and mingle with your wedding guests. I love candid, none posed photos that tell the true story of a wedding day. The smiles, laughs and tears that make up a wedding. As a Middlesbrough wedding photographer, this is my bread and butter.
There were speeches from both sides of the family which was great. It made it all the more poignant because soon Billy and Sarah were heading back to Australia to start a new life. There were a lot of laughs, but also tears. Both families are very close and tight-knit so emotions were running high.
Afterwards, Billy and Sarah cut their wedding cake in front of their wedding guests before taking centre stage once again for their first dance. The dance floor was soon full of smiling guests who were having such a brilliant time.
My time photographing Billy and Sarah's wedding was soon coming to an end. I had such a brilliant time spending it with two amazing families and didn't really want it to end. As a Middlesbrough wedding photographer, I do this for a living, but weddings and more importantly families like Bills and Sarahs don't ever make it feel like a job.
All the best to Billy and Sarah.