Micro Wedding Spanish City Whitley Bay

Tom Hibberd
May 7, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Sep 27, 2023

Catherine and Steven first contacted and booked me in June 2019, long before we had ever heard of corona virus! The plan then was for a pre shoot in April 2020 and the wedding was due to take place on 11th September 2020.

Things didn't go to plan, but then what did go to plan in 2020! The pandemic forced a few changes and so with the wedding postponed and plans looking toward 2021 the original wedding date of 11th of September 2020 was used as a pre wedding shoot with a few close family members. This was great as it gave me a chance to get to know Catherine and Steven and some of their closest friends and family.

We met at St Mary's Lighthouse where an hour or so was spent capturing some fun and relaxed images before going to the wedding reception venue Spanish City.

The beauty of a pre shoot is that anyone with camera phobia can hopefully use this to overcome that fear and be able to relax and enjoy the moment . This certainly worked for Catherine and Steven who on their wedding day I found adopting their poses before I even said anything!!!

We're getting married!!!

Catherine and Steven watched closely as the rules around social mixing and weddings kept changing until they decided come what may on 23rd April 2021 "We're getting married". Numbers were limited to only 15 but the day was going ahead. These low number weddings are now being known as 'micro weddings' just another phrase to come out of the corona pandemic!

A traditional marriage in the beautiful church 'Our Lady and St Joseph Church' New Hartley made for a beautiful setting and was decorated in their chosen flowers.

Looking dapper and relaxed, Steven arrived, checked his button hole, cufflinks and the rings before taking his place in the church ready for the arrival of his beautiful bride.

Now, traditionally and in my experience, brides like to arrive a little bit late and keep everyone in a bit suspense, not so with Catherine, I think she was about ten minutes early!! Not to worry, that just meant her bridesmaids had time to mess about with her!!

Time for the big entry, the tears of joy, the looks glanced between family and friends and an aisle that was so narrow the bride and the father struggled to make it down without pausing for a laugh and loving smile.

A huge bonus at this church was a viewing gallery looking down on the proceedings, this gave the chance to set up a second camera on a remote trigger and capture the ceremony from a different perspective, this doesn't happen often but gave some extra great pictures.

On with the ceremony and the exchanging of rings.....you will go on and I don't how much it hurts you!!

Signing the registry is no more!!!!

From May 1st 2021 couples will no longer sign the marriage register during the wedding ceremony, this is now all done electronically in advance of the wedding day. This was the last time for this church. There are many different opinions but on the whole my clients have all been against its abolishment. The signing broke up the ceremony, gave the couple a moment to relax and reflect, a nice photo opportunity for guests and just one of those traditional things we have come to accept and expect!

With all the restrictions in place and the many changes the bride and groom had endured I wanted to make as many memories for them as I could, so after the ceremony on the way to the outdoor wedding breakfast we stopped off at a couple of different places to make this happen.

The wedding reception was restricted under corona virus guidelines to outdoor dining and a maximum of 15 guests. The beautiful, picturesque and iconic Spanish City, Whitley Bay was their chosen venue and provided a fantastic and unique backdrop of settings. With only the bride and groom allowed in the premises for some very quick photographs I did my best to capture the spirit of the venue. Their wedding breakfast was outside and the staff did their utmost to ensure everything ran smoothly, well done Rachel.