Natalie & Carl’s Wedding at Morpeth Registry & The Sun Inn in Morpeth
Natalie & Carl’s wedding was originally scheduled for a valentine wedding in February earlier that year but the 3rd Lockdown pushed their plans back until 17th July. They almost timed it perfectly but “Freedom Day” was delayed a month and they missed it by only 2 days. This meant they were restricted to no more than 30 people and masks would have to be worn at Morpeth Registry Office. But, if my memory serves me correctly, pubs were open for business as normal. So the reception was to be a casual affair at The Sun Inn in Morpeth.
Only our second wedding of the year, Natalie & Carl’s wedding marked the start of a very busy period of rescheduled weddings. It had been 3 months since our last one so we were really looking forward to it. The plan was a fuss-free, safe wedding which was to focus on Natalie, Carl and their two children Harry & Harley and only a minimum of extended family photos. We were then going to simply walk to The Sun Inn through Carlise Park.
Morpeth Registry Office
Normally a regular venue for us, we hadn’t been to Morpeth Town Hall for 2 years. It was like slipping on an old pair of comfy slippers. It was a beautiful day and turned out to be one of the hottest of the year. Lisa & I meet Carl & his budding best man Harry. Harry was ready to take his responsibilities very seriously. He would have to as he was his Dad’s only groomsman. I often get peoples names wrong and blame it on my dyslexia. After doing it a couple of times to Harry I promised him a pound every time I got his name wrong. It cost me a fiver that day. It was so nice to see family members arrive and see each other for the first time in, what was for some of them, quite a while.
Reluctant Beauty
We were slightly concerned when we met Natalie to plan her wedding photography. She was so worried about having her photos taken. I had joked that Lisa had just spent as much time chatting with Natalie as we were booked to attend their wedding. As usual, Lisa told me to shut up and that it would be worth the time. Natalie had always visited the studio in jeans & hoodies. So when she arrived with Harley, her daughter and chief bridesmaid, we were blown away. She looked stunning and shocked us all. We still had to watch our camera-shy bride as Natalie was uncomfortable posing. But with that plunging neckline and fabulous smile, we warned her we might have to push her out of her comfort zone. Lisa & I weren’t going to waste such a gorgeous subject.
Hot Hot Hot!
I’m not sure if Carl knew what he was in for before Natalie walked into The Ballroom at Morpeth Registry Office. It was already very hot, even with all the windows open. He had to mop his brow a few times during the service.
The family also watched the wedding by video chat. A common practice this year. The virtual guests were probably a lot cooler than we were. I was starting to regret wearing my suit as I got steadily more uncomfortable in the 27-degree heat.
We get on very well with the staff at Morpeth Town Hall so we would never do anything to annoy or upset them. But at times like these, sometimes you have to be a little cheeky to do the best for your clients. We sweet-talked a few extra minutes in front of The Ballroom’s fireplace. But due to covid, we’d been told not to linger on the staircase on the way out. So we didn’t arrange anything, we just sent Natalie, Carl & the kids down first. As it would happen, Harley needed to fasten her shoe. Coincidentally their guests just happen to walk by and everyone looked up at the right moment. How convenient! Oh and then their masks fell off for a fraction of a second but don’t tell Boris.
Messing about on the River Wansbeck
After some very casual family group shots, while fighting Saturday shoppers, we let all the guests head straight off to The Sun Inn in Morpeth as we escorted Natalie, Carl & the kids towards the river, armed with stale bread. During planning, Carl had mentioned how much he would have liked to go on the boats. Knowing her dress design, Natalie wasn’t sure. It was all decided as the wonderful boatman asked the question. It takes a special couple to be willing to risk falling in the River Wansbeck to make memories.
Carl jumped in the number 6 boat grabbing the oars and we manoeuvred Natalie and that fabulous dress into the stern. Who knew it would be me that would come a cropper. Carl was having trouble setting off so being helpful I crouched down to push them away. My wool suit gripped onto sweaty legs and I suddenly felt a draft of cool air around my nethers. My suit pants ripped from groin to arse cheek presenting my purple underwear to the world. Keep this in mind while you enjoy the rest of these photos. I soldiered on with Lisa wetting herself laughing at me for the rest of the day.
A Day of Surprises
In our planning meetings, Carl had mentioned that he had studied photography at college but had never had a chance to make it a profession. But he certainly still has an eye for it. Shooting in front of this graffiti was his idea as we walked to The Sun Inn in Morpeth. It took a little bit of photoshop to clean up the scene but it work really well and we loved these images. It’s rare for us to get to shoot urban scenes or a couple that appreciates something different.
We finished our walk through Carlise Park with some shots in the flower garden. I remember Lisa getting caught short and having to run to the Waterford Lodge to use the facilities leaving me to grab one of my favourite images in 2021. It’s of Natalie on the park bench with the Lavender in the foreground. Natalie looks like a movie star despite being so worried about having the photos taken.
The Sun Inn in Morpeth
After our little jaunt through Carlise Park, we arrived at The Sun Inn in Morpeth and reunited them with their family. The pub was busy with people enjoying the sunshine and their new freedoms. It’s a pub I’d always heard great reports about but had never had the opportunity to try. Natalie & Carl’s family were tucking into their meals under a marquee. It was great seeing a family celebrate something good happening together. It was a little infectious, pardon the pun, because Lisa & I didn’t want to leave.
Natalie & Carl’s cake survived the heat just long enough to get cut. Carl was melting too and everyone was working on their tan. Eventually, I had shown the gaping hole in my pants to everyone in the pub and it was time to leave. I think we definitely made an impression.
The day had produced some great images and we know Natalie & Carl loved them. The day definitely got us warmed up in more ways than one and left me hunting for a new suit during the great wedding suit rush of 2021.
