Uncategorized Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Manchester Wedding Photography

Jan

Best of 2021 –
A selection of favourites

Together

Shhh… Nobody mention 2020! Fortunately, weddings finally got back into full swing around the middle of 2021 and my brilliant couples absolutely made it count. Weddings are always beautiful and emotional events, but this year’s festivities held extra significance for all sorts of understandable reasons. What a privilege it was then for me to capture something of the range of emotions poured out at these wonderful occasions as people were finally able to celebrate with their loved ones. Together at last.

To say that 2021 was a significant year in all our lives is an understatement. The photos below are just a small snapshot of what being together on their wedding day means for these couples and their guests – from early morning anticipation to end-of-the-night party blow-outs! Please take a look at my blog posts for more complete stories of their most special day.

As one bride put it:

We absolutely needed to see these today. We’ve had a tough old couple of months. Thank you so, so much! Love them! 🙌🏻❤️

If you like my work and feel it could be a good fit for your wedding, why not get in touch to chat some more. I’d love to hear from you.

hair and makeup woth dress and shoes in background

gift from bride to groom with excited boys looking on

bride adjust earrings with dress in window

bride hair done rim light and reflection

daughter doing cartwheels while brother is dressed by bride

brother of groom in tears during speeches

father of the bride speech gets the laughs

groom with best man in shadow projection

silhouette of groom waiting for bride in ceremony room

silhouette night portrait with colour and reflection

Couple at bottom of dramatic staircase at The Principal Hotel, York

Small silhouette of couple in large tree canopy scene

Blue hour silhouete portrait amongst the trees

laughing groom picked out by flash in reflection

final dress adjustments with snowy mountains in background

page boy grimacing through hair dryer treatment

young boy offers toy train to the camera

children waiting for wedding in luxury hotel

flowergirl looking at mum's dress while getting hair done

infant flowergirl dancing for bridal party

wedding guest mortified at magician's antics

newlyweds and maid of honour on the dance floor

Nov

Inn on the Lake Wedding Photographer –
Kath & Rob

Inn On The Lake – A Fabulous winter wedding venue

The Inn on the Lake at Glenridding has to be one of the finest wedding venues in the Lakes and in the whole country in my view. So when Kath and Rob got in touch about their winter wedding at this incredible Ullswater venue, I naturally jumped at the chance. The Lake District National Park is a glorious place to get married at any time of year, but to tie the knot with the snowy mountains in the background was a particularly enticing proposition, not just for the happy couple, but for this happy photographer too.

The Inn on the Lake is a fabled wedding venue, and with good reason. The hotel is a luxurious, 5-star venue set in acres of sweeping grounds that lead right down to the shores of Ullswater, with its own private jetty, bandstand and more. The inside is steeped in comfort and class but it’s the breath-taking views all around of the Helvellyn Mountain range that really steal the show.

Having rescheduled once, the new date was now set: late November, Christmas coming, winter well on its way. The prospects were tantalising. But wait… I drove up from Manchester the night before, just as storm Arwen was at its peak. That drive over Kirkstone Pass was hair-raising to say the least. And when I arrived at Glenridding, the whole village was suffering a power cut. What on earth would I find when I arrived at the Inn on the Lake for a wedding the following morning?

I needn’t have worried about the power outage! This spectacular wedding venue was more than ready…

inn on the lake at christmas time before sunrise

idyllic wedding setting

Kath and the girls were getting ready in the bridal suite and adjoining rooms which, when the sun started to climb over the horizon, unveiled incredible lakeside and mountain views through the windows. The storm had passed. The skies were clear. The rising sun slowly revealed an idyllic dusting of snow on the tops. The stars had certainly aligned and everything was set for a most perfect wedding.

For his prep, Rob was mostly herding excited children and had little time for exquisite views. But I love this part of the day for that exact reason. The photos that transpire are the stuff that keeps you going for years afterwards. It’s the stories and the moments that matter most.

After an emotional and beautiful ceremony, festooned with Christmas trees and decorations, set against that staggering lakeside backdrop, the guests retired to the lounge for drinks and canapés. But our intrepid couple weren’t satisfied with views through windows. It was time for everybody to get outside for a group shot. At this point, a certain reality struck home… it was COLD out there! My goodness! We had to move fast. Fortunately, these fabulous wedding guests were hardy enough to cooperate. We even had fun in the process. Same story for the portraits too – it was a case of move fast, or be frozen to the spot.

surprise wedding entertainment from the region’s finest

This incredible winter wedding had one more surprise in store after dark. Having nailed the sparkler exit down by the twinkling bandstand, the guests were greeted with live al fresco music. It was none other than the very excellent Mr Wilson’s Second Liners. This Bury-based band are something of a legend around these parts. Think technicolour New-Orleans marching band smashing out the 90s club classics to rapturous applause. These boys led our wedding guests back around the building and into the hotel snug for a full-on brass rave. I was loving it!

Thank you Kath & Rob for such an epic day. Congratulations to you both!

There are probably too many photos below, but what the heck! It really was an amazing day with so much to capture. Supplier credits at the end…

hairspray caught in flash early morning light

backlit bridesmaid in makeup chair as sun comes up in mountains

bride kisses son as he delivers gift from groom

briesmaid and breakfast in wintry window light

makeup for bride with dress hanging in background

final dress adjustments for winter wedding bride

bride ready in room with wintry scene behind

page boy grimacing at hairdryer treatment

kids in mirror laughing while younger boy has hair done

cheeky page boy emerges from under the table

groom shares bride's gift message with best men

bride excited day moment is finally here

emotional groom puts ring on brides finger

reassuring word for page boy from grandma

couple on jetty at winter wedding ullswater

fun bridal party group shot with snowy mountains behind

kids making own fun during wedding speech

bride looks on adoringly at groom speech

newlyweds dancing outdoors to marching band

winter wedding procession marching band outdoor

mr wilsons second liners at inn on the lake at christmas

mr wilsons second liners wedding entertainers

There is so much more I could say about this fabulous wedding, but I’ll leave it there. Thank you Kath & Rob for choosing me to photograph your incredible winter wedding at the Inn on the Lake. What a way to end the year!

I try to shoot the day as I find it, with minimal posing and interruption from myself. If you like the sound of this and are looking for a wedding photographer for your wedding at the Inn on the Lake, or for another fabulous venue, please check out some more of my featured weddings and my portfolio. Why not drop me a line to chat more. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Big love to the long list of hard-working and talented suppliers:

Dresses: Sugared Almonds

Suits: Heathcliff Menswear

Hair: Ashley from Greg Malloy and Jade Ingham

Makeup: Keseme Bridal

Cake: Mama Cakes

Flowers: Wild Ivy

Band: Mr Wilson’s Second Liners

DJ: Simon Vogt

Photobooth: Cumbrian Photobooth

Favours: Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread

Table decorations (and sparkler help!): Memory Knot

String Quartet: Rondino Strings

And of course Jonathan and the staff at The Inn on the Lake. What a fantastically helpful, friendly and fun bunch. Thanks everyone for making this such an amazing wedding!

Oct

Yeldersley Hall Wedding Photographer –
Lucy & Lewis

I’m very grateful to Lucy and Lewis for choosing me to be their Yeldersely Hall wedding photographer in the magnificent Derbyshire countryside. This traditional country house, steeped in history, situated on the edge of the glorious Peak District, provided an elegant and beautiful setting for a fabulous and intimate wedding, filled with fun and laughter.

Crash! Bang! Wallop! What a wedding!

I knew it was going to be a fun wedding right from the initial enquiry when the couple described their plans for the day as ‘a little off-beat’ and having a ‘tasteful Partridge’ theme. True enough, there were numerous nods to Alan dotted here and there, some more oblique than others. But the whole celebration certainly remained dignified and refined. Lucy and Lewis are both comedy writers and they had plenty of wit of their own to shape this discerning, fun-filled day.

Bespoke alternative wedding

Yeldersley Hall, with all its splendour and grace, prides itself on being versatile too. With acres of gorgeous grounds, numerous magnificent buildings and stunning interiors at your disposal, this sophisticated wedding venue can be adapted to suit any style of marriage celebration. Lucy and Lewis knew this and used it to their full advantage.

Natural, colourful, documentary photography

Lucy and Lewis wanted a wedding photographer to capture the moments and the stories that unfolded through the day with minimal fuss and staging. That’s exactly how I work, from start to finish. I just loved the light in the bridal suite as Lucy and her friends got ready in the morning. With a careful kiss of flash here and there to accentuate the story, I’m really proud of the photos that came out of this stage of the wedding. From there, the rest of the day whizzed by in a blink of an eye as they always do. From Lewis’ jolly preparations to the utterly enchanting ceremony, the fun-filled drinks reception and the hilarious speeches. All capped off with one of the most fun dance floors I’ve had the privilege to shoot all year. We had a blast!

Sure there were some posed moments for group shots and portraits, but I try to keep those quick and breezy. The photos below hopefully show that wedding photography need not be serious and staged to get beautiful images. This fun-loving couple had a party to attend and I wasn’t going to be the one to interrupt it! I want to thank Lucy and Lewis for having me along to capture some memories of their amazing wedding at Yeldersely Hall. It really was a privilege.

If you like these images and the way that I work, and are looking for a wedding photographer for your wedding at Yeldersely Hall, or for another fabulous venue, please check out some more of my featured weddings and my portfolio. Why not drop me a line to chat more. I can’t wait to hear from you.

mother of groom hair styling with bride's dress in reflection

maid of honour has hair done while bride admires dress hanging up

hair adjustments with dress and shoes in the background

hairdresser bride and dress in mirror plus rimlit subjects

bride has contemplative look out of window

first look for mother bride peering head around door

bride looks thrilled with final appearance

father of bride descending spiral staircase

passing cufflinks to hands appearing from adjoining room

best man looks quizzically at button hole

final adjustment of buttonhole for groom

groom turns to best men for last minute encouragement

dad and excited bride enter ceremony room

excited expression from bride in ceremony

football yard games at yeldersley hall wedding

yeldersley hall wedding portrait in grounds

yeldersley hall wedding portrait in trees

father of the bride speech gets underway

fond contact and endearing look from bride to dad

wedding speech laughter and applause from guests

groom taking the comedy kicking in speeches

loving look from bride to groom during speech

colourful wedding guest at table having a laugh

mother of groom shot through table decorations

cake cut with guests in marquee looking on

dancing wedding guest couple with joyful expression

wedding guest enjoying his favourite song

hands in the air for dancing wedding guests

dancing father of the groom wearing donkey head

yeldersley hall silhouette wedding portrait

Oct

Bredenbury Court Wedding Photographer –
Rosie & Ben

“Thank you so much for capturing our wedding day. We have had so many people say how amazing and nice you were on the day – so thank you! These pictures are INSANE, and I am so excited to see the rest of them in a few weeks!” – Rosie

Bredenbury Court Barns is an elegant contemporary wedding barn venue sat enviably in its own 29 acre estate, just a stone’s throw from Hereford and Worcester, making it one of the best venues in the West Midlands for style-conscious couples to tie the knot. In fact it even attracted Rosie and Ben and many of their guests to make the journey from Manchester, where they currently live and work. Such is the draw of this sophisticated and beautiful exclusive-use wedding venue. When they asked me to join them as their Bredenbury Court wedding photographer, I was there like a shot.

Purpose-built wedding barn

Bredenbury Court has been designed from the ground up with weddings in mind, with modern stylings, understated luxury and a dedicated, friendly team on hand to support at every turn. The Beauty Booth and Stag Retreat provide perfect private spaces for getting ready, whilst the refined and sophisticated Orangery, Oak Barn and Atrium bathe their guests in light through enormous windows. Beyond the balcony, there are extensive lawns with commanding views of the Malvern Hills. It truly is a great venue for all manner of weddings and a gift for photographers too!

Natural moments. Vibrant photographs

Rosie and Ben wanted a photographer who would capture the moments and memories of their special day without taking over and ordering people about. Wedding days disappear in a flash. The last thing you want is a fashion shoot taking up precious hours in the middle of it! Of course we took a few minutes here and there to get some portraits and group shots – always entirely on the couple’s terms, not mine – but 99% of the day was shot in a documentary way, capturing natural moments as they unfolded.

Friendly and professional photographer

A final word about planning a wedding…. Rosie & Ben’s beautiful wedding was a roaring success, but it wasn’t without its challenges. Covid, petrol station closures and patchy, inclement weather did their best to throw a spanner in the works. However, together with a long list of hard-working and talented suppliers (credits at the end), including the amazing team at Bredenbury Court, it all came together perfectly in the end. If you’re looking for a friendly, reliable and flexible photographer to shoot your wedding at Bredenbury Court Wedding Barn, or anywhere else for that matter, please check out my portfolio, or have a longer look through some more of the weddings on my blog. Why not drop me a line to chat more. I can’t wait to hear from you.

establishing shot of bredenbury court wedding barn

bride opens card from groom. dress in background

bride in mirror opening gifts from groom

bridesmaid examines bride's shoe whole mums face off

bridesmaids approving reaction to first look

groom arrives at venue looking relaxed and happy

groom puts on jacket in front of stag picture

groomsmen saunter across bredenbury court lawn

reassuring hand on groom shoulder as bride and dad walk down aisle

tears of joy from brother watching ceremony

bredenbury court wedding barn exchange rings

bredenbury court wedding barn first kiss

bredenbury court wedding barn just married

bridesmaids file out of bredenbury court wedding ceremony

guests mingling and having fun drinks reception

newlyweds pleased to greeted by their pals

guests smiling and celebrating with newlyweds

multi-layered shot of newlyweds celebrating with relatives

bride receives congratulations from friend

daft moment for entire wedding party on the lawn

pretty bridal portrait in herefordshire countryside

newlyweds kiss with malvern hills in distance

newlyweds walk in beautiful light with storm clouds in distance

newlywed portrait in glowing evening light

older ladies enjoying video call with loved ones

joyful couple arrive at top table for wedding breakfast

father of bride sits through groom speech

best man lends shoulder to cry on to brother of groom

cheers for mother of groom with monogrammed glass

father of bride gives advice to groom in speech

groom looks over at best man during speech

groom relieved look at bride after best man speech ends

groom does hulk impression with green smoke

groomsmen racing for beer bottle on lawn

bride focus couple portrait under archway

groom focus couple portrait under archway

bride and groom can't excited faces at crowded dance floor fun

newlywed night portrait with festoon lights in background

Big shout out to the following suppliers:

Bride’s dress: Stella York

Videographer: Forever Footage

Hair: Francesca Celeste

Makeup: Makeup by Zoe

Caterers: Jenkinsons

Flowers: Flowers of Kidderminster

Saxophonist: May Crick

And of course, the brilliant team at Bredenbury Court itself.

Sep

Manchester Hall Wedding Photographer –
Emma & James

Glamorous city-centre wedding venue

I was delighted when Emma and James approached me to be their wedding photographer at Manchester Hall. This outstanding venue is just down the road from my house, and these guys were getting wed on my birthday no less! I call that a win! Located in the heart of the city, Manchester Hall is an iconic Grade II listed building and a fantastic choice for discerning couples looking for glamour and grandeur, class and cool. The former Freesmason Hall was one of the most ambitious architectural projects of this famously secretive society. Though its imposing exterior has loomed large on Bridge St since its completion in 1929, almost nobody could enjoy its interior art-deco splendour until recently. Maintaining all of its original features but with tasteful modern twists galore, this exciting wedding venue is a photographer’s dream, whatever their style. There are just so many gifts at every turn.

Sophisticated marriage ceremony and party

There is choice galore at Manchester Hall with 14 amazing rooms to suit all sizes and styles of wedding. Emma and James held their ceremony in the Drawing Room and their reception in the Gallery – both exquisite, regal rooms, with high ceilings and wood panelling throughout. The height of sophistication. With a few minutes in the sunshine on the roof terrace too, and all preparations taking place on-site, Manchester Hall really did deliver the complete wedding package from start to finish.

Contemporary documentary photography

I like to take a contemporary, documentary approach to wedding photography, with only minimal posing. I shoot the day as I find it, looking for stories and moments as they occur. I work with the light, introducing flash only rarely. This chimed well with Emma and James, who were looking for beautiful, natural photos with little or no imposition on their special day. Apart from a few minutes’ walk down by the river, just to catch our breath, the whole day was shot at this great wedding venue. I just loved the dramatic light and high contrast scenes at Manchester Hall which made for a super cool aesthetic.

Emma and James enjoyed an emotionally-charged, beautiful wedding day at Manchester Hall, and I was honoured to have been chosen to document that with my cameras. Thanks guys and many congratulations!

I could say so much more about this fabulous wedding in this incredible venue, but I’ll let the pictures do the talking. This is just a small selection from a glorious day.

If you like these images and the way that I work, and are looking for a wedding photographer for your wedding at Manchester Hall, or for another fabulous venue, please check out some more of my featured weddings and my portfolio. Why not drop me a line to chat more. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Shouts to the following suppliers:

Flowers

Gypsies of Bohemia band

Hair & Makeup

wedding dress hanging n front of cool manchester hall signage

urban chic breakfast room at manchester hall wedding

bride and friend enjoying breakfast coffee

mother of bride getting makeup while nursing broken leg

silhouette of groom having a contemplative moment in grand hall

bridesmaids having a moment on the rooftop

dramatic newlywed portrait in manchester

romantic portrait by river in manchester

bride catching up with her guests for a giggle

romantic exchange between wedding guests

wedding guests sharing funny polaroid pictures

father of the bride enjoys a joke with pal

quiet moment in window light for wedding guests

newlyweds wait to enter grand banquet hall

groom has the mic at grand wedding reception

cheers across grand table bwteen bride and maid of honour

first dance reaction from guests in grand hall

dancing best man filming videos on phone

wedding guest fun on city balcony at night

wedding guest in hat with city lights behind

view from street of wedding guests on balcony at night pink lights

Jan

Wedding Photographer of the Year –
PKIR Top 20

Well, wasn’t 2020 a strange year!? Covid-19 and the National Lockdowns have had a disastrous effect on the wedding industry. And my heart goes out to all those poor couples who have had to make the terrible decision to delay, or even cancel, their wedding day plans.

Back in March 2020, literally days before the first Lockdown was announced, I was surprised and delighted to find myself the recipient of this amazing accolade – Wedding Photographer of the Year – Top 20. To be included amongst the great and the good of this esteemed list is a real honour. Yet it seems like such a long time ago now. And at the time of writing this, it also seems like such a long time to go until things will be back to normal again.

But things WILL get back to normal eventually. I am convinced of it. And when they do, I can’t wait to get straight back in the saddle, doing what I love most – telling stories through photography, creating images that will bring back those special day feelings for a lifetime or more.

Please take a look at my best of 2019 gallery, or my portfolio. And if you fancy having a chat about your wedding plans for the future, I would love to hear from you via my packages & contact page.

Jan

Best of 2019 –
A selection of favourites

I had so much fun shooting weddings in 2019 – working with many beautiful couples in wonderful venues across the North West and beyond. For one thing, it’s a joy just to be invited along! But to be able to do what I love – taking pictures – at such happy and important events is literally a dream come true.

In truth, I shy away from the notion of ‘best of’. I am immensely proud of ALL of the work I deliver to my couples. So what you see below is merely a selection that happened to make the cut on one particular day in the studio. Please take a look at my blog posts for a more full account of what I was up to in the time before lockdown.

I love to take a relaxed, documentary approach to wedding photography. Happily, most couples feel the same way. I hope this selection of images shows a range of moments and events throughout an entire wedding day, from bridal prep to the party later on that can be captured in this way. However I also believe that there is still a space for those romantic portraits too, where we grab a few minutes away from the party. In any case, memories and emotions are the most important elements of a wedding to relive later on, and I hope these pictures go some way to enabling just that…

If you like my work and feel it could be a good fit for your wedding, why not get in touch to chat some more. I’d love to hear from you.