Laura and Ryan got married at Merrydale Manor on the 18th of August 2024, 70 of them for the day and another 40 or so once the evening guests arrived. Yellow and navy through and through, calla lilies in every bouquet, and a Man Cave full of arcade games and a pool table that I am fairly sure nobody wanted to leave. It’s exactly the kind of day a Merrydale Manor wedding photographer hopes for.

Merrydale Manor is one of those venues that gives a wedding day room to breathe. Space for the boys to disappear into a games room for the morning, space for the girls to get ready properly, and then a ceremony room dressed so well that half my job was already done for me before a single guest sat down. Here is how the day went.

Getting ready

Laura started the day at the Bridal Lodge before the whole party moved across to the manor itself, her Blush Boutique Weddings dress hanging and waiting for her long before she was ready for it.

Hair and makeup by Stephanie Swain Bridal, then a quiet check in the mirror, dress on, everything about to become very real.

And then, ready. Veil in, bouquet in hand, one last look before she headed for the ceremony.

Ryan's morning could not have looked more different. His prep space came with its own sign above the door, and I do not think I need to explain why.

A game of pool got the morning started in the Man Cave, ties still loose and jackets still off.

Even the smallest member of the wedding party got a turn at the table.

A quiet word between two of the boys by the mirror, then a last minute check of the Peter Posh Suit jacket next to the arcade machine before anyone had to be anywhere. This is the bit of a wedding day that guests never see and grooms never quite remember properly afterwards, which is exactly why I love photographing it.

Before the ceremony, a portrait with two of the people who mean the most to him, outside the manor in the last few quiet minutes before everything got underway. Moments like this one always go quickly on the day itself, so I like to make sure they actually get taken.

The ceremony

Two o’clock, and the room was already dressed by I Do Events Liverpool with tall white flowers and a long line of candles down the aisle. Petals scattered across the floor, glass hurricane lamps flickering either side, and every seat filled by the time the doors opened. A flower girl went first, walked in by one of the ushers with her petal basket, then a bridesmaid in yellow leading a second flower girl by the hand.

Then Laura appeared in the doorway on her dad's arm, and I caught this one over Ryan's shoulder just as she came into view.

The two of them made their way down together, Laura smiling the whole way.

Vows exchanged under a wall of flowers, and Ryan's face said everything it needed to.

Confetti

Officially married, and straight into a few minutes surrounded by white flowers with the girls on either side of her, still catching her breath from it all.

Baskets of confetti were ready and waiting by the door for the proper exit.

One of the flower girls caught mid laugh in the middle of it all.

Then gold confetti as the two of them stepped out properly for the first time as husband and wife.

Ryan clearly could not resist pulling a face for the camera on the way out, buttonhole still perfectly in place.

Family and friends

Family formals next, group by group on the lawn. A big one to start, then smaller family groups working their way through Laura and Ryan's family and the bridal party. Laura had her shot list sorted well in advance, which always makes this part of the day faster and considerably less painful for everyone involved. This part of the day is exactly why every Merrydale Manor wedding photographer builds in extra time for it.

A laugh with the flower girls in between the posed shots, then the pair of them let loose on the lawn while everyone else finished up.

A little time for Laura and Ryan on their own too, before the whole afternoon carried on without them.

And a quieter moment with one of her bridesmaids, bouquet still in hand.

Reception

Inside, the wedding breakfast room was ready and waiting, dressed with the same towering white flowers from the ceremony and a long garland of roses down the top table. Candles lit along its whole length, place settings ready, and that particular quiet a room has in the minutes before seventy people fill it. Barretts Event Caterers had the food in hand from here.

Speeches came staggered between courses, exactly as planned, and the toasts were loud ones. Glasses up, a room full of people who clearly adore this couple, and a fair bit of laughing along the way.

Not every guest was listening quite so closely. One of the flower girls had other priorities at the dinner table.

And then the cake, yellow flowers to match the rest of the day.

Evening guests arrived to an ice cream cart from Baci Di Gelato parked and ready, plus a Big Booths UK sweet cart, audio guest book and photobooth for anyone who fancied a break from the dance floor.

First dance and the party

As the evening light dropped, Laura and Ryan slipped away for a few minutes together, just the two of them and a very good sky. This is always my favourite part of a wedding day to shoot. The pace finally slows down, and for ten minutes it is just the couple, away from the room and the noise. It’s the light every Merrydale Manor wedding photographer dreams of.

Back inside, the Luminate dance floor was lit and ready, Love Lights TW letters glowing behind them. First dance first, the room packed in around them, The Good Habits Band striking up as they walked out.

Then, as promised, a second first dance, this one with their two little girls. That is the kind of detail that makes a wedding actually feel like theirs, not a template.

Guests filled the floor after that and did not stop.

Laura and Ryan, thank you for a day that was entirely, unmistakably yours. A pool table and an arcade machine on one side of the morning, a veil lit gold at sunset on the other, and somehow it all made perfect sense together. You laughed your way through the whole thing, which made twelve hours pass a great deal faster than usual. Congratulations to the two of you, and to your girls too.

With huge thanks to

• Hair and makeup: @stephanieswainbridal
• Dress: @blushboutiqueweddings
• Suits: @peterposhsuit
• Venue dressers: @idoeventsliverpool
• Caterers: @barretts_event_caterers
• Band: @thegoodhabitsband
• Dance floor: Luminate
• Light up letters: @lovelightstw
• Audio guest book, sweet cart and photobooth: @bigboothsuk
• Ice cream cart: @bacidigelatoicecream

Thinking about your own wedding at Merrydale Manor?

Looking for a Merrydale Manor wedding photographer, or getting married anywhere else in Cheshire, and want photos that actually feel like your day rather than a set of poses? Get in touch and tell me about it. I would love to hear your plans. You can see more real weddings here for inspiration.