Emma & Dan - The Most Magical Golden Hour Family Wedding and Wine Bar Knees Up - Stockport Wedding Photography

“
I wanna be your raincoat
For those frequent rainy days
I wanna be your dreamboat
When you want to sail away
Let me be your teddy bear
Take me with you anywhere
I don’t care
I wanna be yours”

— John Cooper Clarke

My favourite thing about my job - and it’s even more poignant in a year of isolation and retreat - is the MAGIC of human connection and how I manage to fall head over heels in love with every couple I’m lucky enough to meet. Because you’ve entrusted me with your most sacred of memories, you’ve welcomed me warmly and without any hesitation into your homes and lives and as a social creature, I’ve lapped it up. There is no ‘act’ - I am genuinely this excited to hang out with you and hear all about evry aspect of your lives. Because the better I know you and understand you, the better and more honestly I can tell your love story.

Emma & I were introduced by a mutual friend that I actually didn’t meet in person until Emma’s wedding day! Jo is actually Emma’s boss and she is the amazing sister-in-law to my best pal Charleigh (mother of Fergus who is my Hadley’s beloved). Wild connections aside, I was THRILLED when Jo sent Emma and the marvelous Dan my way in their search for a wedding photographer. Through various dates and back and forths, I got to know this positively dreamy couple and when we FINALLY mete up for their pre-wedding shoot a couple of months ago, it sealed the deal that we’re destined to be pals forever (I’m certain of that). Guys. I LOVE these two so so much.

Originally Emma & Dan had planned the massive do at an iconic Manchester venue. But with the uncertainty of restrictions looming, the day was, several times, scaled back and morphed and molded until eventually it settled into the PERFECT wedding day it became: a gorgeous, intimate family ceremony at the beautiful Stockport Town Hall followed by a laughter & gin-filled reception at the Heaton Moor wine bar, Thom’s Bar. Incidentally ‘Thom’ himself is Emma & Dan’s neighbour and very graciously gave them exclusive use of his quirky-cool space, providing a tapas feast that nearly made me weep, it was that amazing. With hilarious (and emotional) speeches, a surprise tribute to Dan’s team Everton by Emma, a golden hour shoot of dreams and an upbeat first dance to Anderson Paak & Bruno Mars’ latest hit, every moment felt infinite and special and, as I’m prone to do at weddings these days, I got a bit teary witnessing all of that delicious JOY.

Because it’s come back to the connections again - we’re less scared to hug, we’’re opening ourselves and our lives back up again - and whilst it’s not all over yet, I’m an eternal optimist that MUST believe that better days are coming. The proof is in the weddings, in the love, in all of that breathtaking connection.

Here’s a sneak peek of what we got up to…