Let's take a trip back to the vibrant 1980s! I was a shy, fresh-faced young lad at school, and in my class was a fantastic girl named Karen. She was truly great! But then we left school and had to be grown ups. I never saw her again... that is, until her son Lewis tied the knot with Hayley at Hollins Hall in 2024! I'd love to say neither of us had aged, but it's clear the years have been especially kind to Karen.
So, picture this: I'm playing wedding planner for my school buddy's son. I had a little online chinwag with Hayley and Lewis, and we decided to do a pre-wedding photoshoot at Ogden Waters in Halifax. As we strolled around the reservoir, dodging puddles, we chatted about their grand plans for the big day. It had been raining cats and dogs recently, so we wisely opted for the less swampy paths.
After the pre wedding shoot, as is normal, i like to arrange a chat and go through timings and check I have the correct date. Imagine turning up on the wrong date.
And now, onto the big day! The venue was Hollings Hall, a stunning golf and country club. It's an absolutely beautiful location that offers perfect options for capturing amazing photos! https://www.hollinshallhotel.co.uk
I kicked off my day hanging out with Hayley, her sister Kirsty who was maid of honour, Kirsty's daughter Millie the flower girl, Georgia who was the bridesmaid and Hayley's mum Linda, snapping some "getting ready" shots and soaking up the room's atmosphere. I swear, Hayley was handling everything so smoothly, she could've been sipping tea in a tornado. Meanwhile, I peeked out the window and spotted Lewis hustling away, still putting the final touches on the wedding—talk about dedication!
Once Lewis finally unloaded the car, I headed to his room where I found Lewis, his brother Harrison, and Dad Neil in a state of zen-like calmness. They were like a well-oiled machine, assisting each other with their ties and looking as if they just stepped out of a "Dapper Dudes" magazine.
We had some time to kill before the big “I do” shindig, so I bounced over to Haley's room to check out the pre-wedding shenanigans. There she was, rocking the wedding dress like a superstar. Cue the emotional soundtrack, because it was time for Nigel, Haley's dad, to see her all decked out for the first time. This moment always gets me.
Time to dash down the stairs, burst outside, and snap some shots of the lads looking dapper in their wedding gear. I absolutely love capturing the guys before the big "I do," strutting their stuff and cracking jokes. But here's a pic of his brother and best man, Harrison, keeping it classy!
Alright people, it's showtime for the ceremony. Now, what happened next was a plot twist I never saw coming in all my wedding gigs. Picture this: all the guests are parked in their seats, Lewis is sweating bullets waiting for his stunning bride Hayley to strut down the aisle. But wait—what's that? Her voice booms over the speakers! Yep, Hayley had cooked up a surprise message for Lewis before making her grand entrance. I'm not kidding, my lip was doing the cha-cha, guests were getting misty-eyed, and Lewis looked like he was about to melt into a puddle from the heart-melting message Hayley sent his way. It was a blockbuster start to the ceremony!
Hayley walked down the aisle like she was on a mission to marry her future husband, who was still reeling from that voice message bomb she dropped. The ceremony was fabulous, and before you could say "I do," it was all wrapped.
Right after the ceremony, I herded everyone outside for the grand confetti explosion—because who doesn't love a little paper shower? Then, like a wedding ninja, I snapped the full group photo so everyone could kick back, relax, and enjoy an afternoon of sunbathing and mingling in the glorious sunshine.
As much as I'd love to sit back relax and enjoy the sunshine, I had to snap back to reality and remember why I was there. So, after capturing the smaller family moments, Hayley, Lewis, and I set off on a grand tour of Hollins Hall to snag some photos and give Hayley and Lewis a little alone time—because, let's face it, they deserved a break from every body wanting a piece of them.
We wrapped up the photo session with some time to spare before the wedding breakfast, giving Hayley and Lewis a chance to schmooze around. Meanwhile, I sneaked around to snap some candid shots of the unsuspecting guests.
Next up was the wedding breakfast, where the newlyweds made their grand entrance like royalty, and we all dove straight into the speeches. The speeches were delivered with such flair, you'd think they were auditioning for a comedy club. Lewis even handed out some quirky gifts, probably to bribe everyone for their support!
Thanks for the grub! It was just the fuel my energy tank needed to turbocharge me through the second half of the day.
Throughout the entire wedding day, the outdoor lighting decided to play dress-up, giving us new photo ops. As if Hayley and Lewis hadn't had their fill of my camera antics, we hopped on a golf caddy for a bonus round of snapshots. This time, we invaded the golf course, where one of the holes featured a charming viaduct backdrop. We may have delayed a few golfers while capturing our masterpieces, but they were surprisingly patient—probably because they didn't want to end up as accidental photo-bombers!
The day was zooming by, so I grabbed my trusty checklist to make sure I hadn't left my brain in yesterday.
As the evening reception kicked off, the room packed tighter than a clown car with extra evening guests. They arrived just in time to catch Hayley and her dad busting out their dad-daughter dance moves, followed by Hayley and Lewis very romantic first dance without stepping on each other's toes.
Well, folks, that was the grand shindig of Hayley and Lewis at Hollins Hall! It was like a school reunion with Karen. Hayley and Lewis? Oh, they breezed through the day like pros, soaking up every hilarious moment. I'm pretty sure they've got a treasure trove of memories that'll last longer than a fruitcake at Christmas. This wedding was a blast, jam-packed with giggles, and everyone having a ball with the day's festivities!
Wishing you both an amazing future filled with all the happiness you truly deserve—it's definitely coming your way!
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