Kirsty & Chris' Pilgrims Rest, Battle wedding

Where to begin with Kirsty and Chris’ stunner of a day! From the incredible venue heaped with history to the cosy decor and what to even say about the dress- GOALS!

Although based in Lancashire I am so lucky to have the opportunity to travel up and down the country and all over the world photographing beautiful weddings for amazing couples. I loved travelling down to Battle to photograph at this gorgeous venue.

I will forever be in love with Kirsty’s beautiful embroidered asos dress as well as not one but two pairs of irregular choice shoes… Wedding hack right there getting an awesome pair of heels and flats! With a morning of prep soundtracked to Disney I knew this wedding was going to be a bit of me and full of joy, love and happiness.

After an intimate ceremony surrounded by their nearest and dearest Kirsty, Chris and I headed into Battle to explore the village and get some beautiful portraits in the sunshine around Battle abbey.

Kirsty and Chris opted for a barbecue perfect for the sunny weather before kicking off the heels and starting their party as early as possible- my kind of wedding!

Here’s a little snippet of what their wedding looked like!

What real couples have to say...

So by now I’m sure everyone will have seen I made regional finals for photographer of the year in The Wedding Industry Awards, something I was immensely proud of and as such plastered all over my social media- sorry not sorry!

The North West is full to the brim of AMAZING photographers so to be named amongst some of these was incredible. As part of the judging process couples from the previous year are asked to leave feedback and overall score of their service (with an overall score of 69.4 out of 70 I was over the moon!) Last night I read through all the lovely comments left by my couples on what really was the best year of weddings!

From the bottom of my heart I want to say a huge thank you to each and every couple that chooses me to document their day and for each couple who took the time out of their busy days to vote for me- THANK YOU, you’re the best!

So without further ado here’s what some previous couples have to say.

“I took a while choosing a photographer as I knew exactly what I wanted; someone to capture the love and happiness on the day without needing to pose for any photos! I knew Olivia was the right person straight away when she responded so positively to my email and I felt her enthusiasm. The photos we received were exactly what we wanted; natural, fun, expressive, colourful, emotive and just full of love. There wasn't an image that didn't make me smile and/or cry and relive every perfect moment!” 

Mr & Mrs Bristowe

“Olivia was absolutely amazing, she made us feel very at ease throughout the day and fitted in perfectly to our wedding. Olivia took some amazing natural photos which was exactly what we were looking for in a photography. I would recommend Olivia to anyone looking for a photographer.”

Mr & Mrs Mapp

“Olivia was incredible from the day we met her! Our pre-wedding photo shoot was a beautiful day we will always treasure. Olivia took the time to get to know us, and teach us photography techniques that made our actual wedding day shoot fun and easy. Every single photo that Olivia took was flawless and she captured every element of our wedding. She went above and beyond to make sure we got exactly what we wanted, and was always available on the phone or by email in the lead up to our big day. 5*! “

Mr & Mrs Latchayya

“Olivia was amazing from the onset. We didn’t want traditional line up wedding photos, we wanted her to capture our theme and the enjoyment of our guests in a very informal way. Olivia delivered this perfectly! Our wedding was Christmas themed including a surprise real life reindeer, even this didn’t phase her. We had some specific shots we also wanted her to capture and being the ultimate professional she didn’t disappoint. At time we forgot she was there, but have the photos to prove it”

Mrs & Mrs Fletcher Wilde

“Olivia was the most down-to-earth and relatable photographer!. We visited many wedding fayres and searched many social media accounts. Olivia visited us in our home, made us feel at ease chatting about herself, her cats and her career and discussed what we wanted from her on our big day. Olivia took on board what we wanted and advised what she thought would look/work well. It genuinely felt like we had a friend taking the photos, we laughed and shivered together in the cold December weather! “

Mr & Mrs Bennett

“Olivia felt like one of our wedding guests rather than our photographer on our special day. She instantly put us both at ease and created a bond from our pre-wedding photo shoot. Our guests commented on how hard she worked during our wedding and her professional mannerism. We were overwhelmed with the quality of our photographs when we received them”

Mr & Mrs Tobias Reid

“We choose Olivia because of her unobtrusive style and friendly laid back personality. We didn't want super formal pictures but we did want to capture the atmosphere and spirit of the day which Olivia did perfectly. Olivia put us completely at ease and was a reassuring sight at all times, snapping her way through our day and our evening - we couldn't believe she managed to capture as many happy moments as she did. “

Mr & Mrs Lawton

“I approached Olivia regarding our wedding photography after following her page for a number of years. I loved her documentary style and how she managed to capture all the individual points of our day. My husband and I felt anxious about having our photos taken but as soon as we met Olivia all nerves were gone. She made us and all of our guests feel at ease. Our photographs are absolutely amazing and there isn’t anything that I would change. Olivia’s true passion for her work really shows.”

Mr & Mrs Norman

“Olivia was discreet and charming. She captured our personalities as a couple and of the feel of the whole event. I couldn’t have wished for a better photographer. “

Mr & Mrs Whitworth-Foster

“Olivia was perfect from start to finish. She was so helpful in the run up to our big day, providing plenty of ideas when we weren’t sure about what we wanted. She helped us to feel so comfortable in front of the camera and all of our guests commented on how amazing she was on the day. Our photos are absolutely beautiful, we couldn’t have asked for anything more and they were presented in a beautiful glass box full of dried petals! We would definitely recommend Olivia to future couples. “

Mr & Mrs Reid

“Olivia is a fantastic photographer she is so friendly and professional. She made us feel at ease. We have just received are wedding photos and we both couldn’t be happier with them. Anything I asked Olivia was no trouble for her I would recommend her to anyone”

Mr & Mrs Taylor

“Olivia was amazing through our whole wedding experience, from the pre wedding shoot and on the big day! She was so approachable, always quick to respond to any queries and super supportive on the big day, helping to calm my nerves! We will cherish our wedding photo's forever, Olivia is an incredible photographer, we would highly recommend her! “

Mr & Mrs Lee

“We where so impressed with Olivia’s Photography Skills. She made us feel at ease and she was great with the guests. Our photos are perfect and help us to relive our day over and over again. We had a pre shoot and she made us feel comfortable and guided us through the whole thing from booking to receiving the photos. Our guests all commented on how they didn’t feel like they where constantly being disturbed for photos as all the photos where so natural! We recommend her to everyone. “

Mr & Mrs Makinson

“Absolutely incredible! Recommended to everyone we know.. my sister has booked Olivia for her wedding next year. Such a perfect day & the memories of it are even more amazing by having such incredible & beautiful photos to treasure”

Mr & Mrs Green

“Olivia captured our day perfectly! Her style fitted in with our festival wedding completely (she even brought along coloured smoke flares, which produced the most AMAZING photos). “

Mr & Mrs Cornell

“We were worried about picking the right photographer, as neither myself nor my husband like being in front of a camera. This wasn't a problem working with Olivia. An engagement shoot was included with the package so we could get to know each other before the day. She was incredibly personable, friendly and put us at ease. On the day Olivia was amazing! She was great with our guests and her style of photography meant she almost blended into the background. Our final photos are beautiful! “

Mr & Mrs White

“After seeing her work at my brother’s wedding, I knew that Olivia had to photograph our big day too. Olivia has been brilliant from the beginning. Everyone commented on the day how brilliant she was, Olivia was never in anyone’s face and photographs didn’t seem laborious as they often can at weddings. The photos are absolutely stunning, we are thrilled! “

Mr & Mrs Watkins

“We are over the moon with our photos that we have received from Olivia. She has completely blown us away with the finished product. We are extremely grateful to Olivia for capturing such special moments between our family and friends.”

Mr & Mrs Heritage

“Olivia was diligent in her work and constantly made me, my husband and guests feel comfortable on our big day. She listened to what we wanted and also suggested things that we may like that we hadn't thought about. The quality of her work is outstanding and we will be forever grateful for the special pictures we have to remember our special day. She always went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable including an engagement shoot so we all felt comfortable together on the day “

Mr & Mrs Clayton

“Olivia is phenomenal I can’t fathom the words to express how at ease she made me feel. Thank you so much! “

Mr & Mrs White

“From the offset Olivia was friendly and totally understood the style of photography Joe and I wanted for our wedding. Throughout the process Olivia was efficient and professional. Her attention to detail was excellent and all of the little touches was just perfect. She perfectly captured our day and we can't thank her enough for it"

Mr & Mrs Woolmer-Brennan

If this post got you wondering what I can offer for you on your day…. wonder no more you can contact me here !

Stevie and Simon's wedding at Hyde Bank Farm

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

DJ: WDC entertainment

Videographer: Amy Louise

A huge thank you to Sarah for coming along and second shooting and capturing some of the moments below.

Best of 2018

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

Siobhan and Joe's wonderland wedding at Rochdale Town Hall

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! 

Laura and Sam's pre wedding shoot in Blackpool

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! 

Casey and Liam's wedding at The Peacock Room

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! 

Carwen and Matt's family pre wedding shoot at Llangollen

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  

Fiona and Ian's intimate farm wedding in Kinross

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 

A very special couples shoot in the Lancashire hills

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!

Best of 2017

2017 was such an amazing year for me. I met the most amazing couples sharing their big days documenting the tears, the laughter and the incredible parties that followed! I am so grateful to each and every couple that chose me to document their day. 

I've been lucky enough to work at some amazing new venues, tick some off my bucket list and return to some favourites from previous years. I've travelled up and down the country working with the BEST couples. I have second shot for some incredible photographers and undergone training from some of the best. 

The year kicked off at The Victoria hotel in Oldham and ended at beautiful Mitton Hall. In between I travelled to Kinross, Scotland, Swansea, Fawley Hill and Bristol and so many other incredible places.

I can't wait to see what 2018 holds, I'm nearly fully booked with just a couple of dates remaining and now taking bookings for 2019. I'll be travelling across Manchester, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Wales and further afield. If you're still looking for your photographer drop me a message to see what I can do for you. 

Happy New Year!

Olivia 

Michaela & Ken's Chester Zoo pre wedding shoot

Last month on a very sunny Saturday I headed to Chester Zoo (yay!) to meet up with Michaela, Ken and daughters Annabelle & Taliah to chat all about their wedding plans, stroll around the zoo and sneak in a few pictures ahead of their wedding day. 

I am so excited for this one and know its going to be an absolutely amazing wedding full of fun, love and incredible animals. 

Here's a little look at what we got up to when we met. 

Lauren & Ian's vintage village hall wedding in Chipping Lancashire

Lauren and Ian's wedding was definitely one of my favourites from last year. Full of love, family and beautiful hand made touches this is what rustic village hall weddings are all about! 

Prior to the big day I met Lauren, Ian along with their closest family and friends to document them dressing the room together. So much care and attention went into every single part of the day making it so personal and extra special. Lauren's mum and grandma created beautiful floral arrangements for the tables in an array of jars and vases collected in the year leading up to the wedding. The best man and groom were set to hang bunting that Lauren had handmade throughout the hall. Handmade handkerchiefs and napkins were tied and organised ready for ceremony and wedding breakfast and family photos of marriages previous were stacked on a ladder Lauren had found and up-cycled. Alongside their wedding cake Lauren and Ian opted for a table full of cakes ranging from gluten free lemon cake to chocolate cake (My idea of heaven!) 

Set in stunning rural Chipping in Lancashire the day started off in Plum Cottage with Lauren, bridesmaid Helen, daughter Emily and friends for bridal preparations. There was plenty of laughter as I photographed the bridal party getting ready along with all the special details including Lauren's vintage inspired Vivian of Holloway wedding dress and Irregular Choice heels (swoon!) 

We headed over to Parish church of St Bartholomews for an intimate service before Lauren and Ian were showered with dried petals. Following some family photos and a walk around the village with Lauren and Ian we made the very quick walk across the road to Chipping Village Hall for an evening of pimms, afternoon tea and plenty of dancing. 

If you're wanting a rustic vintage feel for your wedding this is definitely the way to do it! 

Hayley & Daniels spring wedding at Hazlewood Castle

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!