Katherine & Ben - Family and Feasting and Love Abounding for a Yank/Manc Oddfellows Wedding - Manchester Wedding Photography
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.”
Finding fellow Americans in Manchester has been almost mythic - there just haven’t ever really seemed to be many around. Until this year, I had maybe come across one every 2-3 years and only in passing. There’s a recognition, always a hug and a brief ohmygoodnesswhereareyoufrom etc etc. If they’re from New England, it’s likely that we’ve an alarming six degrees of separation but more often than not, we cross paths and part, away to our individual adventures as Yanks in Manc-land, something that is so intangible and yet full of nuance and curiosity that I swear one day I’ll write that book.
Listen. As I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’ve been reading this blog or following me on social media, I’m FULLY acclimatised to living in this EXTRAORDINARY city I call my home. I have spent 13 glorious years living over here and with a VERY northern daughter, a Sale-borne husband and a British passport, in many ways I feel so much more at home here than I do when I return to visit my family in the States. I love the UK and the beautiful life it’s given me - THIS is my home and will be (I’m sure of it), for the rest of my life. And yet when I come across my kindred spirits of fellow ‘Mericans who feel the same or similar, it’s just like the stars have aligned.
This wild year has miraculously lead me to not just one wonderfully twangy, affectionate, big-hearted American lady but 3. WITHIN 4 MONTHS! And I’m the lucky duck who got to capture two of their weddings!
Colorado-born Katherine met her Mancunian sweetheart Ben several years ago and they have jumped headfirst into building an unbelievable life, filled with so much joy and love - and even more so with the arrival of son Joshua just one year ago. I felt so honoured to have been chosen to capture what was ultimately an intimate family ceremony at Stockport Town Hall and a low-key wedding breakfast at Oddfellows on the Park but then transformed into a raucous, laughter-filled knees-up after a quick siesta where their amazing friends joined with their loving families in celebration. It was touch and go whether Katherine’s nearest and dearest would make it but thankfully due to the brilliance of modern medicine (give it up for VACCINATION!), she was solidly represented and supported by her parents, brother and best friend who made the (somewhat arduous) journey from Colorado, California and New York respectively. When I arrived for prep to the Air BnB, I was greeted by a big open mama-bear hug from Katherine’s mom Cathy and I could have burst into tears, she just felt so familiar.
The emotional ceremony went by in a flash of happy tears and solemn vows and before we knew it, golden hour was setting in and guests were starting to inch towards that dance floor…I loved every moment of Katherine & Ben’s beautiful summer wedding, I felt so at home with their newly extended family and felt so lucky to have been included. Cheers to love, here’s to moving mountains to celebrate it. Here’s a sneak peek of what we got up to…
