10 years of
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
2019 represents my 10th season working for myself as a Wedding Photographer. It was a massive step to take from a reasonably successful career into the unknown, especially with the financial crash happening all around me. But I’ve been lucky enough to go on to photograph some amazing people in some amazing places. I wanted to mark this occasion by looking back over the full 10 years and some of the pictures I’ve taken.
But pictures are not about me, they are about the people in them and their own personal story. Below you’ll find a collection of pictures selected by the couples themselves along with the story of why they have picked that one single image from their wedding.
It has been a fascinating exercise for me as the Photographer as often they are not the picture I would have personally chosen for them. Thank you to all the couples I’ve been lucky enough to photograph over the past 10 years, especially the ones who have shared a little bit of their own story with us below. They are not in date order, just the order I received them in.
Sarah & Chris
AUGUST 2009
A VINEYARD IN SURREY
“10 years ago this summer. The cliche ‘where has the time gone?’ gets over used. But really?! I remember this moment like it were yesterday…the first kiss! The look in Chris’ eyes and the happiness we felt are seen in my smile! The venue of our marriage was the small family church.
This picture reminds me of where we stood making those promises to each other. The same place my Mum and Dad did some 30 years before us, and my Gran and Grandpa before them. I love the detail the photo shows; details of the buttons on my dress, and the sparkle in the veil…decisions that were laboured over!
Nearly 10 years on, and 2 beautiful daughters later, we are still standing, and still love each other! Thanks for joining us along the way!”
Note from Cris – Much like another cliche, “You never get over your first love” I don’t think I’ll ever get over my first proper wedding. Thank you Sarah & Chris 🙂
Katie & David
JULY 2012
EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL
“It’s hard to pick just one shot, we love how this image of us walking down the drive at East Riddlesden Hall amongst all our guests really captures a moment. There’s lots of our friends and family milling around but David and I just look to be in our own little bubble.
Tracy & Jack
JANUARY 2015
ODDFELLOWS, CHESTER
“There are several reasons why this shot is a favourite.
It’s romantic and striking, and pardon the pun, timeless!
I love that having the time above us means that we’ll always know what we doing at that exact moment in our lives. I especially love that I grew up in Chester and walked under the Watergate clock countless times.
A lot of people don’t get married in an area they frequent afterwards and it’s awesome that when we head back to Chester that we get to walk under the clock and relive our day. The clock walkway is usually busy with tourists and here it’s just the two is us which is special.”
Abbie & Mark
JULY 2011
SOLBERGE HALL, NORTH YORKSHIRE
“Cris photographed our wedding in July 2011 and our wedding album remains one of my most treasured possessions. We have some of the photos on the wall, one of just me before setting off to the church and another of us both posing outside the reception venue in the sun where my husband looks like he’s the cat that got the cream. When Cris asked me to choose a favourite and give a reason I found the challenge so tough but the photo I have chosen is so special to me.The church was a 9 mile drive from the reception venue where I’d got ready in the morning. Me and my dad enjoyed the journey in style in a beautiful open top car; the sun was shining and the mood was serene.
Merle & Ant
APRIL 2013
THE PRIORY COTTAGES, YORKSHIRE
“First of all, I’ve probably at least five photos that I cherish the most out of them all, for different personal reasons. So it’s quite hard deciding.
Note from Cris – So nice to hear we were able to create such a special memory for you Merle. Your day was very special for me aswell. Thank you so much for trusting me with not only the photography but the fireworks too! It was one of our first shows and you can still watch the video of it here.
Sally & Dan
SEPTEMBER 2016
PONDEROSA, WEST YORKSHIRE
“Dan and I have been married over 2 years now.
It’s a tough decision to pick just one photo, as there are so many that we treasure.
This is my favourite picture although it doesn’t have my husband Dan in it! It’s just perfect my dad never ever lets any emotion show what so ever so for this look in his eye just melts my heart every time I see it.
The day definitely showed us all that he actually does have feelings. He made me feel at ease because I was terrified of walking down that aisle..
Thanks again for our special pictures“
Ali & Paul
SEPTEMBER 2018
HELLFYRE BARN, WEST SUSSEX
“It was difficult to pick just one favourite photo, they are all so amazing and are such incredible memories of such a wonderful day.
This photo we feel really captures the fun and relaxed nature of our day.
Paul and I had just driven down the long bendy track to our reception venue and having that time to process and realise we were married was amazing! I love how happy we both look at the realisation we are married.
All the photos Cris took in the Kombi Van were so fantastic, there is one where he even managed to get 5 children under 5 all looking happy, which is nothing short of a miracle!
We were so spoilt with our photos, we often look through them and can’t help but smile about all the brilliant memories.“
Margaret & Tom
MAY 2017
THE PRIEST’S HOUSE, NORTH YORKSHIRE
“I love so many pictures it was really difficult to choose.
I decided on this one because it captures perfectly not only how happy I was, and my family were, on my wedding day but it also captures the relationship I have had with my two brothers throughout our lives.
We always make each other laugh in almost any situation.
I simply love this picture!“
Suzy & Steven
SEPTEMBER 2017
THE PELHAM HOTEL, LONDON
“I love ALL of our wedding pics, I look at them every single day. This one however….. it’s not just a photo, it’s the emotion, captured perfectly, and completely natural. I got my man! Absolutely worth the wait, Love him to pieces, never letting go.
Would you like me to pass you a Kleenex or a bucket?? Probably a good job you can’t see Stevens face in case it was telling a different story“
Laura & Dale
SEPTEMBER 2014
NUNSMERE HALL HOTEL, CHESHIRE
“We were so pleased when Cris said that he was available to take our wedding photographs. I knew his wife and had followed his work for a while knowing that if I ever got married they were the types of photographs I would want to capture our special day.
We were over the moon with all of our photographs so it was very difficult to choose just one. We chose this picture as it captures the moment perfectly. This photograph was taken just as the sun has gone down after our day time reception, it was the first moment that we had had all day to just take a breath and reflect on the day so far.
Secondly we feel it captures our love and feeling for each other perfectly, we had had a rough few weeks leading up to our wedding loosing someone very special to us and we feel that this photograph encompasses our strength and connection as a couple.
Cris is an amazing photographer who is able to capture the most intimate moment perfectly. Thanks to him we will always have perfect memories of our wonderful day.“
Laura & Steve
SEPTEMBER 2010
CLOCK BARN HALL, SURREY
“Wow, I can’t believe it’s been over 8 years since we got married! Cris totally captured the essence of our day in some of the most amazing photographs.
Looking back on them, they bring real joy and wonderful memories. This one in particular is one of our favourites as it was during Steve’s speech. He had just announced he had a ‘happy wedding day’ card for me from the money guru Martin Lewis (who had indirectly played a role in me meeting Steve 18 months before!). This picture really captures the love and delight I felt at that time and even now, brings it all rushing back to us both.
Thank you again Cris, we couldn’t have asked for anyone better to take our photos! “
Tanya & Huw
DECEMBER 2014
MIDDLETON LODGE, NORTH YORKSHIRE
“With such a fantastic and diverse set of pictures from our wedding day it was hard to pick just one
…..but for Cris to capture us both with the spectacular firework display brings back fabulous memories of the love, laughter and celebration of our special day.
Everyone who has seen this photo has commented on how amazing it is and we have yet to see another photographer manage to produce an image as powerful as this one.
We can’t thank Cris enough for the beautiful photographs that we are able to look at with very fond memories.“
Dawn & Duncan
JULY 2014
AN ACTUAL BARN! LINCOLNSHIRE
“The most precious thing I remember from our wedding was a feeling of joy and happiness. My face hurt as I went to bed that night after an amazing day! This is why after much deliberation I have chosen this photograph from all of the wonderful images that Cris captured.
Duncan and I both love music and so the opportunity to have a gospel choir perform in church in our sleepy little rural village in Lincolnshire was one we had to grasp. I remember dancing down the aisle as their singing filled every nook and cranny of the nave. The congregation joined in, eventually even Duncan felt relaxed enough to throw some shapes and my Niece jumped out of her aisle to bust a move!
The feeling of joy was palpable and it’s this feeling Cris has captured so well. All rules and formality discarded and replaced with relaxed feelings of happiness and freedom all because of the transformative power of music, singing and dance in a beautiful powerful building.”
Natalie & Simon
JUNE 2017
ELMORE COURT, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
“This picture is simply special to us because it captures many things about our wedding day that we wanted to encompass in one place. We chose to work with Cris due to his unique style and feel for a situation allowing capture of a specific moment that without being “behind the scenes” you as a couple do not even get to see either.
The Ball Room was hidden from guests the whole evening with people wondering what was happening behind there and it builds a level of anticipation and excitement.
Our Best Man can be seen to the left and he was the only one privy to the band and awesome dance space that lurked behind. Cris worked himself into a position without us knowing and created this unique Sphere – almost MC Escher esque photo of us just as the curtains were peeled back to reveal our more than nervous ‘1st dance”.
What Cris managed to do throughout the day was make Natalie at ease being a less than natural “poser” and sneak in and generate awesome artistic shots by the dozen – simply for us this was our favourite – classic colour of black and white – revealing a moment – beaming smiles and a real moment of jubilation we both hold very dear.”
Danielle & Mike
DECEMBER 2011
PECKFORTON CASTLE, CHESHIRE
“My husband, Mike, and I booked Cris to take our wedding pictures in 2010, and shortly after found out that we were expecting a baby. We had to delay the wedding by a year and Cris was amazingly supportive, and even came and did some “bump” shots for us and some gorgeous newborn pictures when our son, Jake, finally arrived – which still adorn the Grandparents’ walls to this day.
Our wedding was at Christmas the following year and to say picking a “favourite” photograph has been hard to do is an understatement. There were so many lovely ones of Mike and I, of us with Jake and of our family and friends enjoying the day. I know it was mine and Mike’s wedding day and I should really pick one of us (sorry hubs) but my favourite picture is one of Jake and I at the night do. For us to have Jake with us on our wedding day was amazing and this picture sums it up for me. It’s one of those pictures we didn’t even know were being taken, but it is quite simply priceless.
I honestly can’t thank Cris enough for our pictures – they are some of our most treasured possessions and capture memories that will live on, not only on our walls but in our hearts, for all time.”
Michelle & James
OCTOBER 2010
THE MIDLAND HOTEL, MANCHESTER
“Cris was recommended to us by a friend of mine and from the minute we met and saw his work we knew he had to be our photographer.
Our wedding was in the October of 2010, a crazy amazing day from start to finish, and our wedding album captures the emotion of the day exactly, its full of wonderful images of us, family, friends and some lovely intimate, otherwise unseen moments. I jump at the chance to show it to people still, any excuse to be transported back.
There are a number of pictures we love from the day – But the one we chose is of our first dance. It was getting later and I remember feeling in that moment that we were the only 2 people in the world, just us in a wonderful loved up bubble ready to take on whatever life had in store.
We love that my Dad and James’ Mum are looking on waiting to join us, big smiles, full of pride.
It’s a beautiful image of love that brings back amazing memories and perfectly captures the spirit of our perfect wedding day.”
Lyndsey & Craig
SEPTEMBER 2011
SANDHOLE OAK BARN, CHESHIRE
“I’ve picked that picture because it was one of the 1st that Cris sent us as a preview on the day of the wedding.
I loved my dress so much and I loved the way it looked in the picture. I really felt like a superstar that day and the image just really captured that for me.
I was so excited to show everyone as soon as Cris sent it, and it really increased the anticipation of receiving the rest of the images that he took. I am never going to have the opportunity to wear a dress like that again, so thank you for capturing it in all it’s glory! “
Laura & Jay
FEBRUARY 2012
WEST TOWER, AUGHTON
“This is one of my favourite pictures from our wedding day on the 4th February 2012 at the West Tower in Aughton. I think the picture really shows the love in our eyes for each other after being childhood sweethearts. Cris took so many beautiful pictures of our special day and we have many precious memories.
Something that is so important after the worst year of our lives in 2018 involving us losing our daughter Isabella who was stillborn following life saving surgery for myself. It was during my recovery, through the hardest time when we were looking at our wedding pictures and it gave us hope to try to get back to that happy time again and to re-new our vows once I’m well enough! Our little boy Oscar has never forgiven us for getting married before he was born! We certainly know who we would want to do our photography for us that’s for sure! “
Claire & Sam
DECEMBER 2013
THE WALLED GARDEN AT BEESTON FIELDS
“We love this photo (hard to pick our fave!) as it just captures the venue we were married at perfectly. The walled garden at Beeston Fields had only just opened for weddings and the gorgeous archway was one of the reasons we loved our venue!
We re visit often when there is a winter fair on and I love standing under the arch with our 2 little girls now and reminiscing on a very special day! You captured so many lovely moments and this was a special one, just the two of us, away from all the chaos and fun going on inside the marquee! Thanks Cris ! “
Katy & Matt
JUNE 2016
HORNINGTON MANOR, YORKSHIRE
“It took us some time to choose our favourite photo as there are many we find special for different reasons. However, we love this photo as it brings back memories of walking out of church and feeling like we were on cloud nine, realising we had just got married!
We love the bright colours, and despite the ‘staged’ confetti throw, the image looks very natural. It also captures so many of our friends and family and we never get tired of zooming in to look at the expressions on their faces.
This has been a lovely excuse for us to look through the wonderful photos Cris took again!”
Abi & Jon
OCTOBER 2014
MEOLS HALL, SOUTHPORT
Bianca & Phil
AUGUST 2011
NEW HALL HOTEL, SUTTON COLDFIELD
“It was the lovely stroll around the grounds of New Hall, when we had a quiet moment to ourselves and I think this shot captured the joy and fun of the day.
When we catch up with friends they still mention the copious amounts of champagne there was at our wedding and how everyone had a great time.
Every anniversary we celebrate with a bottle (or two) of Billecart Salmon!“
Claire & Tom
JULY 2016
TREVOR HALL, LLANGOLLEN
Alison & James
APRIL 2014
WOODLANDS HOTEL, LEEDS
“I can’t believe its nearly been 5 years since our amazing day. When James and I spoke about your request this picture immediatley camr to mind.
CONTACT DETAILS
07595 353522
hello@crismatthews.com
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