As a Cheshire photographer, returning for Peckforton Castle wedding photography never fails to impress. The walk from the car park gives an overview of the scale of the building, and when you walk through the gates and under the archway to be greeted by the wooden knight… you know you are in for a wonderful experience!
Preparations: Peckforton Castle Wedding Photography
The Retreat is a newly renovated section added specifically for preparations. Previously at Peckforton, I’ve had to walk up to the turret of the tallest tower to capture the bridal preparations in an atmospheric, but dimly-lit bedroom, and now there is a luxury suite of rooms, close to the entrance, with all the space in the world to get ready.
Leanne and her lovely bridal party were all in matching pyjamas and robes, which made for some fabulous fun photos of the girls together, before they got dressed.
Leanne’s wedding dress was beyond exquisite. The detail on the fabric was intricate yet bold, with handmade flowers adorning every section.
Having spent a little while with the ladies, it was time to pop over to see Kris in the Beeston room, higher up in the castle. I did my usual trick of re-arranging the furniture and used the space by the window to capture various shots of Kris getting ready. The groomsmen were still busy and as space was a little limited, we arranged to meet downstairs, in front of the castle, when everybody was ready.
Grand Hall Ceremony & Peckforton Castle Wedding Photos
The walk down the aisle in the Grand Hall at Peckforton Castle is simply majestic. The beautiful high ceilings and super tall windows create a space unlike any other, and if you want the aisle walk to last a while, then this is the venue for you! Kris and Leanne have a beautiful 17-month-old baby girl, and she was throwing confetti and being super cute toddling about in the aisle whilst her mum and dad were saying their vows.
After whoops and cheers and a classic confetti exit, the bride and groom had a few minutes alone together whilst I organised the full group shot outside. This then gave us the perfect opportunity to use the Grand Hall for a few more photos whilst it was completely empty.
Drinks, groups & The Castle shots
After the full group photo, it was time for drinks and canapes by the Stable Bar. With the sun shining, I positioned everyone with the light behind them for soft, flattering portraits. The group photo list wasn’t too long, but it can still take a little while to gather the required guests for each shot. After these, we had a little wander over to the entrance to get some couples’ shots. The bride and groom didn’t want to be taken away from their guests for too long, so we captured the essentials and then I headed indoors to capture some room details before the wedding breakfast.
The Wedding Breakfast in the Drawing Room
Beautiful food, emotional speeches and lots of toasts to the newlyweds.
Evening
The weather had been forecast to rain in the evening, and rain it did, but not before Leanne got to show off her impressive throwing skills when tossing the bouquet! The Stable Bar then provided shelter and a lovely cozy atmosphere for the guests to relax in, with an acoustic live music set.
Little Amelie had been asleep for the group photos, so it was lovely to capture her smiling on the dancefloor and playing in the rain with the other children at the wedding. No umbrella required for Kris as he made his way over back to the Stable bar with Amelie, giving me the perfect moment to capture father and daughter together, followed by a quick rainbow shot with their little family, in front of the castle.
Cake cutting and First Dance in the Grand Hall
It was then time for the guests to return to the Grand Hall, ready for the evening celebrations. The cake was cut with a ceremonial sword, completely in keeping with a Castle wedding.
A live band played the first dance as husband and wife, and then the guests joined the couple on the dancefloor to party the night away.
A huge congratulations and a massive thank you to this amazing couple for allowing me to be a part of your special day!
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