We were delighted to be asked to photograph Keeley & Micheal’s wedding at Dorfold Hall this summer. It’s our first time working at this incredible venue and we were so looking forward to it! Dorfold Hall in Nantwich is a beautiful Grade I listed Jacobean property which dates all the way back to the 15th century. It only opened it’s doors to weddings in 2017 and since then has become one of the most popular wedding venues in Cheshire. We can confirm that this is one amazing venue and we can’t wait to be back here soon!
Bridal Preparation Photos
Our day started at Dorfold with bridal preparation photos. We love when brides choose to get ready at the venue. Having the backdrop of all the photos fit together looks great in the final wedding album. It also adds to the excitement of the morning! Dorfold Hall is a great place for bridal preparation photos. There are large windows which flood the room with natural light. Shane always likes to have around 30 minutes with the bride in her dress before heading over to the ceremony. This time is to take a few portraits of the bride and group photos of the bride and her friends and family. Shane often stands the bride in front of a large window which creates a stunning image.
Groom Preparation Photos
As both the bride and the groom get ready at Dorfold Hall there was also some time to capture photos of Micheal and his groomsmen in the morning. We really recommend getting ready at the same venue if logistics will allow. If there is travel time in-between the bride and the groom it can really cut down the time for bridal preparation photos. If this is the case then a second photographer would be a really useful package upgrade, ensuring no moment is missed. If it’s easy to fit both into the photography schedule then we recommend going to the groom first. The final stages of bridal preparation are the most important. It also makes sense as the groom needs to leave for the ceremony first to welcome the guests. Dorfold Hall is set up to make the morning of the wedding as simple as possible which means that couples get better photos as a result.
Picture Perfect Ceremony
Prior to the wedding ceremony, Shane headed over to take a few photos of the room. Keeley and Michael chose an elegant floral archway to say their vows under. The ceremony space at Dorfold Hall is intimate and the perfect canvas to add your own wedding styling. Once all the guests had filed in and taken their seats it was time for the bride to walk down the aisle. Keeley looked so beautiful in her dress and didn’t have a hair out of place, despite more than a little rain! Couples always worry about how a rainy day will affect their photos. We tell them not to worry, an experienced wedding photographer will get beautiful images regardless of challenging weather conditions. There is almost always a gap in the rain to quickly dash outside for photos. Luckily at Dorfold Hall the inside of the property is also picture perfect.
Wedding Portraits At Dorfold
Once the ceremony was finished there was enough of a gap in the rain for the guests to fill one of the grand rooms at Dorfold. Luckily after a little while, the day brightened up and Shane was able to take the couple outside for a few photos. The grounds at Dorfold Hall are perfect for summer wedding photography. We especially love the photo of the bride and her bridesmaids all celebrating with their bouquets in the air. This picture really characterises how fun and energetic the bride and her friends were. Then it was time for the newlyweds to have their first official photographs together. The couple looked so natural in front of the camera and we love the photos from their portrait session. Shane delivers bright, natural and colourful images and these are a perfect example of this style of photography.
The Marquee At Dorfold
The wedding breakfast was held in the marquee at Dorfold Hall. Marquees are fantastic spaces for wedding photos as they are so spacious, bright and airy. Keeley and Michael chose an amazing team of suppliers who helped make the Dorfold Hall marquee look amazing. One of our favourite photos is of the couple being announced into the marquee to the applause of all their friends and family! Then it was onto the speeches, as a natural wedding photographer Shane loves to capture these moments. Dorfold Hall wedding photography isn’t complete without amazing speech photos! It was so nice to get more of an insight into the couple’s lives. There was so much love in the room and it really showed in the gallery of images. During the speeches, we love to capture moments in black and white photos. There is something about emotional images shown in black and white which works so well. Shane is still able to keep these images bright and contemporary in keeping with his signature style of photography.
Photos In Dorfold Hall’s Gardens
Dorfold Hall is such a large property with a lot of beautiful grounds to explore. Whether it’s through the gardens, by the lakeside or into more wooded areas – there is a stunning place for a photo at every turn. This is great for days when the weather is a bit temperamental as you are never far from a picture-perfect setting at Dorfold Hall. Keeley and Michael spent some time after the wedding breakfast together having their portraits captured. We couldn’t be more pleased with these images. The couple look so relaxed and happy. The iconic brick walls and beautiful florals at Dorfold Hall make a gorgeous backdrop for wedding photos. Dorfold Hall really is a wedding photographer’s dream!
Evening Party In The Marquee
The marquee at Dorfold Hall is made for parties! In the evening the space is transformed with fairy lights adorning the ceiling and beautiful purple uplighting. Keeley and Michael’s first dance signalled the beginning of the night and got everyone out on the dance floor. Shane’s photography career started in Ibiza shooting some of the best parties in the world, needless to say, we love capturing the party!
Night Time Photos At Dorfold Hall
One of the last things we like to capture at a wedding is a couple of dramatic night time photos. Using the lit up property as a backdrop there are so many amazing photo opportunities as night falls. Summer weddings at Dorfold Hall are perfect for these photos as it’s not too cold to venture outside when the sun has finally set. One of the rustic barn rooms lit from the inside with beautiful golden light was a stunning backdrop for Keeley and Michael’s last portrait of the night. These images work so well as the final photo in the wedding album and it’s a great way to end the night.
Stunning Cheshire Venue
We would like to thank the team at Dorfold Hall for making Keeley and Michael’s wedding such a dream to photograph. This wedding venue is a fantastic example of what Cheshire has to offer and why it’s one of the North West’s best wedding destinations. For more amazing venues read our guide on the best summer wedding venues in Cheshire and keep up to date with our recent featured weddings for loads of real wedding inspiration and beautiful wedding photography. Dorfold Hall is one of our favourite wedding venues to photograph!
An exceptionally talented group of suppliers worked on this stunning summer wedding at Dorfold Hall. A huge amount of effort went into creating everything from the beautiful floral design to the incredible evening entertainment. Find all the hardworking suppliers listed below.
Drone: Mission Drones
Bride’s Dress (Designer): Hayley Paige
Bride’s Dress (Shop): Fairytale Bride
Groom’s Suit (Shop): Whitfield and Ward
Bridesmaids Dresses: Maria Modes
Hair Stylist: Salon 51
Makeup Artist: Liz Clough
Flowers: Red Floral
Cake: Cakes by Bethany
Catering: Catherine Skates
Live Music: Craig Owen Music
Band: The Bourbon Street Band
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