Peckforton Manor Wedding

Well I think this Peckfornton Castle Wedding certainly ended my  year in style in a big way. What’s not to like when you have a great looking, fun, stylish and warm couple like Andrew and Dani, a truly amazing venue like Peckfornton Castle and even the guests scrubbed up pretty well too! It’s the perfect recipe for the perfect wedding day.

Christmas Wedding

As photographers this was was a day that needed us to be well orchestrated as there was so much going on. There was the civil ceremony in the impressive Great Hall, followed by a blessing in the Chapel by Tim, the fun and warm priest. We were aware that at this time of year we start losing the light by just after 4pm, so we needed to be on the ball.

Nice and Early

We arrived nice and early and as we drove through the grand gatehouse we were almost overtaken by Andrew and his best man out for a run. It was nice to grab some early shots them. Meanwhile in the gatehouse Dani, Family and Bridesmaids were swapping gifts as we arrived which again was nice to photograph.

Getting Ready

Leaving the relaxed atmosphere in the Gatehouse we drove up to the main part of the Castle and took some scene setting shots of the florists busy at work decorating the Great Hall and the tables being laid in the Drawing Room. It was here I bumped into my Aunt Shirley. She is one of those people who you just feel better in yourself after talking too, I guess we all (hopefully) have those relatives who light up a room. Shirley is one of those, see if you can spot her in the photos even though you don’t know her!!

That Dress

Pete  (who is a great photographer and one of the gang today) remained to photograph the men getting ready and the guests arriving, we drove back to the gatehouse to capture the final preparations. Its always a memorable moment when the bride is finally getting into “the dress” being helped by her Mother and Bridesmaid, who happened to be Dani’s Sister too. You might spot the resemblance, they are a good looking family aren’t they! Its at this moment to me that the intangible magical thing about weddings and Brides suddenly kick in. If I was as as eloquent with words as I was with pictures, I might be able to better describe this moment. You will just have to take my word for it, this is and was a special moment and you also don’t need me to tell you how amazing Dani looked. If you were there you know, if you weren’t I hope that it comes across in this set of images!

Back in the Great Hall Groom Andrew was greeting guests and waiting patiently if not slightly nervously. This is always a nervous part of the day for the groom, I remember feeling it myself at my wedding, I also share this moment vicariously through the groom, I was nervous for Andy myself. Still those nerves just dissipated when Dani walked down the isle with her proud father, yet another special part of the day that makes weddings and a bit magical.

Artistic Bride and Groom Portraits

After the lovely service and the confetti, we managed to sneak 15 minutes with the bride and groom before the blessing in the Chapel. Afterwards, back in the castle we managed to nip away from the happy guests to shoot a few more couples portraits.

The speeches were before the meal which I always think is the best way round, perhaps not so good for the catering staff if they are lengthy, but good for everyone else involved particularly the speakers who can then sit down and enjoy their meal. The Bride’s father, Andy and Best Man really did keep the guests entertained during the speeches and there was lots of laughter and some tears when remembering loved ones not able to witness this special day for Dani and Andrew.

Between the dancing the cake cutting and the meal it was good to get the opportunity to photograph “the chaps” having cigar outside, almost briefly setting off the fire alarm for a second time that day, but thats another story (and a pit of poetic license)!

So that it for me for this year and I don’t think it really genuinely think could not have ended better, the start and the middle bit were pretty awesome too, having just heard I’m the IPPNs Photographer of 2017, Your Perfect wedding Photographers Top 10 of 2017 and Finalist In the Brilliant Oneyeland Worlds to 10 Photographers.

I think the feeling and the memories that we and the guests got from this magical day will keep us all going for a long time to come and that feeling comes from the top down at a wedding so Dani and and Andrew we hope (and know) that you will have a pretty special life together and that these photos will help the memories come fooding back time after time.

xx

artistic peckforton castle image

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