Langley Castle in Northumberland, the Wedding of Louise and Benn

right. this is where it's at.

Langley Castle, Langley on Tyne, near Hexham, Northumberland

and if  you can't find the place from that description . .

there's no hope for you.

table - exquisitely decorated

one wedding cake, located, photographed . .

hang on a minute, can you see me reflected in that cake stand ?

look closely.

look really closely

I can't see the reflection either . .

spooky isn't it !

in the movies - no reflection usually means something like a vampire or a ghost . . . .

wedding flowers.

or wedding florists table decoration

or  . . well, you think of  a name for it !

I rather like it.

the room. completely prepared for the wedding breakfast

(the term = wedding breakfast has always confused me,

as a wedding breakfast is often eaten in the afternoon

however - wedding breakfast is a traditional term

and perhaps in the old days - they simply got up late or something . . .

wedding cake. detail of. cake shown earlier. . . .

one table plan

something borrowed . . something blue . .
a gigantic bloke (think rugby club connections here)

having his buttonhole twisted by a lady.

Benn and his best man just before the wedding

Benn to the left - best man - to the right, face hidden by beer glass.

special guest, Prince Harry

(or to give him his complete titlePrince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales)

adjusting a buttonhole

special guest, Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales,

checking the plans for the day

p.s. only joking here . . . it isn't really him !

(Benn, the groom, nabbed by my camera, looking extremely happy, just before the wedding).

Benn and the Best man.

I shin up a drainpipe and take a quick picture of

the guys and their girls outside

real reason for taking this picture

I liked the shadows, silly isn't it !

but it does make for rather a good picture

Louise, in her room, in her wedding dress.

I've taken pictures like this before - and am often asked to try to

replicate the picture - however -

they're all different -

on this picture - there's a really odd shaped pyramid apex

to the top part of the image.

which I like.

Louise. (you guessed that, didn't you !)

ah - the boys and the plans

and they're about to hop into the building for the wedding

meanwhile a string quartet is doing a glissando in the corner

and our Benn has suddenly became very serious

as this wedding thing becomes very real indeed

A vision in a wedding dress walks up the aisle,

accompanied by her father, and everyone turns to watch

the lovely registrar makes a humorous little quip

and gets reactions from the bride and groom

the registrars who go to Langley Castle are indeed good people.

most helpful . . . and always ready with a smile.

Louise says the words,

Benn smiles

and the best man waits for just the right moment

to get a giggle from the guests, by whacking the groom over the head with a blue cushion.

ah - those words must have worked - they're married,

and they get to kiss !

and heres' a bit of paper which proves that it is all real

one extremely happy bride and groom exit the room

flanked by Langley staff at either side of the door

who have dressed in suits of armour for the occasion

no caption needed

so this picture is . . . .

sorry - I did say no caption . . . .

(aw . it's a picture of everyone - but you did guess that, didn't you).

Right. no prizes for guessing that this is the bride and groom

the lovely Louise and Benn. married today at Langley Castle.

Louises mum notice a bride and groom standing together

she immediately swings into action with a camera

I kind of like the scene - so I take a picture too,

I think that it tells part of the story.

ah - this is the scene outside of Langley Castle,

guests strewn about all over the place

loafing about on chairs

enjoying the summer heat

(unusual in England, true, but it does sometimes happen !)

a slightly crazy (in the nicest possible way) bridesmaid

from Louises mum and dad.

they look like really proud parents.

trying hard to get unusual pictures of the castle

we hop around a bit and locate this little spot

ah - yes. . me trying to be creative with light

reflectors. . fiddling with camera

ooh . . that one seems to  have worked !

and on . . to the reception . .

remember that cake you noticed earlier . .

well - the couple are cutting it to bits with a knife !!

Right. this is champagne being poured . .

you know what this means ?

speeches . . !!

Benn fires his speech salvo,

Louise and her mum listen with smiles

whilst the best man, standing to stage left,

considers his response !

I use satellite tracking to follow the glass which was being filled earlier

and here it is - now toasting the bride and groom.

This is the wedding breakfast ongoing.

(I thought you'd like to see it !

so you can . . consider the atmosphere . .

admire the medieval walls

wonder where the bar is . .

(its at the other end of the room, those big spear or pike things on the wall

are pointing towards it).

I follow Louise and Benn downstairs

and go 'click'

actually - the camera makes that noise

but I don't tell everyone that . .

anyway - the camera goes click . . and captures a moment as they sweep downstairs . .

this feller is totally in love with this girl.

you can tell, can't you !

and then there is a first dance . .

and then . . well you know what happens next !

everyone else joins the bride and groom on the dance floor.

a final couple of pictures taken outside.

this was 3pm in the winter

(I'm fibbing, it was summer, and it definitely was not 3:00 pm

if it were in the winter, it might have looked like that at 3:00 pm though . . )

thank you Louise and Benn for allowing me the wonderful opportunity

of sharing your day

lots of lovely memories !