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A Wedding Photographer’s Guide to Chester Wedding Venues

As a wedding photographer I always enjoy shooting at Chester wedding venues. Close to the city centre of Chester, but still just a stones throw from the lovely North Wales countryside, Chester venues always provide great opportunities for beautiful wedding photography.

I often get asked which are my favourite wedding venues to shoot at, so I thought I’d shine a spotlight on two of my favourite venues for wedding photography in Chester…


Crabwall Manor, Chester

One of my favourite Chester venues to work at has got to be Crabwall Manor. Crabwall Manor is a romantic castellated country manor house dating back to the 11th century.

 



Inside, Crabwall Manor is full of charm and character- the perfect romantic setting for your wedding ceremony. Couples getting married at Crabwall Manor can choose from a selection of rooms in the Manor House including the beautiful Conservatory and the elegant Lyle or Jacob Suites.


There is also a lovely outside space for ceremonies at Crabwall Manor. I’ve captured some beautiful photography of outdoor weddings at this venue.



However, what really sets Crabwall Manor apart is its stunning exterior. If you’re looking for a castle-style venue in the Chester area, then Crabwall Manor is the venue for you. The impressive turrets, stone walls, and arched doorway make this venue the ideal backdrop for wedding photography.

I’ve also captured stunning photos of couples enjoying Crabwall Manor’s impressive grounds and gardens. The expansive lawns and woodland make for endless photo opportunities.




If you’re looking for a venue just outside of Chester city centre, which feels like a countryside castle, then Crabwall Manor is definitely the Chester wedding venue for you.


The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel and Spa, Chester

I’m always delighted when couples invite me to shoot their wedding at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel and Spa. This elegant hotel wedding venue is an 18th century manor house, three miles from the heart of historic Chester. The Double Tree Chester offers luxurious accommodation, delicious food and stunning outdoor spaces.

The Double Tree Chester is a wedding photographer’s dream with a restored 18th century Manor House, Grade II English Heritage conservatory and converted stable barn. The impressive exterior provides some great photo opportunities: the Manor House looks stunning on the approach up the driveway.

Wedding Photographer Double Tree Hilton Chester

Wedding Photographer Double Tree Hilton Chester
Inside, the Abbey Suite is a converted stable barn with original beams, natural Cheshire brick, and its own private garden. It provides an idyllic setting for your ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception, and is a fantastic backdrop for memorable wedding photography.

Wedding Photographer Double Tree Hilton Chester
Wedding Photographer Double Tree Hilton Chester
This beautiful Chester venue is also set in twelve acres of landscaped gardens, and the Victorian walled garden and unique restored ha-ha wall make the perfect backdrop for stunning wedding photography. I’ve captured some lovely atmospheric shots of couples outside at sunset by the ha-ha wall and next to the picturesque fountain.

Wedding Photographer Chester


As a wedding photographer, you really can’t ask for a better backdrop than The Double Tree Chester.

Wedding Photographer Chester
I hope this has been a useful glimpse into two of Chester’s finest wedding venues. They’re certainly two of my favourites to work at as a wedding photographer.

If you are thinking of getting married in the Chester area and would like to discuss ideas for your wedding photography, I would love to chat- click here to get in touch. 

A Wedding Photographer’s Guide to North Wales Wedding Venues (Part 3)

For Part 3 of my Wedding Photographer’s Guide to North Wales Wedding venues, I’m going to introduce you to two stunning venues- Soughton Hall and Ruthin Castle.

As a wedding photographer based in Flintshire, I’m ideally placed for weddings across North Wales, Chester, Cheshire, and the North West. This means I get to work at some truly fabulous venues: I believe that North Wales and Cheshire have some of the finest wedding venues in the UK and I can’t wait to share these two with you.

 

North Wales Wedding Photographer

I often get asked which are my favourite wedding venues to shoot at, so I decided to put together a guide to my most-loved wedding venues throughout the North West. You can see the first two instalments of my Guide To North Wales Wedding Venues here and here.

As a wedding photographer, I love working at wedding venues in North Wales: the area is famous for its stunning scenery and I find that it makes the best backdrops for wedding photography. Whatever your tastes or theme of your wedding, North Wales has a venue for you. I’ve been lucky enough to be the wedding photographer at coastal hotels, fairytale castles, stately homes, and rural venues in the North Wales countryside.

Soughton Hall Wedding Photographer

Soughton Hall, North Wales

Soughton Hall is one of the wedding venues that I shoot at most frequently, and it’s not hard to see why it’s such a favourite for couples who are getting married. Set on the border of Cheshire and North Wales, this stunning Georgian country house is approached down a sweeping driveway and surrounded by landscaped gardens.


Incredibly, Soughton Hall has been welcoming guests for over 300 years! Soughton Hall has been the home of the Wynne Bankes family for over 200 years, and it perfectly combines the atmosphere of a much-loved family home with the luxury of a boutique venue.

What I love about Soughton Hall is that it’s full of character: the reception grooms are grand but also cosy and full of warmth and charm, which makes for some gorgeous wedding photography. A lot of couples choose to have their ceremony in the beautiful Drawing Room which is fabric lined in blue and gold and features a fresco painted ceiling with chandeliers.



Couples tend to choose the marquee for their wedding reception: it’s a lovely, elegant space that lends itself to any type of venue dressing. The Marquee overlooks the wooded gardens and is accessed directly from the house through a glass walkway.



The exterior is just as stunning as the interior: I’ve captured some brilliant group shots of guests outside after the ceremony. Some of my very favourite photos from Soughton Hall have to be the ones I’ve taken of the couple enjoying some time alone outside, especially in the venue’s picturesque Secret Garden. Overlooking the southern façade of the Hall, and shaded by eucalyptus trees, this atmospheric garden really is perfect for some magical wedding photography, whatever the season.





If you’re looking for an exclusive-use wedding venue on the Cheshire and North Wales border, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Soughton Hall. This is a venue full of charm and beautiful features that are ideal for wedding photography, and it really does feel like a home from home.

Ruthin Castle, North Wales

If you’re looking for a true fairytale castle wedding venue in North Wales, then Ruthin Castle will not disappoint! Ruthin Castle is a 4 star mediaeval luxury hotel situated within the glorious Clwydian Range in North Wales. Ruthin Castle is steeped in history and combines traditional interiors with luxury facilities.

 


As a wedding photographer, I love being asked to shoot weddings at unusual venues. The fact that Ruthin Castle was built in mediaeval times gives it a unique atmosphere. The reception rooms really capture the castle’s history: think wood panelling, high ceilings, and grand chandeliers.





My favourite place to shoot at Ruthin Castle is in the stunning grounds. The Castle sits in acres of parkland beside the Clwydian Range in North Wales and benefits from immaculate gardens and sprawling woodland, all of which make for countless photo opportunities.


I’ve enjoyed capturing some really unique images of couples surrounded by the castle ruins: the high stone walls and the views of the North Wales hills beyond provides the backdrop for some outstanding wedding photography.




If you’re getting married in North Wales and looking for a historical wedding venue with a difference, then Ruthin Castle could be the ideal choice for you.

 

Chester and North Wales Wedding Photographer

Hopefully this has been a useful glimpse into some more of North Wales’s most beautiful wedding venues. If you are thinking of getting married in North Wales and are considering Ruthin Castle or Soughton Hall, I would love to discuss your plans for the day. I’m a professional wedding photographer in North Wales and Chester and would be delighted if you got in touch for a chat. 

A dream wedding day at Iscoyd Park

I’ve been really looking forward to sharing this real life wedding story with you as it’s set at one of my new favourite wedding venues, Iscoyd Park.

Iscoyd Park is a private country house wedding venue on the borders of North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. I’m a wedding photographer in North Wales and Chester so Iscoyd is ideally located for me. It’s also an absolute dream wedding venue: it’s the perfect combination of historic elegance and contemporary style.



Katie and Dan’s wedding was on 19th May 2022, but getting to that date wasn’t completely straightforward! Like so many weddings in recent times, Katie and Dan’s wedding date was affected by COVID: they were originally supposed to get married in May 2020, and this was then postponed until 2022. However, in yet another hurdle, their original venue was Thornton Manor, but sadly a huge fire recently took place at Thornton Manor. Because of this, Katie and Dan had to find another within just 6 weeks. But what a venue to find! Iscoyd Park really does have it all, and I’m sure that Katie, Dan, and all their guests agreed that it ended up being a dream wedding day.


Katie and Dan’s wedding at Iscoyd Park

We got the day off to a lovely start when I joined Katie, her family, and her bridesmaids for some bridal prep. Katie and Dan have two gorgeous little daughters, Dotty and Olivia, who were the flower girls. As a wedding photographer it’s always so nice to spend time with the family and share in the excitement before the ceremony.




The bridal prep partly took place in the picturesque Iscoyd cottage where Katie stayed the night before, then we moved into the main house. Iscoyd Park is an ideal setting for bridal prep- the rooms are beautiful, light, and spacious.



Gemma Baxter Makeup Artist and hair stylist Hannah Matthews were a dream team on the day, making sure the bridal party all looked and felt stunning. Katie looked incredible in her dress from Bellissima Brides, and we were able to capture some beautiful shots of Katie reflected in the large elegant mirror in the suite where we were getting ready.




One of my favourite moments of any wedding is when the father of the bride sees his daughter in her bridal dress for the first time. As a wedding photographer it’s always a privilege to share in emotional moments, and this occasion certainly didn’t disappoint as these lovely images show:


I then joined Dan and his groomsmen in the upstairs library where they were waiting for the ceremony to begin (and enjoying a quick beer or two!)


Iscoyd Park really does have the feel of a family home. Iscoyd prides itself on not being too stuffy or formal but relaxed and welcoming: a classical Georgian house with a modern attitude. The interior spaces really show off the Georgian splendour – I loved capturing the shots of Katie and her dad walking down the oak staircase. The Garden Room where the ceremony took place is also equally elegant. It’s also a really lovely light, bright room, which is ideal for wedding photography!



Iscoyd Park Wedding Photographer

Following the ceremony we headed outside for some fun group shots. It was great to see all the guests mingling and relaxing in the gardens in the sunshine. Like so many wedding venues in the Chester and North Wales area, Iscoyd Park benefits from stunning grounds: manicured lawns and wild flower beds all with a backdrop of an exquisite Georgian manor house- a wedding photographer’s dream!





I also managed to sneak off with Katie and Dan for a little while so we could capture some shots of just the two of them enjoying the gardens in the sunshine. One of the things I love about my job is working with brides and grooms to get creative with some shots, such as the aerial ones we captured in the grounds. I also really enjoyed photographing Katie and Dan with their two lovely little girls- we took some fantastic family photos.



The wedding breakfast was in Iscoyd’s marquee, which was beautifully dressed with trees and flowers by Maddison Creations.



The guests then went outside to play some garden games, before heading back into the venue to enjoy the evening reception. Music was by Apres Music and as you can tell from the photos, it’s clear that everyone had a fantastic time!


Wedding Photography in Chester and North Wales

I’m so pleased that I got to shoot Katie and Dan’s wedding at Iscoyd Park: it’s always a privilege to be asked to be someone’s wedding photographer and be a part of the most special day of their lives. It was also such a treat to shoot at Iscoyd- it’s got to be one of my favourite venues in the Chester/North Wales region and I can’t wait to visit again.


If you’re getting married in the Chester or North Wales area (or further afield) and are looking for a wedding photographer, I would be delighted to chat. Please get in touch today to discuss your plans.