Tag: sheffield wedding

  • Charlotte & Lee’s Bright and Colourful Spring Wedding in Sheffield

    Charlotte & Lee’s Bright and Colourful Spring Wedding in Sheffield

    Charlotte & Lee’s Old Rectory Wedding

    It’s been a few years since my last wedding at the Old Rectory. I have to say the place hasn’t changed much.

    That is no bad thing though because this is a wonderful little wedding venue on the outskirts of Sheffield. It’s even more beautiful in the spring too.

    Charlotte wasn’t bothered about having any photos taken whilst she got ready so I arrived at the Old Rectory around the same time as Lee and his party.

    The ceremony room had been set up beautifully when I got there.

    I have been to three weddings at the Old Rectory in total, and all three were in different rooms. I guess it depends on the number of guests.

    This is great for me because it keeps things difficult and fresh for me as a photographer.

    Once I had gotten myself settled we got a few shots of Lee and the boys, and then waited anxiously for Charlotte’s arrival.

    What an arrival it was too, by Bentley no less!

    The service was beautiful, with two perfect readings from both the Best Man and Maid of Honour.

    From there I got to spend some time with a really friendly bunch of folks, doing what I do best.

    Mingling and snapping.

    When the evening came sadly we didn’t get the sunset were were hoping for, so we waited for dark and went down to the bottom of the garden which was beautifully decorated with fairly lights for our evening portraits.

    Before we get on with the wedding photos I wanted to give a quick shout-out to Jordan Maycock.

    Jordan is a very talented magician and genuinely friendly guy.

    Highly recommended if you want a little extra entertainment for your guests between the dinner and evening reception.

    So without further ado, here are the photos.

    If you would like to ask me anything feel free to get in touch.

    The Slideshow

    The Photos

    If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding give me a shout and let’s make some plans.

    If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding get in touch and let’s make some plans.

    See ya next time,

    James

  • Lantern Theatre and Courtyard Cafe Wedding 

    Lantern Theatre and Courtyard Cafe Wedding 

    ** This wedding was featured in Rock N Roll Bride wedding blog in March 2018, which is awesome!

    I’ve been looking forward to this wedding for nearly two years.

    Every since Pippa told me she and Dean would be getting married in the Lantern Theatre in Nether Edge I knew it was going to be something different.

    I like different.

    Lantern Theatre Wedding Ceremony

    Looking around the 1890s theatre, it is such an interesting place that I would probably quite enjoy taking photos there even if there were no wedding going on.

    Pippa and her bridesmaids got ready in the changing rooms, naturally.

    To be clear this is not the wedding venue for everyone.

    The dressing room is quite drafty. Even though it was an unseasonably warm November day there was no getting away from the chill.

    Combating the chill was an electric heater which was plugged into one of only 2 power sockets.

    Yes, only 2 power sockets.

    So, if the idea of getting ready for your wedding in a chilly dressing room with very little power available for hair dryers, straighteners, phone chargers and so on then the Lantern Theatre is perhaps not for you.

    If, like Pippa, you can see passed all that then you are in for an absolute treat.

    The Courtyard Cafe Wedding Reception

    Today was a day of hidden gems.

    The Courtyard Cafe in Attercliffe looks, at least from the outside, to be quite small.

    Walk through the door and you are in for a surprise.

    By day the Courtyard is a cafe serving hot and cold food.

    What is unique about it is the fact that it is, quite literally a courtyard.

    You dine in the open courtyard area surrounded by interesting little shops.

    It’s a lovely outside inside concept and well worth a visit.

    What you might not expect is that the Courtyard Cafe by night becomes a magnificent wedding venue.

    Heaps of character, beautiful food and really friendly staff.

    Rocky and the Stage Dive

    Usually its the bride who comes with a photo wish list.

    Shots that they really wanted me to try to capture through the day.

    This time it was Dean with the list.

    Well, I’m always up for a challenge.

    First on the list was to recreate the final moment of Rocky III, a scene for which he brought boxing gloves to add to the authenticity.

    rocky iii

    Then he wanted to to do a stage dive and be caught by his groomsmen.

    Followed by a photo of the guys up on the balcony.

    And finally a photo of the other love of his life, a Ford Cortina.

    I had an absolute blast photographing this wedding.

    I think that will come across in some of the photos.


    Well, that was my last wedding of 2017, hope you enjoyed it.

    Look out for my 2017 retrospective coming soon along with plenty more articles on weddings, advice, photography.

    See ya next time.

    James

  • A Rainy Day Wedding in Barnsley :: Lisa & Simeon

    A Rainy Day Wedding in Barnsley :: Lisa & Simeon

    Lisa and Simeon’s Wortley Hall Wedding

    I had been looking forward to my first Wortley Hall wedding

    I had heard all about the spectacular grounds and beautiful scenery outside.

    Of course, this is Britain, so naturally it rained all day. 

    If you’re looking at getting married at Wortley Hall, check out my ‘what to expect’ guide:Getting Married at Wortley Hall :: What to Expect

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  • Where to start when planning a wedding

    Where to start when planning a wedding

    Where should you start when planning a wedding?

    So you’re trying to plan a wedding?

    Stop!

    Here’s my first and probably most valuable bit of advice.

    Plan a party, not a wedding.

    Let me explain!

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  • Sheffield Town Hall and Staindrop Lodge Wedding 

    Sheffield Town Hall and Staindrop Lodge Wedding 

    The story of a Staindrop Lodge Wedding

    I know I come across as polite and well mannered.

    Rest assured though, I grew up around the beauty industry.  I have seen and heard it all, very little shocks me.

    Having said that, Becky’s bridesmaids put in a concerted effort to break through my well trained demeanour.

    My poor Unmanned Corner Cam saw things no camera should ever see.  I guess I was asking for that by leaving it in a mostly empty room rather than in a busy room where I would usually set it up.

    In all honesty I had a great time from the start.

    I could tell straight away that this was not going to be a dull day.

    By the way, if you want to see the collection from the Unmanned Corner Cam you are going to have to speak to Becky and Jordan, they ain’t going on my Facebook page ;-).

    St Paul’s Mercure Hotel, Sheffield

    st pauls mercure hotel sheffield

    My day began in St Paul’s Mercure hotel in Sheffield City Centre, where Becky and team had stayed the night before and were now getting ready.

    It was pretty calm overall.

    Makeup was going on, hair was being curled and spirits were high.

    Speaking of make-up, the make-up artist had brought along a pretty hefty studio light to help her do her job in the otherwise quite dark hotel room.  It made for a few interesting prep shots which I usually wouldn’t get.  I don’t tend to bring much lighting gear to hotel rooms because I like to be discrete as well as able to leave quickly, so this was an interesting opportunity to try something a little different.

    The Wedding Ceremony at Sheffield Town Hall

    I am no stranger to weddings at the Town Hall in Sheffield.

    Even though I have covered weddings here numerous times before (see them on the blog here) I get a slightly different experience each time.

    Not having to worry about last minute parking in Sheffield City Centre on a Saturday afternoon was a pleasant change this time around.

    I did see something new actually.

    Whilst reading the vows for Becky and Jordan to recite, the celebrant actually said the Best Man’s name instead of the Groom’s.

    Suffice to say, talk of this little faux-pas carried on late into the evening.

    Staindrop Lodge

    We spent a bit of time in the Peace Gardens in Sheffield after the ceremony.

    We took a couple of snaps whilst everyone had a little chat and a catch-up, then the newlyweds made their way off in their wedding car to Staindrop Lodge.

    Staindrop Lodge in Chapeltown is a lovely little spot ideal for smaller weddings.

    I didn’t experience the wedding meal so I can’t comment on that, though I can tell you the burgers from the bar menu are fantastic!

    The staff were all very good too as far as I could tell.  Everyone I spoke to was very helpful and accommodating.

    So, the wedding party spend the remains of the day at the Staindrop Lodge enjoying the mild weather and flowing drinks.

    At night the DJ set up his stall and the party got going.  I left around the time the ties were being tied around the foreheads, nobody needs photos of that ;-).

    Highlights from the Gallery


    See ya next time.

    James

  • Lyndsey & Steve’s Superhero Themed Whitley Hall Hotel Wedding

    Lyndsey & Steve’s Superhero Themed Whitley Hall Hotel Wedding

    Getting married on a bank holiday in Britain is a bit of a gamble, weather-wise.

    Luckily Lyndsey and Steve landed on the first sunny August bank holiday weekend since 1874.

    I have been to Whitley Hall hotel before so I was already excited about coming back, when they told me about the superhero theme I just couldn’t wait.

    So, here’s the story.

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  • Louise & Matt’s Kenwood Hall Wedding

    Louise & Matt’s Kenwood Hall Wedding

    Holy moly what a hot day to get married at Kenwood Hall.

    After having covered a wedding in Tuscany just a month earlier I figured I was now good and ready for all weather conditions.

    As Louise’s Mum pointed out, it was a different kind of heat than you get on holiday.

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  • Worksop Golf Club Wedding

    Worksop Golf Club Wedding

    Having only recently landing back home in Sheffield from a trip to Scotland I found it quite comforting to be back at Sheffield Town Hall, a wedding venue I know very well.

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  • St John’s Church, Ranmoor and Kenwood Hall Wedding

    St John’s Church, Ranmoor and Kenwood Hall Wedding

    I had some pretty profound thoughts on my way to Kenwood Hall.  More profound than usual anyway.

    Since Kirby and Danny’s wedding ceremony was in the early afternoon we arranged for me to arrive at the hotel at 8am.  That was fine with me as I usually prefer to arrive earlier rather than later so that I never miss a special moment.
    What made this interesting for me, on the way to Kenwood Hall Hotel, was that it was a Friday morning.

    To me, and I imagine to a lot of people, a wedding day is a special day; one that has been in the diary for months, maybe years.

    That special feeling makes the drive to the hotel feel important, almost prestigious.

    What got me thinking was when I realised that most of the other people on the road that morning were simply going about their regular day to day lives.

    Certainly the Friday feeling would be elevating the mood of the morning commute above other weekdays, still it was a normal Friday for most of the people I saw as I caught the early end of the Friday morning rush hour.

    I guess what I am getting at is, every day is special for someone.

    The Special Day

    On this particular day it was Kirby and Danny’s special day.

    So we started the day in Kenwood Hall Hotel in Sheffield, spread across multiple rooms as Kirby and her bridesmaids got ready.

    The ceremony was at St John’s Church in Ranmoor, Sheffield; a spectacular building and very accommodating to pesky photographers such as myself.

    Following the ceremony we headed back to Kenwood Hall for the wedding breakfast followed by an evening of entertainment by the amazing Paul Pashley.  I mean amazing by the way, if you can’t get hold of Michael Buble for your wedding day then you cannot go wrong with Paul as your second choice.


  • Burton Street Foundation Wedding

    Burton Street Foundation Wedding

    I always worry about having to travel into the city alongside the bride, having left around the same time as her yet trying to arrive at the same time.  I usually ask the driver to take their time, still they can park right outside whilst I have to battle for parking spaces alongside shoppers and city workers.

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