Ashley and Craig's Merrydale Manor Wedding!
Ashley and Craig chose to get married at Merrydale Manor, a luxury Manorhouse in the heart of Cheshire, filled with character and situated within stunning grounds. Once a family home it has been converted into a beautiful wedding venue that offers plenty of photo opportunities!
I started my day with Ashley and her bridesmaids at her parents house. When I arrived the girls were getting their hair and make up done and everyone was in good spirits. There was plenty of laughter and smiles as they got ready and I knew we were in for a great day. Once Ashley had had her wedding hair and make up done, everyone headed over to Merrydale Manor to continue getting ready. Ashley had picked a stunning wedding dress that suited her perfectly while the bridesmaids wore lovely dresses that complimented the weddings colour theme.
Craig got ready on site with his groomsmen before heading to the bar to greet the guests who had arrived. Like Ashley, he was in good spirits and excited for the wedding day ahead. They’d booked a second photographer for the day which meant they could have both sides of the story told!
It was soon time for the bride and groom to exchange their vows. Merrydale Manor has a purpose-built wedding ceremony room that is the perfect setting to be married. The wedding ceremony was full of little glances and some beautiful poems read by their families. After the ceremony the weather had decided to take a small turn for the worse, so as the bride and groom made their way back down the aisle, wedding guests showered them with confetti as they headed to the drinks reception back at the bar. Thankfully the passing showers stopped and everyone was able to make the most of the grounds using both the inside and outside space. During the drinks reception a magician worked the room performing magic for the guests which was great to photograph as their expressions to the magic said it all. He really did have the guests in fits of laughter and confusion.
Before the meal I explored the grounds with the couple to capture a few natural portraits. As they had already had a pre-wedding shoot, they knew that I preferred to capture them naturally enjoying some time together away from the guests and for them to catch up about the night before and their thoughts on the day so far.
The Speeches took part in the stunning breakfast room which was decorated perfectly. The speeches were moving and hilarious that had friends and family laughing and crying. The groomsmen had printed photos of Craig from throughout the years to show how is fashion sense and appearance and changed, much to the amusement of the wedding guests. During the meal the heavens and opened once more, but by the time everyone was due to move out of the room, the sun was shining yet again and everyone piled into the gardens to enjoy the sunshine. I was able to capture plenty of natural moments as the guests enjoyed the wedding day which is always a favourite part of mine.
It was soon time for the evening party to begin. Merrydale Manor keeps the dance-floor separate from the wedding breakfast, allowing the bride and groom to take shelter behind the curtain which allows for a grand reveal of the first dance. During the first dance a confetti cannon showered a couple of confetti, which was the perfect opportunity for guests to join them on the dance-floor. The wedding band performed brilliantly brilliantly not just on the stage but taking to the dance-floor to get wedding guests involved in the party also. I later explored the room and found the best man and ordered 50 Jager bombs for the guests which led to a huge Jager train which was so funny to capture and the perfect way for me to end the night.
It really was a party from start to finish and I loved every minute of my time at Merrydale Manor. If you are looking for a wedding photographer to capture your wedding at this stunning venue, or any other Cheshire wedding venue, then be sure to get in touch. I’d love to capture your wedding day naturally to tell the real story of your day!
