Hoole Hall ♥ Jill and Nick

We've known Hoole Hall for many years and that is why I find difficulty in using the new name of the Double Tree by Hilton Chester. Let's be honest, what do you think is the better name?

Call it what you will, the venue is lovely and very popular as both a place to have a civil wedding ceremony and for wedding receptions.

The delightful Jill and Nick were getting married at the beautiful church of St Barnabus in Bromborough on the Wirral on the last day of July (31st July 2010). We know the church well having been there many times. It's right in the centre of the lovely 'village' of Bromborough and has a really long pathway leading from the road to the door of the church. Perfect for photographs of the bride supported by her father as she takes those final steps as a single woman.

The ceremony was fabulous and after making an enormous mess with a huge amount of confetti outside the church grounds (don't worry, it was all biodegradable) we headed off to Hoole Hall (sorry, Double Tree by Hilton Chester!) for more photographs and of course, the wedding breakfast.

I hope you enjoy a small sample of the photos from the day.

More photographs from Hoole Hall and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk

Thornton Manor ♥ Natalie and David

From the first moment we met Natalie and David (about 18 months ago) we knew this was going to be a great wedding. They are such lovely people and when they told us they had chosen the outstandingly gorgeous Thornton Manor in the cute village of Thornton Hough on the Wirral for their civil wedding, we knew it was going to be something a bit special.


The wedding was on the 29th July 2010 but even though this was mid-summer, we didn't take the weather for granted which perhaps was as well as it wasn't the hot sunny day you might have expected. Having said that, no photographer actually wants a bright sunny day for wedding photography as it causes no end of problems for taking photographs. People don't want to be outside because it is too hot, the lighting is harsh causing nasty shadows and people end up squinting and pulling faces.......no for a photographer, a nice bright cloudy day is ideal and so it was for us this day.


The ceremony in what is known as the "Dining Room" at Thornton Manor was slightly different in that it was the other way round to the way most weddings are conducted. That made a lovely change for us and the bride has a lovely long aisle to walk up.


Moving outside for the ubiquitous confetti and some family photos and the weather was still kind to us. I stole Natalie and David away for a very short time so they could have some more intimate and personal photographs in the lovely grounds at the Manor, away from all of the prying eyes.


Another fantastic wedding with a lovely couple and as always, here is a small sample of photos from the day.

More photographs from Thornton Manor and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk

... and this week...

Another busy week in prospect that sees us shooting two weddings as well as continuing the edit on the shoots we completed before our week in Sitges, Spain (as well as the photos we took whilst out there).

The first wedding is on Thursday where we are covering the civil wedding of Natalie and David at the wonderful venue that is Thornton Manor. This is a wedding photographer's dream come true and we are delighted to be their recommended photographers.

The second wedding is on Saturday and this time it is the wedding of Jill and Nick at St Barnabus' Church on the Wirral followed by a reception at the Double Tree Hilton, in Hoole, Chester (I still want to call this Hoole Hall as this is how everybody in Chester remembers it).

Sample photo sets in due course as usual

Back from Sitges

I haven't posted for a week as I've been too busy enjoying the sights, sounds (and other more tangible delights) of Sitges in Spain.

What a fantastic place. Beautiful town, beautiful beaches, beautiful weather...

Have taken loads of photos but not as many as I would have expected as I was enjoying myself too much to cart a heavy professional camera around especially in the 35 deg C heat! I'm going to start looking for a high quality smaller sized camera for this sort of trip.

Back to normal from tomorrow. We still have lots of photographs to edit from the last couple of weddings so no time to stand still

Off to Sitges

Today sees us fly to Barcelona in Spain en route to the coastal resort of Sitges.

Whilst ostensibly enjoying a little "R and R", we'll take the opportunity to taken some photos of this very pretty town.

Back next Saturday hopefully with a nice crop of photos and with my tan topped up

Peckforton Castle ♥ Sarah and Anthony

As mentioned earlier, today (Saturday, 17th July 2010), saw us back at the sumptuous Peckforton Castle for the wedding of Sarah and Anthony.

The day started for us at the bride's parent's home in North Wales where the usual chaos created by so many ladies getting ready in one place at one time was well and truly in evidence. How one bride and two bridesmaids can create such a mess I do not know!

We leave the house in time to be at Peckforton Castle when the groom and the guests arrive and take the opportunity to photograph the arrivals although this is interrupted (as always) by cries of "ask the photographers how to tie a cravat, they are bound to know" or equally common "which side do the buttonholes go".

Eventually, the guests leave the outside bar (thankfully it's turned out to be a lovely day after early rain) and move inside for the ceremony just before the bride arrives in a beautiful vintage Rolls Royce.

She looks absolutely amazing. The dress we saw at the house looked really long when hung up but looks absolutely perfect on Sarah's slim frame, I photograph her in the car with her father and then as she leaves the car. I ask about the flowers... disaster... the flowers have been left behind.

Oh well, too far to go back now and so the bridesmaids flowers become a bridal bouquet and off we go.

Thankfully, the rest of the day went like a dream. It was a great wedding in lovely weather with nice people. What more could you ask for?

More photographs from Peckforton Castle and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk

Wedding at Peckforton Castle

Cameras and lenses have been cleaned and all batteries fully charged.  Suits have been pressed and we are ready to go.

Today we are looking forward to photographing the civil wedding of Sarah and Anthony at the wonderful Peckforton Castle in Tarporley, Cheshire.

The weather forecast is looking perfect for photography - warm, dry and overcast. Although I'm sure most couples getting married would prefer bright blue skies and blazing sunshine on their wedding day, it is actually a bad thing for photography as it creates high contrast, harsh shadows and people squint a lot. Give me a cloudy day for people photography any time :)

Should be a great day and I'll post up a few photos in due course


Barrie Neil Photography

What's on this week

After last weeks exertions (as pleasant as they were)  at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod plus 4 weddings in 9 days (phew), this week sees us not running around quite so much but slaving away over hot keyboards instead editing the tens of thousands of images we have taken.

The 4 weddings alone amount to over 4,000 images and each one has to be scrutinised, selected, processed then edited and colour corrected etc. It all takes a lot of time and effort but it has to be done to provide the best quality images we can.

Saturday 17th July 2010 sees us at Peckforton Castle again for the wedding of Sarah and Anthony and then we are off on our travels again, this time to Sitges a coastal resort near to Barcelona in Spain. This time it's part business and part pleasure, just how we like it.

Barrie Neil Photography

Nigel Kennedy - Llangollen 2010

The 2010 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod finished off in very fine style with an evening concert by the extraordinary talent that is Nigel Kennedy.

Nigel Kennedy has been to the Eisteddfod before and his concert tonight featured Bach in the first half and to be completely different, Ellington in the second.

Nigel kindly allowed me to photograph him during rehearsals during the afternoon where we spent quite some time discussing the relative merits of his beloved Aston Villa football club. During the evening performance, when he spotted me sitting in the front row, he broke of with playing to comment on my hair (or lack of it) and how my head helped with the acoustics. How sweet!

Barrie Neil Photography

Choir of the World

For many this is what the Eisteddfod is about and their highlight of the week. It's certainly one of my favourite nights of the week.

The choirs that have won their various category competitions during the week (i.e. ladies, mens, barbers shop etc), compete head to head to win the prestigious title of "Choir of the World" and carry off the Pavarotti Trophy.

The deserved and very popular winner this year and therefore Choir of the World 2010, were the delightful University of Santo Tomas Singers from the Philippines.

The Pavarotti Trophy awarded to the Choir of the World

Barrie Neil Photography

Only Men Aloud - Llangollen 2010

The hugely popular and award-winning Only Men Aloud appeared at Llangollen for the very first time. They sang Welsh favourites and other exciting pieces including some very unusual choices (ever heard a choir singing songs from Mary Poppins?) in a style they have truly made their own.

I left this concert so exhilarated that when I got home, I was straight on the web and bought 2 of their albums!

Whilst at the Eisteddfod, the choir's founder, Tim Rhys-Evans, was presented with a new variety of rose.

Tim Rhys-Evans, the founder of Only Men Aloud

Barrie Neil Photography