A Rustic Luxe Wedding at Beeston Manor - Leanne and Brendan

This May I had the pleasure of being Beeston Manor's wedding photographer for Leanne and Brendan's rustic luxe countryside wedding.

Set in 140 acres of fields and farmland, the manor is tucked away from public roads, creating a private paradise in the Lancashire landscape for exclusive use of the couple and their guests, from morning to night. If you love the patchwork of grazing and farmland that is rural Lancashire or you have an affinity for landscapes, you'll feel right at home at Beeston Manor. Hoghton is a particularly picturesque segment of the North West and we felt right at the heart of it at the venue.

50 Photographs of Beeston Manor's Rustic Luxe Wedding Gorgeousness!

The family owned and run wedding venue offered so much to Leanne and Brendan, not least the help of the tightly knit team of coordinators on hand throughout their planning and wedding day, there to orchestrate everything seamlessly.

When I arrived to capture Leanne's preparations, the venue was calm and ready.

In her very own suite of connected rooms, Leanne and her bridal party were able to prepare together. These two are incredibly close with their families, who played integral roles throughout their wedding day, with cousins as bridesmaids, Brendan's brother as best man, both mums as witnesses and the best dressed guests of the day - daughter and nephews as flower girl and page boys.

The peaceful and charming Oakland Room upstairs at the Manor venue offered the perfect location for Leanne and Brendan's ceremony. Removed from the rest of the manor house and accessible only by its own stairs, the ceremony received complete attention from everyone.

Beeston Manor was the natural choice for these two. The 16th century manor with beautifully rugged bare stone details and exposed beams, softly lit with fairly lights in fabric drapes and Mr & Mrs letter lights provided the perfect ceremony and reception location for the couple and their families. As a non-traditional wedding photographer I often meet couples who are having their wedding without the usual traditions and Leanne and Brendan were planning a very personal day. With an artistic eye, Leanne was really looking forward to the perfectly presented venue, decorated with their flowers and home made table decorations, which became favours for the guests.

After joining their guests for a celebratory glass of champagne and a huge queue for hugs, we made the most of the location and headed outside for Brendan and Leanne's wedding day couples shoot.

We might have had a little bit of rain that day, but these two didn't mind one bit (I really think I have the best couples ever!), Brendan scooped up Leanne's train and we enjoyed the stunning afternoon without a care in the world for the damp grass! When we returned, the brilliantly lit, glass fronted reception room, The Woodland Room, was adorned with fresh spring flowers, and centrepieces created by the brilliant Botany, who are based in Accrington and cover the Ribble Valley. The ladies of Botany had created unique hoop centrepieces, with suspended candles from their upper crest and encased in pastel flowers at the base. The flowers filled the room with their scent, making a fresh setting for the wedding breakfast. Great care and attention had been put into the presentation of the manor throughout the day by the staff at Beeston Manor and Botany, Leanne and Brendan's chosen florist.

With full bellies, everyone enjoyed speeches from the father of the bride, groom and best man, each touching and funny in equal measure (and a best man's speech that was just the right level of risky!)

The fun ramped up a notch further as evening guests arrived, along with a vintage bay window VW camper van photo booth, decked out with the BEST props, paving the way for an evening of hilarity.

Leanne had been waiting for the perfect moment to throw her bouquet and we found it in the evening, apparently there were a few guests who had their eye on being the next bride ;) - cue the best overhead throw I have seen, hands down! And the race and fight over the bouquet that followed. I've never seen a bouquet fly so well (all credit to Leanne!) It actually peaked higher than the hedge!

Chase the Sun's camper photo booth gave everyone hours of fun, including me. Catching guests selecting 'ensembles' (in the loosest sense of the word) made for some brilliant photographs.

Heading back inside as the sun dipped low, it was time to cut the cake.

Leanne and Brendan had chosen a semi naked cake made by Victoria Cakes, someone I've known for years (she happens to buy the eggs for her cakes from my family farm, it's a small world!) and whose work I really admire. Under the canopy of a floral chandelier and backed by MR & MRS lights, these two took cake cutting to a new level. From top tier right the way to the base! No fear.

Stopping only to share a little piece of cake with their daughter Lola, one of the cutest flower girls there ever was, and their nephews & page boys, Leanne and Brendan moved seamlessly into their sunset-lit first dance in the Woodland Room and straight on to dancing the night away with their guests.

A huge thank you to Leanne and Brendan for inviting us to capture their big day, as well as their family and friends for making us so welcome.

A big thanks also goes to everyone involved:

Beeston Manor - the brilliant team who made everything flawless

Botany Florist - flowers and centrepieces

Victoria Cakes - wedding cake

Chase the Sun camper van photo booth

As a wedding photographer at Beeston Manor, I have a beautiful setting which gives endless choices for photographs. The attention to detail of the venue owners in decor, teamed with an unrivalled location are a winning combination for beautiful wedding photography.

I often work at new wedding venues, as I love the new vistas that fresh locations open up to me, but Beeston Manor is a venue I very much look forward to returning to.

Arriving early on the day of the wedding gave me the opportunity to scout the grounds for the best locations and opportunities available to me that day, check the ground for suitability (I like to head off the beaten track when we're able - the best backdrops are usually away from roads and paths). As a wedding photographer whose focus is on natural and relaxed photography, my work is all unposed. Because of this, I plan a walk on each wedding day which takes in the best features of each venue's grounds and surrounding area. This gives my couple the opportunity to take some time alone on their wedding day, take in everything that the Beeston Manor has to offer, enjoy a little peace in nature and have photographs of themselves as newly weds, in the beauty of their venue's grounds and stunning views. During these walks, the captivating location and the walk that I have planned, naturally give opportunities for my bride and groom to relax and open up in front of the camera, as they are absorbed in conversation and caught up in enjoying the views and wildlife. Perfect for every couple looking to get married their way, avoid posing for the camera on your wedding day, and ideal for camera shy brides and grooms, my natural wedding photography means that you don't need to think about having your photograph taken.

If you are looking for a wedding photographer in the West Yorkshire and across the North of England, you can book my wedding photography services with no extra travel charge, and experience your wedding day without posing for photographs.