*voicemail* “Hi David, sorry to bother you so late, but I had to call you up and say how amazing they are, they’re ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, it’s like the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life, it’s so great - thank you so so much!”

Gisburn Park estate wedding photography

What an incredible day Abigail & Tom’s wedding was. It’s a massively over used word, but it was epic in the true sense. This was my first time at this vast and utterly stunning wedding venue, and only the second ever wedding here (Missed out on first place by a week damn it!) but you would never be able to tell as Guy and his amazing team ran the day perfectly - like they’d been doing it for years.

Bridal prep

I started the day with Abigail at her family home. There was a really relaxed vibe with loads of laughing - I just knew it was going to be a brilliant day. I always love this time of day as I can work quietly and creatively, and there were so many great moments to capture from hand touches and gestures to full on mouth wide open moments when Abigail first saw her mum in her outfit, to when the bridesmaids first saw Abigail in her stunning dress .

Church service

Abigail and Tom got married just around the corner from her family home. It was a lovely church and bathed in amazing sunlight. Once inside it was more laughing and beaming smiles - honestly these guys made my job easy. When it was time to exchange the rings, the family dog ran down the aisle and completely stole the show!

Creative shot of the bride in a thin beam of light

Bride laughing during the morning prep shots

BW photo of people walking around a sleeping dog at the bottom of the stairs

Mirror reflection of the bride hugging her friend

BW photo of bride and her dad holding hands

bridesmaids and dad on the couch laughing with the dog in the background

BW photo of bride coming down the stairs

bridesmaids reaction to the bride in her dress

bride reaction to her mother in her outfit

brides sister helping her out of the wedding car

bride and bridesmaids approaching church

nicely lit shot of brides father letting go of her hand

BW photo of bride and groom pulling funny faces at each other

BW photo of every one in church laughing

dog running down the aisle with the rings

BW photo, big squeeze after the first kiss

Summer Marquee drinks reception

After a mega long confetti line, we arrived at Gisburne Park and took a short stroll through some of the grounds before the other guests arrived. On your wedding day I want you to spend as much time as possible with your family and friends so this worked out perfectly. From the car park area all the guests get on golf buggies to be taken into the valley (yes a venue with it’s own valley!) where the marquee was placed between the beautiful house that they get exclusively for a week and the river Ribble. Joining the two is a picturesque stream running alongside. Along with the summer light and free flowing drinks you couldn’t wish for a better setting to get stuck in and capture the atmosphere, which is how I approach 90% of the day.

The Party!

I knew from the start of the day this was going to be one hell of a party, but even I was surprised. After hilarious speeches in the marquee that had been beautifully decked out by the genius of Red floral architecture this lot were off and didn’t stop until I imagine well after I left - which was pretty late! So how do you top off a day like that? With a massive firework display from the top of the valley obviously!

wedding car pulled up in front of the house

BW photo of bride and groom at the venue gates

bride and groom kissing in front of a huge wall

bride and groom walking along a fairy lit path to the marquee

bride and groom walking through nice light into a darker area

guest look on and laugh as they cut the cake

bride enters the reception with her hands in the air

bride and father smile at each other and hold hands

nice bride and groom moment during her fathers speech

the table full of candles and B&G holding hands in the corner

bride looking at groom during his speech

grooms mother and sister laughing together

closer shot of grooms sister and mother really laughing

everyone cheering and clapping during the grooms speech

bride and groom cuddle byt the river at sunset

bride and groom cuddle with the venue in the background

groom lifts and spins his wife during the first dance

confetti canon goes off during the first dance

close up of bride and groom just after the first dance

bride and groom holding hands whilst on guests shoulders

off camera flash night time portrait of bride and groom taken through festoon lights

bride and groom. Bride lifts her arm in the air as fireworks go off

This is Reportage story award

I was so lucky to have got a story award from ‘ThisisReportage’ from this incredible wedding. I have 2 TIR story awards and they are the ones I am most proud of. Apart from being really difficult to win (apparently only 4% of submissions win worldwide!) they are judged on 20 images from the day rather than one ‘hero’ shot so they show couples that I put my all into capturing the whole day to a creative high standard and not just the couple shots.

Gisburn Park recommended supplier

Since Abigail & Tom’s big day I have been officially asked by the venue to be one of their recommended suppliers. I was immensely proud and obviously said yes! So, if you are looking to get married in some of the most stunning scenery the north west has to offer, you should definitely check this place out, and if you do, then I’d love to hear from you!

Suppliers

Make up - Olivia Naylor

Hair - Laura Darlington

Flowers - Red Floral Architecture

Video - James Wray

Cake - Lindsey french at The cake company

DJ - Ryan at DFC Lancashire

Gisburne Park estate, Abigail and Tom