Having the absolute privilege to be a couples wedding photographer, when there are endless numbers about, is such a special thing. I have been lucky enough to photograph at some stunning wedding venues in and around Gloucestershire, and rather than keeping the memories in my head, why not share the love. Hence a run of blogs to talk about each of the venues I have photographed at.
The wedding day itself goes in a flash, you are getting ready and doing the bridal prep and before you know it the first dance is here and you think where did that go. One of the best pieces of advice I can give any couple on your day is every hour, take a step back, take a deep breath and take it all in.
Manor by the Lake is a beautiful fully exclusively yours Victorian Manor, set in seven acres of land within the Cotswolds in Cheltenham, a stones throw from J11 A of the M5 motorway. Now, when arriving there ASDA is on the right and next to it some industrial buildings, but the second you enter the grounds it is as if the whole place has been lifted up and dropped in the countryside!
A little secret you may not know, I got married myself at the Manor back in 2017 so it holds an extra special place in my heart.
Every wedding is different and I have taken stories from each of the weddings I have done at the Manor, brought away plenty of laughter, smiles and also tears from some of the many factors that have gone into making the day so emotional, loved ones no longer with us, wedding moved forward due to family illness, have captured many a memory that the bride or groom have worn as a memory of loved ones lost. Not to mention the emotional speeches. I know how much I have loved a wedding by how much I invest in the speeches, many a welling up I can tell you! It all plays into making the day special, unique to them, a celebration of their love but also a celebration of the ones lost, I'm sure they are all watching down from above enjoying the day as much as the ones present. I feel that with my Dad watching down over me, just trying to make him proud of what I have become, a Father myself, step Father and Husband footballer photographer and also the weddings.
No matter what the weather the Manor caters for everything, you can get married both inside and out, there's a Bridal bungalow for the early morning prep before moving to the wedding suite. A 50's style Rock Bar where people can hang out, mainly the Groom, Best man, Ushers and the early arriving guests pre-wedding, play pool or just listen to the juke box with Elvis looking over you. Funny story, I turned up one morning, did some bridal prep photos in the bridal bungalow, zipped across to get some groom prep. He offered me a drink, bearing in mind it was 10:30am, I suggested a coke, he placed a double Whisky! I had no choice but to play ball or would not hear the end of it (all part of fitting in), the quickest wedding I have ever done, by midday I was seeing 3 of everyone so just aimed for the one in the middle. Some of the best photos I have ever taken!
The Manor has 12 guest rooms that family and friends can stay over and all enjoy the following morning champagne breakfast to reminisce about the previous days events. The wife has reminded me on several occasions that the reason she picked the Manor was because it was a Mini Downton Abbey.
The grounds of the Manor provide many glorious spaces to take the wedding photos, I have found myself on the balcony of the bridal suite many a time looking down over the wedding party with the grounds as the backdrop. There is the long pathway leading up to the Manor with the carefully maintained hedges and trees. Some lovely steps both out the front and in the back garden and also the stone archway, all make for a cracking shot. Not forgetting the lake which is a stunning spot, a wooden bridge which again provides some stunning opportunities.
The way I like to photograph a wedding is in a fun, un-obtrusive candid way and the Manor definitely allows me to do that, I can be very discreet and move around the venue and it enables the photographer to be able to work un noticed throughout the day if required.
There is a separate ballroom which acts as a double up for the wedding breakfast, grand in size and stature and just cements the fact the everything is literally all in one place and all you need.
I will attach some images below from some of the weddings I have covered at the manor, each couple have been amazing, down to earth and go with the flow. I try to be as helpful as possible. Not everyone is keen on having their photos taken, including the bride and groom at times, and that makes it even more enjoyable, and post weddings once they have their images they thank me for making them just have a few. Looking forward to capturing many more weddings there in the future.
