My wedding photography style is a mix of informal documentary coverage and relaxed and fun portraits, and Manchester Hall is a perfect venue for this. Right in the city centre on Bridge St, just off Trinity Square, Manchester Hall is a stunning venue with lots of spacious and interesting rooms for your special day. It is one of Manchester’s amazing venues.
Weddings at Manchester Hall
If you want a great venue in the heart of Manchester, with plenty of room indoors, good food, friendly staff and some quirky charm, then a wedding at Manchester Hall should definitely be on your list. Yes, there are an inordinate amount of stairs, but there is also a lift should you need one later in the evening.
The wedding hall is a very accommodating size which makes it light and airy, and a pleasure to shoot in. If the weather is bad you can get group shots done inside. If the weather is good though then there is a roof terrace with picturesque views of Manchester and of course, there is Manchester itself if you want to take a walk with your professional wedding photographer for some shots around town.
Jay and Amanda
I used to teach Jay kung fu in the early 2000s when he was doing his first degree at uni in Manchester. I’d not seen him since then for several years until I ran into him again at Seamus & Shiori’s wedding back in March 2018. We had loads of catching up to do and I was delighted when he told me he and Amanda were getting married that year too. I, of course, mentioned I’d love to shoot their wedding.
Back in England, we carried on chatting and met up to discuss their wedding and they booked me in. It really helped that they knew me, had seen me working and the quality of my wedding photography.
Fast forward a bit and the date arrived. They were both getting ready at the Marriott Hotel in Manchester city centre then walking over to the former freemasons hall for the wedding ceremony and wedding reception.
The couple had booked me and a second shooter to get more coverage. They wanted an experienced one, so I brought in John of Versfeld Photography who I’ve worked with before. Normally I shoot the bridal prep and let my second shoot the groom but this time I decided to mix it up and stay with Jay. Some of the photos below are John’s work and I thank him for his help.
Once ready, the walk through Manchester city centre to Manchester Hall was great for some extra shots of Jay and his party. John also captured some fantastic shots of Amanda and her bridal party when they walked over later.
The day went really smoothly and everyone was friendly. Manchester Hall as a venue is a fantastic venue with lots of great spots for shots, so we took a few more arty shots than normal and took a walk in the city for a few more couple shots after.
Unusually for me, after the first dance and some of the partying that followed, I packed my gear away and joined them for a drink and dancing before heading home. Not something I normally do, but for friends I make exceptions. Besides, who doesn’t love the chance to get on the dance floor?
Wedding Preparation and The Victoria and Albert
The wedding preparation took place at the Manchester Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel. John photographed the ladies getting ready and having their hair and makeup done. The weather on their wedding day was warm and dry. I photographed the groom’s preparation then we walked over to Manchester Hall and awaited Amanda and her bridal party. John walked with Amanda’s party to Manchester Hall. Walking through the city centre gave us some great alternative shots.
The Wedding Ceremony
It was fun waiting with Jay for Amanda to walk down the aisle. Well, it was fun for me. Jay was clearly suffering from nerves but he held it together well. The ceremony room is long and spacious with large windows. They let in lots of natural light; perfect for a professional wedding photographer.
The ceremony was lovely with a perfect mix of smiles and tears. The registrar was amazing but brought a lot of joy to the proceedings. He also officiated the weddings of Naomi and Neil and Janice and Les, two other North West weddings I have photographed.
After the ceremony, it was time for the group photographs and then mingling. As John is a very capable wedding photographer, I left him to do the group shots and worked instead on candids.
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Couple Portraits
The Joy of Manchester Hall wedding photography is the options for couple portraits. We had time before the wedding breakfast to take some great portraits. We took shots all around Manchester Hall then headed out into Manchester City Centre. The entrance to the canal is very close by so we headed there for some shots as well. It was an amazing day outside for portraits.
Wedding Speeches and Wedding Breakfast
The meal was delicious. Jay and Amanda had offered to seat me with the guests as I new some of them, but John and I took our meals elsewhere. It was appreciated but the rest was needed too. We finished in plenty of time for the wedding speeches. Again these were a time for smiles and tears, quite an emotional day.
Evening Reception
The rest of their amazing day was spent socializing, dancing and playing. And drinking, definitely drinking. I was so glad to participate in their wedding in this beautiful space.
For other Manchester city centre weddings, take a look at Laura and Steve’s wedding at the Manchester Marriott and Naomi and Neil’s at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Getting married in the North West? Get in touch!
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To see more of my weddings at venues in this area, head over to my Manchester wedding photography page or take a look at the following:
Castlefield Rooms Wedding Photography
Summer Wedding Photography at Norton Grange
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