Brian Harte People Photographer

Last month I had the pleasure to photograph Ruth & David Liddicoat’s wedding at Goldsborough Hall near Harrogate.

The day was gloriously sunny and unusually warm for May. Ruth arrived a little after noon to have her make-up and to get ready with her bridesmaids.

Ruth’s dress was a lovely Ian Stewart dress and her shoes were sparkly Jimmy Choo!

I placed Ruth’s bracelet on the layers of her underskirt to make this gentle photograph.

I knew the day was going to be fun as everyone was super relaxed…

Even dad was relaxing as I sneaked this photo…

The wedding ceremony was held in the Sir Richard Hutton room and I think while waiting for Ruth David may have been a little nervous, even if he wasn’t showing it too much.

David didn’t have to wait too long before Ruth arrived…

He even resisted (for a while) a quick glance over his shoulder.

And when they saw each other they couldn’t contain their excitement.

After their vows they had a quick kiss…

…and their signing of the register.

As they walked out from the ceremony they glanced across to me for a quick photo framed by the arch way and with the chandelier and their waiting champagne in the background.

As the weather was so wonderful everybody went out in to the beautiful gardens to mingle and have canapés.

The Sun was moving around quickly so I changed my plans and decided to take the big group photo while they were all backlit. From a 2nd floor window I was able to get a shot of all the guests and the wonderful gardens and woodland of Goldsborough Hall.

I could tell a few of the guests were now itching to throw their confetti so we made our way around to the main entrance…

Previously, when I was looking around the Hall for spots to take photos, I had met Mark Oglesby who owns the family home of Goldsborough Hall. Mark told me about a few of the lesser known photo spots, one of them an old twisted tree….I think I found it!

We then went on a walk around the Hall taking photos at the different places along the way.

Again thank you to Mark for telling me about the hidden urns!

Goldsborough Hall has fantastic gardens and a stunning quarter mile Lime Tree Walk…

…each planted by Royalty and on this plaque it reads Tilia Europaea var. Handsworthensis, planted by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales 27th May 1923.

There was just enough time to take one last photo

…before it was time for the guests to be seated. I took the opportunity to shoot a few of the details in the Princess Mary’s drawing room.

Their cake was from an Italian deli in York called Le Langhe with the top and bottom layers a plum and almond tart and the middle layer a rich raspberry tart.

Speeches were fun with a plunger being pulled out at one point to embarrass David

I love to get character portraits of the bridal party and guests during the speeches.

…but the best wedding speech portrait was of this little cheeky baby.

During the speeches I learned that Ruth was quite musical and liked to play, amongst other instruments, the piano. So I borrowed their wedding rings for this shot on the piano keys.

We hadn’t had time to take photos on the staircase before the meal so we took a moment for a few more photos.

Including one with with reflections that repeated in facing mirrors on the staircase.

Before I knew it the time had come for their first dance and I could tell that they had been practising.

For their second dance everybody joined in.

The evening entertainment was Ceilidh dancing with the Yorkshire ceilidh band Dogsbody

There was a surprise when Ruth’s mum pulled out her daughters violin and asked her to join the band in playing a couple of songs dear to their heart.

Ruth played Callum’s Road and Mrs Macleod of Raasay. Her family knew Callum about whom the song Callum’s Road was written and her grandfather is from the island of Raasay in the Hebrides in Scotland….it is also where David proposed!

David looked on very proud of his new wife.

Then the dancing really started and I ducked and dived through the ceilidh dancers to record the fun.

A very big thank you, Ruth & David, for choosing me as your wedding photographer.

 

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Ruth’s make-up was by Bonita B, the beautiful flowers were supplied by Angie Walker (01423 358471/07803 596625), the bridesmaids dresses were a Mori Lee design from Confetti and Lace in Harrogate, the wedding cake was by Le Langhe in York, and of course the Ceilidh band!

Last Saturday I photographed Anna & Lee Chapman’s wedding.

Anna was one of the guests at Bethan & James’ wedding in August last year and booked me soon after I finished Bethan’s photos for her wedding at East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley. East Riddlesden is a 17th century National Trust hall open to the public and also available for weddings.

The day started when I arrived at her fathers house to take some morning photos, some details and a few getting ready photos.

…and of course the lovely flower girl!

Anna had her sister and best friend to give her a hand getting ready and at one stage both were under her dress helping her attach her underskirt.

I hastily jumped in to my car and zoomed to the church arriving only moments before Anna arrived in a wonderful old Bentley.

Anna was walked down the aisle of the packed church by her father.

Lee & Anna had so much fun together…

…especially Lee who’s humour I discovered, as they day unfolded, beginning with “help” written on the soles of his shoes!

Once married all their friends formed along the path to throw confetti which was good fun.

As all the guests arrived at East Riddlesden Hall we took the opportunity to take a few photos with the Bentley and the Hall (and the Pimms!)

After Pimms the bestmen helped organise the family member and bridal party for a few group photos. I got a feeling that the bridal party were a bit mad so I took their photos a little further and had some fun.

Musician Tristian Mackay played some music while the guests mingled and the children played on the lawn.

…and Anna had no shortage of helpers with her dress.

I also discovered that Lee is not just a funny guy but that he is creative too. He made the table plan along with many of the unique details at the Hall.

The speeches were a little different as after saying a few words Anna’s father offered the microphone around to friends to add their stories. It was full of fun, laughter, tears and emotion.

Lee & Anna’s wedding cake was decorated very delicately

…and it was made by their friend wedding cake maker Nicky. I took a photo of them all just before Lee & Anna cut their cake.

Time was tight before sitting for a meal so we had to abandon a group shot of everyone. After cutting the cake the weather and light were still looking good so I fetched my super telescopic ladders to climb and take a photos with everyone involved.

We then went on a whistle-stop tour of East Riddlesden Hall taking photos in all the different places it has to offer from The Airedale Barns…

…to the gardens…

…and to the Lake which looked back on the barn and to their friends.

Before their first dance Anna asked me for a photo of her with all her hen party friends.

…but don’t even ask me what they were doing as they went a bit crazy!

It wasn’t long before everyone gathered around for the first dance…

…and their friends joined them.

An impromptu kiss could have been the perfect closing shot of their wedding photos…

…but there was more to come. I picked up one of the handmade romantic signs and asked for one more!

Happily ever after Mr & Mrs Chapman!!

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Details update…

Anna’s wedding dress is an Ian Stewart design from Hayley Dennison in Harrogate and the bridesmaids dresses handmade by Jaz Oldham in Addingham (07814 098678, jaz.oldham@hotmail.co.uk and apparently she as worked on dresses for Cheryl Coles dancers!). The flowers were from Bloemist the Dutch florist in Skipton, the cake was made by Nicky at Seriously Scrumptious. The hog roast caterers were Chapman Holmes and the Jive band in the evening were Jive O’Clock.

When Suzanne & Ben came to see me at the beginning of this year I was not only excited because they were a lovely funky couple, they were also having their wedding reception in Papakata tipi’s which are really unique to photograph.

With Suzanne’s job in events management wedding details were always going feature heavily.

For a start there was her Jimmy Choo shoes!

There was also some seasonal details which complimented the colours and natural feel of the tipi’s…

….and of course her colourful wedding bouquet (supplied by Floristeria, 01274 871 341).

Suzanne was wearing a beautiful dress from Hayley Dennison Bridal Collection in Harrogate and I caught a lovely shot of her dress as she was spinning around getting ready.

Suzanne was radiant and glowing almost as much as her flowers.

and her dad was also beaming too.

Ben is a pretty cool guy and as I was parking my car near the church I noticed a gnarly brick wall and thought it might form an edgy background for a few photos.

Suzanne arrived with a Ice cream van in tow. I don’t know who was more excited…me thinking it was another cool detail Suzanne had organised or her nephew who thought he might be able to get one before the ceremony started!

Before everyone lined up to go in I managed to grab some order of ceremonies and shoot a nice keepsake photo.

With a little ducking and diving I managed to get a fab shot of Suzanne walking down the aisle shot between the shoulders of Ben and his bestman.

The ceremony was very personal as Suzanne had grown up in the area and had attended the church.

Glancing over my should I saw the organist had organ written on their book. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised but it was quirky enough for me to shoot.

Before we knew it the ceremony was over and they were walking down the aisle a married pair.

and then all their friends lined up to throw confetti.

We stopped off at The Red House gardens for a few photos so that all the guests could get to the reception.

When they arrived back I clambered up on to the roof to take a shot showing the Papakata tipi’s in their very personal setting.

Everyone had their photo taken…

…including the Mariachi band who had travelled up from London!

The Mariachi band were not the only musicians to play there was also a contemporary violinist playing complex pieces on an electric violin.

Kate has played private functions and events all over Europe. She also plays in Leeds which is where Suzanne saw her and asked if she’d come to her wedding.

Once in the tipi’s the light dropped quickly and this is where the warm ambience of the Papakata tipi’s came to life.

With the open fires keeping everyone toasty.

Ben and his bestman did not disappoint in their speeches with everyone in stitches.

After the speeches I had time to pop out to shoot their rings on one of the cushions…

…a few more details…

…and a few of Suzanne and Ben.

The night’s partying kicked off with Suzanne and Ben’s first dance.

And then somehow Ben and his bestman’s first dance??

Before everyone was dancing…

…and having fun.

I had a fab time with Suzanne and Ben who really invited me in to their day and it was a pleasure to record their day.