A Glance Back at 2012

Another year over and I thought I'd take this opportunity to have a glance back at what happened in 2012.

I was looking forward to photographing some familiar venues and some new venues.

The first wedding of the year saw me back at Linden Hall again, after having my first ever bride stopping traffic as she walked to church.

I was also back at one of my favourite venues, Dissington Hall, for an absolutely gorgeous late summer wedding.

I was really pleased to be back at Embleton Hall as well, which is where I got married.

Of the new venues, I was really looking forward to photographing a wedding at the Great North Museum in Newcastle. After the ceremony, the museum closed and the guests were able to wander around on their own. I got some interesting shots of people looking at the exhibits.

Another new venue for me was the stunning Newton Hall. A fun beach pre-wedding shoot and some great beach shots on the wedding day.

Aside from the weddings, I was involved in the Oxfam International Women's Day in Morpeth back in March and was extremely honoured to be a finalist in the Wedding Guide's Awards for Excellent Customer Service in September.

I was also involved in my first ever styled photo shoot - A Medieval Banquet. More photos will follow soon!

I have had the privilege of photographing lots of fantastic couples this year and have met some great suppliers and friends through networking. I'm looking forward to meeting more great people in 2013 and hope everyone has a fabulous New Year!

Thank you to everyone for reading my blog over this year. Gillian x

 

White Swan Titanic Wedding

The Olympic Suite in the White Swan Hotel in Alnwick is so called because it's panelling, mirrors, ceiling and stained glass windows are from the first class lounge of the White Star liner Olympic. When it was retired in 1935 Olympic's fittings were auctioned off and the owner of the hotel at that time, Algernon Smart, bought elements of the first class lounge, the aft staircase and a revolving door which are all in the hotel.

The first class lounge was identical to Olympic's sister ship Titanic. It was this theme of luxury liners which ran through the whole of this wedding day.

A bridesmaid having her hair done.

I love the profile of the bride's eyelashes against the white wall on this photo.

As the bride was having her veil put in, her mum came into the room and saw her in her dress for the first time. Tears all round!

Above, the invitations by Silver Birch Designs, had a bit of history about the hotel and the link to the Olympic and Titanic.

Guests relaxing in the bar before the ceremony.

The page boy coming down the stairs in style. He was such a little star.

The page boy led the bridal procession into the ceremony, then did another lap of the room.

This couple only wanted a couple of group photos so they had plenty of time to mingle as they didn't like having their photograph taken.

We did spend a little time outside for photos of the couple. I'd already done a pre-wedding photo shoot with them which had prepared them for having their photograph taken.

Just time before the meal to pop in to photograph the cake. This is a show cake from House of Cakes. It's not a real cake...hard to believe.

All of the table names were luxury liners, and the photograph next to the cake was one I'd taken on the pre-wedding photo shoot.

The bride's dress was from Bride's Dream.

The room looked lovely with candelabra centrepieces by Wedding Flowers For You.

I photographed the speeches then left everyone to their enjoy their meal.

Gillian Cross Photography.

Something Different

This is a photo from a shoot I did for The Art House gift shop. I hope it gets you in the Christmas mood!

Gillian Cross Photography

Photo Friday #42

This picture is on the wall of the White Swan Hotel in Alnwick. It sums up the glamour and luxury of their beautiful Olympic Suite which was once the panelling in one of the lounges of the sister ship of the Titanic.

Gillian Cross Photography

Newton Hall Wedding

Newton Hall is a Georgian Hotel on the beautiful Northumberland coast. It is luxurious and quirky and I was looking forward to photographing this fabulous wedding.

The day started at the bride's house with some funky shoes and the groom's artwork on the wall.

Some mother-daughter make up time and the bride's mum in her dressing gown.

One final check in the mirror before it was time to go.

A nervous-looking groom was waiting at Newton Hall.

And so was a welcoming party for the bride.

A quick spray of perfume and in they went.

The bride walked up the aisle to a guitar rendition of a Guns N' Roses' song...

...while her mum and daughter tried not to cry.

The couple were presented with a quaich when they came out of the ceremony. The groom had a sip, the bride had a sip...and then finished the whisky off!

While the guests enjoyed the sumptuous surroundings of the Hall, the couple and I followed the brilliant Concierge, Taylor, down to the beach.

Where we found a kissing gate, so couldn't resist a kissing shot.

Taylor drew a rather fabulous heart in the sand for us.

The bride owns The Stone Cottage Bakery cake company so she made their gorgeous wedding cake.

The room looked great over-looking the twighlit fields.

 

The signing frame was ready for guests' comments.

The couple chose a wedding photograph to replace the portrait in the frame and this is the finished frame with lots of lovely comments from the wedding guests.

I'm sure you'll agree a truly gorgeous wedding. You can see the couple's pre-wedding photo shoot here.

Thank you for looking.

Gillian Cross Photography