Manchester Wedding Photography at Didsbury Parsonage & Gardens: Amy & Nick

One of the best things about working as a Manchester wedding photographer is that I get to see lots of beautiful weddings at the incredibly diverse venues we have here in Manchester and across the North West. 

It always amazes me how every couple can put a completely unique stamp on their big day, and every wedding looks and feels so different, even at the same venue.

The Venue

Speaking of locations, Didsbury Parsonage Trust and Gardens was a new one for me, and it didn’t disappoint! I browsed the website before the big day and knew it was going to be an incredible occasion to photograph!

Didsbury Parsonage is a Grade II listed building, located right next to Didsbury village green. The building and gardens were left in trust to the people of Manchester in 1919, and the venue is now a thriving community hub in a picturesque and sizeable setting. 

This historic building has been carefully restored and is now used for all kinds of events, including private weddings.

Amy and Nick booked me for my 3 hour midweek ceremony package to capture their official legal Manchester wedding ceremony before jetting off to Ibiza for the big wedding party!

The Ceremony

The ceremony was simple and elegant, and held in the wood-floored room of the Parsonage, with a huge stained glass window at the sunny end. What a treat to photograph! 

This venue has some wonderful colour too, with rich shades of golden yellow and deep red on the walls, plus wonderful artwork. It’s a real feast for the eyes! 

After the ceremony, the sun was shining, and everyone got to enjoy the beautiful and extensive greenery and lush gardens. The happy couple emerged from the Parsonage under a bough of leafy spring greenery and straight into fluttering confetti. 

The Lovely Couple

My goodness, Amy and Nick were so easy to photograph! Firstly, the bride was just gorgeous with her simple ivory bridal gown and beautiful long wavy hair, pinned back with a sparkly clip. Nick looked incredibly dashing in a traditional tux, and they didn’t stop smiling the whole time!

Amy’s beautiful bridesmaid and mum wore equally simple dresses but in wonderful coral pink and chartreuse shades, which colour popped to perfection on camera!

The entire wedding party looked so lovely, and the intimate event was relaxed and filled with emotion and laughter, all of which I was ready to capture with my natural reportage style of wedding photography!

The Beautiful Gardens 

The outdoor shots were incredible, with the light and the colour creating such a magical backdrop. Check out the photos I took of Amy and Nick on their own, after the informal group shots, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

With the pinks, greens and dappled light, plus Amy in her ivory gown with a beautiful spilling bouquet of spring shades, the effect was magical.

Amy and Nick looked absolutely perfect, and the photography conditions couldn’t have been better! (Although I always have a Plan B up my sleeve for rain, clouds, long shadows or any other challenges that can occur. Preparation and contingency planning are all part of the job.)

I captured some great shots of the couple walking through the traditional stone arches, too, and Amy’s retro sunglasses were such a cute touch for some fun snaps.

This was a wonderful wedding to shoot, and my documentary style of wedding photography really did capture the mood and atmosphere of hte day; relaxed, happy and filled with love. I also loved photographing the adorable little guest in his tiny suit, learning how to clink his glass. What a cutie.

Why Choose Documentary Style Photography for Your Wedding? 

Many couples are turning to reportage style wedding photography now because it’s such a natural, modern and fluid style of photography that feels so fresh and authentic.

I still take group shots at weddings, especially when the couple have specific requests, as these are always important for everyone’s memories and for sharing afterwards.. But the mainstay of my time is spent capturing everything that happens, as it happens!

Why reportage style wedding photography is hard to find

Documentary style wedding photography is actually very technically challenging, so you won’t find many Cheshire wedding photographers who offer it. 

It requires years of skill development and technical know-how, not to mention advanced equipment and a solid appreciation of light, colour, composition and movement. (And you thought wedding photographers just ran around snapping all day!)

However, I’ve been working in my field for years and have developed a style that really showcases this approach. The results look effortless, even though they actually require technical skill and post-production work! 

But this is all part of the job, and I absolutely love what I do. I feel so honoured to work in this creative field and capture these priceless moments.

You might like documentary style wedding photography if…

If you want a wedding album filled with emotion, authenticity and special moments, rather than posted and staged shots, documentary style wedding photography is likely to appeal to you. 

It’s also the sort of photography that you see nowadays in high-end magazines and editorial pieces, as it’s very much in demand for its ability to tell a story, convey an emotion and really bring the feel of something to life. 

Browse my Portfolio!

If you want to understand more about this style, check out my blogs to see an example of some of my portfolio work. You’ll see plenty of reportage style wedding photography to give you a sense of what the finished results look like. 

The photos are all bursting with colour, feeling, light and movement, and I love it when my happy clients blow their favourites up for oversized prints on the wall; what wonderful memories!

Get in Touch

If you’d like a chat about my portfolio and availability, please get in touch and let’s have a coffee or a call. I take bookings throughout the year and am already booking into next year. 

However, I do get cancellations, and midweek weddings can be easier to book all round when it comes to suppliers! So please do get in touch and let’s plan the perfect wedding album for your magical day!