Speke Hall is a rare Tudor timber-framed manor house in a most unusual setting on the banks of the River Mersey. Restored and brought back to life in the 19th century, it is a unique and beautiful mixture of Tudor simplicity and Victorian Arts and Crafts’ aesthetics.

Built by the devout Catholic Norris family – keen to impress visitors with the grandeur of their home and in particular the magnificent Great Hall – this beautiful building has witnessed more than 400 years of turbulent history. From the Tudor period when a secret priest hole was an essential feature, to years of neglect and decay in the 18th and 19th centuries (including a spell when it was used as a cow shed) and then being dragged into the Victorian era of improvement and technology, the Hall has seen it all.

In the 21st century, Speke Hall and its surrounding estate now provide a real oasis from the hurly burly of modern life. As you come through the gates, relax, take a breath and enjoy all that this wonderful place has to offer. The Hall is surrounded by beautiful restored gardens and protected by a collar of woodland

When we met up a few days before the wedding Sarah told me not to take pictures of her shoes! Many wedding photographers would find this a difficult concept and whilst there are a couple of ‘shoe’ pictures in there somewhere it’s the wider meaning that speaks volumes about this couple and their day.

Weddings are about celebrating the relationship between two people ansd sharing it with family and friends. I hope that on viewing these images you will be able to feel the love and hapiness that I witnessed first hand on the day…