Tessa & Dawn - A Joyful Early Spring Fantasy Themed Wedding at The Holford Estate - Cheshire Wedding Photographer
“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; re-made all the time, made new. When it was made, they lay in each other’s arms, holding love, asleep.”
I remember in very clear detail the first time I went to The Holford Estate in Plumley. I remember Frances, the iconic owner of this extraordinary estate, always with a cigarette not far from her hand, wearing a massive DryRobe and, at minimum, 3-4 dogs following her around. I remember cool-headed and kind Hannah showing me around, letting me know I could have the run of the place and treat the whole estate as my photography playground. We became friends virtually immediately and my daughter at age 4 was seen bossing Hannah around, showing her how to really sweep a stable. I have shot the majority of my very best work, both wedding and creative, at the Holford Estate. Of all the wedding venues I’ve shot in my decade-plus career, Holford has always felt like home. Last year, Frances finally decided to close the place to the public and retire at the end of 2025. Most devastatingly, the universe had other plans and Frances passed away on New Year’s Day of this year.
When I pulled up the winding drive to The Holford Estate yesterday for my first full-day wedding of the year, I didn’t realise that it was also Hannah’s first wedding without Frances and indeed Holford’s first wedding of 2025. But Frances was everywhere yesterday and especially as the voice in my head when she told me off for parking, as always, in the staff carpark. I adored that woman, I LOVED winding her up. But I also cannot think of a more fitting way to the start the swan song than with the positively radiantly joyful wedding of Dawn & Tessa.
Gamers at their core, Dawn & Tessa got together ten years ago to the day of their wedding after meeting at TT Games. Their wedding was a glorious blend of tradition in this magical Cheshire venue with musical nods to all of their favourite films and TV shows ( Dawn walked down the aisle to the Bluey theme played by a string duet and Tessa to the Scooby Doo theme), a dress code asking guests to wear their fantasy/cosplay-best (and the guests REALLY understood the assignment), emotional and funny speeches, and so so many poignant and personal creative touches, you really felt like you KNEW these two exceptional humans after just five minutes. Dawn & Tessa are avid Dungeons & Dragons players so their attire reflected their interests with regally woodland accessories (obviously crowns!) and swords aplenty! Tessa GLOWED as she decided that staircase in a stunningly beaded moss-hued Teuta Matoshi gown and Dawn was the picture of dapper in a bespoke KIng & Allen suit. A theatre kid myself, I was SO struck by the care and effort every person at the wedding took to even minutely acknowledge the theme. The venue itself was dressed to the nines by Tamaryn’s Treasures and transformed into a mossy green woodland paradise. The photos truly reflect the wedding as a work of art.
But most of all, Dawn & Tessa’s wedding exuded so so much love and joy and respect for each other’s interests and individuality and I was so honoured to have been chosen to tell their story. The day, as is the norm with Hannah and Holford, went off without a hitch and I even survived the exhuberant ceilidh as we transitioned into evening festivities.
I always say it but, truly, this work is a gift. Thank you so so much to the newlyweds and their wonderful friends and family for welcoming me with so much trust and generosity. Here’s to them, here’s to Frances and to Holford. Here’s to another year of love. And here’s their sneak peek…
