Manchester Wedding Photography on Tour: Olivia and Charlie’s Wedding at Bashall Barn

Although Manchester and Cheshire wedding photography jobs make up most of my bookings, I love any excuse to get further afield and capture stunning events at venues across the North West!

On Tour to Bashall Barn in Clitheroe

I was delighted when Olivia and Charlie asked me to photograph their big day at Bashall Barn! I knew it was a gorgeous venue in Clitheroe that I know very well. As ever I arrived early on the morning of their wedding, primed with a car boot full of kit, backup equipment, and comfy footwear, ready for a day of speeding around! 

I always arrive early to scope out angles, sunny spots, and other interesting technical aspects, give myself plenty of time to prepare and also let the couple breathe a sigh of relief knowing they’ve got one less thing to worry about.

By arriving early, I also had plenty of time to capture the morning’s lovely preparations, with lots of beautiful bridesmaids (and a bridesman) and groomsmen getting themselves ready with great excitement and the odd glass of fizz! 

Of course, there’s always a panic at a wedding, and a rogue shirt that went missing definitely got the groom’s heart rate up…. Before it was safely found. Meanwhile, I was there to discreetly capture all the fun, while everyone just forgot about me and got on with their day. That’s what I’m there for!

The Decor and Dresses

Olivia’s wedding dress was a show-stopping off-the-shoulder number with a fitted finish and a sweetheart neckline. It was finished with beautiful lace and a traditional veil with tiny seed pearls for a picture-perfect finish. Olivia chose to wear her blonde hair in a pretty up-do with natural makeup, and I think you’ll agree she looks stunning in her photos! Such a lovely bride – and how gorgeous were those bouquet flowers in shades of violet and peach?

The bridesmaids also looked fabulous in their pale blue outfits, which has to be my new favourite colour! Everyone had a dress style that suited their own look and shape, and every bridesmaid and the bridesman looked perfect, especially with their pastel bouquets with ornate dahlias and delicate foliage. Charlie looked very handsome in his formal dark suit with a matching buttonhole, too! These guys were all picture perfect and such a pleasure to photograph. 

The Service

The guests all gathered outdoors for the emotional wedding service, with a fabulous backdrop of trees, lawns, and rolling hills. The simple rustic benches and wooden bower really let the natural beauty of the surroundings speak for themselves.

I took some informal, relaxed group shots in front of the house-shaped wooden bower, and the light and colour really popped in every shot on this beautiful day! Then the guests all went inside the wedding breakfast, and the barn was breathtaking, with such a natural, simple aesthetic which felt so relaxed, with lots of colourful English flowers and foliage and tiny sparkling lights.

August at Its Finest

Olivia and Charlie’s Bashall Barn wedding was bathed in beautiful sunshine all day, with August weather at its finest. I actually knew quite a few of the guests, as I’d photographed Charlie’s cousin and his wife last May! That often happens in the North West, and many of my bookings come from referrals. 

There was so much to keep me clicking at this wedding, which had a real energy and so many lovely, natural moments among the guests. Everyone was so relaxed and happy, and I managed to convey that sense of fun and joy in the wedding album, which was shot in my usual documentary style of wedding photography.

My Documentary Style Wedding Photography

Also known as reportage style wedding photography, this work style is technically demanding, but the results are beautifully natural. Reportage style wedding photography looks like high-end editorial without any of the awkwardness and formality of more traditional posed photos.

Documentary wedding photography is hugely popular but hard to book, as most Manchester wedding photographers don’t offer it. That’s because it’s very technical and takes years to master. 

I’ve been working as a Manchester and Cheshire wedding photographer for years, so I know exactly how to capture every moment for the best result. It doubles up as a fitness challenge for me too! I rack up thousands of steps at every event from zipping around quietly in the background and snapping everything as it happens with a big smile on my face!

Manchester Wedding Photography and Golden Light

Anyone familiar with my Manchester wedding photography work knows I’m obsessed with golden light! In fact, it’s a passion shared by all event photographers as it makes everyone absolutely glow. 

Well, Olivia and Charlie were so lucky as their wedding was blessed with the most insane golden hour light imaginable, just before they went in to do their first dance at sunset! 

I grabbed the couple and got them outdoors into the beautiful green area for stunning golden photos! They capture so much emotion and intimacy, not to mention the British countryside at its most picture-perfect. What a fantastic result!

The Evening Event at Bashall Barn

The evening event was so much fun to capture, and emotional, too, when the singer turned out to be a digitised version of Charlie’s grandad, who used to be in a band. Everyone let their hair down, and the neon lights were a treat to photograph as they illuminated all of the fun and energy of the evening soiree!

Post-Production Fun!

I took so many photos at this event and loved editing them all afterwards to remember everything about the day, and perfect every shot for Olivia and Charlie’s wedding album. 

Book Your Manchester Wedding Photography Today

I take Manchester wedding photography bookings year-round, and I’m already filling up my calendar for 2026 (and even into 2027). However, I do have free weekends, plenty of midweek availability, and occasional cancellations, so please do get in touch if you like what you see from my documentary style wedding photography portfolio! 

I love to have a coffee, chat, and browse through my work with prospective clients to see if there’s a potential fit between my work and your big day! 

Please get in touch to find out more, and let’s get something booked in the diary.