Hannah & Lucas' Wedding - Manor by the Lake - Cheltenham

Hannah & Lucas really are the sweetest couple.  They met way back when they were 8 years old and Hannah told Lucas all about her guinea pig for a whole hour.  Lucas, obviously recognising great talent from a young age eventually got to marry the girl of his dreams here in Cheltenham - Gloucestershire and as I am a Cotswold wedding photographer, I was truly blessed to be there to document their day for them.

Hannah & Lucas had chosen the gorgeous Manor by the Lake in Cheltenham as their wedding venue.  I originally went to the Manor around 12 years ago for a friends wedding where I was a guest and even then I could not believe the stunning details of this magical place.  Fast forward on 12 Years and after being sold and taken over as a purpose built wedding venue,  it is even more stunning than it ever was.  All of the handcrafted original features still remain,  the rooms have been remodelled all with the comfiest of beds and contemporary decor.  The gardens there are to die for and photographically speaking,  you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to stunning romantic portraits at sunset either by the lake or in the wooded glade.  The "after dark" opportunities are fantastic as the woods are lit up with fairy lights - simply stunning!

The morning of the wedding was all hustle and bustle in the bridal cottage as Hannah and her 5 bridesmaids started to get ready.  Madeline from Wedding Paint was responsible for the amazing makeup.  I have worked with Maddy on a good number of occasions and I am always impressed by her hair and makeup skills - one talented lady. Time Hairdressing from Newent in Gloucestershire carried out an amazing job on all things hair leaving all the girls looking simply stunning!

The ceremony was all you could wish for.  I positioned myself near the front so that I could capture some candid shots of Lucus and his guys as he eagerly waited to see Hannah. From where I was, I had a fantastic view for when Hannah came down the aisle which is perfect as I love to capture the expressions on couples faces when they see each other, such beautiful moments.

Hannah looked absolutely stunning as she came down the aisle in her David Tutera "Blush" wedding dress arm in arm with a very proud looking father to be greeted by a huge grin on Lucas's face.  After the ceremony, it was champagne and canapés on the terrace with spectacular views of the yew tree-lined gardens before guests were treated to a wonderfully tasty wedding breakfast followed by both heartfelt and some pretty funny speeches documenting the 18-year history of this lovely couple.

The day was a little patchy weather-wise, so we had to grab the best light as it happened between sunshine and raindrops.  Right on cue after the speeches, the rain stopped and as the clouds parted we were treated to gorgeous warm beams of sunlight so we did what simply had to be done and headed for the gardens to grab a few romantic shots while the going was good.

In the evening the guests were treated to a band after their first dance followed by an exceedingly good pig roast (a very good one indeed) between sets.  As the rain had stopped, the air was crisp and the stars were out we headed back to the gardens for a few magical night time pics. We eventually ended up back at the main house to where we went into the library to warm up.  The happy couple happy to have a few minutes to themselves (with me in tow) snuggled up on the sofa to catch up with each other over the days events.  They really did look so cute together,  so I simply had to grab a few more pics before departing.

The Cheltenham venue Manor by the Lake is a really lovely venue here in Cheltenham in the county of Gloucestershire, with great links to Gloucester Airport and the town centre.  There are plenty of options for accommodation for your guests well within walking distance for those that don't get to stay at the manor itself.  With Cheltenham being the heart of the Cotswolds, for those wishing to head up into the hills to explore the Cotswolds its all but a 20-minute drive.  The staff at Manor by the Lake are fantastic and are always thoughtful and most helpful in keeping me hydrated throughout the day. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them and they are really friendly too.  The food at the manor is always very good and some of the best around - portion sizes are bang on. On this occasion, I had the pulled lamb which was really yum!  Coming from a New Zealand bloke, that's really saying something.

I have another 3 weddings at Manor by the Lake booked in for 2016 and I can't wait to get back!

My wife Sandra from Sharper Films shot a Wedding Movie for the happy couple.

Below is a small collection of photographs from their Cheltenham wedding for you to check out.