Summer Wedding at Allerton Manor

September 13, 2025 In blog

Preparations and Champagne

Starting Mike and Stuart’s wedding day felt a bit like déjà vu—in the best possible way—as I returned for my second Allerton Manor Golf Club celebration, only this time, the day began at their own home. These two treated their friends to glasses of Cristal as the first order of business. This wasn’t just any bottle, either—it was the exact champagne they had opened for their engagement so it tied two of their most joyful moments together.

Everyone toasted, topped up each other’s glasses, and soaked up that mixture of excitement and nerves. Mike and Stuart, despite living just five minutes down the road, had never heard of Allerton Manor until they started their wedding plans, a detail that now felt almost crazy given how perfect the venue turned out to be. When it was time to go, the couple and their closest friends got into a vintage VW wedding camper van—the kind of retro detail that sets a wedding story apart from the crowd—for a drive over to the venue.

Two grooms, one wearing a beige suit with a blue bowtie and the other wearing a green suit with a green tie, toast with champagne flutes with three women in a kitchen at the grooms' house.
The groom in a green suit and green tie helps the other groom, in a beige suit and a blue bowtie, with a detail on his suit jacket.
A groom in a beige suit with a blue bowtie shows a wedding ring to a woman with curly hair in a navy dress, as the other groom in a green suit looks on from behind at the grooms' house.

Ceremony in the Hay Loft

The Hay Loft at Allerton Manor is one of those Grade II buildings that manages to be both historic and alive with modern energy. Mike and Stuart had chosen the ceremony spot for its intimate feel, and the registrar team from Liverpool City Council gave the whole event a sense of warmth and quick-witted fun, thanks to a registrar with a legendary sense of humour. The wedding ceremony ran with just the right balance of sincerity, laughter, and a few happy tears — exactly what you’d hope for as a photographer with a documentary style, always searching for those unguarded, real moments which make the best family group photographs.

A fantastic personal set piece: hand-painted portraits of the couple’s beloved pets, watching over the proceedings from the sidelines like furry wedding guests of honour.

The front of the Allerton Manor venue, a brick building with a red carpet leading to the entrance and a sign for The Hay Loft.
A close-up shot of the brick exterior of the Allerton Manor Golf Club, featuring the venue's large metal sign with hanging baskets of pink and white flowers below.
A group of six men and women, including the groom in the beige suit, stand in a line to welcome the groom
The groom in a green suit and green tie smiles widely as a guest to his right holds up a rainbow fan.
Wedding at Allerton Manor. The groom in a green suit walks down the aisle, arm-in-arm with a man in a light beige suit, as guests watch from the chairs lining the aisle.
The groom in a green suit stands smiling at the end of the aisle during the ceremony.
Both grooms stand at the front of the room during the ceremony, smiling at each other.
A close-up portrait of the grooms during their ceremony, smiling at each other with twinkle lights blurred in the background.
The groom in the green suit stands smiling next to a young girl in a pink dress and a floral headband.
The grooms stand facing each other during the ceremony, with one holding the other's hand as they exchange vows.
Guests sit in the front row, watching the ceremony, including a woman with a light blue hat and a man with a grey suit.
The grooms face each other, leaning in for a kiss during the ceremony.
A wide shot of the grooms and the officiant at the front of the room, with guests seated on both sides of the aisle.
The grooms are at the front of the room, one in a beige suit and the other in a green suit, with one holding the hand of the other.
The grooms walk hand-in-hand down the aisle together after their ceremony, smiling at the guests.

Wedding Breakfast, speeches and portraits

As with many weddings, the drinks reception was a mad blur of guest arrivals, greetings and congratulations—everyone wanting a quick hello with the grooms. But once the flurry subsided, Mike and Stuart had a meal with their guests and the kind of speeches that manage to be hilarious and heartwarming all at once.

Before sitting down, we headed out in the natural light for a round of laid-back couples portraits. I suggested heading into the nearby woodland, dodging any chance of encountering stray golf balls—or golfers from the nearby championship golf course! There’s always a gentle challenge in catching something truly unique in wedding portraits; this time, it was Mike and Stuart eager to try the TikTok skipping photo trend. I’ll admit it: I was sceptical, but their infectious energy and willingness to have fun made it a surprisingly memorable touch.

Let’s not forget the meal itself, highlighted by a colossal portion of sticky toffee pudding. I’ve seen a lot of desserts in my time at wedding breakfasts, but this one set a new record!

A young girl in a pink dress and floral headband sits smiling while eating something.
A guest laughs and smiles at another guest during the wedding reception.
A guest smiles and laughs while sitting outside.
A closeup photo of a table decorated with floral centrepieces, candles.
A hand drawing of the groom's dogs in a frame
A portrait photo of the grooms, one in a green suit and the other in a beige suit, standing outdoors with green foliage in the background.
A portrait of the grooms, one in a beige suit and the other in a green suit, adjusting his tie
A portrait of the grooms, one in a beige suit and the other in a green suit, walking hand-in-hand down a shaded path with trees on either side.
The groom in a beige suit sits and listens to the speeches with a woman next to him who is also listening.
The groom in a beige suit laughs heartily while holding a glass of wine, during his husband's speech
The groom in a beige suit stands and gives a speech during the wedding breakfast at Allerton Manor.
A man in a grey suit tries to hold his tears in
The grooms listen to the speeches, and looking embarrassed
A woman with dark, curly hair laughs during the speeches at Allerton Manor
Wedding at Allerton Manor. A man in a grey suit gives a speech to the grooms, who are sitting at the main table.

Cocktail hours

Once the main meal had wrapped up, the celebration flowed into a proper cocktail hour, with mojitos offered all round from the private bar. As the sun dipped and the golfers packed up for the day, we spotted an opportunity to “borrow” a couple of golf buggies for a leisurely spin around the pond in the diffused light. That freedom—coupled with the laughter carrying across the empty greens—felt like the perfect encore to a day already filled with personality and joy and a great addition to the wedding pictures.

The couple’s first dance was Grown Old With Me by Tom Odell. The song just perfectly encapsulated what they wanted from each other and their life together. They had decided on the song the day they got engaged and never wavered on that decision.

When the evening reception rolled around, the party was in full swing and the dance floor never emptied, a testament to the mix of people Mike and Stuart had so carefully curated for their celebration. From start to non-stop dancing, their summer wedding at Allerton Manor was a tribute to love, laughter, and those perfect little moments that make a wedding unforgettable.

A wide-angle portrait photo of the grooms walking together on the grass near a pond, with a tree line in the background at Allerton Manor.
A wide-angle portrait photo of the grooms walking together on a path with a large pond with lily pads in the foreground.
A portrait photo of the grooms holding hands and smiling at each other while walking on a grassy lawn with trees in the background.
The grooms embrace and dance together during their first dance at Allerton Manor.
The grooms smile while holding each other, dancing together during their first dance.
The grooms dancing together during their first dance.
Two women smile and dance together during the reception.
Wedding at Allerton Manor. A man in a dark grey suit dances with a woman in a red dress during the reception.
A group of guests drinking shots
Two women dance together, one in a white top and the other in a green shirt.
A woman with long dark hair holds a drink and dances during the party.
The grooms are dancing together, with a beer in their hand.
Two women are dancing together during the party, one in a white jacket and the other in a light green top.
A group of people are dancing, with one man in a suit raising his hands high in the air and laughing.
Two guests are dancing together at the wedding party.
The groom's mother dances with a woman with a large updo during the party.
A groom in a green suit smiles broadly while holding a glass of beer, surrounded by friends who are dancing.

Weddings at Allerton Manor

Allerton Manor is one of those rare wedding venues that feels both tucked away and right at the heart of Liverpool life. With its characterful Hay Loft, leafy views across the golf course, and the subtle charm of a Grade II listed building, it’s easy to see why so many couples make memories here. I’ve photographed a few celebrations at Allerton Manor now, and each one has had its own unique stamp—helped along by the friendly, down-to-earth team and the way every inch of the venue feels relaxed yet special. Whether you’re picturing a summer party under the exposed beams or a laid-back wander in the gardens as the sun dips low, Allerton Manor offers just the right blend of warmth, flexibility, and understated style to keep people smiling from the first glass of bubbly to the last dance.