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A beautiful real life wedding at Chester’s Rowton Hall

Back in the summer I was honoured to shoot the wedding of Hannah and Chris, who got married at St James’ Church, Christleton, Cheshire, which is just on the outskirts of Chester. We then headed to the gorgeous Rowton Hall in Chester for the wedding reception and evening party. I’m excited to share these lovely images with you: Rowton Hall is a bit of a hidden gem in Cheshire and made the perfect backdrop for some fantastic wedding photography.

Hannah and Chris’s wedding morning

My day began when I joined Hannah and her bridal party at the family home for bridal prep. It’s always such a pleasure to be invited to someone’s home on such an exciting morning, and I had a great time capturing images of Hannah with her sister and friends getting pampered, with hair and make up by The Bridal Beauty Company.

I stayed until Hannah had slipped into her gorgeous dress from My Funny Valentine, helped by her sister before the big reveal to her dad: a part of the day that I always love!

Terri Jarvis Photography was second shooting that day and got shots of the boys at St James’ Church she met Chris along with his groomsmen who were waiting excitedly for the bride to arrive and the big day to really begin.

The church ceremony was full of love and emotion- as these photos of Chris prove!

We then captured some brilliant confetti shots before heading on to Rowton Hall, Chester for the wedding reception.

Rowton Hall, Chester, Cheshire

Rowton Hall is an historic Georgian Manor House set amidst 8-acres of tranquil grounds and gardens and yet just minutes away from the Roman City of Chester.

Rowton Hall is the perfect venue for anyone wanting to get married amongst the beautiful Cheshire countryside. The Hall is nestled in 8-acres of gardens and manicured grounds, and Hannah and Chris took full advantage of the stunning grounds as the ideal place to welcome their guests to the venue. The guests enjoyed arrival drinks on the lawns, and enjoyed playing lots of garden games in the sunshine. We also captured some great group shots, as well as some wedding photography of Hannah and Chris enjoying their first bit of time alone as man and wife.

Then it was time to head inside for the wedding reception. Rowton Hall has some beautiful rooms characterised by period features and elegant décor. The decadent chandeliers, original feature fireplaces, oak staircase and large garden view windows are a wedding photographer’s dream!

I then managed to sneak Hannah and Chris away for some couple’s wedding photography outside in the twilight: I love the romantic images we captured during this little shoot.

We then went back inside the venue for the evening party where everyone had a fantastic time dancing to music by The Funtime Frankies. I captured some images of the happy couple cutting the cake, enjoying their first dance, and having a wonderful time with their friends and family- which is just how every wedding day should be!

Cheshire Wedding Photographer

As a wedding photographer, it was a real pleasure to shoot this wedding: it was such a fantastic day filled with lots of love, laughter and tears. It was also lovely to see some of my past couples and even future couples too!

If you’re thinking of getting married at Rowton Hall, Chester and would like to have a chat about your wedding photography I would be delighted to hear from you! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

November 15, 2022

Blog

A dream wedding day at Abbeywood Estate, Cheshire

I’m so pleased to be able to share this beautiful wedding with you. It has everything I love in a wedding: a stunning Cheshire wedding venue, an outdoor ceremony, lots of beautiful backdrops for wedding photography, and of course, a happy couple!

This wedding was at Abbeywood Estate in Cheshire, celebrating the marriage of Laura and Sai. It was the first time for me shooting an outdoor ceremony here and the rain just about held off. It was Laura’s dream to get married outdoors so thankfully she got her wish (and I got to capture some beautiful wedding photography!).

I first met Laura and Sai when I was the wedding photographer for their friends last year, so I was delighted to be a part of this day. It was a little reunion with past brides which I absolutely love.

Let’s have a little sneak peek at this lovely day…

Laura and Sai’s wedding

I started the day by joining Laura and her bridal party getting ready at the venue. Abbeywood Estate is a stunning venue surrounded by rolling Cheshire countryside, so I made the most of the backdrop to capture some creative shots of Laura’s beautiful dress from Cheshire Bridal Boutique.

The dress of course looked even more beautiful on Laura herself, especially alongside her hair and make-up by A & R Studios Hair & Beauty.

I also had a bit of a treat: capturing some photos of the couple’s adorable dog who had come along to join us for the day!

Sai and his groomsmen then arrived in a very eye-catching red sports car (I have a feeling this might have been Sai’s input into the day!)

Wedding photography at Abbeywood Estate

Abbeywood is a 45 Acre Estate nestling in the Delamere Countryside, right in the heart of Cheshire. It’s the ideal setting for a wedding ceremony, with elegant rooms and beautiful grounds. As I mentioned previously, the ceremony was able to take place outside which we were all really pleased about. Laura and Sai had their hearts set on getting married in The Gazebo, a lovely structure situated just outside of the orangery in the Exotic garden. It was the perfect opportunity to capture some fantastic wedding photography.

After the ceremony I managed to steal a few minutes with the happy couple to capture some shots in the gardens and woods while their guests enjoyed drinks on the terrace. I also got the opportunity to try out my new favourite toy- my drone! Drone photography can look spectacular, and Abbeywood Estate was the ideal venue to get some aerial shots.

We then headed inside for dinner. Laura and Sai had chosen the spectacular Glasshouse for their wedding meal: it’s an incredible space which caters up to 190+ guests. The Glasshouse is elegant, light and airy (perfect for me as a wedding photographer!), and is linked by a glass walkway to the Orangery.

After dinner we took advantage of the dry weather and went outside to enjoy some garden games provided by Glamour Events Hire. Abbeywood Estate is the perfect venue for outdoor shots, so we took the opportunity to capture some beautiful images of Laura and Sai in the grounds.

We also got creative with some group shots by incorporating smoke bombs and flares, which looked brilliant in the early evening light.

Then it was time to head back inside to cut the cake, which was by Mum Who Bakes. This was followed by what can only be described as a pretty raucous evening party! Music was provided by Al Grant Sax and DJ Solarbeats, and it’s fair to say that everyone had a fantastic time, as you can see from the photos!

Cheshire wedding photographer

If you’re thinking of getting married at Abbeywood Estate in Cheshire and would like to chat about your plans, I would love for you to get in touch!

September 26, 2022

Blog, Photography

What are the must have wedding photos?

When you book your wedding photographer, you’ll probably want to chat to them about the kind of shots you want them to capture on your wedding day. Some couples have a list in mind of ‘must have’ moments that they know they want to be photographed. But if you don’t, then don’t worry- a professional wedding photographer will already know all those key moments that you’ll want to capture forever.

There are so many special moments throughout a wedding day that it’s very hard to narrow it down and say what the absolute must-have wedding photos are. Stand-out moments like cutting the cake, the speeches, the first dance, and the confetti throw all spring to mind. But for me personally, there are some other ‘must have’ photos that I think are essential when it comes to capturing the emotions of your wedding day. Here are my top 5 must have wedding photos…

Must have wedding photo #1: Bridal Prep

This one might not be immediately obvious as it’s officially before the wedding itself, but bridal prep is such a special part of the day. In fact, as a wedding photographer, it’s one of my favourite parts of the day, as there is nothing like the excitement of getting ready for a wedding ceremony.

Bridal prep is a great opportunity to capture some fantastic wedding photography: from fun group shots of friends getting ready together, to emotional moments with the bride’s parents. As a bride, this part of your day is about you and your closest family and friends, and it’s a great time for your wedding photographer to take some photos of you being yourself with your closest friends.

The bride looking in the mirror while her flower girl gets dressed

But as well as all that, bridal prep can be a really poignant time for the bride and her parents. As a wedding photographer, one of my ‘must have’ moments to capture is a father’s reaction when he sees his daughter for the first time in her wedding dress. I’ve also captured some beautiful shots of mothers and friends of the bride having equally wonderful reactions to seeing the bride for the first time.

Must have wedding photo #2: Walking down the aisle

Nothing says “wedding” more than a photo of a bride walking down the aisle. There is so much emotion to capture in this moment- nerves, hope, excitement, and a whole lot of love.

Some of my favourite images are of brides walking down the aisle, often with their father, looking towards the groom waiting for them. Often, the groom will be looking back at their partner and you can see how proud and happy they are. I’ve also captured more humorous images of the groom facing the altar before he sees the bride come in, and you can always see the nerves and anticipation written all over their face!

Must have wedding photo #3: Time for just the two of you

It’s a cliche but your wedding day really will go by in a blur. The day is so packed full of activity and excitement that it passes in the blink of an eye. And of course, as the stars of the show, you and your partner will also want to spend time chatting to all your guests. But don’t forget in the middle of it all to make some time for just the two of you: it’s your day, and it’s all about your relationship together. For that reason, a really special shot of you two together, as a couple, is a must have wedding photo.

As the wedding photographer, I always try to make time during the day for couples to have a bit of alone time so we can capture some beautiful wedding photography of just the two of you. These images might be very romantic, or they may be a little more fun and quirky. Whatever your personality, capturing a photo that really sums you up as a couple is a must. You can pretty much guarantee that it will be the one that you frame and look back on for years to come.

Must have wedding photo #4: Outside shots

When you choose your wedding venue, it’s likely that as a first port of call you’ll check out the interior of the venue- do the rooms have the capacity you need for your guests? Is the ceremony room romantic and beautiful? Is the style and decor to your taste? However, don’t forget that most wedding venues also have stunning gardens and grounds, and often beautiful views too.

As a wedding photographer based in North Wales, Cheshire, and Chester, I’m lucky enough to be absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to wedding venues with gorgeous grounds and gardens. I’ve captured so many lovely images amongst hidden gardens and manicured flower beds, or with the backdrop of the rolling Cheshire hills or the North Wales coast.

For this reason, one of my must have wedding photos is a stunning outside shot (or ideally, lots of them!)

Must have wedding photo #5: Group shots

For many couples, group shots can be a bit of a ‘love or hate’ thing. Couples often don’t like the idea of their guests standing around for a long time waiting to take part in group shots, or perhaps the style of their wedding is relaxed and informal so they don’t want the group shots to feel too ‘static’.

However, I think getting some great group shots really is a must have: this is your opportunity to capture all those faces of your closest friends and family who shared your special day, and they can be wonderful memories to look back on in years to come.

The good news is that you can create some natural, fun group shots in a way that doesn’t mean that everyone is standing around for ages waiting for a formal photo. I love to get creative with group shots by incorporating interesting backdrops, angles, poses, or props to make the shot just a little different. I can also create more casual, candid group shots which help avoid that ‘static, posed’ look: maybe it’s a beautiful shot of you and your bridesmaids getting ready together and laughing over a glass of champagne, or the groomsmen walking to the ceremony together. When it comes to must-have wedding photography, group shots are up there as a great way to remember your day.

If you’re looking for some advice on must have wedding photos, I am more than happy to help. I’m a professional wedding photographer based in North Wales, Chester and Cheshire and I’d love to chat about your wedding plans- please get in touch.

September 19, 2022