[Wedding] Amy & Neil, a love that will travel the world at Cubley Hall

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of photography Amy and Neil's Wedding. Amy and Neil must have booked me around 18 months ago  - so it's been a long time coming!

I started with Amy with her bridesmaids at Amy's parent's house. Her makeup was being done by her bridesmaid Nicola whilst hair was being done by Danielle, and dad was busy in the kitchen making us all awesome bacon sandwiches!

As I always find it was a lovely chilled out morning until about an hour before the ceremony then all of a sudden it was rush-rush! However regardless of any rushing about there was no stressing. 

However, there were a few tears and laughter when the bridal party were fully ready and Amy was ready to head to church!

Amy and Neil were married by Canon Simon, at St Saviour's Church, High Green - a beautiful ceremony with lots of love, laughter and a few tears shed by the family. It's definitely clear to see that these two are meant to be!

After the church, we did some close family photographs in the church grounds, before heading to the ceremony venue, Cubley Hall.

After we headed to Cubley and welcome drinks were had, everyone headed outside for group photographs before we then did some photographs of Amy and Neil on their own.

We headed inside the barn where the room was decorated in naturals, rustics and lace and looked absolutely stunning with the fairy lights.

The speeches were held before the meal, and this included lots of laughs, and tears - and of course embarrassing the groom as is only the job of the Best Man, who was also the groom's brother.

The wedding had a lot of travel themed influences throughout it as travelling is so important to the couple themselves.

After dinner, and before the evening reception started, we headed back out for a few more photographs of the beautiful bandstand and countryside at Cubley Hall.

We then went and partied the night away! I'm sure good fun was had by all there was definitely a full dance floor when I left!

Thank you, Mr and Mrs McCann, for allowing me to share your special day!

[Wedding] Suzanne & Scott: A Beautiful Family Wedding at Hotel, Van Dyk

On Sunday I had the pleasure of photographing Suzanne & Scott's beautiful Wedding at Hotel Van Dyk, Clowne.

I have known Suzanne and her big sister Katie since school, and their mum and my mum worked together, talk about a small world! 

I started with Suzanne and her bridesmaids at Hotel Van Dyk - after hair and make-up had been done where they had been staying the night before. Laura from Something New Wedding Specialists was there too to steam the dresses and dress the bridesmaids in the dresses that had been made specially.

Suzanne then got dressed in her beautiful Sophia Tolli dress with mum helping her into it.

We then headed downstairs for the ceremony where Scott and their son Lucas were waiting for Suzanne to walk down the aisle.

Suzanne and her Dad followed her flower girls and bridesmaids down the aisle. The ceremony was lovely, full of laughs especially as Lucas started to play the musical piano on the phone mid-ceremony! 

After the ceremony, we headed outside for drinks on the decking whilst the rain held off, before we started with group, family and couple photographs. There may have been one or two children bribed (with parents permission) with lollipops too but we got there in the end for all requested photographs! 

We headed inside where the room was beautifully set up in a white with blue accents and pink flowers to match the bouquet. The room looked so elegant.

After dinner were speeches in the traditional order of Father of the Bride, Groom and finishing on the Best Man's speech. We headed outside afterwards for a few more couple photographs whilst guests checked in and the room was turned around for the evening reception.

The evening started with cake cutting, first dance, lots of fun in the photo booth and live music played with the band. Whilst evening buffet was served we headed back out for some night-time pictures and played with sparklers too!

Thank you Suzanne, Scott and Lucas, for allowing me to share your special day with you! 

[Wedding] Zoe and Ryan, A beautiful day full of magical moments at Waterton Park Hotel

On Friday I had the pleasure of photographing Zoe and Ryan’s Wedding.

Zoe & Ryan booked me for their Wedding Photography back in November and soon enough the date came around for them to be happily married.

I started with Zoe and her bridesmaids at her parent's house, where her Dad and brother were downstairs whilst all the girls were on the top floor of the house. Hair and makeup were already underway when I arrived so it was a complete hive of activity.

All the bridesmaids wore beautiful one shouldered baby blue dresses whilst Zoe wore a beautiful beaded dress teamed with Jenny Packman Shoes and a cathedral length veil. I love dads seeing their little girls for the first time! 

We all headed off to The Parish Church of St Peter the Apostle and St John the Baptist, Barnsley for the Wedding Ceremony of Zoe & Ryan.

There patiently waiting was Ryan and his Best Man and Brother Neil along with the bridesmaids. Of course, Zoe had to fashionably turn up late - which is apparently normal too!

Zoe was walked down the aisle by her dad, following her bridesmaids and flower girl. Where Ryan waited at the bottom to see his beautiful bride. They sang two hymns, Morning has Broken and All Things Bright and Beautiful during the service as well as having readings before heading out as Husband and Wife.

After the ceremony, we headed into the church garden for Confetti and some family photographs before a few photographs of the new Mr and Mrs as all the guests headed off to the reception at Waterton Park Hotel, Wakefield.

Once at Waterton Park, we started with the rest of the group photographs before the Wedding Breakfast waiting to take the majority of Ryan and Zoe’s portraits until after Dinner.

Speeches were held before dinner, going in the traditional order of Father of the Bride, Groom and Best Man. Lots of laughs and tears were had by all during the speeches before the Wedding Breakfast was served.

After the Wedding Breakfast, Ryan & Zoe spent some time creating their couple portraits in the softer afternoon light. So much more relaxed after the hustle and bustle of the day goes by so quickly. 

I do love photographing Weddings at Waterton Park! 

Onto the evening reception, we had dancing and fun including magic by Jonathan Paul

Thank you for choosing me to be your Wedding  Photographer! 

Why should I book a Newborn Photo Shoot?

Newborn Baby Photography has grown in popularity over the years and a lot of people see these cute sleepy babies and it makes their ovaries go poof all over again. People think that babies just sleep all the time and that these photographs are easy to achieve. Let me tell you a secret - they’re really not.

Newborn babies are delicate. They have poor circulation and are unable to control their own body temperature. So booking a newborn photo shoot with a professional photographer is something that you should consider if you are wanting the type of images that they promote.

Like any trade, there are different prices and charges, different experiences and abilities, so choosing the right photographer for you is definitely beneficial. Not sure whether or not someone is working to a high standard? Check out members of BANPAS.

Booking a newborn photo shoot can be on the “to-do” list for a lot of people, however, not everyone thinks that they need to book in before delivering the baby.

Booking in before baby arrives means that you are guaranteed a slot with your photographer for when baby arrives. Here at Blue Lights Photography we only pre-book in a set amount of babies per month. This means that we have some wiggle room in our diary for early, or late arrivals. But not only that, it means that if parents do leave it until baby has arrived we might (not always) be able to fit baby in.

Babies grow really quickly. Before you know it they’re toddling around the house and we forget how tiny they once were, especially if we have nothing to look back on. 

A newborn photo shoot is not just for the baby. It is also to create photographs with older siblings, if this is not your first baby, and to create your first family photograph. I hear a lot of parents say “I Wish I had…” and yet many parents cannot get that back. Too many times are parents sleep deprived and worry that they’ve not lost their baby weight - let me tell you another secret - it won’t happen within the first two weeks, and your baby won’t care. Don’t miss out because of what you think right now - think of the future.

Capture the memories of when they’re little - because they’re only little once.

To book a newborn photoshoot either call 01226 872491 or email adele@bluelightsphotography.co.uk