Tomorrow is Shellby and Ryan’s wedding day at the beautiful White hart inn, Lydgate. Its such a gorgeous venue and one that I absolutely love returning to.
A couple of months ago we met for a walk, chat and a squeezed in some photos along the way. I love getting to know my couples throughout their wedding planning and getting to know all about their back story and plans for their big day on the pre wedding shoot.
Here’s a little bit of what we got up to…
A couple of weeks ago I met with Kirsty and Jamie for their pre wedding shoot ahead of their wedding later this year. Having lived in the city centre and loving the architecture and history of the buildings they decided to walk around some iconic Manchester sites for their pre wedding shoot images.
After meeting at their flat and being infatuated with cat their Jurgen we headed out around Castlefield before heading over to Albert Square for some photos around the town hall and St Peters Square. It was great to meet up with Kirsty and Jamie once again ahead of their big day and squeeze in a few photos before heading for a drink and chatting over all things weddings.
If you would like a relaxed couples shoot and want to hear about what I can do for you drop me a message here.
After their rainy pre wedding shoot I was keeping everything crossed for a fine weathered day for Simon and Stevie’s big day…. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Stevie and Simon were married at the beautiful Hyde Bank Farm near Stockport, a gorgeous exclusive use countryside venue dating back to 1655.
A snowy drive to meet Stevie and her bridesmaids at Magpie cottages for morning preparations and receiving a beautiful gift from Simon the girls spent the morning getting ready while the snow continued to fall with friends helping with hair and make up.
Surrounded by their closest family and friends in an intimate ceremony in the Ann Hyde Suite it’s the perfect venue for a rustic relaxed wedding.
A brief spout of blue skies were the perfect time for a few portraits quickly interrupted by the beast from the east making a very cold arrival. These guys were amazing and braved the sun, wind, rain and snow whilst cuddling up for their photos.
After settling in for the speeches it was time to head to the dance floor and pull out all the moves after cutting the cake beautifully made by Simon’s mum- what a day! Thank you so much to Simon and Stevie for choosing me to document their day and for braving every weather element that mother nature pulled out.
Wedding suppliers:
Venue: Hyde bank farm
Dress: Blush Boutique
Shoes: Charlotte Mills
Florist/ Venue dresser: Classy blooms
Videographer: Amy Louise
A huge thank you to Sarah for coming along and second shooting and capturing some of the moments below.
2018 was bloody fabulous ! So many incredible weddings and couples who did their day their way!
Working in Lancashire and up and down the country heading down to Cornwall and up to Scotland I really did cover the lengths of the UK photographing weddings over the past 12 months. Over 50 weddings later and I’m itching for 2019 weddings to start so I can dive into more unique days.
From 3 day long festivals to intimate elopements no two weddings have been the same which is exactly why this year has been so amazing! To each and every couple who chose me to document their day THANK YOU! I’ve absolutely loved documenting every laugh, tear, hug and epic dance off.
I’ve worked alongside some insanely talented photographers this year and to all of you who have second shot for myself or invited me to shoot alongside you I cannot thank you enough, I’ve had an absolute blast!
2019 is shaping up to equally epic with weddings in Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and even Sorrento…. BRING IT ON !
Here’s a tiny snippet of what I got up to in 2018- enjoy!
Happy New Year !
Olivia x
The Old Grammar School in Middleton is such a hidden gem tucked away just out of the centre of Middleton. Standing over 600 years old its full of character and charm whilst being super close to Manchester city centre. As a Lancashire wedding photographer I love having the opportunity to explore venues for the first time.
I first met Emily when I photographed her brother and sister in laws wedding 2 years ago and was absolutely thrilled when she got in touch to see if I was available to shoot her big day.
The day started off nice and relaxed with the girls getting ready together at Emily's mums home surrounded by bridesmaids, with flower girls Poppy and Ada excitedly waiting upstairs jumping on the bed. I was super excited to see Emily’s “light up” shoes and colourful bouquet that she had previously told me about and it did not disappoint! If you want to inject some colour and fun into your flowers then take note because this is how to do it!
After a drive in the appropriately named “Emily” wedding car Ed and Emily were married in a beautiful service at St Marie’s church in Bury surrounded by their closest family and friends.
A quick showering of rainbow confetti and time for some portraits of the pair outside of the church and it was time to head over to The Old Grammar School. The traditional stone and oak building looked incredible filled full of rainbow flowers and fairy lights – the brighter the better!
After an afternoon spent in the sunshine with family and friends Ed and Emily settled down for a BBQ and speeches before kicking off the dance floor to sound of The Midnight cats. Thanks so much for having me at your big day Emily and Ed it was beautiful !
Here’s a little preview of what the day looked like
Wedding Suppliers:
Venue: The Old Grammar School
Make up: Vicki Sillett
Hair: Alicia Davies
Flowers: Bealey’s florist
Cake: Julia’s icing on the cake
Band: The Midnight Cats
Back in February I photographed Siobhan and Joe's wonderland themed wedding and fitting with the theme it was wonderful! Starting with bridal prep at Siobhan's parents house I instantly fell in love with Siobhan's lipstick and eyebrow combination by the insanely talented bridal by frankie! Full of laughs, amazing music and a book gifted from Joe with space to document their first year together as husband and wife I knew this was going to be a very special day.
After travelling up and down the country photographing weddings it was lovely to back photographing a Lancashire wedding in my hometown of Rochdale. The Town hall is so beautiful and full of history with amazing decor everywhere- it has serious Hogwarts vibes! *swoon* It was a beautiful ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends full of emotional tears, smiles and laughter; with the accompaniment of a harpist to honour Siobhan's celtic routes- what more could a wedding photographer wish for!?
Following the ceremony we headed outside for a serious shower of confetti! Use this as inspiration- if you want a kick ass confetti shot you need so much more confetti than you initially think you need (confetti canons are always a bonus)!
We made the most of the rare winter sunshine (even though it was freezing) to take some photos of the pair around the Town hall before heading back in for a reception filled with beers hand picked to match the wonderland theme and settle in for the speeches.
I'm not going to lie I was waiting all day for Siobhan and Joe's dancefloor to kick off- not only because I LOVE the dancefloor and getting right in the middle of it all but because I knew Joe had created an incredible playlist and it certainly did not disappoint! All of the tunes and ALL of the moves and a sensible choice to chance footwear into something more comfotable I am so excited to share a small snippet of this fabulous day!
A couple of weeks ago I asked good friend and fellow wedding photographer Sarah to come along to Blackpool for some fun on the beach at sunset. As a first timer to Blackpool and *hold your breath* first time in an arcade I loved being able to show Sarah exactly what it is I love about Blackpool- the colour, the fun and the care free nature.
I met Sarah and Glen outside of Coral Island on the beach front at Blackpool and we headed into the came to play on some classic arcade games- who doesn't love a 2p slot machine!? A quick round on Mario and the obligatory failed attempt to bag a teddy on the grabber machines we headed out onto the beach as the tide came in and the sun came down.
It was so much fun dodging the water and going for a walk/ run across the sand. I can't wait to shoot more couples here and get planning more fun couples shoots. If you're interested in a natural couples shoot drop me a message or keep an eye on my social media for dates and locations I'd like to shoot at.
Pets at bridal prep- check, the seaside- check, arcades- check, Elvis- check! Laura and Sam's wedding was SO much fun and was full of things I love.
The day started at Laura and Sam's house for bridal prep which to my delight featured Lily the dog! After prep we heading to The wedding chapel which is situated right on the front of Blackpool promenade and perfectly frames the Blackpool tower.
After taking a stroll along the promenade and onto North pier and taking a few photos of Laura and Sam we made a quick stop in the arcades *yay* The wedding party then headed to local Italian Nunzio's for the wedding meal and the all important speeches which included a lovely poem from Sam's mum.
After being refuelled it was time for everyone to take a stroll down to The talk of the town for Laura and Sam's evening reception. Including some wedding crashers, a cake made of cheese and an extra special VIP .... ELVIS!! And to top it all off I managed to take Laura and Sam onto the beach (or as close to it as we could get in high tide) for some evening portraits...here's a brief glance of what their day looked like.
A couple of weeks back I headed to lovely Heaton park in Manchester for Ben and Lizzie's pre wedding shoot ahead of their Heaton park wedding in a few weeks. We walked around the park chatting wedding plans and travel (my 2 favourite subjects) while squeezing in some photos of the pair and their beautiful daughter Eleanor.
Having spent lots of time in Heaton park with friends and family growing up I was really looking forward to heading there for the shoot and scouting locations for their wedding photos. Lizzie and Ben chose to hold their wedding in the park after both meeting and getting engaged here so it felt pretty special to be taking photos of their family here ahead of their wedding.
I'm can't wait to be heading back in a few weeks for their wedding and hopefully we'll be treated to a little bit more of the very rare Manchester sunshine we've been having recently.
Here's a little bit of what we got up to ...
If you're interested in a relaxed couples or family shoot in or around Manchester/ Lancashire/ Yorkshire/ Cheshire drop me a message to see what I can offer for you :)
Olivia x
I was so excited to be back at Carlton Towers for Sam and Pranesh's wedding after visiting with them in the autumn for their pre wedding shoot. Luckily the February weather was kind to us and the rain held off! It was such a beautiful day and I am so excited to be able to share this beautiful Yorkshire wedding.
Starting in the morning with Sam getting ready with her bridesmaids and mums while the boys prepped the downstairs there was a really buzz as all the girls had their hair and makeup done and Sam handed out gifts. With a little spare time Sam and Pranesh decided to have a 'first touch'. This was the first time I had the opportunity to photograph a first touch and I absolutely loved it! If you have the time to schedule it in to your day I highly recommend to do so it was a really lovely emotional moment and I felt incredibly lucky to be able to document it.
Walking down the aisle to the beautiful voice of Rosanna O'Brien Sam and Pranesh's ceremony was perfect, full of little glances and smiles to one another.
After the ceremony we headed outside for a showering of confetti as they walked down the grand steps outside the venue before taking some time to explore the grounds and get some photos as the two spend a little time together as husband and wife.
I love taking time to photograph the little details at a wedding- after all so much time has been spent planning it out to be perfect! and Sam and Pranesh's did not disappoint. It was so lovely to see their centre pieces for each table included images from their pre wedding shoot and my favourite touch was their "You are my lobster" cake topper- as a HUGE Friends fan this was much appreciated.
Undoubtably one of my favourite parts of Sam and Pranesh's big day was the dance floor! It was INCREDIBLE! After a game of Mr and Mrs it was dancing shoes back on a go go go. With Pranesh's family coming from Mauritius I had been warned the dance floor would be busy and that was no word of a lie, it was such an amazing atmosphere and I loved getting stuck in the middle of all the action.
Massive thanks to Emily for coming along to second shoot and capturing some of these images.
Massive thanks to all suppliers involved in making this wedding BEAUTIFUL and of course to Sam and Pranesh for allowing me to share and document their big day !
Venue: Carlton Towers
Singer: Rosanna O'brien
Second shooter: Emily Bailey
Decorations: As you wish events
Cake: Betty's
I met Duane and Ellie last week at their home before heading to one of their favourite spots for a walk with dog Trevor. We were lucky to dodge the thunderstorms and be graced with some very rare but welcomed sunshine! I always love heading to places that are personal to a couple for pre wedding shoots.
When we reached the top there was the most amazing view out to Manchester and I was so glad we had a clear day to see the view. Not wanting to be left out Trevor did a quick lap to be centre frame in some of Duane and Ellie's images.
After our walk we headed back to Duane and Ellie's house to chat through plans for their wedding and I CANNOT WAIT! In August I'll be heading down to Cornwall for the pairs festival themed wedding! Every single thing about this wedding sounds incredible and I am so so excited to be photographing their big day.
If you'd like to meet to discuss booking me for your own wedding or booking in a couples shoot drop me a message to see what I can do for you.
Olivia x
When Charlotte suggested meeting at Fountain's Abbey for her and Jame's pre wedding shoot ahead of their wedding at Barton Grange this summer I was over the moon, when she then asked if Millie the dog could be involved I was even more excited! After previously visiting the incredible beauty of this National Trust site years ago I was more than a little excited to return. Despite the typically British April showers we walked around the preserved site of the Abbeys ruins with dog Millie and managed to dodge all rain showers that came on the drive from Lancashire to beautiful North Yorkshire. Although after recent snow, rain, sunshine and all other elements a little bit of dry was welcome weather!
After meeting in the cafe in the courtyard we made our way down the hill and explored the various ruins (which are the largest monastic ruins in the country) set alongside the river in Ripon and chatted all things weddings and pets! There was plenty of beautiful archways and stunning scenery for backdrops for their pre wedding photos. Here’s a little bit of what we got up to….
If you’re thinking of a pre wedding shoot its a great way to warm up in front of the camera and see how I work. Don’t worry its not hours of standing in one spot saying cheese, I want to see how you react with one another so heading to a spot you love to simply have a walk and a chat about your plans is the perfect place to start! For more information on pre wedding shoots drop me a message :)
Olivia x
Back on Easter Sunday I met with Laura and Sam for their pre wedding shoot ahead of their wedding in Blackpool this June. We met early on, in the unexpected sunshine, with the hope to beat the high tide and have a walk along the beach. Unfortunately, along with the sun, mother nature had other ideas and washed out the beach entirely! But that didn't matter as we walked across to the local gardens with Lily the dog for some pictures.
It was a great opportunity to chat through plans for their relaxed wedding and of course get in some photos of the pair and Lily- just look at that smile!
I've known Casey since high school after being in the same form class so I was extra excited when she asked me to document her and Liam's big day.
After meeting in Lourdes and later becoming engaged there while on pilgrimage Liam and Casey's day was extra special in paying homage to this in a day surrounded by their family and friends. Bridal preparations were enjoyed over a glass of bubbly and some throwback music supplied by Steps and beautiful makeup by Briony Jayne
The beautiful ceremony was held in Liam's family church at Our Immaculate Mother & ST Anselm's with the service delivered from both Casey and Liam's parish priests making it extra special and personal to the pair.
After a hefty showering of confetti and the formal group shots the heavens opened just in time for us to make our way over to The Peacock Room. Luckily we dodged the rain for the most part and made use out of the beautiful grounds at the peacock room for some bridal portraits.
Some emotional speeches recounting of long friendships, and fate bringing Casey and Liam together
Huge thank you to Sarah for coming along and second shooting with me for the day and capturing some of these moments!
Today I'm heading to the beautiful Sweeney Hall in Oswestry for Carwen and Matt's wedding. Coming from the North west and previously living in Wales for 3 years I love any opportunity to head back and explore the many beautiful towns, cities and villages Wales has to offer and last week was no different. I headed to the ridiculously stunning town of Llangollen situated in North East Wales to meet with Matt, Carwen and children Cai, Bella and Oscar.
Right on the edge of the Berwyn mountains situated on the River Dee Llangollen was full of idyllic spots for photos. Bright and early on Saturday morning after meeting outside the Corn Mill, where Matt and Carwen had their first date, we headed down beside the river to get some family photos and images of the two of them together in preparation for their wedding. Prior to the shoot Carwen had told me she was nervous but she didn't need to be as the whole family were naturals and I absolutely loved having the opportunity to spend the morning with them all.
Following a morning walking along the river taking photos we headed to a local cafe to chat all things weddings, I absolutely loved hearing all about their upcoming wedding. And just as we did the typical British weather arrived and the rain came down!
Here's a small snippet of what we got up to...
Pre wedding shoots are not only a fab opportunity for you to get a selection of photos together other than the selfies on your phone its a brilliant opportunity for us to meet. I love meeting couples before the wedding and often couples agree experiencing having their photo taken before the wedding puts their mind at ease on the day. If you would like to book in for a meeting or couples shoot drop me a message :)
Olivia x
Next week I will be heading back to the incredibly beautiful and grand Carlton Towers in Yorkshire to document Sam and Pranesh's big day. Back in the autumn I headed up crossing the Lancashire to Yorkshire border to meet the pair for a pre wedding shoot. We had a relaxed walk round the venue and discussed all things weddings and wedding plans.
The building was covered in the most amazing red ivy and we had the whole place to ourselves to explore! A beautiful mix of large state rooms dressed in gold and ornate fireplaces and intimate cosy rooms perfect to snuggle on the sofa in and surrounded by 250 acres of estate parkland there was plenty to explore.
We had such a lovely morning full of love and laughter and it made me so so excited for their big day! After a quick tour of the venue we started in the state rooms and worked our way through the house and into the gardens for some pictures.
Pre wedding shoots are not only a great opportunity to get some photos of you as a couple but they are a fab opportunity to chat all about your big day, not to mention understand a little bit about how I work and what you’ll be doing on your wedding. Aside from this I LOVE shooting couples, if you’d like some photos of you and your partner (engaged or not) pop me a message and see what I can do for you!
From the moment Fiona's email detailing her wedding to Ian hit my inbox I knew it was going to be special. An intimate wedding set on their very own farm with their nearest and dearest - a grand total of 9 guests and Polly (the ring bearing sheep) Set in the incredibly beautiful Kinross in Scotland and I was looking forward to this wedding for a long time!
After getting their hair done at the salon the girls headed back to Fiona and Ian’s farm house to bind beautiful rose and thistle buttonholes before doing makeup and getting dressed. Once dressed Fiona headed over to see her calves and other animals on the farm before… wait for it….. driving herself down the “aisle” in a tractor- Seriously one of the coolest entrances EVER!
Following a traditional bag piper Fiona, bridesmaid and flower girls headed down the aisle for a hand fasting ceremony. It was such an honour to be part of Fiona and Ian’s intimate ceremony with what can only be described as the most phenomenal views!
After the ceremony Fiona, Ian and I wandered around their farm taking photos of the two before heading back to the field directly behind the farmhouse where the couple had set up bride and groom hay bales as well as a hay bale pyramid for their group shot *swoon* It felt so special taking photos not only where they had been married 20 minutes prior but on their land where they both worked and lived. A brief stop in the farmhouse for some snacks and refreshments and we headed off for a mini tour of the couples favourite spots including Loch Leven (if you get a chance to visit I cannot recommend it enough) I loved being able to explore the stunning scenery and take portraits of these guys before heading to an intimate (and amazingly tasty) meal at a local restaurant before they headed off on their honeymoon. I had such a beautiful and fun day celebrating and documenting this intimate wedding.
If you’re planning a relaxed countryside wedding, or an intimate elopement get in touch ! I adore shooting this sort of beautiful wedding
I love each and every shoot that I get the chance to do and I especially love working alongside couples to capture their personality in beautiful settings. And this shoot above any other stands out because its my very own lovely mum and dad. Right on the door step of my childhood family home is the beautiful setting of Ashworth Moor in Lancashire just on the outskirts of Rochdale, growing up we would head up the lane to this beautiful setting of rolling hills, waterfalls and reservoirs to walks our two dachshunds and now I love to spend weekends up in the hills.
Seeing heather in bloom on impulse I quickly grabbed my mum and dad and took them up to the moors for a walk in the hills and a few photos. It was extra special to see how they reacted with one another especially after 33 years of marriage, my mum and dad have always been a massive inspiration and shown me exactly what a relationship should be like.
This was the first time since their own wedding they had the opportunity to have some photos with one another (which is crazy considering they had a photographer in the family). Unlike the traditional photos taken on their wedding I wanted to be able to inject some fun and personality into these photos are really show off the amazing relationship they have. These pictures will always be super special to me and I am so excited to finally be showing them off.
I love exploring the great outdoors and especially love going for adventures in new places so if you’re planning your wedding and would like a pre wedding shoot or know someone who would love some new portraits drop and message and get in touch and lets plan something awesome!
Thowback to those summer months with beautiful golden sunsets and warm afternoons. After getting ready at her mums house Sarah and Dave were married at ST Cuthbert's Church in ChurchTown. It was such a beautiful church and the perfect setting for this wedding and a welcome shade from the beaming sunlight on one of the hottest days of last year. It was an emotional service followed by a hefty showering of confetti outside of the church grounds.
After the service we headed down the road to Southport Botanical gardens for some couples portraits, which were extra special as this is where Sarah's parents had their own wedding portraits. Luckily we were greeted with beautiful sunshine unlike their very rainy pre wedding shoot a couple of months prior.
After the all important portraits we headed to the Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport which was the perfect setting for some seaside portraits.Following the all important speeches we headed out front for some lovely golden hour portraits down by the pier.
After kicking off the party with a first dance to Arctic Monkeys Sarah and Dave had such an amazing dance floor full of the best music! I absolutely LOVED this wedding and I'm so happy to be sharing it!
Hayley and Daniels wedding was like something straight out of a fairytale set in Hazlewood castle in Yorkshire, a historic beauty dating all the way back to 1086. Hayley and Daniel's wedding was bursting full of love, emotion and hand made touches that made the day so sentimental. From the moment Hayley entered the room it was clear to see the love between these two and that they were meant to be.
The day started with an intimate ceremony within the castle shared with their closest friends and family before heading to the chapel in the grounds for a beautiful service shared with their full wedding party.
After a foggy start to the day the sun came out just in time for lots of confetti and photos in the beautiful Yorkshire grounds.
We later progressed into the Great Hall for an evening meal, speeches before a night full of dancing including an extra special dance medley between Hayley and her father- if you're wondering what makes a great dance floor, this is it!
