Jess and James’ Wedding at Stockport Town Hall

It’s been a busy summer of gorgeous weddings for me, with over 15 photographed in last couple of months. It feels like a whirlwind of confetti, joy, and couples doing things their own way, and its been spectacular. I’m still shooting and busy, but I couldn’t resist sharing Jess and James’ beautiful wedding on the stairs at Stockport Town Hall. Their booking was a short cover arrangement, just three hours, and it was a small group. After their beautiful ceremony we all walked down to Bruk in Stockport town centre, and I hung out with them for another hour before leaving them. Three hours doesn’t sound like much, but it was enough time to meet James and Jess both separately, photograph their ceremony, some mingling, group and couple photos, and then an hour of candid coverage too. If you’re interested in having me as a photographer but only for part of the day, this is a great option.

But now, let’s get into Jess and James’ wedding.

There are registry offices, and then there’s Stockport Town Hall

I’d heard it was a really nice one, but I was not prepared. Having shot at many of the local registry offices in and around Cheshire and Greater Manchester, I was expecting a nice room in a nice building. I wasn’t expecting the full marble staircase with engraved memorials, big windows, a balcony level….

The guests were taken to their seats, and James waited. The bridesmaids and flower girl descended the stairs, then it was Jess’ turn. She was accompanied by her dad, and the photograph of the three of them meeting on the stairs is one of my favourite photos from the day.

The ceremony was short but not rushed, and it was full of joy.

Some Photos on the Stairs

We opted for the staircase for group photos, and followed these with couple photos. The light in some parts of the town hall isn’t the best - it’s a historic building, after all - but the large windows above the stairs let plenty of diffused natural light in, which makes for flattering group shots. We then spent 15 minutes getting some lovely couple photos before it was time to leave the town hall.

But first, confetti!

If you’ve followed my work for a while, you’ll know I looove a confetti shot. Aside from group photos and some couple portraits, I don’t usually stage anything. But confetti can sometimes require a bit of work on my part to get the photo looking as good as possible. Given that the Town Hall opens out directly onto a busy A road, I wanted to make sure we’d got everyone in place. I gathered the guests on the steps and placed Jess and James beneath, then counted everyone in. When I showed Jess the back of the camera afterwards she exclaimed “not bad for rabbit food!” - it turns out their confetti was a dried flower mix from Pets at Home! Love it when couples think outside the box, and this was biodegradable too.

Bruk

A gorgeous little bar in the trendy, regenerated part of Stockport was the perfect place for a couple very much doing things their own way. The sun was shining on us, so most guests sat outside and enjoyed the summer. It was a relaxed catch up for many people, so I just photographed what was happening in front of me.

Are you getting married at Stockport Town Hall?

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer who captures your day as it unfolds, and focuses on the joy, I’d love to chat with you. Take a look at full day coverage, or go for Jess and James’ choice and see my short cover options.