TOUCHING, EMOTIONAL, BRILLIANT AND HEARTWARMING. AMY & ANDY’S DAY AT THE HEPWORTH

Hepworth Gallery Wedding Photography Unity Hall Wakefield Amy & Andy

Hepworth gallery wedding photography. I’ve been buzzing to get these images edited and shared since Saturday and here they are. What a wedding!

Amy and Andy are particularly special to me as I feel really close to Andy’s family unit. I photographed his sister Katie’s Hornington Manor wedding in March 2017 when I’d just flown the nest as a solo photographer when I was still at university! They took a big risk on me, and I’ll always be so grateful to them for the opportunity. They then recommended me to their friends Katie and Nate. Then I photographed their friend’s Bea and Dom’s wedding in London, reunited with everyone again. Now Katie and Stu have a baby! Their other sister Sally’s married (who’s wedding I was already booked for, still gutted!), and now pregnant! It’s amazing to catch up with these brilliant peoples’ lives every year, and every time we pick up where we last left off. It’s pretty special, I just want the weddings to keep coming!

And now it was the turn of Andy to marry Amy, after 10 years since they first met outside the classic Leeds nightclub Space on A-Level results night. Nice. 

It was just the best and most uplifting feeling walking into this wedding, being reunited with friends left right and centre. I couldn’t have been more hyped to get shooting. An extra plus was that I literally rolled out of bed to get to the morning preparations. Both A+A’s parents live 5 minutes walk from each other in Roundhay, which is about 5 minutes walk from where I live! So it was a cosy lie in, and then off I shot at a nice 9.30am. 

Both sides of the morning were such a hoot. One of my favourite moments had to be Amy’s Mum revealing herself in this fabulous dress, and the girls going nuts as she turned the corner. It was such a brilliant, different dress that couldn’t have been more her. And the same goes for Amy, her dress was staggeringly stunning; different, classic, and beautiful, and completely suited her. Matched by Andy wearing a cord suit (which was what I’d want to wear at my own wedding!), and just looked too, too cool. Andy actually has his own style which I don’t think you can say about many guys, and the suit was just 110% Andy. 

The day was shared between a bright and colourful wedding ceremony at the Hepworth, and the wedding breakfast in Wakefield at Unity Hall. I really liked that Amy & Andy had picked the Hepworth. Andy being an architect, and both living in London, the venue really has an arty, alternative, London vibe to it. It was heaven to photograph in. I’ve not shot in anywhere else quite like it. I had a great time combining the Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore pieces into sculptural photographs during the ceremony, and throughout the Hepworth. It’s literally like a playground for photographers!

Amy & Andy danced and whooped out of the gallery and into the arms of all their friends and family, congratulating them amongst the stunning art. After canapes, champagne and a few swift group shots, the wedding made their way out to the vintage bus, as I kept Amy & Andy for a quiet 10 minutes snapping them catching up. We walked down and onto the bus to Unity Hall, where we took one of the funnest confetti shots- Andy’s thrusting his arm into the air, as Amy has a piece stuck on her tongue- this couldn’t be more classic confetti, it never looks perfect! 

The inside of Unity was looking amazing, thanks to one exceptional florist, Lizzie of In a Gadda Da Vida. Straight on with the speeches, and the emotions ran high. Amy and Andy’s words to each other were so heartfelt, confident and strong. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way Amy said ‘I completely and utterly love you’, the direction of her voice, the strength and emotion in her eyes, I had such a lump in my throat, the entire room did! The Andy got absolutely shredded by his best men. It was good to see Dom, one of my past groom’s come into his own and burn this man down in such a Dom way. 

We were running a little behind, so we went straight into the ceilidh that was safe to say MENTAL. I’d say the whole wedding was up at the front, and there was so much movement, and madness going on and incredible to photograph. The night went on, and the drinks were flowing heavily. Especially when VKs started appearing on the dancefloor, more and more every 5 minutes. It was like one person got one, then everyone got inspired and got more. Takes me straight back to quids in at Oceana. 

It got to midnight, and after putting my cameras down, boogying myself with a big pint in my hand, I knew the job was done. I hit the road, and since the moment I left, I’ve been so thrilled about how brilliant this day was. I love all these photographs, and I hope you all do too!

Thanks so much for reading (if you’ve made it this far!). And I just want to say thanks once again to the Belfields and Hamills for making me feel so so welcome, and such a wonderful part of your family on the day. It was a special wedding for me to photograph, thank you so much for having me, I already can’t wait to see when I’ll next see you all. Keep in touch, beers at mine soon yeah!? 

Hamish x

Below are some snaps from their Yorkshire Sculpture Park Pre Wedding Shoot (see more on that blog here)
Suppliers:
Ceremony Venue – Hepworth Gallery Wakefield
Reception Venue – Unity Hall & Business Space
Florist – In A Gadda Da Vida
MUA- Meg Lindow
Hair- Rachel Miller Hair and Bridal
Caterers- Pop Up North
Suit – Beggars Run
Dress – Tara Lauren of Heart Aflutter Bridal
Celidh – Dez Hurley

Hepworth Gallery Wedding Photography & Unity Hall Wakefield by Hamish Irvine Photographer

Want to see another Unity Works wedding?  Check out Holly & Danny’s from May 2019, an incredible day you can’t miss!

Unity Hall Wedding Photography by Hamish Irvine Photographer. Hamish Irvine is a documentary, fun and relaxed wedding photographer available for weddings in Leeds, across the UK and for weddings worldwide. Documentary wedding photography story telling packed with energy, colour and life. See more on the blog, and get in touch.