Brian Harte People Photographer

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!!

—

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.

Last Saturday was my second Mansion at Roundhay Park wedding since I took the photographs for their website and brochure.

I met Bethan over a year ago when she booked with me for her wedding photography. If you recognise her in the photos that may be because I was so impressed by her bubbly character that I asked if she would represent me at my wedding fairs or it could be because she is a prolific socialiser!

Bethan gave me a short list of key photographs she would like and at the very top of that list was her Christian Louboutin bag so I had to make sure it was a special shot.

Her brother arrived with the flowers…

…which contained a sprig of rosemary from her grandmother.

Bethan was absolutely gorgeous and was very relaxed having her photo taken.

So were her bridesmaids!

I met with James, the groom, before the ceremony where he introduced me to his two bestmen.

James’ charm is his funny/crazy/madness and Bethan must have thought so too.

The Mansion have only one rule on confetti…lots of it!

James was sporting a fab pair of Gucci shoes which matched his suit and personality perfectly.

After a while Bethan & James went for a walk to have some photos taken at the bandstand in Roundhay Park.

Just before returning to The Mansion we stopped of for some photos at a nearby water fountain.

When we got back it was almost time to go in however I caught Bethan’s sister have a cheeky look at the wedding cakes.

After dinner, when the sun had dropped down a little, we went outside again to take a few more photos.

Bethan & James danced to Elvis Presley’s The Wonder of You.

And after a while, when night fell, Bethan & James along with their guests stepped outside…

…where they lit chinese lanterns…

to drift away over Roundhay Park.