Post-Lockdown Wedding Photography - Peter and Isabel

Peter and Isabel’s Post-Lockdown Church Wedding in Lancashire

It’s no secret that this year has been unlike any other in recent times. Weddings, it seemed, were to be put on hold for the duration of 2020 or until this pandemic was under control. Having moved the majority of my 2020 weddings to dates in 2021 I was set for a summer of missing weddings and all the awesomeness they bring. That is until Peter and Isabel dropped me an email one day in July to say they were planning their post-lockdown wedding for August! Yes this August. 2020! I got giddy…and a little nervous at the same time. At this point of the year I would normally have shot many weddings already and be knee deep in editing but I hadn’t shot a wedding since December 2019.

Peter and Isabel had decided that they weren’t going to let this pandemic stop them getting married. They followed all of the guidelines and rules and managed to have a fantastic wedding with their closest family and friends by their sides - well 2 meters apart. Yes the day was not how they had probably imagined it but to them it was still perfect!

Getting Married During a Global Pandemic

Peter and Isabel chose the stunning St. Mary’s Church in Penwortham to get married. Their plan was to erect a gazebo outside the church gates for the socially distanced celebrations afterwards. The government rules were still in place that people could not gather in venues. Everyone had everything crossed for a some decent weather and we weren’t disappointed.

Unlike most of my previous weddings there was to be no preparations to shoot, no meal and no dancing. In the 3 hours that I was with Peter and Isabel though we still managed to capture their ceremony, cutting a cake, speeches and some beautiful portraits of the newly weds. I must admit going in to the day I was a little worried that everything would feel somewhat restricted, abnormal and a little lifeless. This was through no ones fault as it was just the time we were in. However afterwards I reflected on the day and yes it was a little restricted, it certainly wasn’t ‘normal’ but it was in no way lifeless! I loved everything about it. It was amazing to be around people, around wedding guests and around a newly married couple! To see smiles, laughter and people dressed up looking incredible was a much needed boost after a very tough few months.

Peter and Isabel I cannot thank you enough for having me along to document your unique and beautiful wedding day. It is certainly one I will remember for a very long time.

If you are planning an intimate wedding then I’d love to hear from you!

Alnwick Treehouse Wedding Photography - Germán & Emma

“Dan was able to capture moments full of life and love that we will cherish for the rest of our lives” - Germán & Emma

Germán & Emma’s Wedding at Alnwick Treehouse

I first met Emma and Germán when I photographed Emma’s brothers wedding back in 2017, and what a wedding that was! You can check out their tipi wedding here.

I was honoured when Emma and Germán got in touch and asked me to be their wedding photographer. Both Emma and her brother grew up in the North East which was I guess the main reason both chose to get married in this stunning part of the UK.

My day started out with Germán and his family getting ready and hanging out over looking the coast in Amble. Once I left them I arrived with Emma at her parents home to document her getting ready with her bridesmaids and family.

Alnwick Treehouse Wedding Venue

Emma and Germán had chosen the very cool and unique Alnwick Treehouse for their wedding. Built amongst the trees and overlooking some stunning countryside this is one of the coolest venues I’ve had the pleasure to shoot at. The Treehouse is the largest tree-top building of its kind in the world, offering exclusive access to 3 intimate function rooms, a large expanse of decking, and two wobbly rope bridges.

As I arrived at the Treehouse the skies opened and the rain began to pour. This changed the plans ever so slightly as the ceremony was moved indoors. Sometimes change is a good thing and all the rain did was make their ceremony an even more intimate one.

Following a beautiful wedding ceremony the day continued to throw fun and laughter at us. We managed to get access to the gorgeous Alnwick gardens for some portraits and then the newly weds danced long into the night with their friends and family with the help of a Ceilidh Band!

This wedding was so much fun to be a part of. Thank you Emma and Germán for having me along to photograph your amazing Alnwick Wedding!

If you are planning a wedding at Alnwick Treehouse then I’d love to hear from you!

Browsholme Hall Wedding - Andy & Jess

“Somehow, like a magician, Dan was able to capture the joy of the day, the laughter and the love. Thank you Dan – our day would not have been the same without you”. - Jess & Andy

Andy and Jess - Wedding at Browsholme Hall

Ah, where to begin with Andy and Jess…This crazy, happy duo were an absolute joy to photograph. Their wedding at the marvellous Browsholme Hall in the Ribby Valley gave me so many amazing memories to capture for them. Jess’ infectious smile and Andy’s individuality mixed with their awesomely bonkers guests filled this wedding with fun, happy moments.

Andy and Jess’ wedding gave me all of the good feelings. There were smiles and laughter from the moment I met up with Andy and his Groomsmen at the Red Pump Inn, just down the road from the venue. I spent an hour with them getting ready, opening gifts and talking Bond while they enjoyed the local beer.

After I left the groom-to-be I arrived with Jess and her girls to lots of smiles, laughter and excitement. On make-up duty was the lovely Sonara Parker and on floral duties were the ever impressive Flower Design. Jess looked incredible and was ready to see her man. Their gorgeous ceremony was followed up with drinking, eating, space hoppers and some brilliant speeches. Once the excitement of the speeches was over Andy, Jess and I went for a wander around the gorgeous grounds that Browsholme Hall has to offer. We laughed and created some perfect portraits of the two of them to add to their memories of the day. Andy, Jess and their guests continued to dance their way into the night, Andy randomly armed with a Timothy Dalton mask.

If you are planning a wedding at Browsholme Hall then I’d love to hear from you!

Shireburn Arms Wedding Photography - John & Sarah

John and Sarah’s Wedding at Shireburn Arms, Clitheroe

This pair of lovely souls chose the stunning Shireburn Arms in the Ribble Valley for their wedding. I love this venue and everything it has to offer. From its picturesque setting and ridiculously gorgeous views to its combination of original architecture and contemporary decor.

John and Sarah weren’t so lucky with the weather on the day, but that meant nothing! This was a prime example of embracing what the day throws at you. Yes it rained and was pretty windy but that didn’t stop John and Sarah from venturing out, armed with brollies, to battle the elements!

The day was hosted by the awesome DFC Lancashire. They are great to work with and help to get the wedding guests fully involved in the day.

Overall this was a fun, happy and memorable day.

If you are planning a wedding at the Shireburn Arms then I’d love to hear from you!

Bartle Hall Wedding Photography - Kris & Clare

Kris and Clare’s Wedding at Bartle Hall

The lovely Kris and Clare are two of the most genuine and wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure to meet. They are so in love and their wedding was the perfect celebration of this.

I do like a bit of tradition in weddings but do also love when traditions are broken for the better. Kris and Clare did just that when they decided to get ready together on the morning of their wedding. The morning was so relaxed and calm, it was great to document those moments between them, in their home.

The wedding ceremony took place at English Martyrs Church in Poulton. After a beautiful service the celebrations continued at the fantastic Bartle Hall. As always Bartle Hall looked stunning dressed for the wedding. Kris and Clare made creating portraits so easy and their guests were a joy to document.

It was a fantastic wedding, made better by some top class wedding suppliers including Jo Coole MUA, Live Piano Ltd and Pier Fun Casinos.

If you are planning a wedding at Bartle Hall then I’d love to hear from you!

Singleton Lodge Wedding Photography - Robin & Sarah

Robin & Sarah’s Wedding at Singleton Lodge

Singleton Lodge is a stunning wedding venue, tucked away in the Lancashire countryside.

Robin and Sarah’s wedding was a beautiful winter wedding packed full with smiles, laughter and a few photo-bombing alpacas.

Check out some of my favourites from their wedding below :)

If you are planning a wedding at Singleton Lodge then I’d love to hear from you!

Weddings - 2019 Highlights

Best of 2019 Weddings

The end of yet another brilliant year in this fascinating and extremely rewarding job. Whenever I speak to people about weddings I always get a feeling of satisfaction and still, 11 years on, feel very privileged to call this my job. Documenting peoples lives and their families is the best part of photographing weddings, in my opinion. Of course creating stunning portraits is so much fun but those photos of family and friends are the memories my couples treasure the most. My main aim this coming year is to keep working hard on the documentary side of wedding photography. Since writing this blog, at the start of 2020, I have picked up a ‘This is Reportage’ award for one of my photographs. TiR is solely for documentary wedding photography and is an international competition with only 4% of entries winning in each round. This was a great start to my 2020, one that I’m hoping can get even better.

2019 was another year photographing some wonderful people in some simply amazing wedding venues. If I photographed your wedding in 2019 then thank you so much for putting your faith and trust in me. Looking forward to 2020 I have so much to be grateful and excited for. If I am photographing your wedding this year then I cannot wait to be a part of it! I have got so many brilliant weddings to look forward to this year.

As always this blog is not to showcase my ‘best of’ 2019 yet more like some of my personal wedding highlights. I have been involved in some brilliant weddings and the photos that follow are just some of my memories of those awesome wedding days.

Thanks 2019. An extremely cracking year.

Are you planning a 2020 or 2021 wedding?? If so I’d love to hear from you.

Eaves Hall Winter Wedding Photography - Sean & Louise

Sean and Louise’s Winter Wedding at Eaves Hall

Eaves Hall is one of those wedding venues that looks incredible no matter what time of year it is. I guess this was one of the main reasons behind why Sean and Louise chose it for their winter wedding.

Sean and Louise lucked out a little as they had the perfect winters day for their wedding at Eaves Hall. Nothing but blues skies as far as the eye could see.

Getting ready at Eaves Hall

Louise and her bridesmaids made the most of the gorgeous venue by getting ready in one of the bridal suits on the morning of the wedding. Louise had the fantastic Sonara Parker MUA on make-up duty and once ready we all set off for the church.

Their ceremony was held at St. Johns Church in Burnley, just a short drive away from the venue. After the service the newlyweds jumped in their wedding car for the drive back over to Eaves Hall.

Wedding Reception at Eaves Hall

Arriving back at Eaves Hall to drinks, Sean, Louise and their guests continued their celebrations in style.

The fun continued well into the night as the beautiful winter light made way for us to get a little more creative with some night time portraits.

A truly lovely couple, this winter wedding at Eaves Hall was a pleasure to be a part of.

If you are planning a wedding at Eaves Hall then I’d love to hear from you!