Yesterday I had the immense pleasure of being part of Ian and Charlotte’s big day. Having had a very busy couple of months this was to be the end of an intense but amazing bout of weddings. I couldn’t wait to finish it off in style, and so we begin at Holland Hall Hotel.
I arrived nice and early to document the build up of the Bridal party getting ready and capturing some shots of those smaller details which I believe makes this part of the day so special. I was shown up to the apartment where the girls were having their hair and make-up done by Jaqui Hair Boutique and Lisa Rose & Chelsea and as I arrived at the front door Charlotte was there to welcome me in. I spent a short period documenting the action before heading into one of the rooms to begin photographing the wedding dress and accessories. Charlotte had taken my advise and organised everything into individual bundles specific to the Flower girls, Bridesmaids and of course the Bride. The morning was enjoyable which included plenty of smiles and laughter but soon enough it was time to head off to the church to begin photographing the next phase of the day.
I arrived at The Parish Church of Saint Luke in Orrell where Ian and the Groomsmen had just arrived in the wedding car which was provided by Churchtown Wedding Cars. I didn’t bother them at first as it was important to let them adjust before guests started to arrive so I headed for the Vicar to run through any rules he had regarding photography during the service. He was absolutely brilliant and understood the importance of why I was there but in return I made sure I didn’t overstep the boundary in getting too close to the action. After 5 minutes or so I headed back outside to get some shots of the stunning church of which I had photographed a year ago and then went back inside to photograph the inside especially as no-one was around.
Once Ian had a bit of time to settle and guests started to arrive I took a few shots of the Groomsmen together before again documenting everything that was going on. The time soon passed and the Bridesmaids were pulling up the drive and with most of the couple’s family and friends having taken their seats there were still a couple of stragglers but one of the Bridesmaids made sure that they also headed inside before Charlotte turned up. With the Bride, Bridesmaids and Flower girls all together again it was time for the main part of the day to begin and so I took up my place at the front of the aisle ready for the Vicar to officially announce the arrival of the Bride.
The ceremony was lovely with a couple of readings and of course the formalities which involved the exchange of rings and then the signing of the register. You could see how much it meant to not just the happy couple but also to those witnessing the marriage. After around 10 minutes it was time for the newly weds to make their way back up the aisle as Husband and Wife before heading into the confetti shot. As guests came outside I arranged everyone ready to throw the confetti which is an amazing shot of the day and it also includes everybody. Once everyone had passed on their congratulations I announced for everyone to head up to the reception venue to enjoy a drink whilst I went with Ian, Charlotte and their two Daughters, Ella and Millie across to Orrell Waterpark.
We spent around 20 minutes walking around a circular route whilst I captured some lovely documented photos of them all together. The sun was shining and the backdrop was perfect but there was only one thing on the girls mind and that was seeing the ducks. The park kindly offered Ella and Millie some duck food to feed the ducks which they loved and without getting the wedding dress potentially dirty Ian went closer to the lakes edge to feed the ducks with the girls. After 10 minutes it was time to go so I headed off before them to get some shots of the stunning classic car arriving at Holland Hall Hotel.
The whole wedding party were outside enjoying a drink around the back where you could get a clear view of Winter Hill as the weather was glorious. I gave Ian and Charlotte 10 minutes to spend with their guests before we had to crack on with their requested formal groups photos. I had just under 20 to get through so I knew I was against the clock! With time to spare I went into the wedding breakfast room to photograph the pristine decorations, flower arrangements and wedding accessories. The room was decorated by Suzanne of Premier Party Events and the Wedding cake was created by Pretty Bakes. Ricky Birchall was also singing as part of the afternoon’s entertainment. Once I got a couple of ‘mock’ cake cutting shots with the happy couple they were then hidden behind the curtains whilst everyone took their seats. The new Mr & Mrs Atherton were officially announced into the room by one of the Ushers.
I checked through my work whilst the wedding breakfast was in full flow. After a couple of hours I was ready for the speeches which was the final part of the day before we headed into the evening. The speeches were fantastic which included some cracking stories and offered a few teary moments. The sun was falling from the sky quickly so Ian, Charlotte and myself headed up the lane to the road where I captured a few shots of them together before the sun then disappeared behind the houses at the top of the hill. We finished off around the venue’s grounds before they then spent a short period welcoming their evening guests. The first dance was approaching very quickly so I set up my flashgun and prepped my camera with the appropriate settings. At around 8.45pm the DJ invited Ian and Charlotte to take their position on the dance floor for their first dance as Husband and Wife. It was a wonderful moment and after a couple of minutes everyone was also asked to join the newly weds for a dance with their significant others or friends.
I had such a great time documenting the whole day and I hope they had a memorable one. I wish them all the very best in their married lives together and I can’t wait to begin the editing of their wedding day photographs. For now please enjoy these sneak peek shots.
Thanks…
