Abbeywood Estate Wedding of Alice and James
Ask any Cheshire wedding photographer, and they’ll tell you that they love capturing wedding photography at Abbeywood Estate. Alice and James chose an amazing venue for their spring wedding.
Abbeywood Estate is a 45 acres estate in the Delamere countryside in the heart of Cheshire. It offers a wealth of options for different weddings all surrounded by the breathtakingly beautiful gardens.
On the day, we headed to Abbey Estate to catch up with Alice and her bridal party, who were getting ready in one of Abbey Estate’s gorgeous cottages. We say bridal party, it felt more like an army. There was Alice, her mum Cath, James’s mum Carole, bridesmaids Lucy, Kate, Megan, Nicola, Hayley, Lauren and bridesman Robert. Everybody was really excited and we got some great images of everybody receiving presents and enjoying a bit of fizz.
James and his grooms party were also getting ready at Abbeywood Estate, so we were able to catch up with them and get some great images. James’ grooms party consisted of James, Alice’s dad Peter and bestman (another) James and two groomsmen. Along with two young page boys who also wore tails suits and were adorable.
Whilst getting ready, the grooms party had to also take care of the couples two dogs, a cocker spaniel and a Belgian Malinois, who as much loved members of the family, were very much included in the day. And were so well behaved all day. They just blended in and took it all in their stride.
Experienced Abbeywood Estate wedding photographer
Alice looked absolutely stunning in a dreamy ballgown skirted dress with off the shoulder straps and a plunging sweetheart neckline. The bodice had beautiful lace detail and the skirt had layers of pretty tulle that made it look like Alice was gliding rather than walking. Alice bought the dress at Natalie Ann Brides.
Alice’s long blond hair had been beautifully curled and braided by Sonya from Capaldi Hair Creative and her make-up was done by make-up artist Christina Louise and absolutely flawless. Alice looked like a Disney princess. Her look was complemented with a beautiful bouquet created on-site by the Abbeywood Estate florist, who provided all the flowers for Alice and James’ wedding.
Bridesmaids looked elegant in blush pink dresses with simple bouquets of wild gypsophila. Robert the bridesman looked great in a blush pink suit.
James looked very smart in a traditional tails suit in grey with a pale blue waistcoat, his best man and the dads also wore tails but with a grey waistcoat and his two groomsmen looked smart in grey three-piece suits. All wore blush pink ties to go with the wedding colour theme.
The wedding ceremony took place outside on the Abbeywood Estates manicured lawns. Guest’s chairs were arranged to create an aisle and Alice was walked down the aisle by her dad. Alice and James said their vows beside a pretty flower arch, with their two beloved dogs at the feet. The Belgian Malinois seemed to take the whole thing quite seriously, he wore a bow tie and watched the ceremony attentively. The cocker spaniel seemed to be more interested in maintaining possession of a ball.
Storytelling wedding photography at Abbeywood Estate
After a lovely ceremony, there was a fun confetti moment before everybody enjoyed an elegant drinks and canapes reception in the garden. With guests happily catered for and enjoying the sunshine, we took our chance to get some great group images of the wedding party.
Everybody was so easy going to work with and we got some great images.
With guests happily catered for we were able to whisk Alice and James away for a few minutes for a mini photoshoot around the stunning gardens. Which brings us neatly to another reason why we love capturing wedding photography at Abbeywood Estate and that’s the utterly idyllic gardens. Honestly, they’re utterly enchanting so we were spoilt for choice when it came to beautiful backdrops. The images we got of Alice and James amongst the trees look magical. Like something out of a fairytale. Here, take a look.
The wedding breakfast took place in Abbeywood Estate’s Glasshouse. This modern and elegant glass structure is perfect for wedding celebrations and had been dressed exquisitely for Alice and James’s wedding. Stunning floral arrangements adorned the ceiling and the tables that were dressed with crisp white linen. It looked amazing.
Alice and James were welcomed into their reception rapturously by their guests. And everybody enjoyed a delicious wedding breakfast prepared by Abbeywood Estate’s talented in house chefs. The desserts looked delicious and our eyes were definitely drawn to the wall of doughnuts.
After the food came the speeches, the speech givers were Alice’s dad Peter, James and then best man James. They were emotional and funny so one way or another there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Natural and Creative Abbeywood Estate wedding photography
After the meal, with guests happily mingling and making the most of exclusive use by exploring the venue, we quickly whisked Alice and James away again for a few more images in the gardens. This is our favourite time of day at weddings, everybody is relaxed and the sun is at its lowest creating a soft hazy light perfect for romantic portrait images. The ones we got again looked enchanting, like something out of a bridal magazine. Here take a look!
We then headed back to join guests who were still enjoying drinks and the sunshine in the garden.
Evening celebrations started with the cutting of a gorgeous three-tiered wedding cake, followed by a romantic first dance for Alice and James to the song ‘Me and My Shadow’ by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr. Guests joined them on the dancefloor to enjoy a slow dance.
But with DJ Stephen Craige on the decks, the music didn’t stay slow for long and when he started his set the party really got started. Alice and James put on their dancing shoes (matching trainers in their case). And it was the image of Alice and guests on the dancefloor singing their hearts out that felt like the perfect image to close the story of Alice and James’ wedding day.
A stylish and romantic wedding day full of laughter. Congratulations to Alice and James for getting married and creating a beautiful day for yourselves, your family and your friends to remember. And thank you for allowing us to tell the story of it with beautiful and timeless images.
