Cragside near to Rothbury in Northumberland hosted the Wedding of Russell Dixon and Wendy Vink.
Cragside is now a National Trust property - which can be persuaded to host weddings . . .
Cragside was built in the Victorian Gothic style by an architect called Norman Shaw
(his buildings have a character of their own and are immediately recognisable)
the house was commissioned by Lord Armstrong, a man whose career began as a lawyer and ended as an engineer responsible for everything from shipyards to guns to turbines -
enough of the building - lets see the pictures . . . .

impressive building eh ?

and this is the back door !

A car swishes into the courtyard,
containing Wendy and her father, Pieter Vink.

this picture looks posed - as if the car is standing still,

not so - I'm about to be run over, and cartwheel sideways like an acrobat . . .

Wendy and her father Pieter emerge from the car and head for the wedding,
whilst the chauffeur in the background does a really good impression of the minister of silly walks . . .

(the chauffeur is a nice guy - from Antique Autos I believe)

In the picture above,
the brides father swings a punch at the registrar, whilst everyone else in the building looks the other way
(so there won't be any witnesses).

I'm joking here   

(I say this quickly so that I don't end up in trouble). .

Pieter is simply clarifying a point - he's asking - do I sit down now or later . . ..

and he's pointing oddly enough - at a seat.

so everyone looks at what Pieter is pointing at,

yes . . . . it's a seat . . . .

Hot day - just married - what everyone needs is a drink .

to the right - drinks being poured
as one bride and groom
emerge in a doorway behind the drinks.

this picture turned out well
you'd think that I'd planned it . . . .

Wendy and Russ make their exit from the building - clutching the all important drinkies !

It's a hot day - we don't want to dehydrate - do we !!

Matching Dutch bridesmaids - in deep discussion with family.

I'd hazard a guess at the conversation,

but I wouldn't understand it . .

(it would be in Dutch).

The Vink family - all the way from Holland

Ah - you note - they're too far from the camera,
either I can move closer or . . . .

Aaaaagh . . . those mad Dutch people actually did stampede . . . !

At this point I dived down a convenient manhole in order to avoid being trampled underfoot.

One person missing from the family line up in the pictures above

was Martin Vink.

Pieter Vink (brides father) explained that we seemed to have lost Martin.

never mind I said (not wishing to be trampled again)
I'm sure that we'll find Martin later on. . . .

here he is in the picture above - he was off in the bushes hiding . . . . . . .

odd choice of camouflage

but then again - if he hid behind one of those bouquets and sat in a bridesmaids lap -

he might blend in a bit better.

clever fellow - what a brilliant excuse . . . . . .

The Dixon clan - the English half of the wedding guests.

Detail of Wendy's hair decoration.

someone asked Wendy where she got it . .

she casually mentioned that she made it . .

Cragside looking rather dramatic with a lovely sky above it,
(Wendy and Russell are in the picture somewhere)

this was the hottest day of the year so far

there were two weather forecasts for today. one said - showers and rain later -

the other said - hottest day of the year - glorious sunshine.

I could do weather forecasts like that . . .
it might rain -
but then again - it might not . . . . . . errr . .

On to the reception,

Here we have the Master of ceremonies -
a Kiwi - who explained to me that personal space in New Zealand
consists of at least 5 metres - I asked
if sheep were allowed within that space ? . . .

he frowned and said . .

I make the sheep jokes around here.

The Wendy Vink owners manual . . .

friends have compiled and very professionally put together for Russell -
an owners manual for his new bride !

filled with vital facts - such as - the meaning of a raised eyebrow . . . .

the need for telepathy . . . .

what a flipping good idea . . . .
I wish I'd had one for my lady,
it would have been useful in the early days . . . . . . .

Russell and Wendy decide -
that due to the weather
(hottest day of the year so far - !)
the speeches will take place on the Grass outside - smart move !

Poppies . .

latin name . . . . . Papaver reddyorangyii

No . . . this isn't a picture from a gardening website - or a seed catalogue . . .

read on . . .

all will be revealed . . .

What can we say - the lady said she likes poppies . .

by pure chance - we pass a field strewn with poppies . . .
and immediately take advantage of them.

(even in this country - I don't think it's illegal to take advantage of a poppy !).

The couple being rock climbers -
this pose was no problem to them . . .

yes - that is the sea below them . . .

At this point I discovered that I was perched in a precarious position.

Russell pointed out that if I fell - I should throw the camera to him,
as it contained his wedding photographs.

I asked him 'what about me' - I'd get hurt
and anyway - I'm not a very good swimmer . . ..

he said with a smile - you're replaceable - the pictures aren't !.

hmmm - nice to know that I'm valued . . . . .

this might look like an odd picture
- well - there's a story . .

Wendy had explained to me that she really likes rocks -

(you have already noted that she and her husband are rock climbers !).

being in this part of the world - there's plenty of rock about -

it's just a case of being choosy and finding a clean bit of rock to play with.

so - we found some rock and played with it .

in case you're wondering - yes - the picture was taken 200 feet up a cliff and yes - I had to wear a safety harness - and yes - we used a very strong glue to stick Wendy and Russell to the cliff face . . . .
and yes . . . I'm pulling your leg . . . .

immediately after this picture - Wendy and Russell returned to join their guests
and partied on into the summer evening.

also.
last but not least . .

we found an old building to play with.

Theres nothing ordinary about these people,
or their pictures !