North of England Wedding Awards 24, Elland Road, Leeds

A few weeks ago, I headed to my home city of Leeds to photograph The North of England Wedding Awards 24. My good friends run the awards at Wedding Fayres Yorkshire.

The North of England Wedding Awards is the annual showcase of the wedding industry. As someone who doesn't usually gravitate towards glitz and glamour, my unique role as the event photographer has allowed me to become an integral part of the awards. It's not about boasting, but rather about the unique perspective and skills I bring to the event. It's a challenging task, but one that I've come to master over the years.

One of the top tips when photographing such a large and prestigious evening is to arrive early. I always like to photograph the room set up, but it's a great time to talk to the events team and discuss what lighting is possible. The event is a nightmare from a photographic perspective as it's pitch black with pink lights, which wouldn't be my preference, but I know how to deal with most situations, and I've done it a few times now, so it's something I am used to.

The awards started, guests started to arrive and it was all go. Wedding Fayres Yorkshire will post a blog, so I will only mention some suppliers. The room began to fill up; everyone glammed up to the max, the atmosphere buzzed, and it was time to get on. After arrival and drinks, it was straight to the tables. The event started with a game of Heads and Tails, which is the usual way to start these events, and then it was food time. I even got fed, which is a nice bonus.

Between the food, Steve Heath played some tunes, and he was on form. Then, it was onto the main event. Mark, the host, did his usual opening with a dance number. This time, it was the Greece Mega Mix, and after that, it was game time.

This year, the wedding awards the North, North East and Humberside, so there were a few awards to get through. It's always a juggling act for me as I try to capture pictures of people cheering when their name is announced, and then I have to capture a photo with another camera of them getting their awards on stage; it's always a very exhausting hour or so.

After the awards, it was time to let loose! A band took the stage, and soon the dance floor was filled with wedding professionals, all enjoying a well-deserved break. It's always heartwarming to see these hardworking individuals having fun. I set up some lighting, the only time I could do so, and joined in the fun, capturing the joyous moments. Jellybean's photobooth and Ace of Spades' casino added to the entertainment. When the band finished, the fabulous Lesley DJ took over, ensuring the party continued.

The night was fab (I even secretly enjoyed it), and lots of people came away with awards. If you are a wedding professional and weren't there, make sure you go next year.

Congratulations to everyone involved for creating such a fabulous event.

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