One of the last civil partnerships, before it’s just marriage for everyone :))

Lorraine and Liz had been together for twelve years, so this was a civil partnership a long time in the planning! Unfortunately they just missed the date for same-sex marriage, but it’d taken twelve years to get here, so they weren’t going to wait any longer!

Cheshire wedding venue for this civil partnership ceremony

Mere Court Hotel was to be the venue for their special day, one of our favourite venues with great spaces both inside and outside in the country-style house gardens. The girls arrived together and put the finishing touches to the gorgeous wedding breakfast room, with personalised nick-name place cards and a great ‘wish-tree’ made by Lorraine’s auntie :) The girls had decided to get ready and walk down the aisle together too, lots of moral support for each other to calm those nerves!

Friends, family, lots of love & ‘the miserable photo’

The ceremony was filled with family and friends all contributing with readings, as ring bearers and as witnesses all to celebrate their special day :) Even though it was mid-March the weather was trying to be Spring and everyone piled outside for a few group photos and to enjoy some sunshine too! One special request on the group shots was the miserable photo – a tradition whenever the girls go out with their friends to do one photo where they all look like they’re having the worst time ever! Not the normal kind of wedding photograph!

Wedding badges & bacon butties

As everyone sat down for the wedding breakfast they all took their own badge from the ‘badge table plan’ :) As the sun was setting we grabbed the girls again just to catch the last remnants of colour in the sky, then just time for a few night time shots before the dancing and bacon butties came out!

Jump forward less than a year for our first same sex marriage – wedded bliss in Sheffield :) or for more weddings at Mere Court with our smiliest bride for 2015