Efortlessly stylish Vintage-Themed Wedding at Friezland Church Hall, Saddleworth.
As a Saddleworth wedding photographer, It’s always nice when I get the chance to capture a wedding close to home, the landscape is so beautiful. Melissa and Tom’s big day was one of those truly special occasions – a vintage-themed wedding at Friezland Village Hall in Saddleworth, just a stone’s throw from me.
Melissa has a deep love of all things vintage, and this shone through in every detail of the day. Almost all of the décor and styling at the village hall came directly from her own home, creating a beautifully authentic vintage atmosphere. I’m a huge fan of 1960s styling myself (I own a couple of Lambrettas), so I couldn’t wait to see how it all came together – and it didn’t disappoint!
A Ceremony at Chadderton Town Hall
The day began with a wonderful touch – a vintage bus transported guests to Chadderton Town Hall in Oldham. This grand building provided the perfect backdrop for Melissa and Tom’s ceremony, with its classic architecture complementing their vintage theme.
Shooting on Film for a True Vintage Feel
While most of my work today is digital, I actually began my career as a film photographer, and I still shoot film for some personal holiday projects. When Melissa and Tom told me about their styling ideas, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to bring film into their wedding photography.
Film photography has a texture and colour palette that is impossible to fully replicate digitally. It requires a different mindset and discipline – every frame counts – but the results are always worth it. For Melissa and Tom’s wedding, film added that authentic, nostalgic quality that tied in beautifully with their theme.
I even bought a Retropia lens for this wedding day, it looks like an Oreo Biscuit and in the centre is a lens from a disposable camera. Basically it’s a bit blurry around the edges, who needs my normal £20k worth of camera equipment when you have a biscuit to shoot through!
Portraits in Saddleworth’s Beautiful Scenery
After the ceremony, everyone returned to Friezland Village Hall. We didn’t need to go far for the couple’s portraits – Saddleworth is blessed with stunning scenery, and the hall is surrounded by incredible views. These natural backdrops added a romantic and timeless feel to Melissa and Tom’s wedding photography.
A Feast by Diggle Lock
Before the meal, I took a little time to photograph the wedding breakfast provided by Diggle Lock. As well as being a wedding photographer, I’m also a passionate food photographer, and I really enjoyed capturing their incredible spread. I chose to shoot it in the style of a Renaissance painting, the result was some of my favourite food photography to date.
An Evening of Music & Celebration
The evening celebrations kicked off in style. Melissa and Tom had booked the brilliant Manchester Ska Foundation, and the dance floor filled instantly. Their high-energy ska set had everyone moving, and the atmosphere was buzzing. I left not long after the first dance and knowing Lee and the Manchester Ska Foundation would keep the guests on the dance floor all night
Final Thoughts
Melissa and Tom’s wedding at Friezland Village Hall was everything a vintage-themed celebration should be – personal, stylish, full of character and humour. I hope I’ve reflected this in these images. It was everything a wedding should be, loads of love, family and friends. From the vintage bus ride to and from Chadderton Town Hall, to the Saddleworth countryside portraits, and the ska-fuelled party, it was an unforgettable day.
Also during the day myself and Melissa replicated an old black and white photograph of her grandmother, that was another nice vintage touch.
If you’re planning your own Saddleworth or Manchester wedding, or looking for a photographer who shares a love of vintage styling and film photography, I’d love to hear from you. You can see more of my work on this blog and get in touch -timsimpsonphotography@gmail.com
