Katie & Will invited me to photograph their wedding day at Leighton Hall, allowing me the opportunity to demonstrate my Leighton Hall Wedding Photography. It was my first time at Leighton Hall, and I have to say – I simply fell in love with the place. Instantly one of my top three wedding venues of all time, expertly run by owner Suzie and daughter Lucy, Leighton Hall has everything for a ‘classic’ wedding.

My pre-planned schedule had me arriving slightly early to catch up with Katie and the girls at The Longlands Hotel. I was surprised to see long-term colleague from film and TV, (and now Weddings), Laura Mayers from The Bridal Make-Up Team on duty! Normally we know in advance when we’re working together, but on this occasion it was all a lovely surprise…

My schedule was such that I had time to nip down the road to Pine Lake, catching up with the lads’ getting ready. I say ready….none of them were, so they hurriedly threw some trousers on and braved the October chill for a few erm, ‘formals…’

Curiously, BOTH the above images were not staged, and taken around ten minutes apart….spooky!

From Longlands, it was off to Kendal Parish Church for the ceremony – to be undertaken by Will’s Grandfather; a lovely touch to the proceedings.

As the girls arrived, the excitement was reaching a crescendo, with a mild, steady buzz around the church…

…and after the brilliant ceremony, we were off ‘down the aisle’ and outside to face a complete battering of confetti and rice. Good job I could run backwards!

With our customary twenty minute bride & groom portrait session finished, it was back inside Leighton Hall for canapes, plus a few family group images, before heading inside to the charming dining room for the wedding breakfast. The charm of Leighton is that it is a real home, lived in by real people, and the atmosphere is truly wonderful.

With the brilliantly entertaining speeches out of the way, it was time to ‘get a breather’…the room must have been in the 80’s temperature-wise with all the guests enjoying the speeches  in the dining room. October? More like July… ;-)

As the evening drew in, it was time to get the party started. With a live band playing their first dance, Katie and Will led the way to full-on dancing and fun till the wee hours. I quietly left things in full tilt and pointed the Volvo towards the M6, and home…