Category Archives: Samlesbury Hall

Samlesbury Hall wedding photography │ Anita & Jonathan

2nd January 2010

I had been looking forward to this wedding for some time – you couldn’t ask for two lovelier people to work with on their wedding day than Anita & Jonathan.  Their Lancashire wedding photography was very much a family affair and I just knew from the outset that there would be that warm cuddly buzz that you only get from close families jointly celebrating a very happy wedding.

The Big Xmas Freeze showed no signs of letting up and the wedding forecast the night before was pretty horrific.  I got up extra early to find the snow already falling hard and a call to Samlesbury told the same story.  I live about 600 feet above sea level so the local roads were absolutely treacherous, and within a mile from my house I came across the first traffic accident.  I soldiered on and by the time I reached the M60 the snow was lightening though only one lane was in use.  Then the sat-nav went down (bad atmospherics which affected guests coming from all directions) making life doubly difficult.

I eventually arrived in reasonably good time and those warming log fires never felt so welcoming!  Anita looked absolutely stunning in her ivory lace dress with matching fur stole (and white wellies!) but for once the Groom’s sartorial elegance was a match for the Bride.  Jonathan’s natty suit and shoes earn him my Best Dressed Groom of the Year Award.  Guys take note!  The snow made a beautiful pure backdrop for the confetti and group shots, and we had so many wonderful pictures that A&J could only whittle them down to 144 for their Graphi album.  As always Lindsay at Samlesbury had her team working seamlessly and unobtrusively ensuring that everyone had a fabulous time.  A lovely couple, loads of emotion and everyone enjoying themselves, this was a perfect winter wedding.

Samlesbury Hall wedding photographer │ Yvonne and Gavin

29th December 2009

Yes, there was snow on the ground, and believe you me it was cold, but the log fires were roaring for Yvonne & Gavin’s wedding at Samlesbury Hall in Lancashire, the perfect setting for a winter wedding.  We were only brave enough to bear the elements for five minutes or so but the interiors at Samlesbury more than make up for the short and frosty winter days.  Toastmaster Howard Rudge ensured everything ran on time and Angela and the team at Samlesbury made sure Yvonne & Gavin and all their guests had a perfect day.  Yvonne got ready at the Lodge, just a stone’s throw from the Hall itself, and after the ceremony I gathered everyone outside for the group photos shot from an upper window.  Quickly does it though because it was pretty nippy outside, and then back inside.  Were those log fires ever more welcoming!

 

 

My Favourite Weddings & Venues – Summer 2009

In July I returned to Heaton House Farm as Kelly & Ian’s Cheshire wedding photographer.

Wow, how things have changed! The choice of facilities has more than doubled and there are more areas to shoot in.
 
I particularly like the inclusion of the pond, and when the new garden areas have had a chance to gain a little more maturity things will be even better still. If only all venue owners were as pro-active and forward thinking!
 
Kelly and Ian chose my new Moderna 10×10 album. This allows a lot of design flexibility at a very reasonable price and is a perfect choice for couples on a more restrictive budget. They also ordered two matching albums for their parents in the 8×8 version and these look particularly cute at their smaller scaled down size.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Summer certainly arrived in style for Bonnie & Nigel’s Derbyshire wedding at Cressbrook Hall in August.

It was a lovely day for a wedding and the light showed off the magnificent gardens to full advantage.
We shot the getting ready pictures at the venue and this is always a good idea for making the most of a half day booking.
The ceremony was held outside under the eaves, and among the guests were Bride & Groom’s two Jack Russells, resplendant with their red ribbons which perfectly matched the Bridesmaids dresses.
There was another four-legged guest, somewhat larger and possibly even more beautifully turned out, but this time it was a complete surprise to the bride.
Shortly after the ceremony the bridal party were ushered round to the drive at the front of Cressbrook Hall where to the Bride’s astonishment her golden stallion awaited, saddled up and ready to go, complete with very bling sparkly hooves and flanks. The Bride & Groom are both keen equestrians and Nigel arranged this magical surprise. It made a perfect photo opportunity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You wouldn’t have known what season it was for Joanna & Ian’s Lancashire wedding. They chose me as their Samlesbury Hall photographer.

We had sun, wind and torrential rain, all in the space of a few hours. The sun popped in and out like a yo-yo and the shower setting was on random.

This didn’t in any way dampen the B&G’s spirits, even when we did finally push our luck too far. The rain gods cried enough and organised a deluge of biblical proportions just as we were shooting the Bride & Groom shots in the gardens.

Luckily the trees on the estate are plentiful, but after ten minutes no-stop downpour I had to make a break for it to retrieve umbrellas. I was soaked through, and by the time I got back to the B&G Ian was also drenched, having chivalrously given his jacket to his new Bride so she could stay dry.

I ran ahead to organise towels and managed to get a memorable picture of them coming inside with the wall of water pouring down behind them.
This was my first wedding at Samlesbury and I have to say that this venue has impressed me like no other on first appraisal. It has charm and atmosphere in equal measure. It is well maintained and has lovely grounds. Laid out the Great Hall had the feeling of a medieval banquet and the waiting staff were attentive but didn’t rush you. Most importantly the wedding co-ordinator ensured that everything ran like clockwork and in an unobtrusive manner. If a period setting is your dream this may be the venue for you.
 
 
 
 
 
Claire & Tom are both keen photographers and wisely booked me as their Shrigley Hall photographer very early on, as do most couples who really value their wedding pictures. Just today as I write this blog I have had to turn away two enquiries for 2010 because I am already booked, and one at a fantastic venue that I could have translated into wonderful pictures.
As usual I arrived early at Claire’s parents’ house to shoot the getting ready pictures. Experience has taught me to allow plenty of time for the unexpected but on this occasion it wasn’t necessary and everything fell into place perfectly.
Claire has natural good looks but I’d only seen her before without make-up and I wasn’t prepared for the transformation when she finally put on her Ian Stewart dress. She looked wonderful. Getting in touch with my feminine side I think it is safe to say this was a dress for boys to appreciate as well as girls! Very romantic and very feminine.
Claire & Tom were married at St. Catherine’s in Didsbury and held their reception at Shrigley Hall. This was another on-off day so we did all the group shots in the courtyard as soon as all the guests had booked in. Guys take note – look how the Groom and his mates all camp it up for their shots. Every one was a winner and a lot of fun. The Girls always have a giggle but often The Guys take a lot of coaxing.
As luck would have it the blustery showers curtailed the B&G outdoor photoshoot before we had finished. Shrigley Hall is wonderful inside however, and for me the single series of shots of Claire and Tom on the grand staircase makes up for ones we didn’t manage to get done outside. Just look at that dress. (My feminine side again!)