As I took my first steps into the wedding venue I'd be photographing, I'll admit it, I was expecting to be greeted by Lady Mary. Whilst daydreaming and absorbing the magnificent exterior, I then began to have visions of Lord Grantham tapping me on the shoulder and inviting me for afternoon tea before being given a suspicious glance by Mr Carson. My mind is wandering, but Kirsten and Matthew's wedding day in Cheshire at Crewe Hall, screamed elegance and class, with a certain hint of Downton Abbey against the breathtaking backdrop of their venue, Crewe Hall.
As a wedding photographer, I get to meet a lot of brides and a lot of grooms. Some stick in your mind for years to come, for good or bad. Sometimes though, you meet a wedding party, a family or a group of friends that really make an impression on you as a whole. In the case of Kirsten and Matthew, you really get a sense of just how much their friends and family mean to them. And whilst I always believe in the phrase, 'ladies first', on this occasion I must mention Matthew before Kirsten, or perhaps more specifically, Nan Dorothy and Grandad Frank. The role they played in Matthew's life was oh so obvious to see and they thoroughly enjoyed the day from start to finish, and when I say start, I really do mean the start. Whilst Kirsten was getting ready at home, Matthew and his best man, Matthew (certainly made remembering names easy) were preparing for the wedding ahead at his grandparents house. I managed to get some lovely shots of the groom and his party, as you'll see below.
So, with Matthew suited and booted and ready for the off, Kirsten along with her party of bridesmaids, Gemma, Rosie, Sophie and Emma, along with her flower girl Kadee, all made their way from the brides home to the ceremony venue, Holy Trinity Church in Newcastle under Lyme, for a 1pm start on Tuesday 27th December 2016. Looking back across some of the photographs from the wedding, it really was amazing just how much luck we had with the weather. I was very fortunate to have a beautiful sunset to help me out as we reached the reception venue, providing a glorious, bright and golden background. Even beforehand, the skies were clear, which was a relief, considering we were in the heart of Winter, and just days after Christmas.
It really would be amiss of me to not mention the weather, again. Following the ceremony, myself, Kirsten and Matthew managed to take some beautiful shots at Crewe Hall, surrounded by the gorgeous setting sun, and the magnificent, imposing venue. If you are fan of such buildings, it really is a breathtaking place. With its tree lined, half mile driveway, set in northern countryside, this 17th century mansion house is spectacular... and as I've described, certainly has a certain Downton-ness about it, should you be looking for that in a wedding venue or simply a grand day out. Against the golden glow of the early sunset, and with the gorgeous couple front and centre, my life as a wedding photographer that day was a doddle. And as the sun finally began to hide, we found intricate little details around and inside the mansion that served as quirky and unique photo opportunities... you'll see a few below with some of the exterior stone work and then again with a rose display... not to mention the candlelit shot which I felt worked so well and encapsulated what was a really elegant and romantic day.
Wedding photography by Jon Thorne at Crewe Hall, Cheshire and Holy Trinity Church, Newcastle under Lyme.
