twas totally impossible
to take pictures of this family without smiles and giggles !

here we see Naomi with a group of highly trained professional dress buttoners and lacers
working behind her.

Naomi, rushing to meet her bridesmaids.

does she look happy ?

 

silly question !

As luck would have it,
a vintage bus makes a rare stop, outside the Malmaison.

The bus route fortunately takes us directly to Gibside Chapel.

Uncannily, this is where the wedding is to take place.

wow - the power of coincidence !

I like the swirly shapes in the Malmaison doorway.

I'd place the style as Paris Metro / Art Nouveau.

Whatever style it really is - I like the swirly shapes.

So, Naomi obligingly makes more swirly shapes with her dress
to echo the swirly shapes around the doorway.

The bus arrives at Gibside Chapel,

then disgorges the wedding guests at the base of a short hill,

the bus, being elderly, finds steep hills to be a little bit of a problem.
hey - have some sympathy.
we'll all get old sometime (if we're lucky !)

 

in front of the bus - a young guest runs - transformed into a strange creature with a radioactive glow.

(yes - it's the bus headlight shining behind him)

The gentleman to the left is the self same fellow that we see photographing the vintage bus.

He just so happens to be Naomi's father, Phil.

You'll see him later on too - dressed somewhat differently for a short while !

The way being clearly marked,
the happy throng throw themselves
into a thoroughly brisk walk.

Waiting at the Chapel,
are a row of latter day cherubs,
peering from their balcony aloft.

Above, Naomi radiates her smile thus illuminating the gentleman to the right.

our vicar - hang on a minute - didn't we see him earlier, photographing the bus ??

All stand in the chapel as Naomi and her mum enter.

 

Bound in handmade paper and held in the hands of the guests - the orders of service are small works of art.

constructed by Naomi and Craig !

A register awaits - all completed apart from the signatures. the service goes on in the background.

A register being signed by a smiling lady !

 

 

Naomi and Craig's priorities being firmly in the right place - formal photographs are dispensed with in favour of a trip to an ice cream stall.

(actually- they arranged the ice cream stall - the guests loved it)

just two girls sharing a giggle.

Naomi and her mum Trisha
in the Malmaison Hotel.

Ah here we have another glimpse of the man who was photographing the bus earlier.

It's none other than Naomi's father,
who is also the vicar.

so . . .

father marries daughter . . hmmm . . .

 

I suppose we have to have some sort of family pictures.

here's one of 'em.

Unable to resist the architecture,
we take a couple of pictures.

No prizes for guessing that this isn't Gibside Chapel.

we're now at Close House.

The building has a rather swish staircase.

which we immediately take advantage of . .

Final picture in this series.

Naomi and Craig . . . .

a quiet moment on the stairs.

 

Thank you Naomi and Craig for allowing us to take part in your day.

and a very big thank you for the meal,
which was delicious !