Palm House Wedding Photography by Hervé Gillet
Palm House in Sefton Park has to be one of the most striking and unusual wedding venues Liverpool has to offer. Saying your vows amongst an array of lush palm trees and tropical plants in a Victorian orangery is the stuff dreams are made of. As one of my most favourite places as a wedding photographer, Palm House never fails to deliver the most outstanding photographic backdrops. So when Rebecca and Dean asked me to act as their official Palm House wedding photographer for their big day, I was looking forward to it for months.
Sefton Park Palm House is a Grade II listed building. With its array of flourishing botanicals and surrounded by a glorious glass-domed Victorian orangery, it’s just like being in the tropics.
The super high ceilings and full glass exterior really are a wedding photographer’s dream, gifting us a continuous flow of natural light.
For wedding photography, Palm House is the ultimate year-round venue. Come rain, snow or sunshine, the tropical backdrop never fails to create a feeling of warmth.
By the time Rebecca and Dean were saying their vows, the previously moody skies had cleared to let the sun drizzle in. But of course I didn’t miss the opportunity to take some dynamic shots beforehand, as the shadowy clouds were collecting over the notorious glass dome of Palm House.
Palm House Sefton Park – an intriguing history
The Palm House was designed to showcase the wonders of the natural world, and to amaze visitors with the discoveries that had been made by intrepid Victorian explorers, educating people about the value of plants.
Some of the plants growing in Palm House today are part of the historic Liverpool Botanical Collection. Founded in 1802 by William Roscoe who had more than 4,000 plants shipped to Liverpool’s docks by Victorian plant hunters, it is one of the oldest in Britain.
Today, the Palm House continues to exhibit plants from the world over, and even includes a few of the original specimens. A visit to the Palm House is a real sensory experience, where you get to indulge in myriad colours, scents, textures and shapes. So now imagine it as a wedding venue. It really is something to behold!
Palm House is owned and maintained by Liverpool City Council, with development and management taken care of by the Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust, a registered charity established in 1996 consisting of local residents.
Palm House wedding photography - Rebecca and Dean
Rebecca and Dean’s wedding was such a joy to shoot, because it was so friendly and informal. And the glass domed Palm House made such a wondrous backdrop for the fun group shot.
Rebecca wore a beautifully simple dress by Liverpool Bridal Boutique, with an elegant floral-lace bodice and flowing skirt. And her beaming smile and colourful personality were complemented perfectly by her vibrant bouquet by Passion for Flowers.
The fantastic thing about Palm House Sefton Park is that brides and grooms get to say their vows in the tropical setting of the orangery, and then return for the wedding breakfast, surrounded by the lush plants.
And then comes the evening. When it’s time to get the party started and the first dance is underway, the Palm House orangery transforms again into a super cool dancefloor. Perfect for Wedding Jam’s DJ to get Rebecca and Dean’s guests into the groove.
Looking for a Palm House wedding photographer?
Palm House has to be one of the more quirky wedding venues Liverpool has to offer. But it really is a wedding photographer’s dream. If you’re planning to get married at Sefton Park Palm House Liverpool in the near future, and you are the type of couple who would love natural, documentary style Palm House wedding photography like the shots I took for Rebecca and Dean, please do give me a call. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Related Posts: Wedding Photography by Hervé Gillet
