Highlights from Zoe & Stephen’s

brilliant White Hart Lydgate Wedding

White Hart Lydgate Wedding

A White Hart Lydgate Wedding is a unique experience. The wedding venue is situated on the hills outside Oldham, with Saddleworth a nearby neighbour. Located on the top of a hill, the venue offers stunning views and a unique and modern  barn-like wedding experience. Their website describes the venue as:

“The White Hart has enjoyed a rich and varied history, since it was built in 1788 by local landowner John Buckley. From being the local police station, with the top floor used to lock up the prisoners in shackles, to a schoolhouse, then a weaver’s cottage, the building was then used in the Second World War as a look out point, with the cellars a bomb shelter.

The Buckley family sold the pub in 1921 to the Gartside Brewery and it remained brewery owned until 1987. In June 1994, Charles Brierley bought the freehold of The White Hart Inn and has extended and renovated the pub, turning it into the award-winning venue it is today”.

I have photographed quite a few weddings at The White Hart Lydgate over the years, and it’s always interesting how the landscape and the atmosphere around the venue changes for each visit. Oh, and the food is simply stunning!

So – welcome to Zoe & Stephen’s big day at The White hart Inn. Here are some of the highlights…

Bridal Preparations at a White Hart Lydgate Wedding

Zoe and the girls were upstairs above the main hotel. The makeup artist for the day was the lovely Frankie, from Makeup By Frankie. This was to be the second time in three weeks I’d worked with her. Small world! It also appears that Zoe’s step-dad used to teach Frankie at school! Even smaller world!

Saddleworth Wedding Ceremony

As the clock on St Anne’s Church opposite passed the mid-day mark, the wedding guests were arriving for the ceremony and after-celebrations. I caught up with Stephen and the grooms men in the bar area. On hand was the lovely Carla from Classy Blooms, fixing the lads’ buttonholes on. Not long now till the ceremony…

New Zealand Wedding Party

Stephen comes from New Zealand and is (obviously) a massive cricket and rugby fan…we didn’t talk about the Cricket World Cup much though… ;-) Stephen’s family were over, making the trip an all-encompassing affair. Stephen’s brothers were going to be the two best men. I was looking forward to their speech later…

Playing and singing beautifully throughout the ceremony and reception was the very talented Hannah Trigwell…

It wasn’t all laughs and smiles for this poor wedding guest – a wasp joined in the celebrations a little too vigorously…

Saddleworth Wedding Venue

The Oak Room was beautifully designed and dressed for the wedding. All modern, sophisticated, but understated, the wedding reception was looking beautiful. Speeches were to follow the three course wedding breakfast.

Wedding Speeches at The White Hart

As I mentioned, Stephen’s family were over from New Zealand. With some really heartfelt speeches from both Zoe’s and Stephen’s fathers, it was time for the best men. With a little character asassination and a few anecdotes about when they were kids, it was time to pay tribute to their big brother. Both of them went into a Haka. The noise and the atmosphere these two guys created on their own stunned the room into respectful silence. An emotional groom looked on as his brothers performed this awesome spectacle. Wow!

Summer Wedding Photos at The White Hart

After the speeches, we ventured off for some early evening portraits. The light was gorgeous! The bridesmaids and groomsmen came with us for some fun group photos and a bit of fun. As the evening guests started to arrive, soon it was to be cake cutting and first dance time. It was brilliant to see Gavin and the lads from The Rush Band on entertainment duties. This band are simply the best in the wedding industry…

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