The first place in Manchester that I visited on my own when I first moved here was Manchester Art Gallery. I had only just arrived to the UK to join my sweetheart after 2 years of loving each other long-distance from Hamburg. Before we were married, I wasn’t able to work so I’d fill my days with patching and painting our loaner-home, bike rides down the canal on my second-hand Raleigh and long, meandering trips from the suburbs into my new city via the Metrolink. We were living on Mike’s salary and money was tight - but the Art Gallery was FREE and this oasis of culture and collection and, for this wide-eyed transplant working out her place in this new country who had been virtually rasied in museums and galleries (cheers mama!), it felt beautifully, extravagantly familiar. I was to build my home here and this was a perfect starting point, a touchstone to memorise and breathe in deeply.

When Hadley was born and I was once again job-less on maternity leave, we’d hop the tram into town and head straight for the Gallery - I’d whisper the names of the artists like they were saints and the colours and textures they used like they were prayers. Some weeks we’d visit three or four times. When she began to walk we’d take the lift up to the Clore Gallery on the first floor for whatever genius interactive kid’s exhibition was on and I’d cringe at the boisterous older kids running riot around my unsteady toddling girl who was drawn to light and anything mechanical she could grab. Another year and she began to notice these cavernous rooms actually had paintings on the walls, and we’d play our own ‘Where’s Wally’ - find the horses, find the dogs, find the fairies. When you’re in a space filled to the brim with neo-classical art and impressionist masters, these weren’t challenging tasks.

In more recent years, to my utter delight and astonishment, Manchester Art Gallery has become another EXTRAORDINARY place I get to play in for work. I almost cannot believe my luck when I’m there - that I get to explore and photograph and again, breathe in that familiar heady scent of dust and depth and SO much beauty. When the WONDERFUL Martha and Dave got in touch with me last year after booking this iconic venue, I squealed and jumped and said yes faster than they could ask. I should have played it cool but it’s impossible when you know you’re going to get to spend the day in such a magical place.

Martha & Dave have been together for 11 years, a fact mentioned many times with love and affection and a little bit of ‘aboutdamntime’ yesterday. They are sweet and kind and clever and FUN and FUNNY and their wedding day not only was beautiful and special in it’s own right but it was enhanced to the point of dazzling by all the the love that building of beauty contained. In a space that requires no adornment, the stars of the show were the wonderfully warm faces of by the many family and friends who clearly adore them. I could talk about their impeccable taste and how Martha was a DREAM in a frankly delicious floral Self-Portrait dress and her mother’s veil. I could talk about how local florists Frog added the perfect touches of vibrant spring and how Martha & Dave’s bridal gang were a merry crew of pure delight. I could talk about how Victoria and Ryan and their teams pulled off one hell of a juggling act and ran the day to perfection.

But I just got home, confetti is all over my bathroom floor and what I want to say about this day is this: I cannot find a better pairing for a house of art than love & joy that could power the city. And that’s just what happened at Martha & Dave’s glorious wedding. Here’s their sneak peek…

DREAM TEAM

Venue - Manchester Art Gallery

Florals - FROG

Makeup Artist - Louise Rothwell

Cake - Alisha Toft

Dress - Self Portrait

Bride’s Shoes - Penelope Chilvers

Suit - Suit Supply

Groom’s Shoes - Loakes

DJ - Ben Sumner

String Quartet - Northern String Quartet