Eaves Hall Wedding Photography // Sandra and Fran

Eaves Hall Wedding Photography – Fran and Sandra

Same sex eaves hall wedding

“Enjoy the process. The planning should be as enjoyable as the wedding day. We loved trying on different dresses and outfits, sampling food and designing the stationary. And on the day itself remember to stop and take it all in because it goes so fast.”

Wise words from Sandra and Fran, I especially love their advice to stop and take it all in on the day. I encourage all my couples to do this as the day goes by so fast. You really do want to take a moment just to breathe and be together.

Weddings at Eaves Hall

I am a big fan of Eaves Hall. Set in the beautiful Ribble Valley it’s exclusive use with amazing gardens. A wedding photographer’s dream venue!

While Sandra and Fran loved the location the real draw for them was that Eaves Hall is dog friendly. They couldn’t have got married without their guests of honour, French Bulldogs Max and Diesel!

The Frenchies walked down the aisle ahead of Sandra, then a huge smile lit up Fran’s face as she caught sight of her wife to be. I’m not going to lie, the ceremony was emotional. There were some lovely readings from their mums and a really special moment with their daughter Rebecca (who stole the show!). I love that the whole family were involved in the ceremony. Weddings really are about everyone coming together and celebrating.

Wedding entertainment

During the wedding breakfast Chris from Dancefloor Couture kept everyone entertained. The DFC guys are incredible at what they do and really know how to get a wedding party started. He had the whole crowd up singing and dancing before sitting Fran and Sandra down for a hilarious game of

Mrs and Mrs. This seemed to be a particular highlight for everyone, there was a lot of laughter as Fran and Sandra battled it out.

And the entertainment didn’t stop there. After whisking Fran and Sandra away for some of my signature lit portraits it was time for them to take to the dancefloor. First though Fran had a surprise for Sandra. She took to the stage to sing Jess Glynne’s My Love for her new wife before they had their first dance together.

Sandra, Fran, what a day! I loved being your wedding photographer. Thank you!

If you’re planning your own wedding at Eaves Hall then get in touch, I’d love to hear about your plans.

Eaves Hall in the Ribble Valley Wedding dress details and bridal shoe inspiration two french bulldogs in the grounds of eaves hall Bride writes a card in bridal suite at eaves hall Bridal prep at Eaves Hall Eaves Hall Bridal preparations Brides daughter assists with wedding dress at eaves hall Mother of the bride assists with wedding jewellery Bride fixes and adjusts tie during prep Bride adjusts tie and makes final touches before eaves hall wedding Bride smiles as she awaits her bride to be in the Ballroom at Eaves Hall Groomsman walks the isle with French Bulldogs Bride and Father walk down the aisle in Eaves Hall Ballroom Emotional Bride during Eaves Hall Wedding Ceremony Eaves Hall Same Sex Wedding Ceremony Eaves Hall Ballroom wedding ceremony Same Sex Eaves Hall Wedding Mother of the Bride does a reading during Eaves Hall Wedding Ceremony Exchange of wedding rings at Eaves Hall Wedding Ceremony Same Sex Wedding First Kiss Confetti at Eaves Hall Wedding Post Ceremony hugs and congratulations at Eaves Hall wedding Two brides in the grounds at Eaves Hall beautiful wedding photography at Eaves Hall Same sex couple in the beautiful grounds at eaves hall Eaves hall Wedding Portraits Same Sex wedding portraits at Eaves Hall Hessian wedding favour bags and table setting inspiration Eaves Hall Wedding Details Father of the bride speech at Eaves Hall Wedding Bride looks on during wedding speeches at eaves hall Bride react to funny wedding speeches Bride wipes a tear from her eye during Eaves Hall wedding speech DFC Lancashire wedding host Chris starts wedding games Bride hugs family during wedding games and speeches Two brides play game of Mrs and Mrs hosted by DFC Lancashire Guests react to wedding games and speeches Father of the bride makes animated speech at eaves hall wedding bride speaks to guests during wedding breakfast Brides speak and say thank you to family and guests Guests in the snooker room at Eaves Hall Brides cut incredible wedding cake Wedding cake cut at eaves hall Two brides during their first dance at Eaves Hall Wedding Eaves Hall wedding First Dance Bride on the dance floor at Eaves hall with Tie around head DFC Lancashire Wedding party in full flow two brides on the dancefloor at eaves hall Creative night time wedding photography at Eaves Hall

The History of Eaves Hall

Eaves Hall is a beautiful country house set in the Ribble Valley in heart of the rolling Lancashire hills. The Grade II listed building has gone through a number of changes over the years as the building has passed to new owners each putting their own stamp on their home. The house was built after a number of plots of land were brought together in 1866 by John Burton – cotton entrepreneur.

Burton was given land by his father and bought up plots of land close by, Eaves House and Drake House. Both homes were demolished and a new Eaves Hall was completed in 1871 (about half a mile west of the original Eaves House). The estate remained in the Burton family, in 1918 Arthur Burton took tenancy of the Hall and began work landscaping the gardens.

The new formal terrace garden included rose garden and a bathing pool. The house was then transformed into the red brick building we know today. The brick facade was wrapped around the sandstone walls of the hall build only 50 years before. The works cost more than £200,000. The work was completed by Hitchon and Pickup, local architects. The house was sold for just £4000 in 1931 as the cotton industry went into decline, the Burtons could no longer afford the house. By 1941 Eaves Hall was the headquarters of Brooke Bond tea, safe from the bombings in the London Blitz. After the war Brooke Bond converted the hall into a hotel which they ran until 1961. It was purchased by the Civil Service Motoring club and became a members club for people ‘motoring’ north. It has been owned by a number of hotel chains since 2007 and is currently owned by the James group.

Eaves Hall boasts beautiful gardens, lush lawns and formal planting surrounded by the Lancashire countryside. The garden retains some of the original statues and ornate sandstone walls from the early 20th century rebuild of the house and gardens. The rooms retain some of their original features with a modern twist, bringing a contemporary style to the space. Tiled floors are complemented by wooden panelling and beautiful chandeliers. Open fires in original fireplaces bring a warming glow during the colder winter months. The outside space provides spaces to relax and unwind. The gardens can be explored, finding quiet nooks for a few moments of peace and to enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside or perhaps a game of croquet. The hall is framed by trees and manicured lawns, bringing a lush green. The formal gardens provide a myriad of colours all through the summer.

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings, Photography

Sandhole Oak Barn Wedding // David and Georgina

Sandhole Oak Barn Wedding – David and Georgina

Sandhole Oak Barn Wedding Photography

We’re off to the Cheshire countryside for today’s blog. Sandhole Oak Barn, a pretty wedding venue that sits on the shores of a lake and set amongst green fields. Sounds pretty idyllic doesn’t it!

I arrived at Sandhole bright and early to meet up with Georgina and her bridesmaids who were getting ready in the lovely prep rooms there. I was working alongside my good friend Kieran who was on video duties for the day. It’s always a nice bonus when I get to spend the day with my mates!

One great thing about Sandhole is that there’s enough space for couples to both get ready there, without setting eyes on each other. This is brilliant for us photographers as it means we can easily dash between both morning preps. David was getting suited and booted in the Shepherd’s Hut. A new addition to Sandhole and perfect for the boys to get ready in and have a quick pre ceremony drink!

A traditional church wedding ceremony

I set off for the church just ahead of Georgina. I always make sure I get a head start. Namely so there’s less risk of me getting caught up in traffic and arriving behind the bride. That wouldn’t be good! It also means I can have a chat with whoever is leading the certemony, go through any rules they have for photographers and let them know I’m not out to disrupt the ceremony or draw any attention to myself!

David and Georgina’s ceremony was led by the lovely Reverend Anne-Marie who showed me to a great spot at the front of the church. This led to some fantastic photos of David and Georgina saying their vows and I was still able to remain relatively inconspicuous. Win win!

Once the ceremony was over the ushers helped me get all the guests together to form an aisle for the newly weds to walk down, complete with handfuls of confetti being thrown at them of course!

Wedding at Sandhole Oak Barn

Then it was time to party! And Sandhole is a fab location for a wedding party. Georgina, David and I left the church ahead of their guests so we could fit in some portrait time before everyone arrived. There are so many great little spots for portraits around Sandhole, we made the most of the time we had before David and Georgina were swept away by friends and family. I did manage to sneak them out again once it had gone dark though, we weren’t going to miss an opportunity to get one of my off camera flash portraits out by the lake!

David and Georgina, what a brilliant day! And your dancefloor was incredible, such a great party!

These are just a few of my favourites from their Sandhole Oak Barn wedding.

Sandhole Oak Barn Cheshire Wedding Venue bridal prep at sandhole oak barn cheshire make up artist faye kenyon bride and bridesmaids take a selfie at sandhole oak barn sandhole oak barn bridal make up black and white photograph of bridal prep at sandhole oak barn groom prep at sandhole oak barn groom fixes best mans tie at sandhole oak barn groom opens champagne in front of shepherds hut at sandhole oak barn simple elegant wedding dress details for cheshire wedding groom awaits his bride at cheshire church wedding groom stands at the front of church waiting for his bride bride and groom in cheshire church wedding bride and groom kiss during cheshire church ceremony signing of the register at cheshire wedding bride and groom kiss as they leave cheshire church wedding Cheshire wedding confetti floral decorations by cheshire florist green earth flowers bride and groom for an autumnal cheshire wedding Sandhole oak barn wedding photography Cheshire wedding photography at Sandhole oak Barn Formal family photograph outside Sandhole Oak barn grooms speech at sandhole oak barn sandhole oak barn best mans speech first dance at sandhole oak barn wedding

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings

Samlesbury Hall Wedding // Chris & Emily

Samlesbury Hall wedding photography – Emily and Chris

From a modern Tinder meet up to a wedding at one of the oldest venues in Lancashire, this is Chris and Emily’s Samlesbury Hall wedding.

Oh, but first, let me kick off with their top tip for a fantastic wedding day… “Hire Nik to do your wedding photos!”

Haha! Thanks guys, did I ever tell you you’re my favourite couple ever?!

Samlesbury Hall Wedding Photography

Preston’s Samlesbury Hall is a Lancashire stately home packed full of history. Rumour has it there’s even a ghost or two that lives there! I kept my eyes peeled but didn’t spot any supernatural antics at Chris and Emily’s wedding though!

I love the story of how they chose Samlesbury as their wedding venue. It was one of the first places they visited after getting engaged but being a rather analytical pair they needed to know it was the right one for them. Cue them making a list of every wedding venue in the country, whittling it down to venues within an hour of Manchester (200…) and then made a shortlist of 40. From there they visited a few, made some meticulous notes on a spreadsheet and ended up at Samlesbury Hall. Back where they started!

I love that Chris and Emily kept their decor nice and simple, showing off the beautiful interiors of Samlesbury Hall. Kerry from Wild Flowers put together some very natural arrangements of foliage, herbs and seasonal flowers which were used as centrepieces for the tables, as well as using similar arrangements for the buttonholes and bouquets.

Like me these guys love their music. They put together a playlist for each part of the day and themed their tables around albums that had impacted on their life including Clockwork Radio, Elbow and Bruce Springsteen. Each table name also had a little story on the back, so guests could understand the album and why it was so important to them.

Wedding photography at Samlesbury Hall

After their informal ceremony in the Whittaker Room everyone made the most of the glorious weather and spilled out (to the sounds of Morecombe and Wise singing Bring Me Sunshine) onto the grass for some lawn games. Chris, Emily and I decided to sneak away for a few portraits and headed out around Samlesbury’s grounds before rejoining everyone for some hilarious speeches and a first dance to Richard Hawley.

Chris, Emily, I loved your day! These are some of my favourites.

Samlesbury Hall in summer Bridal prep in the lodge at samlesbury hall beautiful bridal shoe inspiration bride takes delivery of her beautiful bridal bouquet groom and groomsmen in the sun at Samlesbury hall bride and her bridesmaids walk through the grounds of samlesbury hall bride and bridesmaids walk to ceremony at samlesbury hall groom waits nervously for his bride in the ceremony room at samlesbury hall bridal entrance at samlesbury hall bride and groom during wedding ceremony at samlesbury hall samlesbury hall wedding photography mother of the bride wipes away a tear during emotional samlesbury hall wedding buckets of confetti thrown over bride and groom leaving samlesbury hall guests enjoy garden games on the lawns at samlesbury hall wedding bride has confetti picked from her hair at samlesbury hall wedding Bridal party at the front of samlesbury hall music inspired wedding centre pieces samlesbury hall wedding photography beautiful wedding couples photos at samlesbury hall wedding couple pose in country lane at samlesbury hall newlyweds enter the room to massive applause at samlesbury hall father of the bride uses a joke book to make his speech and instant hit bride wipes a tear from her eye during her dads speech groom stands to speak at samlesbury hall wedding grooms speech at samlesbury hall best mans speech at samlesbury hall groom reacts to best mans speech bride and groom cut the cake at samlesbury hall wedding first dance in the banquet hall at samlesbury hall couple on the dancefloor at samlesbury hall wedding

The History of Samlesbury

The first mention of Samlesbury Hall is in the days after the Norman Conquest of England in 1185. A small hall was built to house Cospatric de Samlesbury and his family. This is before Preston and Blackburn were even noted as towns.

The oldest part of the hall is the Great Hall first built in the 1325 by Gilbert de Southwith and remained in the Southworth family until the 17th Century. Each generation and owner added too and changed the property with the hall we recognise today being built by Thomas Southwith the dining room fireplace dates back to 1545. The family were tied up with the Catholic Church at the time that Queen Mary was in the throne and were staunch supporters of the Catholic cause. However, the family later swore allegiance to the Church of England conforming to the new Queen, Elizabeth I.

The Southworth family were then tied up in the Lancashire witch trials in 1612. With Sir John’s Great Granddaughter accused alongside two other local women of witchcraft. The case went to trial at Lancaster and the famous Samlesbury Witches were aquitted of their alleged crimes.

By 1687 the family were bankrupt and the Hall was sold on, being used as a small factory for local weavers. By 1834 the hall in the ownership of Col. T.R.G. Braddyll and he converted Samlesbury Hall into The Braddyll Arms. It’s position between Preston and Blackburn made it an ideal spot for a hostelry. Much of the original interior was pilfered by Col. Braddyll and installed in his own home! Sadly he rather overstretched himself with his endeavours and he also became bankrupt. The hall was then converted into a school in 1852 to educate local young ladies and small boys.

By 1862 the Industrial Revolution was is full swing and a local mill owner and philanthropist Joseph Harrison purchases Samlesbury Hall. He and his son embarked on a project of restoration and repairs to the hall which he made his home until his death in 1879. The hall then passed to various relations over the years until the final owner FitzRoy Lewis Montague Johnstone was killed at the Battle of the Marne in 1914. The house then fell into disrepair and a builder bought the property with the aim of demolishing it and building a housing estate. A local fundraising effort was made in the local area to buy and save the property took place. The Samlesbury Hall Trust took ownership in 1925 and have managed the property ever since.

The Grade I listed medieval manor house is open to the public. The house still retains its 14th Century roots, with it’s striking black and white exterior. The hall also includes a Chapel, initially built by the Southworth family to upgrade the property to a manor house. Inside the hall huge oak beams hold up the ceilings providing a cavernous space for entertaining. Stepping into the Great Hall feels like stepping back in time, you can almost feel the Southworth family waiting to join in the party. Huge stone fireplaces can be found in many of the rooms. On the walls paintings hang of the previous owners of the house. There is a

heraldic theme in the decor with crests and coats of arms found surrounding fireplaces and in the stained glass. Fireplaces are flagged by fine hearthstones. Dark wood is the feature of this building, shining floorboards can be found throughout the hall and an imposing staircase leads up to the second floor. Wood panelling and carving add to the medieval ambience of the space.

Samlesbury Hall has a number of outdoor spaces, a fine lawn bordered by seasonal planting and a glorious courtyard area. The Courtyard has fountain surrounded by fine topiary and provides a lovely outdoor setting for guest to enjoy. Flowers surround the door in hanging baskets and planters bringing a splash of colour to the monochrome building. The Hall is surrounded by mature trees, in the spring you will find and array of daffodils, the summer sees bedding plants and autumn reveals it beautiful colours in the trees surrounding the hall.

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings

Fairfield Social Club // Charley and Lee

Fairfield Social Club Wedding

Ok so let me warn you from the top that this is a really image heavy blog. This was an amazing wedding and there was so much to share. From me getting to photograph two of my amazing friends getting married through to a bride who made her own wedding cake, lovely family moments and a massively emotional dad, Clint Boon rocking up to DJ, friends officiating the ceremony and all this happening in one of the coolest wedding venues in Manchester, Fairfield Social Club! This is a special one for me and in some lovely words from Charley this is why

“From the moment we started planning we knew Nik had to photograph our wedding. He’s basically photographed our relationship at various club nights over the years and id always loved his wedding photography.”

Manchester Wedding Photography

Lets wind back to before I met Lee and Charley and look at how they met each other! Meeting through a “friend” Lee was a DJ at a few Manchester clubs and bars and this is where Charley first laid eyes on him. This is a similar story as to how I met Lee too but we didn’t end up getting engaged. From Charley finding the ring in Lee’s underwear drawer (lads be a bit more creative) Lee changed plans and decided surprise was key so he organised a surprise engagement he proposed to Charley and in totally their style all their friends and family were there too for the biggest surprise!

Super cool and laid back wedding vibes

Fairfield Social Club isn’t your average wedding venue but it is a super cool one. Chosen because it doesn’t need a lot of decoration and already looks pretty cool but also its HUGE and these guys have a big set of friends and family who love to party. From a chilled bridal prep in the morning through to a beautiful personal ceremony led by friends in some gorgeous light flooding in the day couldn’t have been more perfect. One of my favourite moments from the day had to be when Charley walked down the aisle and Lee saw her for the first time. He absolutely lost it and it was one of the most beautiful things I have seen!

In Lee and Charley’s words

“Screw everyone else’s opinion. Weddings can we as big or and little as you want and the only people you have to please is you. And most people that love you will get in bored with it. Try not to let it stress you out because once the day starts you can’t control it and you just have to enjoy it as much as you can. Also you do you.”

And from the images you can see this is exactly how they did it. Super cool, laid back and just out to enjoy their wedding. Thanks for letting me photograph the next stage of your relationship!

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings, Photography

Quirky Festival Wedding at The Wellbeing Farm // Caz and Scott

Quirky Wellbeing Farm Festival Wedding

Bride and groom and llamas at the wellbeing farm I was going to do my usual blog write up for Caz and Scott’s amazingly quirky Wellbeing Farm wedding. However, Caz got in touch with her own summary of the day and it’s so utterly brilliant that I decided it was far better to hear about it from her rather than me.

Before I hand over to Caz I’m going to take a moment just to repeat myself – I LOVE the Wellbeing Farm. Like Caz and Scott it is crammed full of personality and there’s quite literally a surprise around every corner (normally a surprise in the shape of a bow tie wearing Llama!)

If you’re planning a wedding there then take a look through this blog, and my past Wellbeing Farm weddings, then get in touch. I’d love to hear from you!

Now, over to Caz!

“So Scott and I met in our local pub 17 years ago. It was during the 2002 World Cup and we, like most of the country had piled into the local drinking establishments to get behind England in a crucial match against Denmark. England won that day…and so did I!

Getting wed wasn’t at the top of our list. We travelled, we bought houses and we had two beautiful children. Then, to my delight and surprise, three years ago Scott proposed on Christmas Day. I was giddy with excitement, yet neither of us made any attempt to turn that sparkly ring into a wedding! The thought of that big, grand day overwhelmed us both so much that the years passed without us doing anything.

Wedding planning – Caz and Scott’s way!

I love nothing more than attending a wedding. They are just the BEST days and being a guest is great…but the thought of attending my own scared me to blumin’ death!

When it came to thinking about our wedding plans I knew I wanted a fabulous dress, all the colours of the rainbow and flowers everywhere but the rest needed to be as relaxed and informal as possible.

Unlike me, Scott hates a fuss and he didn’t want anything traditional so our visions were the same – ish! We both wanted a day that was different and packed full of personality. A wedding that was all about love and fun with very little ‘official’ bits.

However, we still hadn’t set a date. Then Scott’s brother told us he was travelling over to England from his home in Australia. This was big news. All the family would be together at Easter so we decided to celebrate that by getting married!

Wedfest at the Wellbeing Farm

I plucked up the courage and dipped my toe into the world of wedding planning. I googled “quirky weddings” and up popped The Wellbring Farm. I liked the name, gave them a call and within days was there for a visit. Within five minutes of arriving I knew it was the place for us.

Wedding venue booked we decided to have a break from it all (ha!) and start wedding planning in earnest after Christmas. Cue three months of frantic box ticking and decision making! Wedfest was go!

Our theme was quite simply ‘rainbow surfer dreams’ haha! The decor was bright and bold, with all the colours of the rainbow and then some! We had flowers in milk bottles and jars mixed with neon pom poms everywhere. The venue spoke for itself and we just added a little bit of magic.

Choosing a wedding photographer

I have to say, choosing our photographer was easy! Nik was all kinds of cool and amazing! We instantly knew he was our guy the moment we met him.

He made us both feel relaxed and excited for the big day! I love being in front of the camera however, Scott, like most men, would rather stick pins in his eyes! Luckily Nik reassured Scott so brilliantly and made him feel instantly relaxed. I skipped home the night we met Nik and couldn’t wait for all the photo magic. Scotty didn’t exactly skip (way too cool for that!) but he had a spring in his step and a little smile on his face.

Nik worked his socks off and didn’t stop all day and night! He reassured me so many times throughout the day when I felt a little nervous. HE WAS AWESOME!

I loved receiving three sneaky official pics the very next morning-it was just the nicest surprise to wake up to after the most amazing day!

Top tips for couples

My top tip is nice and simple, do what YOU want and don’t be afraid to break the rules. Your wedding your rules!

Supplier Shout Outs

Venue – The Wellbeing Farm

Flowers – Love Rosie

Band – Hit The Dance Floor

Make up – Mirror Mirror

Dress – The Case Of The Curious Bride

Magic Mirror – Scene My Event

Magician – Rockstar Magic

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings, Photography

Owen House Wedding Barn Wedding Photography // Vanessa and Joe

Owen House Wedding Barn Photography

Creative wedding photography at Owen House Wedding Barn Let’s clear things up before any rumours start, contrary to what the photos may suggest Joe didn’t actually get arrested on the morning of his wedding! That’s just an old family friend arriving at groom prep. He was released from the handcuffs before the ceremony began I can assure you!

It was slightly calmer and less raucous over at the girls. Ness was excitedly getting ready surrounded by friends while her Dad hid in the kitchen with a beer. Typical Father of the Bride behaviour!

Over at the church Joe, following a pre-wedding pint, kept himself busy greeting guests. He had a huge smile on his face and was telling everyone that he couldn’t wait for Ness to arrive. The elation on their faces when they saw each other was wonderful to see, I love moments like that!

At every wedding you can guarantee a number of things will happen. One of them (and my favourite!) is HUGS! These guys didn’t disappoint! Straight after the ceremony there was so much hugging and high fives and grins. The warmth and love that their family and friends have for Ness and Joe was so apparent.

Bride has make up applied Bridal make up prep photograph bride and bridesmaid share a look over bridal flowers Bride applies finishing touches to make up Father of the bride looks at bridesmaid dress Bride gets into wedding dress Father of the bride first look dad and daughter hug on morning of wedding groom is marched back to house by dad groom laughing wearing police hat groom drinks champagne hugs in the pub on wedding morning father and bride arrive at church bridesmaids walk towards church in burgundy dresses priest lighting candles in church groom laughing before church service Father of the bride walks his daughter down the isle bride and groom see each other for the first time Exchange of wedding rings bride and groom exchange wedding rings bride and groom sign the wedding register bride and groom exit church wedding guest miles and hugs groom confetti thrown in church grounds

Unique Wedding Venue

Confetti thrown and many, many hugs given it was time to head over Owen House Wedding Barn to continue the celebrations. This is such a unique venue. Tucked away in the Cheshire countryside it’s set on a working farm which, as you can imagine, makes for fantastic photos! The Barn looked incredible, it’s got a real rustic charm yet looks pretty darn cool as well! Ness and Joe had really gone to town on the decor and I loved the neon lights they’d strung up. They made it into more than a few photos!

Once Ness and Joe had grabbed a glass of fizz we decided to head out and explore the farm, getting a few portraits along the way of course. Their handsome pup decided to join us for a few pictures too, we couldn’t leave him out!

Owen House Wedding Barn Wedding

After some of my signature night time portraits Ness and Joe were straight back on the dancefloor. The party was going wild! DJ Andy Murphy was in charge of the tunes and he made sure everyone was on their feet all night. He’s one of the best around!

Owen House Wedding Barn venue Inspiration Owen House Wedding Barn Portraits Dogs at weddings inspiration Bridal Portraits at Owen House Wedding Barn Bride and Groom Kiss by the pampas grass Creative wedding portraits by Nik Bryant Owen House wedding Barn Photography Couples portraits at owen house Kissing couple in the pampas grass Father of the brides speech Father of the bride stands for his speech Grooms Speech at Owen house Best Mans Speech at Owen House Wedding Barn Groom hies head in hands during best mans speech First Dance at Owen House Wedding Barn Filled Dance Floor at Owen House DJ Andy Murphy Wedding Guests Party at Owen House

Getting Married at Owen House Wedding Barn?

This was such a great wedding to be a part of and I loved shooting at Owen House. If you’re planning your own Owen House Wedding Barn wedding then give me a shout. I’d love to chat to you about your wedding photography.

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings, Photography

Mitton Hall Wedding Photography – Tom and Bex

Mitton Hall Wedding Photography

Mitton Hall Wedding Photography Mitton Hall is a legendary venue in the wedding world. As a photographer you know you’re going to get well looked after (the food is delicious, always a bonus!). The grounds make for amazing photos and the best couples get married there! Bex and Tom, I’m looking at you guys!

Bridal Prep at the Family Home

I started the day with Bex and her girls. Tom was getting ready at home with their son Cian so the girls had taken over her parents house. I have a bit of a soft spot for brides getting ready at home, there’s something really lovely about parents and their daughter leaving the family home together on a wedding day. Bex had been a planning queen and had come up with lots of little touches for the day. Including a ‘father of the bride’ whiskey tumbler for her Dad so he could have a tipple before they set off. Turned out he really needed that drink as he was overcome with emotion when he saw Bex in her dress for the first time. In fact, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. I may have had to sneakily wipe away a tear or two myself!

Bride has make up applied Bridal make up on the morning of Mitton Hall Wedding wedding flower crown inspiration bridesmaid helps bride with ear rings dad holds back tears when seeing daughter

Second Shooters and Groom Prep

Meanwhile, my second shooter was hanging out with the boys. Tom was pretty chilled out and little cheeky chappy Cian stole the show. He looked so dapper in his wedding suit! A mini replica of his Dad’s, complete with watch chain. Tom didn’t scrub up too badly either! I love that Bex had put together a ‘groom’s survival kit’ for him. Including socks to stop him getting cold feet and some miniature gins to calm his nerves!

groom fixes his cufflinks groom straightens tie in mirror wedding countdown sign inspiration groom helps son with shoes groom and son on wedding morning Groom and son in matching whitfied and ward suits

Lancashire Wedding Church Ceremony

Bex and Tom had chosen a more traditional wedding ceremony at St Lawrence’s a quaint church in Longridge. The heavens opened as Bex arrived but she was escorted into the church by some ushers wielding umbrellas. They’re always handy to have around – both ushers and umbrellas!

groom and best man at church bride arrives at church in wedding car bride walked down the isle by father clitheroe church wedding service bride smiles during wedding service black and white wedding service bride and groom during church wedding wedding rings exchanged during church service bride signs the wedding register stepladder wedding decoration inspiration mitton hall wedding decoration inspiration bride and son play with disposable camera little boy plays with disposable camera at a wedding

Mitton Hall wedding portraits

Now that Tom and Bex were officially husband and wife it was time to celebrate! The rain was still coming down (good old Lancashire weather!) but Mitton Hall is the perfect venue for a slightly wet wedding. The three of us took some time out to explore the Hall and get some portraits. Then, as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, we dashed outside for some photos of the two of them and the all important confetti shot. Always one of my favourite parts of the day.

Dancefloor Couture were on hand to get the party started in their inimitable style. Tom and Bex had a break from the dancefloor for a few night-time portraits (a bit of a speciality of mine!) and then we left them to enjoy the rest of their night.

bride and groom laugh during portraits in the bridal suite bridal portraits at Mitton Hall Hotel Bride and groom share a moment during portraits at Mitton Hall Natural wedding make up inspiration Creative Mitton Hall Wedding Photography Confetti Shower at Mitton Hall Wedding Bride leads Groom to top table Father of the bride speech at mitton hall bride looks on at groom as he gives speech groom gives speech at mitton hall best mans speech at mitton hall hotel groom hides his face in reaction to best mans speech groom is embarrassed by best man Bride and Groom cut the cake Mitton Hall Wedding first dance First dance at mitton hall groom dancing at mitton hall DFC Lancashire bring the party guests party and dance at mitton hall mother of the bride on the dance floor at mitton hall Creative wedding portrait outside Mitton Hall at Night Married couple silhouette outside Mitton Hall

Getting Married at Mitton Hall

As you can probably tell I’m a huge fan of Mitton Hall weddings so if you’re getting married there then get in touch with me. I’d love to hear all about your plans!

Supplier Role Call

Flowers – Flowers With Passion

Dj – Dance Floor Couture

Make Up – Abby Holt at Halcyon Days

Dress – Enzoni from Lulu Browns

Suits – Whitfield & Ward

History of Mitton Hall

This stunning Tudor mansion house is Grade II listed and over 550 years old. A ‘Manor of Little Mitton’ was first granted by Robert de Lacy to Sir Ralphe de Mitton in 1189, the current house was not built until 1487 but the land Mitune was mentioned in the Domesday book. By the Tudor period the De Mitton family were no longer lords of the manor and the house was built by the owners at the time the Caterall family. The family held the house until Elizabeth Caterall married Thomas Shireburne. The house was sold in 1664 due to the shireburnes financial insecurity. The house was purchased by Alexander Holt a London goldsmith. Descendents of the Alexander Holt, the Aspinall family remain Lord of Mitton Manor to this day. The hall was leased to a number of people including John Hick (of Hick Hargreaves engineers of Bolton) in 1874. For a period during the Second World War the house was occupied by The Third Field Training Regiment. The last tenants moved out in 1966 and the house reopened as a restaurant and Country Club in 1968. The Hall has been run as a hotel and events venue since the 1980s.

Mitton Hall is one of only a few timber framed open hall buildings in Lancashire. The building has had a number of more recent stone extensions which are sympathetic to the original great hall building. The first of these extensions took place in the 1600s and then a another set of extensions were completed in 1844 and then again in 1880. Other minor changes have been added to the house over the last 100 years as each owner has stamped their mark on the house.

The interior of Mitton Hall is laden with original features including fine timbered walls, beautiful plasterwork and fireplaces. The original Great Hall is still the centre of the Hall. In some rooms the modern decor sits beside original features to provide a sumptuous atmosphere. The galleried walkway around the great hall is beautiful and it feels like you have stepped back in time, a criss cross of carved wooden staircases leads off the walkway. A fabulous grand piano sits in the great hall but the huge original stone fireplace is the centrepiece of this versatile space. Look up to see the restored timbers in the roof above. Beautiful carvings can be seen over the bar and in some of the quiet seating areas on the ground floor as well as above some of the fireplaces. Some of the building boasts stained glass windows which lets dappled light into the Great Hall. The building has been sympathetically restored and it feels as though the different eras of this hotel flow together well to provide a beautiful venue. Outside Mitton Hall the beautiful Ribble Valley awaits you with views stretching out for miles across open countryside. The river is a feature of the landscape and can be seen from various parts of the site. Closer to the building there are beautiful lawns, planted borders and mature trees. An array of roses can be enjoyed in the summer and the trees provide beautiful autumn colours, see lambs gamboling in the surround fields in the spring. There are areas for outdoor entertaining, eating and drinking. Furniture has been carefully chosen to reflect the house and sits easily beside the stone work of the hall.

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings

King Street Townhouse Wedding // Lu and Chris

married couple stand on the roof of king street townhouse When I first met up with Lu and Chris and they told me their story I totally fell in love with these guys as a couple. They told me about the cool ideas for the wedding, the Game of Thrones theme and then the venue! It has long been on my list to photograph an awesome King Street Townhouse Wedding and then up pop Lu and Chris.

Bridal Prep at King Street Townhouse

When I arrived at King Street Town House the girls were getting ready in one of the hotels 40 rooms. With each room individually styled and decorated it really adds to the luxurious feel of this Italian renaissance building which was the previous home to the Manchester Salford Trustees Bank.

With the girls popping champagne and Kerrang! on the TV it really set the bar and the tone for the day!

bridesmaid pours champagne Bridal preparations at King Street Townhouse Wedding bride has her hair done at King Street Townhouse Manchester Bride receives her bouquet from Northern Flower Manchester Brides reflection in mirror Bridal makeup at Manchester Wedding Bridal makeup at King Street Townhouse wedding Bridal make up Bride has lip liner applied bridesmaids lace up wedding dress wedding dress being laced up by bridesmaids bride watches as her bridesmaids lace up her wedding dress Groom portrait outside King Street Townhouse Manchester

King Street Town House Wedding Ceremony

Chris and Lu chose the stunning 6th floor lounge and south terrace for their wedding ceremony. This stunning room with terrace overlooking Manchester is the absolute perfect setting for any city centre wedding of up to 100 guests. Alternatively for smaller weddings King street townhouse boasts two other small hubs with wooden flooring and traditional wall panelling are perfect for smaller ceremonies. brides father walks her down the isle at king street town house bride and groom during ceremony at manchester wedding Bride and groom at King street townhouse exchange of rings during king street townhouse ceremony bride and groom share a moment during wedding ceremony ring exchange during king street townhouse wedding

Game Of Thrones Wedding Styling

So Lu and Chris won’t mind me telling you that they are self confessed geeks but I love that. When we met we chatted all about Star Wars, Tattoos, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad and most importantly, the show that forged the relationship between this stunning couple, Game Of Thrones! After meeting at a friends house party back in 2008 neither of the pair thought anything of it but 5 years later meeting again via facebook and chatting over a mutual love of Game Of Thrones is what kickstarted the relationship so it would have been rude not to have this theme running through the wedding which can be seen from details down to table names and bottles of “wildfire” as favours. Black Wedding Cake Inspiration Game Of Thrones Table Plan Inspiration

When it came to tattoos Lu was very much all about having these on display on the wedding day and you can see how incredibly stunning she looked in her dress. Chris however was in the process of having laser removal for a tattoo on his hand which I was told was a Vegas Special. From what I am told Lu and Chris and a few friends all got matching tattoos out in Vegas and even under the advice of his wife to be to not tattoo his hand he went for it! tattooed bride and bouquet

City Portraits and The Roof Terrace

From arriving in the morning and spending time with Lu and her girls I knew that the cold January wouldn’t be an issue for getting these guys outside for some cool (in every sense of the word) portraits. We managed to get out on the roof which gives perfect views across Manchester City Centre and of the spires and clock tower of the town hall. These views and the mix of Chimneys and rooftops over the beautiful skyline is one of the main reasons to have a King Street Townhouse Wedding. Later in the evening before the party really started we managed to head out into the city for more shots and the cold didn’t stop these two. bride and groom kiss outside king street townhouse Manchester bridal portrait bride and groom portraits on the streets of manchester Bride and Groom on the roof of King Street Townhouse Winter wedding portraits on the roof of Manchesters King Street Townhouse Winter wedding portraits in Manchester Bride and Groom share a kiss in Manchester Manchester wedding photography

Rock and Roll on The 6th Floor

The evening party was brought in by good friend and awesome DJ Tom Hardwick. With Lu and Chris being self confessed metal heads (even

Chris’ mum was asking for slayer) Tom was the clear choice. Not only does he know his stuff when it comes to keeping a dance floor packed when you ask him to spin headbanging metal tunes it will be one hell of a party, and from what I hear later in the night Lu slipped on her dress and while trying to save her prosecco managed to cut her hand creating what she affectionately calls her wedding battle scar. Total Rock and Roll wedding story right there!

Battle scars aside Lu and Chris were the perfect couple to work with in the cold January and I am sure they as much fun as I did while shooting this awesome King Street Townhouse Wedding. Congratulations guys and all the best!

Father of the bride gives a speech Father of the brides speech Bride and father share a moment during speeches groom gives a speech at Manchester Wedding Bride laughs at grooms speech grooms speech at king street townhouse Grooms sister gives a speech at Manchester wedding Bride and Groom cut into game of thrones wedding cake First dance at king street town house wedding First dance at Manchester Winter Wedding bridesmaid lets loose on the dancefloor dancefloor party at Winter wedding bride and bridesmaids do shots at winter wedding

Getting Married at King Street Town House

The team at King Street Town House will do whatever it takes to give you the perfect wedding day. From arranging private hire of the 6th floor terrace all the way through to going all out and having exclusive use of the entire house, 40 bedrooms and access to the infinity pool and spa area for you and all your guests. When it comes to food King Street Town House chefs know how to put on a spread. From delicious hog roasts to BBQ on the heated terrace of the 6th floor or the finest dining experience to afternoon tea they have it all worked out.

If you have decided on King Street Town House for your wedding then please do get in touch!

Nik Bryant In Featured Weddings, Photography

Lancashire Wedding Photography // The Whitaker // Amy and Oona

Lancashire Wedding Photography // Amy and Oona

In the middle of May I had the pleasure of conducting the Lancashire wedding photography for Amy and Oona. With Olivia Whittaker alongside as the second shooter we spent our day with the gorgeous pair photographing the intimate Lancashire wedding.

Starting off with the morning prep I spent my time with Oona and her family at The Red Lion in Hawkshaw while Olivia spent her time with Amy at the home she shares with Oona. It was the day of the Royal Wedding so both parties had this on in the background and spent a little time taking interest in the dress and who was arriving ans what they were wearing but then it was time to shift focus to their day.

An Intimate Wedding at The Whitaker

The wedding was to take place at The Whitaker in Rossendale. The Whitaker is an awesome little space and is found in the heart of Rossendale, Lancashire. I can totally see why these two picked this as their venue. For a small intimate wedding The whitaker is a beautiful space, holding limited weddings each year the quirky space is certainly the place for it.

Before the ceremony the two girls wanted a first look before they walked each other down the isle and this set all the emotions flowing. This became a strong part of the day as during the speeches there wasn’t a dry eye in the room as both fathers gave beautiful and heart wrenching speeches and I am not ashamed to admit it caught me off guard and I too had a little cry.

Make sure you check out some of the shots from the day below. We also went into Manchester for a Pre Wedding shoot which you can see HERE.

Bridal Make up applied for Lancashire wedding Bridal hair by hairdresser Bride stands in kitchen before getting ready for Lancashire Wedding Bridal portraits for a Lancashire Wedding Bride to be smiles as she sees her bride for the first time Same sex wedding first look at The Whitaker in Rosendale Same sex Lancashire Wedding Photography bride wipes a tear from her wifes eye during Lancashire Wedding Brides hold hands during Lancashire same sex wedding the first kiss of newly wed same sex couple two brides showered in confetti by friends and family two brides share a kiss after getting married two brides stand hand in hand for couples portraits at Lancashire Wedding Same sex Lancashire Wedding photography bride makes a speech during same sex wedding bride laughs during the speeches bride looks to her father during the speeches couple share an embrace in the museum of The Whitaker Two brides share their first dance with family and friends late night couples portrait

Thank You

Thank you so much to the team at The Whitaker for looking after Olivia and I on the day and for letting us have free reign around the venue for photos and letting us have a nosey into the exhibitions!

2018 Winter Weddings and 2019 & 2020 Bookings Now Being Taken

2018 is pretty much booked for summer but October, November and December have great availability for winter weddings and I have started taking bookings for 2019 and 2020. Thank you all for keeping me on this awesome path and if you haven’t booked yet feel free to get in touch!

Contact Nik