Well, what can I say about Jennie and Jamie's day to start with? If you've been following along for a while you'll know I always check the forecast about 47 times in the week leading up to a wedding. This week, every single check said the same thing - rain. Heavy at times. Bring a brolly, bring waterproofs, bring a towel for your cameras.

I arrived for bridal preparations at Jennie and Jamie's house at 11.30am and it was... glorious. Bright, warm, beautiful late summer sunshine pouring through the car windows. Not what we were promised at all, but absolutely no one was complaining.

And what a lovely calm house to walk into. You know those mornings where you open the front door and you can already hear the music and the hairdryer and the excited chatter from halfway down the path? This wasn't that. Not yet. It was calm. Tea on. A quiet sort of anticipation. I knew, as we all did, that it wouldn't stay like that for long.

I arrived at the Radisson Blu in a light drizzle. The morning was overcast but thankfully not cold, and after gathering my camera equipment I made my way up to the bridal suite on the fourth floor.

When I walked through the door, I was shocked.

It was totally calm!

Now, there was a very good reason for my surprise.

I had met Casey about a week earlier to run through the photography arrangements for the wedding and, at that meeting, she had been in what I can only describe as full panic mode!

Some weddings are beautiful, some are unforgettable, and then there are weddings like Surbhi and Dale's, where two rich traditions come together to create something truly extraordinary. Today I had the absolute privilege of photographing not one, but two spectacular wedding ceremonies at the stunning Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington. The day began with a traditional British wedding ceremony before moving into a vibrant and deeply meaningful Hindu Vivaha ceremony, giving family and friends the opportunity to celebrate two cultures, two traditions and one incredible love story.

Blackwell Grange Hotel provided the perfect setting for such a remarkable occasion. Steeped in history, the elegant Grade II* listed country house dates back to the early 18th century and was built for the renowned Darlington industrialist George Allan around 1710. Over the centuries it has been home to influential families before being transformed into the beautiful hotel we know today, blending historic Georgian architecture with modern luxury while retaining its timeless charm. Set within acres of picturesque parkland on the edge of Darlington, it is one of the North East's most prestigious wedding venues and an ideal backdrop for a celebration as special as Surbhi and Dale's.