MY FAVOURITE WEDDINGS & VENUES - Summer 2008 (Wednesday, 4 February 2009)
The summer season saw me photographing weddings in Cheshire, Manchester, Liverpool, Merseyside, Wirral, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, North Wales and Yorkshire.
The Church of St. Mary-the-Virgin, Disley
is over 450 years old and is a building of great beauty and immense charm. Jennifer and Chris tied the knot there in May and followed on with a reception at Shrigley Hall.
The interiors are very grand and spacious, and as a photographer I am never at a loss for backgrounds if the weather turns nasty. See also Deborah & Stephen's Graphi Book for more pictures at this attractive venue.
At the end of May I returned to Cressbrook Hall in
Derbyshire for Caroline and Philip's wedding. This was only a half day booking but it shows how much can be accomplished in the time.
Many of their friends are keen walkers who joined together and sang a couple of rousing songs after the vows had been exchanged which really brought the house down. The weather was fine which allowed the ceremony to be held in the open air in contrast to Sam and Steve's winter wedding in March.
Cressbrook also caters for grown-up children! They had fun in the lower garden while the Bride and Groom were having their pictures taken.
Dianna & Stephen needed a photographer in Cheshire and certainly had their album in mind when they chose Sandhole Barn for their summer wedding.
This is a stunning venue in an exclusive Cheshire location overlooking a private lake and because of it's versatility is one of my favourites. We had lovely soft light all day, so much better for skin than bright sunlight and blue sky, (not that Dianna or Stephen needed any flattering!)
The getting ready pictures were taken at the excellent Yew Tree Apartments near-by. These apartments are spacious, light and airy, and perfect for photography. The fine weather allowed me to use all the facilities at Sandhole, and their pictures made a stunning Graphi Book. The best looking couple of the year?
Heaton House Farm in Ruston Spencer, between Macclesfield
and Leek, has great views over three counties, and is fast becoming a very popular venue. Their ultra versatile "Barn" can be sub-divided into several rooms to accommodate from as few as 25 right up to 300 guests. These can also be independently themed. They also have that magnificent tree!
Look at Holly and Alan's pictures and you will see what I mean!
Holly and Alan were married at St. Matthew's in Hayfield. I'm always on the lookout for different pictures so we stopped off at The Roaches en route to take some eye catching panoramics by the huge rocky outcrops.
are both keen photographers who knew exactly what they wanted. They let me know they were vetting plenty of other photographers but they finally chose me.
At our pre-wedding meeting I
received the tightest and scariest brief I've ever had (including 24 page A4 booklet and laptop slideshow!) Be afraid, be very afraid! I like a challenge but I did wonder if I could satisfy all their expectations. I'm happy to say I did and received the longest thanks email I've ever received! Alice's getting ready pictures were taken at
eleven didsbury park, a peaceful haven with a fantastic walled garden right in the heart of Didsbury village.
The service was held at the nearby St. James (great for pictures + brilliant acapella choir), which has the added bonus of the little park opposite, with the reception held in Alice and Andre's garden marquee afterwards.
Rebecca and Paul needed a Staffordshire wedding photographer to capture their Big Day at Packington Moor Farm near Litchfield. This is an absolutely fantastic venue for a photographer. There are just so many backdrops around you are spoilt for choice!
The getting ready pictures worked out brilliantly and
were taken in one of the adjoining farm cottages, and the attractive courtyard is great for candid pictures after the ceremony.
The buzz was infectious, with that perfect mix of young and not so young guests that really makes a party swing.
Quarry Bank Mill In Styal, Cheshire is full of historic
home grown character and was the setting of choice for Melissa and Stephen for their August wedding. Melissa looked stunning, with the bridesmaids' dresses styled to match the Bride's car, a clever touch which made for great pictures. It turned out to be a hot and sunny day and the magnificent gardens were in full bloom.
This versatile venue has plenty of room for a large guest list, and because it is so spread out you do need an efficient usher (or two!) to round all your guests up!
Anna and Timothy were looking for a Derbyshire
wedding photographer for their wedding at the Maynard Arms at Grindleford and they chose me. Both Anna & Tim looked lovely and never stopped smiling all day, radiating love and happiness like a force-field. Thanks Anna & Tim, it was a real pleasure capturing your wedding. I think I have one of the best jobs in the world!
The Maynard has a light and airy oak panelled function room (great food!), with french doors opening out onto extensive and useful gardens. The soft evening light after the Wedding Breakfast was perfect for sun-kissed Bride and Groom shots.
I cannot recall ever mentioning a Catholic priest before
but I must thank Fr. McMahon for conducting one of the warmest and most joyful wedding ceremony I have ever attended. Caroline & Graham were married at St John's, Chorlton in the second week in August and had their reception at the Mere Court Hotel afterwards.
The Mere Court successfully marries a modern airy conservatory with period reception rooms oozing in old world charm. Lovely grounds too. The skies were cold and heavy with intermittent rain but this didn't dampen anyone's spirits.
Caroline wore a fabulous lace dress with a long veil and her natural elegance and grace shows in all her pictures.
Well landscaped grounds and gardens make such a difference to wedding photography and in this The Deanwater in Woodford, Cheshire is hard to beat.They add timeless scale and style to images making a
photographer's ideas that much easier to achieve. They also add a simplicity to images that really makes a beautiful dress stand out.Look at Karen and Glyn's Graphi Book to see what I mean. I didn't have the luxury of a full day booking but I was as happy as Karen and Glyn were with the spread of pictures I conjured up for them.
Labels: Summer 2008