Bridwell Park Wedding Photography Devon

Mani and Liza’s full weekend wedding at Bridwell Park in Devon

Where to begin with this one? How about we start with Susan and Joe’s Tuscan wedding back in the Summer of ’16? I drove up the Le Filigare path, slightly nervous to meet everyone as always, and one of the first people I met there was this guy called Mani, who it turns out was working at the time at the hospital where I was born, just around the corner from where I live in Mancheester. But why was Mani at Susan and Joe’s wedding? Because Susan’s sister Liza is Mani’s girlfriend (I don’t think they were engaged at the time). At Susan and Joe’s wedding I was made to feel like part of the family, and I left after spending four days with them all sad that I probably wasn’t going to see them all again. WELL fast forward to a facebook message from Mani asking me if I’d be their wedding photographer… I was so over the moon to hear from him, I’d got along so well with him and Liza for those few days in Tuscany and I’d secretly prayed they’d ask me to be their photographer when the time eventually came. He told me they’d found a venue, they’d set a date… And then total disappointment set in because I realised I wasn’t available.

Then this crazy thing happened which happens every so often, and it astounds me every time it happens. They changed their date. To work around MY availability. More astoundingly this meant that they’d have to find another venue, because their venue wasn’t available when I was. Some might say this adds pressure but I just find it incredibly flattering and one of the greatest compliments that anyone can pay me.

I was absolutely over the moon to be their photographer, and incredibly humbled that they made such big decisions just so I could be there wielding my camera. So here we are, at the absolutely breathtaking Bridwell Park in Devon for their weekend of celebrations. It was so so great to be back with them, and with Susan and Joe and their families again, it truly felt like home and that was a very very welcome feeling after seven hours of motorway driving from Manchester to deepest Devon!!

On the first day we did some exploring of Bridwell Park and its grounds on an absolutely perfect summer afternoon, before they had a welcome party in the evening. The next day after getting ready at Bridwell Park they switched counties temporarily for a really lovely church ceremony in Taunton, Somerset. On the way back, Liza fell asleep on Mani’s shoulder – one of my favourite moments of the day and I loved being there to capture it!

When we got back to Bridwell Park, we did a few portraits around the grounds, before Liza and Mani made an entrance into their drinks reception. After that was a beautiful dinner, which I got to enjoy sat with Liza’s friends, before getting back to work for the speeches, more portraits, and then once the sun spectacularly set it all finished with a party of epic proportions.

What a weekend for these two incredible people. I’m so thankful to them for making such an effort to have me be a part of it, and on my birthday too! Unforgettable in every way.