Uncategorized Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Manchester Wedding Photography

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.