Louise and Simon contacted me after I had been recommended by a previous client's Mum, but - completely by coincidence - I've also been booked by one of Louise's bridesmaids to photograph her wedding in the autumn of 2018.

Simon is a big Stoke City fan but, apparently, the couple's choice of wedding colours had more to do with the time of year than his football club allegiances. Strangely, the church Simon and Louise had chosen for their wedding ceremony - Holy Trinity in Newcastle - has some interior design elements that look suspiciously like red and white stripes!

As this was a Christmas wedding, taking place within a few days of Christmas Day itself, you'll notice decorations in the background of some of the wedding photographs.

With preparations complete, the bridal party braved the icy roads and pavements to make their way into the centre of Newcastle to Holy Trinity church, where Simon, his two best men and all the guests, were waiting.

Following Father Paul's blessing, it was time to leave the church and head for the reception at Aston Marina, near Stone.

Louise's Mum had made the wedding cake, which was topped with miniature likenesses of Simon and Louise's Dachshunds.

When we went outside for the formal photographs, despite the day being sunny, it was freezing cold, so it was lucky that I'd done wedding photography at Aston Marina before. It meant that I could set up quickly, get the group photographs done without delay and avoid people getting too cold.

Back inside the boat house, the guests were entertained during the drinks reception by a caricaturist who drew their portraits on request, and also by a guitarist (who, by coincidence, I've lived next-door-but-one to for over twenty-five years).

After the wedding breakfast, though, the entertainment shifted to the speeches, which raised more than a few laughs - and gave me lots of opportunity for more informal wedding photography.

The entertainment continued into the evening reception, with the first dance being followed by Louise and her friends reprising the routine they'd learned for her hen night - dancing to Beyoncé's "Single Ladies".

And if that wasn't enough, local band Affable Chaps were on hand to make sure the dance floor stayed full.