Caitlin & Bob - A Blustery but Beautiful Merrydale Manor Winter Wedding - Cheshire Wedding Photography
“The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, his cage.
Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur.
The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur’s cage with kind words and loving thoughts.
“I like this Dinosaur,” thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. “Although he is fierce, he is also tender and he is funny. He is also quite clever though I will not tell him this for now.”
“I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur,” thought the Dinosaur. “She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice. She is also a free spirit which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur.””
After a micro-wedding teaser in January, February has roared to life in it’s wet and wintry splendour and with it, my first big fat, full day wedding of the year! I must thank you all so much for giving me this period of rest and recharge after a truly wild couple of years. My days have been filled, once again, with baking and knitting and family time - lazy mornings and Lego with my tiny queen, Scrabble tournaments and martinis with my love, mega hikes and a newfound almost-love of running thanks to a very determined group of mums. I’ve been planning my own Covid-derailed 10 year (+1) wedding anniversary party and upcoming visit from my parents after a VERY long two and a half years since I hugged them last. We’ve booked a couple of real-life away-holidays and now GUYS. Dare I say it? It’s NEARLY starting to feel like the before-times and for that I’m breathing easier. Because a return to (a new) normal means that there is FINALLY a bit of certainty around weddings and therefore I can thrust myself, refreshed and refocused, back into this INCREDIBLE job I’m so lucky to do.
Caitlin and Bob booked and got married on the exact date they intended, with now shifting or changing or rescheduling. I never appreciated how special that is - for everything to be fresh and exciting - I’d imagine wedding planning fatigue set in for so many of my couples forced to adjust and amend ove rthe past couple of years. Together for 9 years after meeting via their University’s Archery club (you read that right, these two have interests and talents so wide-spreading I’m in AWE of them!) and have been inseparable ever since. Their dry humour & easygoing chemistry but obvious adoration make them SO MUCH FUN to hang out with - I swear I never stopped laughing at Bob’s TERRIBLE (but hilarious) jokes and Caitlin’s AMAZING reactions to them.
An animal-loving and outdoorsy couple, these happy couple found the PERFECT venue in the quintessentially Cheshire estate, Merrydale Manor. Though I’ve shot at Merrydale’s sister venue, Colshaw Hall several times, this was my first visit to Merrydale and I should have known I was in for a treat - their events teams are legendary, the venue exquisite and the the food by Barrett’s Event Caterers, INCREDIBLE. I had a ball working alongside coordinater superhero Sam and her team - and of course toastmaster extraordinaire Malcolm! Caitlin and Bob opted for simple decor with Lego kits on each table for guests to make their own centrepieces, floating tea lights and nods to their wide ranging interests, complete with a cake topper featuring them and their pups! The days was topped off by some hilarious speeches and my first ever ceidlidh, a tribute to Caitlin’s Scottish heritage!
I had SUCH an amazing day celebrating the new Dr. & Mrs. Boyd-Smith, here’s a sneak peek of what we got up to…
Cheshire Wedding Suppliers
Venue - Merrydale Manor https://www.merrydalemanor.com/
Florals - Amore Flowers https://www.amoreflowers.co.uk/
Cake - Mel's Amazing Cakes https://www.melsamazingcakes.com/
Magician - Darren Brand Magician https://www.magicianlancashire.co.uk/
Dress - Wedding Belles https://www.weddingbellesbridalboutique.co.uk/
Makeup - Nadine https://www.nadinetanbeautystudio.co.uk/
