Well, after the absolutely biblical weather we've had over the weekend, I think we were all rather relieved to see a bit of sunshine yesterday!
I spent the day photographing the lovely Amy and Alex's wedding at Chester Zoo, and goodness, what a treat it was.
I have a HUGE soft spot for Chester Zoo. We were family members for years when Hadley was little, and during Covid it was an absolute lifeline. Somewhere to wander, get some fresh air and have a little adventure when the world felt very small. I've always loved the place, so getting to come back as a wedding photographer is particularly lovely.
Amy and Alex met ten years ago while studying geology at university, and have both recently finished their PhDs. Clever AND lovely humans! They chose to get married surrounded by just 40 of their closest family and friends in the beautiful library at The Oakfield, which is such a wonderful little space for an intimate ceremony.
Afterwards, we took advantage of the sunshine and had a wander around the zoo for some photographs before leaving everyone to enjoy a private tour with one of Chester Zoo's rangers.
Snow leopards! Penguins! Flamingos! Red pandas!
I mean, what a brilliant way to spend an afternoon at a wedding. I love that their guests got to experience something a little different, and it was especially nice to have plenty of time for everyone to enjoy themselves without rushing from one thing to the next.
Back at The Oakfield, there were some wonderfully heartfelt speeches, lots of laughter and that lovely, relaxed feeling you get when everyone in the room knows each other and is genuinely delighted to be there.
Before heading home, I borrowed Amy and Alex for one final wander as the light was disappearing. We managed to catch the last little bit of autumn twilight for some portraits, which was a rather gorgeous way to finish my day.
And I couldn't write about a Chester Zoo wedding without mentioning Sarah, their fabulous events coordinator, and the whole team at The Oakfield. I absolutely love working with them. They're warm, brilliant at what they do and make the whole experience so lovely for everyone involved.
Amy and Alex, thank you for inviting me along. Ten years together, two PhDs under your belts and now married! What a wonderful bunch of people to spend a Tuesday with.
If you're planning a wedding at Chester Zoo's Oakfield and looking for a Manchester or Cheshire wedding photographer, I'd love to hear all about it.
