Helen & Matty's Rock 'n Roll Wedding | St Therese of Lisieux Church & Kirkleatham Walled Garden
There’s something really special about a wedding that merges the beauty of a traditional church ceremony with the edgy, modern vibes of a full-blown indie-rock reception. That’s exactly what Helen & Matty did on their wedding day in Teesside — and let me tell you, it was pure magic.
The Ceremony | St Therese of Lisieux Church, Ingleby Barwick
The day started in Ingleby Barwick at St Therese of Lisieux Church — a modern but stunning space that was made even more special by the fact that Matty’s uncle was the vicar officiating the ceremony. It’s always amazing when a couple can add such a personal touch to their wedding, and having a family member lead the service really brought that home for Helen & Matty.
Helen arrived in absolute style, pulling up in a classic VW Campervan provided by Cherished Cars. I caught a long, cinematic shot of her arriving, with the light hitting just right — one of those moments you just know is going to look epic in the final film.
As Helen walked down the aisle to an acoustic version of Wonderwall by Oasis (iconic choice), you could feel the emotion in the room. There were heartfelt readings from family and friends, and of course, a couple of hymns to keep things traditional. But the overall vibe? Personal, relaxed, and very much them.
Once the ceremony was complete, the newlyweds stepped outside into a sea of confetti, and I got some absolutely cracking slow-motion shots of them laughing and just soaking up the moment. Then it was time to get some fun, laid-back shots of the couple chilling in their campervan — one of my faves was Helen resting her head on Matty’s shoulder, absolute movie magic.
The Reception | Kirkleatham Walled Garden, Redcar
Next stop: the reception! Everyone jumped in their cars and made the 20-minute drive over to Kirkleatham Walled Garden, where the real party would kick off.
The vibe at Kirkleatham was perfect. The sun was shining, and the guests were already enjoying drinks in the greenhouse and spilling out onto the lawn, making the most of the late summer weather. I spent some time weaving through the crowd, getting loads of candid shots of everyone laughing, catching up, and raising a glass to the happy couple.
Helen & Matty had also booked the incredible Southwest Band to play throughout the evening. During the drinks reception, a 2-piece version of the band kept things chill with some acoustic covers of indie and rock classics. I even caught Matty having a sneaky sing-along in the corner.
Couples Shoot + Group Shots
The gardens at Kirkleatham are stunning, and we took full advantage of the space for the couples shoot. The light was golden hour perfection — I’m talking dreamy, cinematic, movie-moment stuff. Helen & Matty were total naturals in front of the camera, just laughing, walking hand in hand, and stealing a few moments away from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Matthew Nguyen Photography was capturing the formal group shots, and I loved how we worked together seamlessly to get the best possible content for the couple. I also grabbed some epic, rockstar-style footage of the bridesmaids and groomsmen pulling ridiculous poses and even shot a 007-style sequence with Matty and his groomsmen — very cool, very alternative.
The Details
You could really tell how much thought Helen & Matty had put into making the day feel like them. Each table at the reception was decorated with a different classic album cover — we’re talking The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Fleetwood Mac, and of course, Oasis. And the autumnal vibes were strong — burnt orange tones, mini disco balls, tiny pumpkins, and a Polaroid photo wall for guests to capture the night as it unfolded.
The cake, made by Songbird Bakery, was another highlight. Simple but impactful — a jet-black cake with 'Til Death' written in red icing and decorated with red cherries. Such a perfect match for their rock ‘n roll theme.
The Party + Live Music
After the speeches and food, it was time for the party to properly kick off. Helen & Matty made their grand entrance into the marquee, cutting their cake to huge cheers before heading straight into their first dance — Live Forever by Oasis, played live by Southwest Band. Honestly, it felt less like a traditional wedding and more like a huge indie gig, and I was absolutely here for it.
One of the most iconic moments of the night (and one I’ll never forget filming) was when Matty jumped up on stage with the band to perform Don’t Look Back in Anger. Despite a few drinks (and a lot of adrenaline), he smashed it — guitar, vocals, the lot. The crowd went wild, and it genuinely felt like being at a festival.
The evening went on with plenty of glow sticks, indie disco anthems, and happy faces everywhere. I even caught a few guests having a go on the signed guitar, leaving messages for Helen & Matty to remember the night by.
Final Thoughts
Helen & Matty's wedding was the absolute definition of Rock 'n Roll meets Traditional. From the heartfelt church ceremony led by Matty's uncle to the all-out indie gig energy at the reception, it was just pure, unfiltered love and joy the whole day. It’s weddings like these that make me love what I do — capturing not just the big moments but the little offbeat, fun, and alternative moments too.
Massive shout-out to all the suppliers who made the day so incredible:
Cake: @songbird_bakery
Band: @southwestbanduk
Event dressing: @sheer_elegance & @magnum.entertainment
VW Campervan: @cherished_cars_
Photographer: @mnphotouk
If you’re planning your own Teesside wedding and want a videographer who’ll capture both the emotion and the party, hit me up. Honestly, if you want a wedding film that feels like a music video with a whole lot of love — I’m your person.
🎥 Contact Me Here to chat about your wedding film!