Arley Hall wedding fair Sunday 20th March 2011

This one feels a bit like a homecoming gig!

I've had my studio based on the Estate at Arley Hall for almost three years now, just a two minute walk from the hall itself.  So I love the place!  I love driving there and working there every day, love being one of their preferred suppliers, love shooting weddings there - just love it, period!

Come along this Sunday to the wedding fair between 11am and 4pm to say hello, talk weddings and look at some fantastic images.

Carly and Ben's wedding at Rowton Castle

I first met Carly and Ben at a wedding fair at Peckforton Castle in 2009.  That summer they asked me to be their wedding photographer for their marriage at Rowton Castle the following year. 

Well, I have to give them 10 out of 10 for good taste.  Rowton Castle was a new venue to me, but from their description, not just of the look of the place, but of the friendliness and professionalism they were met with whenever they'd visited, I was looking forward to seeing the place for myself,  never mind the excitement of working there.

I arranged a visit a few months before the wedding date, as I always do.  I always visit a new venue or church before a wedding if at all possible.  There's simply too much going on on the wedding day itself to waste time looking for shots.  I like to arrive at a wedding with ideas in my head.  That way I can shoot more for a couple and adapt to the unexpected (such as rain - which is perhaps not always unexpected in Britain) much more quickly.  My visit confirmed all that Carly and Ben had told me.  The place was stunning; the staff were friendly and helpful; an air of professionalism shone.  I left knowing it was going to be a great day.

And so it proved to be. 

I arrived early to capture some shots of Carly and her bridesmaids, Kara and Stacy, getting ready in the bridal suite.  Kara, who runs her own hair and make-up business, was very busy getting everyone looking their best. 

A bridal portrait of Carly

Ben is a military man, and was dressed in full uniform.  Fantastic!

Here he is with his Best Man and brother, Sam

Being a military wedding there was, of course, a ceremonial Guard of Honour.  This was after the civil ceremony, as the couple came outside to the lawn to meet their guests.

Ben's dad, Frank, even supplied the meat for the wedding breakfast.  Well, he is a first class butcher, running Taylors of Sale. 

Kara and Stacy, the lovely bridesmaids.

And with the Guard of Honour

 It was a very hot day - the guys in their black wool uniforms suffered in the heat - but that meant a beautiful evening too.  Just look at the light on the castle - a perfect backdrop for this portrait of the happy couple.

The tree in front of the castle is both ancient and spectacular.  The last shot of the night had to feature it.

The full wedding can be viewed in the client of my website.

Capesthorne Hall and Pavilion

One of the big perks about being a wedding photographer is visiting some fantastic locations.  In Cheshire, that means a stately home and one of the loveliest I'd had the privilege of working at over the years is Capesthorne Hall, just a few miles from Alderley Edge. 

It's a stunning venue, both from the front and rear aspects.

  

Of course, the interior is something special too!

Not forgetting the grounds.

A little over a year ago, a permanent marquee was built in the grounds, Capesthorne Pavilion, which allows this lovely venue to cater for larger weddings than previously.

Earlier in the summer I shot a superb wedding there, which I'll blog at a later date, but here are a couple of images of the pavilion from that day.

I've just been invited by the Pavilion to become their preferred wedding photographer - a great honour, and one that I'm very happy to accept!  I'm putting the finishing touches to a slideshow of wedding images of both the Hall and Pavilion which will be available for any couples interested in booking their wedding there.  If you'd like a copy, please contact either Vicki Thomson at Capesthorne Pavilion or myself at the studio.

To end, here are a couple of shots showing both the hall and pavilion at the end of a fantastic wedding.

Another spring wedding at Nunsmere Hall Hotel

Well, after another busy week and a couple of great lifestyle shoots, it's back to Nunsmere Hall Hotel tomorrow to shoot the wedding of Mel Jackson and Jeff Lowe.

Last week I was there for the wedding of Sharon and Mike and the hotel coped brilliantly with a power cut that affected the whole of the area and a large part of Cheshire!  The chef produced a fabulous wedding breakfast, cooking by candlelight, and the hotel had managed to get a generator hooked up by the time the DJ needed to get the party started. 

The power cut didn't affect me really, of course, as I'm quite used to shooting in all kinds of light conditions and using all the available light to get the best pictures. But I was helped by the fact that the weather was fine and all the rooms were light with sunlight and then candlelight.

Keeping my fingers crossed for power for the chef and sunshine for the bride and groom tomorrow!