Pryors Hayes Wedding Photography

bride-preparations Pryors Hayes Golf Club wedding photography

Emma and Thomas's Pryors Hayes Wedding Photography

There’s nothing better than a sunny summer wedding, is there? As a relatively new wedding venue, I was delighted by the invitation to shoot Emma and Thomas’s wedding at the Pryors Hayes Golf Club, where I would have a selection of new backdrops to experiment with. Located in the heart of the county, this cosy wedding venue has all the charm required of a Cheshire barn wedding—read on to learn the ins and outs of my Pryors hayes wedding photography.

The big morning...

Both Emma and Thomas would be getting themselves spruced up for the wedding at the Hollies Forest Log Cabins, only a few miles from the venue. This wasn’t actually my first time meeting Emma’s family, as I’d photographed her sister Vicky’s wedding a few years ago; it’s always so flattering when guests see my work and end up booking me for their own weddings! Vicky and Danny remain happily married and you can read about their big day here. As bridal preparations invariably take the most time (no offence, ladies) I spent the bulk of my morning with the bridal party. While the wedding itself is often a whirl of greeting loved ones we rarely get to see, bridal preparations are a real time of bonding for the bride and her very nearest and dearest. It’s also a time of making the bride feel her absolute best, and ready to give her a hand was makeup artist Lauren Levey. Emma’s look consisted of an off the shoulder gown by Jessica Bennett Bespoke and a long, elegant veil, finished off by a bouquet by Pure Floral Design. Looking terribly glamorous and with a glass (or two) of champagne inside for courage, we were finally off to the venue where I could continue my Pryors Hayes wedding photography.

Cheshire wedding venue

You didn’t really think we were ready, did you? Once we’d arrived it was time for just a few more, last minute bridal preparations—I love this “behind the scenes” shot of Emma’s dress being steamed by the mother of the bride. 

Another shot I’m fond of from this timeframe is the groomsmen arriving at the venue, all looking extremely dapper. The photo has a real sense of movement which proves so much more effective than awkwardly standing still with a smile.

Good weather is never guaranteed in the UK, but luckily, the wedding ceremony could take place outside on the Pryors Hayes grounds. While garden weddings tend to pose some strife for women and their stilettos, luckily Pryors Hayes has the foresight to tile much of the outdoor area!

It was Emma’s mother who would be walking her down the aisle, and doesn’t she look proud? Finally coming face to face with her husband to be, Emma seems delighted while Thomas can’t believe his luck.

The signing of the register itself took place beneath the pagoda, which not only proved some interesting framing for the pictures but also ensured there was no sun in the couple’s eyes. While most of my images use colour to reflect the excitement of the day, Notice how I switch to black and white photography for timeless moments like this one. You’ll see this technique again in the image of children playing, frozen in time forever.

As family and friends mingled over drinks and canapés I took the opportunity to capture some group photos, my elevated position giving a clear view of every guest with plenty of greenery as backdrop. I then took the bride and groom for some couples’ photos on the venue grounds. One of Cheshire’s main draws is its spectacular countryside and I wanted to reflect this in my images. Though blessed with a day of sunshine, it wasn’t a cloudless afternoon, but clouds can actually add interest to shots and create a more complex mood than clear blue skies. Something else to think about as a photographer is composition; note how flowers in the foreground, followed by the newlyweds and then woodland create a real sense of depth. Finally, as Pryors Hayes is primarily a golf club, we couldn’t resist some shots in the golf buggy – as a photographer, it’s fun to incorporate any props at my disposal!

Photographing inside the barn

The barn itself, in keeping with the rustic theme, was beautifully decked out with table dressings by Sid & Olive Vintage, while fairy lights provided a romantic touch. Despite having the traditional features of a barn, like oak beams and exposed brick, floor to ceiling windows meant there was plenty of natural light for my Pryors Hayes wedding photography. While it’s the men who have historically made speeches at the wedding breakfast, fashions are changing and the wedding guests were all smiles as Emma’s mum and sister came up to speak. As a documentary wedding photographer, it’s my aim to be as unobtrusive as possible, and I hope you’ll agree that these natural, unposed photos capture the mood perfectly.

A selection of wedding documentary photos taken at the Pryors Hayes wedding photographs.

Getting the party started at Cheshire wedding.

With all the formalities taken care of, it was time to let loose! Ready to get wedding guests onto their feet were Louise & the Love Bugs, followed by The Bootleggers. At this point it was time to switch to flash photography, all the better to capture the groomsmen throwing those…interesting…shapes! After a few dances, myself, Thomas and Emma slipped out for some final couples shots, making the most of the “golden hour” light so beloved by photographers. The mood of these is quite intense, which I think reflects the emotion between the couple.

Pryors Hayes wedding photo album.

Thank you so much to Emma and Thomas for trusting me to capture the festivities – I hope the first year of marriage has been everything you’d hoped for. And to my readers, I hope that you, too, enjoyed my Pryors Hayes wedding photography. I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re getting married and would like to discuss what I can do for your special day, please do get in touch