Hoole Hall ♥ Jill and Nick

We've known Hoole Hall for many years and that is why I find difficulty in using the new name of the Double Tree by Hilton Chester. Let's be honest, what do you think is the better name?

Call it what you will, the venue is lovely and very popular as both a place to have a civil wedding ceremony and for wedding receptions.

The delightful Jill and Nick were getting married at the beautiful church of St Barnabus in Bromborough on the Wirral on the last day of July (31st July 2010). We know the church well having been there many times. It's right in the centre of the lovely 'village' of Bromborough and has a really long pathway leading from the road to the door of the church. Perfect for photographs of the bride supported by her father as she takes those final steps as a single woman.

The ceremony was fabulous and after making an enormous mess with a huge amount of confetti outside the church grounds (don't worry, it was all biodegradable) we headed off to Hoole Hall (sorry, Double Tree by Hilton Chester!) for more photographs and of course, the wedding breakfast.

I hope you enjoy a small sample of the photos from the day.

More photographs from Hoole Hall and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk

Thornton Manor ♥ Natalie and David

From the first moment we met Natalie and David (about 18 months ago) we knew this was going to be a great wedding. They are such lovely people and when they told us they had chosen the outstandingly gorgeous Thornton Manor in the cute village of Thornton Hough on the Wirral for their civil wedding, we knew it was going to be something a bit special.

The wedding was on the 29th July 2010 but even though this was mid-summer, we didn't take the weather for granted which perhaps was as well as it wasn't the hot sunny day you might have expected. Having said that, no photographer actually wants a bright sunny day for wedding photography as it causes no end of problems for taking photographs. People don't want to be outside because it is too hot, the lighting is harsh causing nasty shadows and people end up squinting and pulling faces.......no for a photographer, a nice bright cloudy day is ideal and so it was for us this day.

The ceremony in what is known as the "Dining Room" at Thornton Manor was slightly different in that it was the other way round to the way most weddings are conducted. That made a lovely change for us and the bride has a lovely long aisle to walk up.

Moving outside for the ubiquitous confetti and some family photos and the weather was still kind to us. I stole Natalie and David away for a very short time so they could have some more intimate and personal photographs in the lovely grounds at the Manor, away from all of the prying eyes.

Another fantastic wedding with a lovely couple and as always, here is a small sample of photos from the day.

More photographs from Thornton Manor and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk

Weddings this week

Another busy week in prospect that sees us shooting two weddings.

The first is on Thursday where we are covering the civil wedding of Natalie and David at the wonderful venue that is Thornton Manor. This is a wedding photographer's dream come true and we are delighted to be their recommended photographers.

The second wedding is on Saturday and this time it is the wedding of Jill and Nick at St Barnabus' Church on the Wirral followed by a reception at the Double Tree Hilton, in Hoole, Chester (I still want to call this Hoole Hall as this is how everybody in Chester remembers it).

Sample photo sets in due course as usual

Peckforton Castle ♥ Sarah and Anthony

As mentioned earlier, today (Saturday, 17th July 2010), saw us back at the sumptuous Peckforton Castle for the wedding of Sarah and Anthony.

The day started for us at the bride's parent's home in North Wales where the usual chaos created by so many ladies getting ready in one place at one time was well and truly in evidence. How one bride and two bridesmaids can create such a mess I do not know!

We leave the house in time to be at Peckforton Castle when the groom and the guests arrive and take the opportunity to photograph the arrivals although this is interrupted (as always) by cries of "ask the photographers how to tie a cravat, they are bound to know" or equally common "which side do the buttonholes go".

Eventually, the guests leave the outside bar (thankfully it's turned out to be a lovely day after early rain) and move inside for the ceremony just before the bride arrives in a beautiful vintage Rolls Royce.

She looks absolutely amazing. The dress we saw at the house looked really long when hung up but looks absolutely perfect on Sarah's slim frame, I photograph her in the car with her father and then as she leaves the car. I ask about the flowers... disaster... the flowers have been left behind.

Oh well, too far to go back now and so the bridesmaids flowers become a bridal bouquet and off we go.

Thankfully, the rest of the day went like a dream. It was a great wedding in lovely weather with nice people. What more could you ask for?

More photographs from Peckforton Castle and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk

Wedding today at Peckforton Castle

Cameras and lenses have been cleaned and all batteries fully charged.  Suits have been pressed and we are ready to go.

Today we are looking forward to photographing the civil wedding of Sarah and Anthony at the wonderful Peckforton Castle in Tarporley, Cheshire.

The weather forecast is looking perfect for photography - warm, dry and overcast. Although I'm sure most couples getting married would prefer bright blue skies and blazing sunshine on their wedding day, it is actually a bad thing for photography as it creates high contrast, harsh shadows and people squint a lot. Give me a cloudy day for people photography any time :)

Should be a great day and I'll post up a few photos in due course

What's on this week

After last weeks exertions (as pleasant as they were)  at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod plus 4 weddings in 9 days (phew), this week sees us not running around quite so much but slaving away over hot keyboards instead editing the tens of thousands of images we have taken.

The 4 weddings alone amount to over 4,000 images and each one has to be scrutinised, selected, processed then edited and colour corrected etc. It all takes a lot of time and effort but it has to be done to provide the best quality images we can.

Saturday 17th July 2010 sees us at Peckforton Castle again for the wedding of Sarah and Anthony and then we are off on our travels again, this time to Sitges a coastal resort near to Barcelona in Spain. This time it's part business and part pleasure, just how we like it.

Peckforton Castle ♥ Rachael and James

The 8th July 2010 saw as back at the magnificent Peckforton Castle for the wedding of the very lovely Rachael to the handsome James. What a fantastic setting for two lovely people getting married.

The weather was perfect (bright, plenty of blue sky but not too hot) and everything was set for a great wedding. There was the usual last minute panicking, especially as one of the bridesmaids was very late in arriving, but in the end Rachael walked up the aisle almost exactly on time.

It was a dream wedding at a dream location with as I say, two really lovely people.

As always, here are a few of the hundreds of photographs Rachael and James will enjoy upon their return from honeymoon.

More photographs from Peckforton Castle and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk