Last weekend Pixsmiths were at  Prenton, Wirral to take portfolio pictures for the Saddle Club in Prenton, Wirral a unique wedding venue, being the only place in England where you can marry over the anvil.  Our thanks to Nick a family friend of the Bride and Groom, Karen and Paul, for sharing the photography stage with us, much appreciated.  Thank you too to Karen and Paul for being such a lovely bride and groom, always happy to pose for us.  We wish you all  happiness now and in the years to come.  The venue was decked out with canopies over the beamed ceiling (its quite a low ceiling too!)  and chairs were beautifully dressed with red sashes to co-ordinate with the bridal party’s colour scheme.

For now a sneak preview with a collage and a couple of pictures.

more images available as a slideshow below

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Dreaming of a castle wedding for your special day? Peckforton Castle, in the midst of the beautiful Cheshire countryside, makes for a mgnificent backdrop for a special wedding. If you think this grade I listed building looks familiar its because it has been used for Robin Hood and Dr Who. You can enjoy some unique touches to your wedding day too, like having one of their owls fly down the altar with the weddigns rings during the ceremony! Such an amzing sight!

After the ceremony and before the wedding breakfast is served you can arrange fotr the Birds of Prey in flight display, falcons, owls, hawks and eagles.
Its a really informative talk about the birds as they fly between the handlers and various perches, watch out as they will deliberately swoop jus over your head!
Bride party can even hold the birds on the glove too – a really memorable picture of the day. Check out Peckforton’s Castle’s website. Pixsmiths will be delighted to quote for your wedding photography here too!

Falconry at Peckforton Castle, Cheshire

Leasowe Castle is currently proving to be a popular wedding venue – Pixsmiths have just received a booking for October this year for the wedding of Gemma and Sean and have also seen clients for a wedding here in March next year. Leasowe Castle receives excellent reviews for functions and we are looking forward to being here. Its a lovely location near to the golf course and coastal promenade which make for a great backdrop. The castle has quite a history, originally built in 1593 by Ferdinando, the 5th Earl of Derby. Its not a majestic castle, so don’t expect a fortress on a hill, surrounded by a moat! Extra towers, wings, turrets and outbuildings have been added over many years, forming its present spread out structure. However there are excellent facilities for weddings with several suites available for wedding breakfasts and gardens surrounding the outside. Plenty of space for photography outdoors, weather permitting. The Star Chamber is used for civil ceremonies and is a beautiful wood panelled cosy room, which can accommodate wedding parties for up to 50 people so ideal for the smaller wedding. The Star chamber, so called as its ceiling is studded with golden stars was originally a dining-room and library. It was fitted out by Sir Edward Cust in 1836 with the original panelling from the Star Chamber in the Old Exchequer Buildings at Westminster. Four old tapestries depicting the four seasons complement the room. Its going to be lovely to shoot a ceremony and wedding breakfast taking place in such a historic beautiful location, we can hardly wait.

Leasowe Castle hads an open day coming up on the 25th August when rooms, including the Star Chamber and the newly furbished Victoria Suite were dressed for weddings. So if you are interested in Leasowe Castle for your wedding venue then come and check it out and if you need a photographer give us a call, we would be delighted to provide a quote for you.

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Saddle Club

There sems to be two camps of wedding plans at the moment – those booking late and those looking ahead to next summer’s weddings, nothing inbetween.  We have had late bookings for this season and enquiries for next year so if you have not booked your photographer yet contact us for a personal quote or look at the packages we can offer.

Pixsmiths have two upcoming weddings in July, both we are looking forward to very much. we just love weddings!

First up Helen and Howard, a super couple we have recently met are getting married at Christchurch in Port Sulight and a reception at the Village Hotel, Bromborough. We have photographed in this church before so are well aware of the restrictions in having to stand right at the back of the church isle – so tripod and long lenses called for! We will enjoy building a beautiful coffee table book for them to cherish their special day memories.

At the end of the month we are shooting some portfolio work at the Saddle Club in Prenton, a new venue for us.  Its a small and unique venue being the only place in England where ceremonies occur over the anvil, so we are also looking forward to that.

Hillbark is one of Wirral’s leading wedding venues.   It oozes history and charm with lots of features for photographic opportunities – like the Sir Walter Raleigh fireplace and the beautiful stained glass windows. The large mirror and upstairs windows make particulary good compositions.   Then there is the gallery above the hall as the bride makes her entrance, looking down on her beloved awaiting her arrival. The outdoor space has landscaped gardens and a gazebo for outdoor photographic opportunies too.

Originally known as Bidston Court, Hillbark House originally stood near the urban farm in 1891, built for soap manufacturer Robert Hudson. Designed by Edward Oult, who also designed houses in Port Sunlight Village, it was inspired by 16th century Little Moreton Hall in Cheshire. It was moved and re-built at Royden Park between 1921 and 1931.

Pixsmiths really enjoy photgraphing weddings at this fantastic location so if this is your choie of venue call us for a quote for your wedding photography.

Hillbark House

Grand Hall

wedding tables

wedding breakfast

Hillbark Bride

Reflection

bride on staircase

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