Chris & Tom - An Emotional and Elegant Autumn Wedding at Manchester Hall - Manchester Hall Wedding Photography

“The rain is falling on my window pane
But we are hiding in a safer place
Under covers, staying dry and warm
You give me feelings that I adore
They start in my toes, make me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes, I always know
That you make me smile, please stay for a while now
Just take your time, wherever you go”

— Colbie Caillat

The driving force behind everything I do is love. Remaining open to the gifts of this world and graciously accepting and generously projecting whenever and however I can. I always had a big fat heart - that once upon a time took some serious battering but thankfully has remained safe and embraced for a solid thirteen years and counting. But it’s tough going sometimes for a hopeless romantic - and can be exhausting to maintain optimism and hope in a world that - particularly at the moment - on the surface looks pretty bleak. So when given the opportunity, I’m like a video-game character needing a boost of coins to survive - I greedily grab onto those heartwarming moments and replenish my stores. Because I’m terrified of the idea of being so browbeaten that I then project negativity and pessimism and can’t see ALL of the breathtaking beauty that this world STILL holds. Because guys, it does! I promise!! (and yes I am like this 99% of the time and yes it probably drives my husband a little insane)

Photographing weddings then has become a revelation: I literally get to surround myself with love and joy and giddiness EVERY WEEKEND. And thus my stores are replenished and I get to carry on being the obnoxiously upbeat Kate you all know. But even more than the quite selfish reasons stated above, weddings are the celebration of YOUR love and the start of this next amazing adventure together. And because “And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.” Which brings me to Chris & Tom’s STUNNING love-fest of a Manchester Hall wedding that I was honoured to be asked to capture on Saturday.

These two beautiful humans are a perfect example of the best parts of my job and their wedding on Saturday was the most gorgeous and chic autumn wedding. I met up with Chris and Tom at their city-centre home in the early afternoon. After Friday’s downpours we were THRILLED that the sun shone all day! The grooms wore lovely custom tailored tweed suits in complementary fabrics and each had accented with a very elegent Hermes pocket square. Simple dried flower buttonholes - and indeed all of the floral arrangements - had been lovingly crafted by Tom’s mum and sister. The grooms looked PERFECT!

We then made our way over to the iconic Manchester Hall which is still home to the Manchester Freemasons but is just the most beautifully stylish wedding venue - all mahogany panelling and modern lightfittings. I LOVE shooting weddings at Manchester Hall because the staff is EXCEPTIONAL and we have so many nooks and crannies for photos - plus the entire city at our feet! Chris and Tom opted for a more intimate day with just 49 of their very close family and friends and no additional evening guests. Making full use of the venue’s first floor, the day stretched ahead with a lovely (and emotional) civil ceremony, drinks reception where canapes and oysters were served, a tearjerking speech by wonderfully eloquent Chris to his new husband and a floor-shaking dance party and that still raging in full swing when I left later that evening.

Chris and Tom are the embodiment of love and I really cannot say just how much I adore them and their wedding day. Here’s a little sneak peek of what we got up to…