MERRYDALE MANOR RUSTIC SUMMER WEDDING | KNUTSFORD, CHESHIRE
Jade and Tom got married at Merrydale Manor in Cheshire, a purpose built wedding venue set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. Before I go any further I would like to share a few images from their day, here are a few photos from their amazing summer wedding at Merrydale wedding venue, everything was photographed in my usual fuss free, unposed and relaxed style of wedding photography - sometimes referred to as documentary wedding photography.
*Tip - if you click on the first image you get to see them in all their hi-resolution glory (they look bigger and better)
Merrydale Manor wedding photography, Over Peover, Cheshire.
This was the first time I’d photographed at Merrydale Manor, even though I’m a Manchester based documentary wedding photographer and it’s local to me, this was the first time I’d actually seen Merrydale in all its’ glory.
I had previously photographed weddings at Colshaw Hall, the sister wedding venue to Merrydale so this glorious part of the Cheshire countryside was familiar to me. Merrydale Manor Estate did not disappoint, a grand sweeping driveway leads through beautifully manicured gardens to the estate itself, it’s a perfect wedding venue for a summer wedding, or a wedding at any time of the year to be perfectly honest.
One thing I feel is super important for a wedding venue is the staff, the ladies and gents here are top class, happy and friendly throughout the day, organized and incredibly helpful. Merrydale even has its own resident toastmaster who helps the entire day run silky smooth.
A super relaxed wedding day, a very relaxed approach to wedding photography.
Jade and Tom booked me to photograph their wedding because they wanted none of the awkwardness associated with posing for pictures by having a traditional wedding photographer at their wedding, and that’s where my alternative documentary style of wedding photography is perfect for couples.
Their brief was very simple, they wanted to enjoy their wedding without feeling like they were under the spotlight, pictures to remember their day by and a completely relaxed and informal approach from a photography perspective. Luckily that’s what I specialize in, relaxed informal documentary wedding photography! Actually luck had nothing to do with it, Jade had been watching me for quite a while on social media after seeing me at a friends wedding a few years ago, she initially assumed I was another guest at the wedding rather than the photographer which to be honest is exactly how I love to work. So she took note of my details from here newly-wed friends and sat waiting for the day Tom popped the question, she knew she wanted me before she was even engaged, that’s organized for you!
Relaxed wedding photography at Merrydale Manor, Knutsford.
The emphasis on Jade & Tom’s wedding day was fun and fully embracing the time spent with each other and their friends. All the formalities were kept to a minimum, allowing everyone to spend their time enjoying the day rather than having to worry about keeping to a restrictive schedule. There was a 5-minute interlude for a couple of group pictures, apart from that the entire day was spent thoroughly enjoying every minute of their wedding.
As a documentary wedding photographer I see a lot of couples choosing a much more informal approach to their wedding day, it suits my easygoing approach to wedding photography perfectly and allows couples (along with their families and friends) to forget they have a photographer at their wedding. From my perspective I want couples to make the most of their day, and a photographer who blends in as part of a wedding rather than herding people from one place to the next allows them to do that, along with dressing like a guest and not carrying a host of photo equipment - people don’t notice I’m there and often mistake me for another guest or friend.
As with every wedding, I approached Jade & Tom’s Knutsford wedding as an opportunity to tell their story rather than provide a series of generic wedding pictures. I feel it’s important for couples, when they come to look at their pictures in years to come, and show their children and grandchildren what their wedding was like, they have a set of memories they can talk about and not just a set of pictures that have no meaning or personality. Wedding pictures are a huge part of a day, and capturing the essence of that day - how it felt, not just how it looked is something that I want every couple to have.
I also feel it’s super important to tell a full story of a wedding, not just from an hour before leaving to get married to the first dance. A full story (for me) is the complete story of a wedding day from beginning to late in the evening. The nerves and excitement of getting ready on a wedding morning right through to the crazy evening partying (and everything in-between).
Jade & Tom’s summer wedding at Merrydale Manor wedding venue - some lovely feedback from the Bride.
Jade sent me a lovely message a few months after here wedding in Cheshire, here are her words:
“It has taken me an incredibly long time to write this because I honestly don’t feel that I can put into words just how grateful we are for the photos Paul provided from our wedding.
We booked Paul after attending the evening of a friends wedding, novel a photographer still there in the evening! We honestly thought Paul must have been a family friend he was there all night he had rapport and familiarity with all of the guests... then a week or so later we saw the photos ... Wow the most natural, happy photos I’d ever seen - I made a beeline for my friends “Who is this family friend he’s amazing?!?”, “He’s not” they replied, I couldn’t believe it, we genuinely thought he wasn’t an official photographer he blends in so well and everyone was so ‘normal’ around him, certainly not how we had seen other photographers at weddings! Not yet engaged but 6 long years into my relationship his details were stored in the Rolodex and I silently stalked Paul’s Instagram and Facebook for months until finally I was engaged.
I have to say a few years ago I would have gone for the traditional stand for hours on end to get the countless shots your mum and nan want, but I couldn’t bat away the irrational anger I had whenever I saw a couple peeking out from behind a tree, the heart shaped group shots as photographers hung out of an upstairs room.
We booked Paul (and yes your Mum and Nan will probably not understand at first ‘so there won’t be any pictures with you and Daniel your cousin you haven’t seen for 8 years ‘?) but my god it was the best decision we made throughout our whole wedding - your day goes by in such a whirlwind and I can honestly say Paul’s photos make me feel the exact way I felt on the day, they paint a picture of the emotions we felt and we all look so happy in them!
Paul you made both Tom and I feel so relaxed you understood that it was so important for us to enjoy the day with our friends and family (if you’re reading this you probably already know weddings cost a small fortune please if I ever give any advice on a wedding enjoy it, be present). I can honestly say I have no regrets that we don’t have countless group shots of forced smiles, Paul photographed our wedding just as it was, we got to spend our precious time with each other and the people we love, and that’s the beauty of what he does - rather than us looking stiff and awkward we have natural pictures of us laughing and smiling with our loved ones - all without interruption ....
Our wedding photos are the most perfect representation of not just our day, but of me and my husband and our wonderful friends and family. Paul you are a wizard and anyone who chooses to have you as their photographer will have the most wonderful, relaxed day with a set of timeless photographs of them looking happier, more relaxed and more in love than any posed photographer could ever create, and let me be clear here, I am talking ALL of the pictures, not just a few, there isn’t a single picture in our wedding gallery that doesn’t mean something to us, no fillers, no pictures to make the numbers up - Paul gives you a gallery full of fantastic ones!
If you’re thinking of booking Paul but you’re worried you’ll miss an important family member, moment or loving look, he won’t miss a thing I can promise you that! As for the Mums and Nans of your world, once they see the photos they’ll be completely won over - All of our sceptical family agreed that he was the best booking we made at our wedding (so much so, he’s booked for the next family wedding)”
If you would like to inquire about my availability to photograph your wedding day, please use the form below to get in touch.