I remember first shooting a wedding at Heaton House Farm many years ago, before the hay bale bride and groom welcomed people into the yard. Guests even assumed they had the wrong venue as it looked so much like a working farm from the outside! Many years, and many weddings later, there’s still a surprise element with the luxurious interior feeling more like a high-end boutique hotel, than a Cheshire Farm!
Preparations: Heaton House Farm Wedding Photography
Courtney and her bridesmaids made full use of the incredible beauty space at Heaton House Farm, which is bigger than some salons I’ve been to! The light from the huge patio doors, with views of the Cheshire countryside, brings the outside in, and there is plenty of room for everybody to get ready at the same time… with lots of mirrors too.
A quick bride squad photo on the balcony outside was a must, and Courtney had a separate room next door where she could get dressed, with a little help from her mum, who provided the something borrowed with the beautiful pearls which had been in the family for many years.
The big reveal took place outside and the gorgeous bride absolutely shone in these candid portraits.
When I’d captured everything I needed with the ladies, I headed over to the magnificent St. James’ Church in Gawsworth to meet Will and wait for the bridal party to arrive.
Wedding ceremony at St. James’ Church in Gawsworth
I always make sure that I introduce myself to the person conducting the wedding ceremony, whether in a religious or a civil setting, and I ask permission to take some discrete photos during the ceremony. Bishop William was very lovely and allowed me to capture Courtney’s entrance, but then I had to make a quick exit and return to the back of the church… completely out of sight of the couple.
For a church ceremony, I always carry my zoom lens with me, so that I can still capture the action from my position at the back. Gawsworth is absolutely stunning and it’s always a pleasure to photograph there.
Reception at Heaton House Farm
After the ceremony and the confetti walk from the church, the bride and groom headed back to Heaton House Farm for the drinks reception. The classic wedding car brought them around the back of the venue, where the guests were waiting, so they could make a very grand entrance over the hills!
The weather was a little on and off, so we took the opportunity with a tiny break in the rain, to capture some family group portraits. There’s a new interior space in the barn at Heaton House Farm, which has been designated specifically for photos… and this was an absolute life-saver on the day when the heavens opened! I took the couple in the barn for some quirky couple’s shots together first, and when it became apparent that we would be staying inside for the duration, we also used the space to create some fun group photos with the whole bridal party.
The Wedding Breakfast
The wedding breakfast room at Heaton House Farm is absolutely stunning, with incredible views outside and twinkling lights inside. Courtney and Will made their way into the room with huge wedding energy, and proceeded to dance all around the tables with their guests before taking to their seats!
The speeches were funny, and heartfelt, and it was lovely to see Courtney’s parents doing a joint speech together.
Evening reception at Heaton House Farm
There was another tiny break in the weather in the evening, so we nipped over to the water garden for some couples shots, lit with off-camera flash to make everything pop.
The cake had been cut after the wedding breakfast, so all that was left to do was to take to the dance floor for the first time as husband and wife, then invite the guests to join them for a party with the live band.
This one was super chilled and super fun at the same time! Thank you for having me, it was an incredible wedding day!
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