Karen & Gary's Wedding at Hardwick Hall Hotel

There's something about Hardwick Hall that just feels like a proper wedding venue. As I turned off the A1 and made my way towards Sedgefield on what was supposed to be a grey late-summer day, the sun actually decided to show up. A surprisingly bright and warm day for the time of year, the kind of light that wedding photographers dream about. Soft, warm, and just a little bit golden even at midday.

I arrived at Hardwick Hall Hotel just after 12 o'clock, grabbed my bags and headed straight for the Celebration Suite where Karen was getting ready. If you've ever photographed a wedding morning, you'll know it can go one of two very different ways - beautifully chaotic, or beautifully calm. This was the latter.

I knocked and popped my head around the door to be greeted by the most relaxed bridal suite I've seen in a long time. The hair and makeup had already been done - flawlessly, I might add - and there was just this wonderful sense of calm excitement in the air.

Karen was sat with her granddaughter Lilly, who was also her Maid of Honour, and her two sisters and bridesmaids, Maria and Heather. There were glasses of Prosecco on the go, lots of chatting and laughter, and absolutely no stress. It's exactly how a wedding morning should be. I love these moments, just before everything really kicks off, where everyone can just breathe and be together.

I said a quick hello, didn't want to intrude too much at that stage, grabbed a few natural, documentary-style shots of the girls together, all laughing and chatting with their Prosecco, and then I made my way back downstairs and outside to await the arrival of Gary.

Outside, Hardwick Hall was looking absolutely stunning. The grounds were immaculate as always, and that warm sun was lighting up the old hall beautifully. I had about 45 minutes before the ceremony was due to start, so I positioned myself by the main entrance.

Right on time, a beautiful cream wedding car - a vintage-style Beauford - pulled up the long driveway and Gary stepped out with his Best Man Ian and his son Owen. All three looking incredibly smart in their suits. You could tell Gary was a little nervous - that lovely, excited nervous that all grooms get - but Ian, his best man of 49 years, yes, 49 years of friendship, had him well looked after.

Once out of the car they made their way straight to the bar for refreshments. Can't say I blame them. It's a tradition that I always love to photograph - the groom and his best man having that quiet pint before the madness begins. It's often the last quiet moment they get all day.

I spent the next 30 minutes working my way around the guests. This is one of my favourite parts of any wedding day. Before the ceremony, when everyone is arriving, there's this incredible building excitement. You get to photograph families greeting each other that haven't seen each other in years, couples getting dressed up for a big day out, little kids running around in suits and dresses that are slightly too big for them, looking very proud of themselves. It's pure, unscripted wedding photography and it's where some of the best memories are made.

Hardwick has that wonderful big entrance and bar area that lends itself perfectly to mingling, and there were about 60 guests now gathered, all chatting, all waiting for the main event.

After I'd worked the room, it was time to head back up to Karen's room. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. When I'd left earlier, Karen wasn't yet in her dress. Now, when I knocked and went back in, the atmosphere had changed just slightly. There was a little more anticipation.

And wow.

Karen was now in her dress and she looked absolutely stunning. She had chosen a traditional gown, full length, with the most beautiful fine embroidered detail on the bodice and a long, flowing veil that just caught the light coming through the windows of the Celebration Suite. It was elegant, timeless, and so perfectly her. You could see in her face that she felt amazing, which is all you ever want for a bride.

But Karen had a plan. She didn't just want to get into her dress - she wanted to do a proper dress reveal to her bridal party. I absolutely love it when brides do this. It makes for the most emotional photographs.

So we had a little bit of organisation to do. I arranged Heather and Maria, who by now were in their stunning emerald green bridesmaid dresses - a fantastic choice, rich and vibrant and looked incredible against the neutral tones of the suite - and Lilly, who looked gorgeous in a sage green flowing dress, slightly different to mark her role as Maid of Honour and who carried herself with such elegance as a young lady. I positioned the three of them with their backs to the lounge door where Karen was waiting.

"Right ladies, no peeking!"

I got them lined up so I could see all three of their faces in one frame, which is always the challenge with a reveal. I wanted that triple reaction.

I brought Karen into the room from the lounge and stood her just behind them. You could feel the anticipation building.

"On the count of 3, turn around."

"1... 2... 3..."

They turned.

There were tears. Loads and loads of tears.

Heather's hands went straight to her mouth. Maria burst out crying and laughing at the same time. Lilly, who had been so composed and mature all morning, just looked at her grandma with such love and pride and then burst into tears as well. It was such a beautiful moment between granddaughter and grandmother.

It was one of those moments that makes you remember why you do this job. I was stood behind the camera trying to keep it steady, and I have to admit, I shed a tear myself. I'll blame it on hay-fever, obviously. It's my standard excuse at weddings. But honestly, when you see that much love in a room, it's hard not to get caught up in it.

After the dress reveal, once we'd all composed ourselves and found some tissues, it was time for more portraits of the girls. The light in the Celebration Suite at Hardwick is fantastic for this - big windows, lovely soft natural light. We got some beautiful shots of Karen with her sisters, with Lilly, all four of them together. Lots of laughter now, lots of cuddles. These are the photographs that get printed and go on walls.

With about 20 minutes remaining before the ceremony was due to start, I had a very important errand to make. This is something Karen had asked me to help with, and it's those little personal touches that I just love.

I had to go back down to the guests and find a very important VIP - Eliza, a 2-year-old flower girl, and present her with a bag of presents from Karen.

Now, finding a 2-year-old in a crowd of wedding guests is not always easy, but Eliza was hard to miss. She was in the most beautiful little white dress, looking very proud of herself, up in her mum's arms.

I crouched down and gave her the little gift bag from Karen. Inside was a little book, a small cuddly toy, and some other little bits and pieces. She immediately took to the book, holding it tight while sat safe in her mum's arms, flicking through the pages. It was adorable. The guests absolutely loved it. I managed to get some lovely candid shots of her and her mum together, Eliza completely absorbed in her new book, oblivious to the fact she was about to have a very important job to do.

A few more shots of the guests - the men trying to figure out how buttonholes work, the ladies helping each other with fascinators - and then I started to get ready for the ceremony. We were down to about 10 minutes left.

Or so we thought.

I made my way down to the bar area where Gary was with Ian and Owen, just to check how things were going and to get myself positioned for the ceremony. I went to have a quick look at the Floral Chapel - the ceremony room at Hardwick Hall - to check the light. It's a gorgeous room, light floods in through the big windows, and it's always a joy to photograph in.

But there was a delay.

The registrars were running late. They'd been held up at a previous ceremony. It's something that happens more often than people think.

Gary was panicking in the bar, pacing a little. It's natural. Every groom does. "Where are they? Is everything okay?"

I was trying to reassure him - I see this a lot being a wedding photographer, don't worry, it just means we get a bit more time for photos later. Ian was doing a brilliant job keeping him calm as well.

The guests weren't seated yet - everyone was still mingling in the bar area and entrance, getting a bit fidgety but in that lovely British way where everyone just chats a bit louder and pretends they're not checking their watches. We were holding off seating anyone until the registrars arrived.

Finally, we got the message - the registrars had arrived!

There was a big sigh of relief all round. The guests were then invited to start taking their seats in the Floral Chapel, and I quickly slipped upstairs to the Celebration Suite to reassure Karen that everything was okay.

She was totally calm, bless her. She just smiled and said, "They're here now, that's all that matters." What a star.

And then we got the shout from downstairs. Let's go!

This is always one of my favourite transitions on a wedding day. The quiet calm of the bridal prep room suddenly turning into organised, excited movement.

I took some final shots of Karen as she made her way down the grand staircase at Hardwick Hall and along the corridor towards the Floral Chapel. Her sisters holding her veil, Lilly walking alongside her, holding her bouquet until the last second with such grace. These walking shots, the in-between moments, often end up being some of the bride's favourites.

We waited just outside the chapel doors - Karen and her party, with the registrars. I made my way into the Chapel and took my position at the front, so I could capture that all-important entrance.

The room looked beautiful. Light was flooding in through the windows and catching the dust motes in the air, the flowers Karen had chosen were stunning.

First to enter were Heather and Maria with little Eliza. And Eliza, for a 2-year-old, took her job extremely seriously. She had a little basket of petals, and she scattered them down the aisle with such concentration, giggling to herself as she went. It was perfect. Not too perfect, just perfectly real. Everyone smiled. You could feel the whole room relax.

Next was the main entrance. Karen and her Maid of Honour Lilly.

They walked gracefully towards the waiting Gary. The music was playing, everyone had stood up, and it was just one of those perfect wedding ceremony entrances. As Karen came down the aisle, I was watching Gary - it's my job to watch the groom at this point - and it was clear to see that he was filling up with emotion. His bottom lip was wobbling, his eyes were watering. Ian gave him a little nudge. It's a moment I never get tired of photographing.

Karen reached the top of the aisle, gave Gary a kiss on the cheek, and the ceremony began.

The ceremony itself was filled with so much love. The registrars, despite being late, were wonderful - warm, funny, and made everyone feel at ease. Karen and Gary had written their own vows, and they were heartfelt and genuine. There was laughter, there were more tears - happy tears - and there was that wonderful moment when you can just tell two people are absolutely meant to be together.

Vows were exchanged, rings were placed on fingers, the wedding paperwork was signed and then portraits were taken before the couple made their way back down the aisle married.

The couple made their way back down the aisle to huge applause, everyone cheering and clapping as they went.

Now we were fighting against time a little bit because of the late start. We made our way into the lounge for celebration photographs - hugs, kisses, congratulations - such a lovely, lively time with everyone together in one room.

After that, we made our way outside onto Hardwick's wonderful lawn for the confetti run followed by the formal group photos.

The confetti run at Hardwick is always spectacular. The lawn outside the main hall gives you so much space, and with the sun still shining, Karen and Gary ran through a tunnel of confetti, petals, laughter and cheering. We got some fantastic, joyous shots - the kind where everyone is mid-cheer and confetti is frozen in mid-air.

Straight after that, we moved into the formal group photos. Karen had given me a list beforehand - which is always so helpful - and we worked through it efficiently. Big group, family groups, friends, the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Everyone was in high spirits and very cooperative, which makes my job so much easier.

Once the groups were done, it was time for the bride and groom shots with the wedding car. We used the beautiful cream Beauford that Gary had arrived in, parked perfectly on the gravel driveway in front of the hall. Karen and Gary are a dream to photograph together - natural, affectionate, up for a laugh. We got some classic, timeless portraits with the car, some more relaxed ones of them just being themselves, laughing together.

And then we had to dash. Straight into the dining room for the mock cutting of the cake shots and wedding ring shots before the guests came in.

The room looked stunning. I have to say, the attention to detail was incredible. Amazing table settings, all meticulously planned by Karen with beautiful floral centrepieces and little favours for every guest. You could tell months of planning had gone into this, and it absolutely showed. It was one of the best-dressed wedding breakfast rooms I've seen at Hardwick.

We quickly got the cake cut photos done - Karen and Gary's cake was a beautiful three-tier semi-naked cake with fresh flowers - and some detail shots of the rings, the table settings, the room as a whole. I like to get these done while the room is still perfect, before 60 people sit down and move everything around!

A wedding party greeting line was set up at the entrance to the dining room and the guests filed in to be seated, congratulating Karen and Gary as they went. It's such a lovely moment, seeing everyone get their first proper look at the room and hearing their reactions.

After everyone was seated, Karen and Gary entered the room to a huge round of applause and took their seats at the top table. The cheers were deafening.

There were two speeches. Firstly by Gary, who thanked everyone for coming, thanked Karen's family, his family, and then spoke so beautifully about his beautiful wife. It was heartfelt, funny in places, emotional in others - a perfect groom's speech. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Again.

And then Best Man Ian, who spoke about his and Gary's 49-year friendship. Forty-nine years! He had stories from school, from their teenage years, from holidays, from nights out. He had the whole room in stitches, and then he finished with a really touching tribute to Gary and Karen as a couple. It was a brilliant speech, the kind that only a best man who has known you for almost half a century can give.

And that was my cue. It was now time for me to retire to the bar and have a bite to eat as well as a bit of a chill before the evening celebrations. On a full-day wedding like this, you have to pace yourself, and the Hardwick Hall evening reception was going to be a party.

If you've ever been to a wedding, you'll know there is always that lovely little lull after the wedding breakfast. Everyone has eaten, everyone is full and happy, glasses are being topped up, people are nipping outside for some fresh air or just having a good old natter at the tables. The formalities of the daytime are done, but the party hasn't quite started yet. And for a wedding photographer, that lull is absolute gold.

That's exactly what happened after Karen and Gary's meal. The speeches were finished, the plates were being cleared, and there was that wonderful, relaxed buzz around the room. I always tell my couples that this is one of the best times to sneak away for 15 minutes for some bride and groom portraits, because you're not missing anything and you get a little bit of breathing space together. Just the two of you.

So Karen and Gary and I had a chat and we decided to go for it.

Now, the original plan had been to head back outside. Hardwick Hall has those stunning grounds, the lake, the woodland walk, the gardens, and with the beautiful light we'd had earlier in the day, I was really hoping to get some dreamy, golden-hour portraits on the lawn. But weddings rarely run perfectly to time - especially when the registrars had been late in the morning - and the meal had over-run by quite a bit. By the time the meal had finished the light was fading fast and it was just too dark to get outside for photos. It happens, particularly at this time of year. You have to adapt.

And honestly, sometimes the best photos come from having to adapt.

Because Hardwick Hall Hotel inside is just as stunning as it is outside. Those grand staircases, the panelled hallways, the big windows, the warm lighting in the lounges and bar areas - it's a gift for a photographer. We didn't need to go outside at all.

So we stayed inside and made the most of the hotel itself. I took Karen and Gary around some of my favourite spots inside Hardwick - spots I know work beautifully even when it's dark outside. The main staircase with its sweeping banister, the large lounge with its gorgeous big windows still letting in the last of the daylight, the quiet corridors with those lovely warm wall lights that give everything a soft, romantic glow.

Karen and Gary were fantastic. Even though they'd had a long day already, even though they were probably ready for a sit down, they were up for it and they were so natural together. That's what makes a great bride and groom portrait session - not stiff posing, but just being yourselves. A cuddle on the stairs, a quiet moment by the window, a laugh when Gary whispered something funny in Karen's ear. We got some beautiful, intimate shots around the hotel - elegant, timeless, and because we were inside, they have a completely different feel to the bright, sunny outdoor shots from earlier. They are warm, romantic, and full of atmosphere. Some of my favourite images from the whole day actually came from this little 20-minute wander around inside Hardwick.

Once we were done, I sent them back to their guests for a well-deserved drink and I got to work doing what I love most - candid guest photography.

By this time more guests had arrived for the evening reception. The numbers had swelled from the 60 or so daytime guests to over 100, and the atmosphere had really lifted. You could feel the energy building for the evening party. The lights were a bit lower, the bar was busy, and there was a real buzz of excitement.

And the Magician had started.

I love it when couples book a magician for that in-between bit, because it keeps everyone entertained and it gives me the most fantastic reaction shots. This magician was brilliant - absolutely amazing tricks. Close-up magic, cards disappearing and reappearing, coins vanishing, watches ending up in impossible places. The kind of stuff that makes grown adults shout "No way!" at the top of their voices.

I spent a good while just following him around, photographing the groups as he performed. There were circles of guests, all leaning in, all trying to figure out how he did it. Lots of open mouths, lots of laughter, lots of "Do that again!" It was perfect for candid photography - real expressions, real reactions. I got some great shots of Gary's son Owen trying to work out a card trick, of Maria and Heather completely baffled, of little groups of friends huddled together whispering about how on earth he did it. It was a lovely, relaxed time and everyone was loving it.

There was still a good half an hour until the cutting of the cake and the first dance, so I just kept working the room, taking candid photos. This is the part of the day where I just become a fly on the wall. People chatting, laughing, kids running around with the extra energy that comes from being at a party past their bedtime, old friends catching up in corners with a glass of wine. These are the unposed, real moments that couples treasure years later - the photos they didn't know were being taken.

And then, come 8pm, the evening reception well and truly fired up.

If the daytime had been elegant and emotional, the evening was pure party.

The DJ - who had been quietly setting up in the corner - turned the music up and the disco started to play proper party songs. You know the ones - the ones that make everyone say "Oh, I love this one!" The dance floor lights came on, the bass kicked in, and the whole energy in the room changed in an instant.

And then came the foam sticks.

Karen and Gary had provided glowing foam sticks for everyone - long, colourful, light-up foam batons that you wave in the air. They are always a massive hit, and tonight was no exception. Within seconds, every guest had picked up a glowing foam stick - green, pink, blue, yellow - and the whole room was lit up with them. Kids waving them like lightsabers, adults waving them above their heads, everyone laughing. It looked incredible in photos - a sea of colour and light.

And then it was time for the married couple to make their entrance.

Now, this wasn't just a gentle walk onto the dance floor. This was a proper, dramatic entrance. The DJ announced them, the music went up a notch, and Karen and Gary came bursting into the room through the lounge doors to a wall of waving glowsticks, cheering, and clapping. Everyone was on their feet, waving their foam sticks, shouting and whistling. It was like being at a concert.

And they didn't go straight into a slow, romantic first dance. Not these two. Oh no.

They went straight into an energetic disco dance. A full-on, high-energy, let's-get-this-party-started disco dance. The DJ dropped a banger and Karen and Gary were straight into it - dancing together, laughing, twirling each other around, completely in their element. It was brilliant. The guests loved it. Everyone was cheering, waving their glowsticks in time to the music, dancing around the edge of the dance floor. It set the tone for the whole evening perfectly. This wasn't going to be a stiff, formal evening - this was going to be a party.

I was right in the middle of it, camera in hand, trying not to get hit by a foam stick while trying to capture the energy. The dance floor was lit up, the foam sticks were leaving light trails, Karen's dress was flowing as she spun, Gary was giving it everything. It was fantastic to photograph.

After that song finished - and I think everyone needed a breather after it - they went straight into the Cutting of The Cake.

The cakewas in the corner of the evening room, that beautiful three-tier semi-naked cake that I'd photographed earlier. Karen and Gary positioned themselves behind it, hands on the knife together, and the DJ got everyone to join in.

A big chorus of "3... 2... 1!"

And the cake was cut. To huge cheers and a sea of waving glowsticks. Confetti cannons would have been overkill at this point - the foam sticks were doing the job perfectly. Everyone clapped, everyone cheered.

And then, after the cake, it was time for the official first dance.

The music changed, the lights went down a little, and the atmosphere shifted from full-on party to something a bit more romantic and intimate. Karen and Gary made their way back onto the dance floor - centre stage now - for their official first dance.

And it was performed to perfection.

You can always tell when a couple have practised, or even when they just feel completely comfortable dancing together. This was beautiful to watch. Twirls, spins, close hugs, everything. Gary leading Karen into a perfect spin, Karen laughing as she came back into his arms, slow moments where they just held each other close and swayed, forehead to forehead, completely lost in their own little world despite having over a hundred people watching them. It was romantic, it was elegant, and it was so them.

I was moving around the edge of the dance floor, capturing it from every angle - the wide shots showing the whole room with all the guests watching and waving their glowsticks gently now, the close-ups of them holding each other tight, the spin with Karen's dress fanned out beautifully. The DJ had the lighting just right - warm and soft - and it made for some really magical images.

Towards the end of the song, as it was building to that big final chorus, the DJ did what all good DJs do and invited everyone onto the floor.

"Let's get everyone up here for Karen and Gary!"

Within seconds the floor was full.

I mean, full. From empty except for the bride and groom to absolutely packed in about ten seconds. Everyone wanted to be part of it. Family, friends, the evening guests, the daytime guests who had been waiting for this moment - everyone rushed onto the dance floor to join them for the end of their first dance. Foam sticks waving in the air again, arms around each other, big circle forming around Karen and Gary as they had one last dance together before being swallowed up by their loved ones.

And it stayed that way until I left about 20 minutes later.

The dance floor didn't empty once. Song after song, everyone was up dancing. Kids, relatives, everyone. That is always the sign of a great wedding party - when you can't get people off the dance floor. The DJ was playing absolute anthems and the crowd were loving it. The glowsticks were still going, the energy was incredible, and Karen and Gary were right in the middle of it all, dancing with their family and friends, beaming from ear to ear.

That's the time I love to leave, actually. When the party is in full swing and you know it's going to go on for hours yet.

I packed up my gear, had a quick chat with the DJ to say thanks, said my goodbyes to Karen and Gary - a big hug from both of them, which is always lovely.

I stepped out of Hardwick Hall into the cool night air, the thump of the disco still audible behind me, and started my drive home back towards Bishop Auckland.

Tired but happy.

That's how every wedding day should end.

Tired, happy, memory cards full of amazing moments, and knowing you've just been part of one of the best days of two people's lives.

Karen and Gary - thank you so much for having me as your wedding photographer. It was an absolute honour and a privilege from start to finish. I had the best day.

John - John Alderson Wedding Photography - Wedding Photographer covering Hardwick Hall Hotel, Durham, North Yorkshire, Newcastle and the whole of the North East.