Journal Archives - Page 7 of 10 - Firehorse Photography & Filming by Simon Mark Whitten

14 Aug 2014

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Swinton Park Summer Wedding: Nadia & Eric (Part 02)

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On August 14, 2014 With 1 Comment

Following on from Part 01, is the second of these 2 posts showcasing the highlights from Nadia & Eric’s Swinton Park Summer wedding.

Whilst the guests were being ushered into the dining room, I spent a few minutes with Nadia & Eric getting a few pictures of them in and around the house & grounds.

The meal itself was accompanied by a sitar player and were some of the most heartfelt and emotional speeches I have heard this year with 6 speakers, – 3 from each side of the newly merged families.

Then it was cake cutting, bouquet toss and first dance with both a band and bhangra dancers. The photos probably don’t do this bhangra dancing justice as James at Cornerstone Cinema wedding film will no doubt demonstrate.

The evening culminated (for me anyway) close to 11pm with a dramatic firework display by Sirotechnics.

Full gallery with international print ordering facility available by clicking here.

05 Aug 2014

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Papakata Marquee Wedding: Sophia & Christopher Part 01

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On August 5, 2014 With No Comments

If you have reached this page via the Journal link, you will have been informed that the sun shone.

The temperature gauge on my car was rising by half a degree every 5 minutes on the fairly brief drive to the other side of Thirsk and Baldersby St James for the Papakata marquee wedding of Sophia & Christopher.

It topped out at 28 degrees C by lunchtime so probably climbed higher but never actually felt too hot.

The first thing though was cake. Specifically Toy Story chocolate cake. And ginger beer.
It was Xan, the bride’s brothers birthday the previous day and I was invited to join the family for the end of their lunch.
(Top tip, – make your photographer part of your wedding day and you get better wedding pics. Feed them chocolate cake and ginger beer, you get their best!)

Sophia wore a Charlie Brear wedding dress from The White Closet, Didsbury and was attended by her 2 bridesmaids, Nicola & Imogen in cream with floral headpieces by one of my very favourite florists, Lucy MacNicoll.

The ceremony in St. James’s church was conducted by Suzanne Jukes and followed by a garden party reception and Papakata marquee next door in the Old Parsonage grounds, the home of Sophia’s grandparents, more of which in Part 02 of this post.

05 Aug 2014

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Papakata Wedding, Sophia & Christopher, Part 02

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On August 5, 2014 With No Comments

Continuing on from Part 01 of Sophia & Christopher’s Papakata wedding is Part 02, the reception.

The garden party style reception was held in the beautiful & unique location of Sophia’s grandparents grounds of their house, the Old Parsonage in Baldersby St James, between Thirsk & Ripon in North Yorkshire.

Although the temperature was quite hot, there was plenty of shade within the garden and the heat never became overwhelmingly so.

Canapes and drinks were served on the lawn followed by the 3 course wedding breakfast & speeches in the Papakata teepee style tent with catering by the ever excellent Yorkshire Party Company who I work with on several weddings every year.

The evening entertainment was by ceiligh band Coila all the way from Ayrshire in Scotland with dancing late into the night.

Cake was by Bettys of Harrogate and a Yorkshire institution!

The couple will be honeymooning in New Zealand in the new year due to Army Captain Christopher’s commitments.

Full gallery with print ordering option available by clicking here.

27 Jul 2014

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The Devonshire Arms, Wenisa & Simon, Part 01

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On July 27, 2014 With 1 Comment

Part 01 of Wenisa & Simon’s wedding at The Devonshire Arms was fairly typical of a wedding day; a couple get ready separately, followed by a ceremony, followed by some form of drinks reception, followed by a meal followed by a hike…a 9 mile hike.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, – ‘The Hike’ will have to wait until Part 02 of this post as there are too many pictures I simply couldn’t leave out.

The day started rather dull, foggy and grey and the forecast although dry, didn’t appear to be anything special, but in fact turned out to be another warm and sunny day.

After a ceremony in The Cavendish Room, a drinks reception was held outside followed by lunch and speeches in what I call ‘the conservatory’ (and I shall look up exactly what it’s called, but it’s a very nice room).

Then it was all change for ‘The Hike‘…

27 Jul 2014

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Bolton Abbey Wedding, Wenisa & Simon, Part 02

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On July 27, 2014 With No Comments

Following on from Part 01 of Wenisa & Simon’s Bolton Abbey wedding, ‘The Hike’.

So a 9 mile hike from The Devonshire Arms up past Bolton Abbey along the River Wharfe to the area known as ‘The Strid’ and around in a loop back to The Dev.

Everyone did get changed into shorts and specially printed t-shirts for the jaunt, all that is except me who went on it slightly better dressed and at twice the speed as everyone else as I needed to get ahead, stay behind, photograph the walkers, photograph the landscape… to quote the youth of today, it was ‘epic’. Warm anyway…

After ‘The Hike’, it was all change for an evening meal and live band, ‘The Sweet & Lowdown‘ all the way from Brighton.

Wenisa & Simon then went off on honeymoon to Northumberland and Scotland before returning to their home country of Malaysia.

Full gallery including international print ordering facility available by clicking here.

23 Jul 2014

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Yorkshire Marquee Wedding, Helen & Will, Part 01

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On July 23, 2014 With 1 Comment

“Thank you so much for such great photos. We’re very pleased with results, they look great, and my mum watches the video at least 10 times before breakfast. We knew after last year that you would do a great job but you’ve exceeded our expectations – particularly with the weather!!” Helen & Will

If you have followed the link from the Journal area of the website, you will have had the weather report.

If not, here it is again: It will be dry in the afternoon, but wet either side.

The reality was rain from church to meal, but as always, the wedding continues regardless and though it has an effect, it’s rarely a major issue…and wasn’t for Helen & Will’s Yorkshire marquee wedding in Bolton on Swale last Saturday.

There was more than a little deja vu about this wedding as I had photographed the bride’s sister’s (Hannah who could have upstaged the bride with a baby due within 4 days!) wedding to Fraser last year at a similar time of year with prep in the same parents house, same church, same marquee and caterers, so there was always going to be an element for both the couple and me how to make this ‘different’?

Well the weather mainly sorted that one and as John, Helen’s Dad said, “different crop in the field this year”!

In fact the weather wasn’t as much of an issue as some might think and the results speak for themselves split over 2 posts/pages with Part 02 to follow shortly. A total of 250+ images…and these are just the ‘highlights’!

So Part 01 can be viewed here below with Part 02 by clicking here.

23 Jul 2014

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Helen & Will’s Yorkshire Marquee Wedding, Part 02

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On July 23, 2014 With No Comments

Continuing on from Part 01 of Helen & Will’s Yorkshire marquee wedding in Bolton upon Swale in rural North Yorkshire not so far from the market town of Richmond, here is Part 02.

Helen wore Suzanne Neville (which I think must be my bride’s favourite wedding dress designer based on the number of Suzanne Neville dresses I photograph!) with the groom traditional morning suit.

Hair and makeup was by of my favourite and recommended wedding suppliers, Debs of Love Hair & Beauty.

Floristry was a two-part approach with Huttons providing the bridal flowers and those in the marquee with a family friend (Lucy) providing those in church.

The wedding cake was by Eileen (confession, – I ate 2 pieces) and catering and marquee by CJC.

The band in the evening was the excellent ‘The English Gentlemen‘.

The couple will be honeymooning on the West Coast of the USA in September.

Helen & Will’s full gallery (these are just the extended highlights) with print ordering facility available by clicking here.

18 Jul 2014

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Crockwell Farm Barn Wedding, Hannah & Grant

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On July 18, 2014 With 6 Comments

Crockwell Farm was the venue for Hannah & Grant’s Northamptonshire wedding with a rural/barn setting to the day perfectly accompanied by glorious sunshine.

Hannah wore Ian Stuart from Chameleon Bride in Bournemouth with hair and make up by Jessica Nurse.

The groom a grey suit and purple & black top hat.

Floristry was by Sofia Pugh at The Green Room and cake by friend Vicky Mitten.

Catering was by The Chopping Block (and the roast pork was excellent thank you!) with music during the day by guests Jay & Ray and in the evening by DJ Pure Rhythm.

Hannah & Grant are honeymooning in the Maldives in November.

Full gallery with print ordering facility available by clicking here.

25 Jun 2014

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Charlotte & Ed’s Hampshire Marquee Wedding (Part 01)

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On June 25, 2014 With 12 Comments

Charlotte & Ed’s Hampshire marquee wedding took place in the delightful village of Hartley Wintney in Hampshire.

At least I think it’s a village…or maybe it’s a town as it’s quite large for a village…

Anyway, Charlotte & Ed’s wedding took place here on Saturday 21st June with a ceremony at St John’s church followed by a marquee reception at the bride’s parents house on the common.

This wedding, like so many that I cover, was a spin off from another, – Sam & Andy’s wedding that took place at Castle Howard in Yorkshire a few years back and it was great to catch up with them and a few familiar faces.

Charlotte wore a Ronald Joyce dress from Confetti & Lace of Farnham and Ed a morning suit complete with top hat.

Flowers were by White Lilac and the cake by the bride’s mother, Jocelyn.

A string trio played throughout the drinks reception and the evening band was Juice Box.

Catering was by Whitewater Catering and marquee by Carron Marquees.

The couple honeymooned in Zanzibar. Or The Seychelles. Perhaps both, – it was a secret!

The highlight of this wedding and what made it especially ‘unique’ was the bunting decorated walk that was created across the common, through the trees along a winding path between house and church. Absolutely delightful and a bit of a change from a white Rolls!

Part 02 can viewed here.

25 Jun 2014

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Charlotte & Ed’s Hampshire Marquee Wedding (Part 02)

Sticky Post By Simon Whitten On June 25, 2014 With 2 Comments

Continuing on from Part 01 of Charlotte & Ed’s Hampshire marquee wedding.

Why a Yorkshire based wedding photographer for a wedding in Hampshire?

Well the groom, Ed, is originally from Yorkshire, but that’s not why.
(“You can take the lad out of Yorkshire, but you can’t take Yorkshire out of the lad”!)

It’s because I photographed their friends, Sam & Andy’s wedding a couple of years ago at Castle Howard, just a few miles from my front door and it was based on the results from that job that I booked this one.

Also, although Yorkshire based, more than 50% of the weddings I cover are out of county, – anywhere UK-wide or overseas with an average 4-5 weddings per annum outside of the UK.

I do enjoy these ‘road trip’ weddings and it’s always inspiring to work somewhere new.

The full set of images can be viewed/purchased as prints by clicking here.