Since moving to Gloucestershire a couple of years ago there have been many incredible new venues to visit in the area.  When Amy and Brad first contacted me to photograph their wedding day at Manor by the Lake I was delighted to have the opportunity to explore this charming venue.

This little gem of a venue is set back out of view in the heart of Cheltenham.  The grandiose manor is available for private hire.  Manor by the Lake offers an incredibly helpful and friendly wedding team, beautifully maintained gardens, stunning oak panelling and a bridal suite to die for.  A perfect backdrop for any wedding day.  My Bristol couple fell in love with this venue the moment they saw it.

It was a lovely cold and bright December morning when I arrived at the venue.  I had plenty of time for some venue shots before meeting up with the Bridal party.  The gardens were looking splendid in the winter sunshine and the events team were busy putting final touches to the tables in the Ballroom.  With the first few shots under my belt I wandered up to the beautiful bridal suite to meet up with Amy and the girls.

Upstairs there was plenty of chatter and laughter as the bridal party crimped and preened.  I love all the fun and chaos that goes with this part of the day.  A chance for photos of ‘The Dress’ and all the little details that make this day so special.  And what a dress it was!  The most incredible bridal gown by Ian Stuart … WOW!  When I first met Amy she had taken great delight in describing her ‘vintage’ vision for her wedding day.  Every little detail was perfect.  A net veil and stunning bouquet for the Bride.  Beautiful 1920’s hair ornaments and fur wraps for the bridesmaids.  Not forgetting  plenty of sparkles for Vaila, the most adorable flower girl.

The boys were not quite so organised downstairs when I met up with them in the Rock Bar.  There was very little time for photos before Bradley was whisked away to meet the registrar.  By this time the venue was filling up with Amy and Brad’s family and friends as they arrived for the ceremony.

As always, the day flew by.   Amy and Brad said their “I do’s” in front of all their guests.   The couple were showered in confetti by a cheering crowd following the ceremony.  Amy and Brad posed for some fabulous bride and groom shots in the gardens.  A chilly Bride and Groom then had a few more photos with family and friends before heading in to the warm Ballroom to continue their celebrations.   Later Amy and Brad kicked off the evening party with some serious moves on the dance floor.

Here is the story of Amy and Brad’s wedding day….

A huge congratulations to the happy couple!  Thank you both for inviting me to share your day….

Are you planning a wedding at Manor by the Lake, Cheltenham? if so, please get in touch as we would love to hear about your day and offer you a photography plan.

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In all my years as a wedding photographer I have seen the wedding industry and imaging technology change beyond belief.  However, I still find it impossible to be in two places at one time!

I spend considerable time planning each wedding with my bride and groom and yet it is often still tricky to capture every moment of their special day.  On occasions where everything is in one venue it is possible to document most of the details of the day. However, as soon as there is more than one venue in the mix logistics become difficult.

One of the major problems is traffic.  Only last week I was photographing Zoe and Simon’s wedding at the recently refurbished Frensham Pond Hotel.  Thank goodness for my second photographer!   Myself and the bridal party were stuck in holiday gridlock somewhere in Hampshire.   We arrived at the venue forty five minutes late for the ceremony.  Luckily my second photographer was able to keep shooting and reassure the registrars that we were on our way.

Another advantage of two wedding photographers rather than one at the start of the day is being able to capture the bride and the groom’s morning preparations.  This is a great time for some fun photos with all the Groomsmen and a chance to see both sides of the wedding day story.  After all the Groom is just as important as the Bride.

What I especially love about weddings with two photographers is the range of shots captured.  It allows for all the detail shots, candid guest shots, a selection of shots from quirky angles and a different perspective of the day.  Earlier this month I especially enjoyed working as a second shooter at Sophie and Chris’s wedding at Hilles House.  A different perspective on the day for me.   Allowing me to capture the Groom and his party meeting up in the pub for a pint.  As well as photos from the back of the church, guests chatting amongst themselves and some quirky group photos.

At the end of the day the decision for one or two wedding photographers lies firmly with the client and what their budget will allow.

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