Timeless Bridal Glamour at 61 Durham: Styled Wedding Shoot Inspiration for the Modern Bride
- Paula Pace
- Mar 21
- 9 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Attention North East Brides-to-Be! I'm delighted to bring you some fresh 61 Durham Bridal Glamour inspiration in this Styled Collaborative Wedding Shoot, showcasing the venue's stunning new look. Formerly the Hallgarth Manor, 61 Durham was the perfect backdrop for showcasing some timeless wedding trends, radiant bridal beauty ideas, and stunningwedding hair styling inspiration the North East's Modern Bride.

This collaborated shoot is packed with gorgeous luxurious wedding florals, elegant bridal dresses that will make you want to get married all overagain, and beautiful wedding images all created by a fantastic team of experienced Wedding Professionals this shoot is sure to inspire you as you plan your perfect day.
Read on to find how the day went.

Meet the Wedding Wonder Professionals behind the Bridal Glamour at 61 Durham
Beautiful Timeless Photography - Tees Valley Weddings
Elegant Wedding Hair for the Modern Bride - Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair North East
Quite simply Stunning Wedding Dresses- Exquisite Elle Bridal, Gateshead.
Luxurious Wedding Florals - Robin Wedding & Event Decor - Teeside
The Radiant Glam Makeup Looks- That would be me, Paula Pace Makeup Artist -ì Sunderland
The incredibly beautiful Models - Emily & Amy

I was more than happy to have another bash at another collaborative styled shoot for 3 reasons.
1. Because 61 Durham is quite literally on my doorstep (well, up the A690 and left at Homer Hill Farm Shop turn off, but still)
Because obviously, I got to be creative yet again and I get to see my work in some lovely pics provided by Tees Wedding Valley Weddings.
And because I got to do this Wedding inspiration shoot with my bessie mate, wing man, partner in crime, Simone Whitehead Bridal hair (she's canny good and its been said many times that we make a pretty good team, even after all these years in the Wedding industry).
Early that morning...
We met at 61 Durham at 9 am and I hadn't been since 2022 (see story at the end) and new changes suitably impressed, with a wow. The rich classic regal jade greens really give the venue a distinctly modern fresh vibe combining traditional and modern style. A really visually gorgeous blend of colours as you can see from these stunning Wedding inspiration images, perfectly captured by Tees Valley Weddings.
And just as we were unpacking all of our Wedding makeup and hair stuff in the Bridal suite (we have a lot) we were very kindly presented with a much needed tray of tea and coffee and Tees Wedding Valley photographer Andy came fully prepared with a boom box to play some 90s dance vibes.

Glamming it at Durham Sixty-One- The Wedding Hair & Makeup styling
Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair and myself got straight to work styling the annoyingly perfect models Amy and Emily. It was Emily's first shoot and she handled the shoot perfectly.
Emily's - Timeless, Romantic Bridal Hair & Makeup Look
For Emily's Glam style Wedding hair, Simone went for effortless looking waterfall like waves for Emily's beautiful long hair, opting for a popular 2025 stunning half up half down style using Moroccan oil, Colour Wow and Loreal. Just beautiful.
Although this kind of Wedding Hairstyle may look effortless, it does in fact, take longer than you would imagine. But well worth the extra effort for such an stunning, effortless Bridal Hair look. Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair
For a natural glam makeup look - I went for a radiant dewy finish with both HD foundations and Dinair airbrush makeup for a smoother long-lasting finish. Cheeks, I went for a soft irridescent pink and bronzers to sculpt and add a luminous sheen. For her eyes I went for petal pinks and deep mulberry shades by Makeup Atlier and framing them with a blended brown liner and sweep of black gel inglot eyeliner. I completed her eyes with some individual lashes to add a sweepy, dreamy romantic look without overloading her blue e eyes.
Wedding Makeup should never look 'overdone'. A bride will always have that mythical natural glow on her Wedding day that should never be masked, only enhanced. Paula Pace Makeup Artist

Amy's - Chic, Timeless, Classic Bridal Hair & Makeup Look at Durham Sixty-One

For Amy's stunning Chic, elegant Bridal Hair at Durham Sixty-One
For over 20 years, Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair has specialised in soft, classic low buns, transforming finer hair into voluminous works of art. She began by curling Amy's mid length hair and adding volume to the roots and twisting sections of hair around padding to give the bun more volume. The result, a stunning, classic, elegant intricate low bun that just screams utter perfection and complimented the bridal dress beautifully.
For Brides who are undecided or worried about how to wear their Hair for the Big Day, remember - anything is possible. In our trial we can discuss your options and your dream Wedding hair vision. Short hair can be miraculously transformed into a stunning waved low bun. And fine long hair can be transformed into a tumble of shiny romantic waves all with the addition of undetectable hair pieces, suitable products and padding. Oh, and a good Bridal Hair Stylist, of course. Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair
Amy's Bridal makeup look at Durham Sixty-One - the 2025 Bridal Makeup Trends - Shades of Mocha

After the last shoot of going for a more 'out there' eye makeup style on Amy, I decided this time I would go for the 2025 Makeup trend ' 'Mocha' for the Wedding Shoot Inspiration 61 Durham. The ' Mocha' look is simply warm beige eye shades and a matching lip colour. First I prepped Amy's skin with Makeup Atleirs perfecting primer - which has a radiance inbuilt into it. I used an eye primer and concealer to her eyes and went in with 3 shades that all blended together to give that mocha shade look. I used a brown liner and smudged it into the lash liner before going over it with a black inglot gel eyeliner. I also finished the eyes with some individual lashes that really opened out Amy's eyes. I wanted to create a more sculpted look to Amy's cheek using Peaches rose and tan cream blushers and then I blended over their Goddess highlighter to pop her cheeks. For Amy's base foundation I used both Makeup Forever and Dinair Airbrush in Honey Beige to blend with Amy's tanned skin. For Lips I used a pink shade blended with a cappucino shade liner.
The Luxurious Wedding Florals by Robin Wedding Event Decor at Durham Sixty-One
Seeing these stunning artificial floral bouquets (yes, believe it or not they are indeed artificial) took me right back to my own wedding day almost 100 years ago (not quite, but it is very much now classed as vintage) because I had an artificial flower arrangement too. Mine was coral and cream (exceedingly 90s) and was designed in a teardrop shape. At the time, I wasn’t a fan of tiaras (very Miss World), so I opted for an artificial floral headband instead. I had to go for artificial flowers because I got married on a Bank Holiday Monday, and with no flower shops open, there was a real risk of my bouquet wilting in an unexpected heatwave.
Fast forward 30 years, and those bouquets still live on at my mum’s house (I think people used to hang them on their staircases for decor!). However, as lovely as they were, they were nothing compared to the beautiful realistic creations that Nicola from Robin Wedding and Event Decor brought along to the Styled Wedding Shoot at Durham Sixty One. Nicola explained that brides now have far more options in styles of artificial flowers, and there are plenty of reasons to consider them when planning your wedding. They're long-lasting (won’t wilt on a hot summer day), cost-effective, and can achieve a stunning look at a fraction of the price. Plus, they’re hypoallergenic for those with allergies or hay fever. These gorgeous forever floral bouquets are also available for hire.
When it comes to choosing your wedding flowers — from colour and style to overall theme — inspiration can come from many sources. You might draw ideas from current fashion trends, seasonal flowers, Pinterest, Wedding websites, or, of course, by keeping an eye on the stunning work of other wedding professionals. At Robin Wedding and Event Decor, we’re here to help you with your vision and more than happy to share our knowledge and expertise with all you 2025 brides-to-be. Nicola Robin at Robin Wedding and Event Decor
The Quite Simply Stunning Wedding Dresses at 61 Durham
Sometimes, I can’t help but feel a little envious of those beautiful models who get to wear such stunning gowns, swishing and swaying their way around the venue, looking absolutely fabulous. And these 'off-the-peg' dresses from Exquisite Elle Bridal in Lobley Hill, Gateshead, are no exception – exuding style, glamour, and the kind of ethereal cascading swishy lace that completley steal the show. Just look at them!!!! Emily is wearing Allure Bridals and Lux & Love, while Amy is showcasing Mori Lee & Enzoani.
For over 5 years, Ellie has proudly run Exquisite Ellie Bridal in Gateshead—a happy, relaxed, and down-to-earth bridal shop. Catering to all brides across the North East, the shop offers stunning dresses from designers like Mori Lee, Allure Bridals, Lux & Love, and Enzoani. With a newly expanded Curve range in sizes 30/32, there’s a style to suit every bride.
No matter your sizing is beautiful ladies ~ We don’t just believe, we absolutely know you’ll feel like a queen when you come along to find your dream wedding dress with us - Ellie - Exquite Elle Bridal
Beautiful Timeless Wedding Inspiration Photography at 61 Durham
Terry and Andy from Tees Wedding Valley Photography once again brought their professional expertise, working tirelessly to capture the style and theme of the shoot. The decadent colours at 61 Durham perfectly complemented the hair, makeup, dresses, and flowers, creating a romantic, elegant atmosphere. Brilliant job, as always!
At Tees Valley Weddings, our team holds a deep affection for 61 Durham - not just for its picturesque setting, but also its romantic warmth, creating the perfect canvas for your special day. We love the way the venue's team goes above and beyond to make every celebration seamless and joyful for everyone involved. 61 Durham doesn't just host weddings, it creates unforgettable love stories. Tees valley Weddings
Here are just a few more of the incredible wedding inspiration images they captured at Durham Sixty-One. I could have shared so many more!
Here at Tees Valley Weddings, we understand how important it is to find the perfect wedding photographer for your special day. With over 20 years of experience and having captured hundreds of incredible weddings across the North East, you can be assured that we will capture every special moment of your love story to cherish forever. Tees Valley Weddings
A big thank you to all of the Wedding Professionals and models involved who gave up their time to create something truly magical, and a special thanks to the fantastic 61 Durham for looking after us!!
We hope you North East Brides to Be have found this Wedding Inspiration shoot helpful in your own Wedding planning. All of the vendors will be delighted to answer any of your questions regarding Wedding services. You can find their links and Websites here.
Good Luck to all you 2025 North East Brides to Be, your Wedding Day is going to be amazing!!!
You can follow everyone here.
Paula Pace Makeup Artist Paula Pace Makeup Artist | Professional Bridal Makeup Artist North East
Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair WEDDINGS | Simone Whitehead Bridal Hair
Tees Valley Weddings Photography North Yorkshire and Durham Wedding Photographer Tees Valley Wedding Photography | North Yorkshire and Durham wedding photographer
Robin Wedding & Event Decor Robin Wedding & Event Decor
Exquisite Elle Bridal Exquisite Elle Bridal | Scheduling and Booking Website
Oh, and before I sign off, here's what happened the last time I went to 61 Durham.
A Wedding Story
I hadn’t been to 61 Durham (or Hallgarth Manor, as it was called back then) since Laura's wedding in 2022. I arrived at Durham Sixty One to do Laura’s Wedding makeup, only to be greeted by Hannah—a bride I was scheduled to see for her wedding in a few weeks, whose trial I had done months before. I looked at her, mouth open, completely confused. A moment of 'WTF' overwhelmed me. She looked at me, brows furrowed, equally puzzled.
Had I gotten the day completely wrong?
Where was I? Had COVID-19 made me completely lose my mind? (Okay, dramatic, I know!)
Turns out, she was a bridesmaid for that day’s wedding and neither of them had no idea I was the makeup artist for their big day. She was actually thrilled because she knew her makeup was going to be in good hands, and I was just relieved I hadn’t lost my mind after all. I can honestly say that’s never happened before—and it’s not likely to happen again!
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