The Black Friar isn’t your typical wedding venue. Most days it’s a working pub in the heart of Salford, and it’s only for a handful of weekends a year that it closes its doors to the public and hands the place over to a couple. Katie and Adam got one of those weekends, right in the middle of sunflower season, and the whole day ended up feeling exactly like the venue itself: relaxed, unpretentious, and full of good food.
Getting Ready in The Sanctuary
The day started upstairs in The Sanctuary, where Katie and her bridesmaids did their own make up while the rest of the venue got set up below. No entourage of hair and make up artists fussing about, just Katie’s crew getting themselves ready in their own time. It set the tone for everything that followed.
Trainers, Not Heels
Katie had pictured herself in trousers or a jumpsuit for the wedding, so trying on the classic big, puffy dresses never quite felt right. A mini dress from Bridal Serendipity in Stockport, paired with trainers, turned out to be the one, and she swapped into a jumpsuit for the evening so she could actually dance without thinking about her outfit.
A Garden Ceremony
The Black Friar’s garden is licensed for ceremonies, and that’s where Katie and Adam said their vows. Neither of them are fans of the limelight, so they kept it short and sweet. Katie’s “my wiiiife” the second it was official, followed by Adam’s deadpan “this is horrible,” pretty much sums up their sense of humour, and it had everyone in the garden laughing within seconds.
Sunflowers, Hand-Drawn Signs, and Two Giant Caterpillars
The outside of The Black Friar is decorated with giant sunflowers, so Katie and Adam picked up the theme with sunflower buttonholes for the wedding party. Beyond that, styling was kept simple. A hand-drawn table plan, a hand-drawn running order, and a few handmade signs were all they added to a venue that already looked the part.
Dessert was two Colin the Caterpillar cakes from M&S, side by side, which fits a couple who never took the day too seriously.
Katie and Adam also had illustrator Angel Alicia sketching guests throughout the day, a nice, personal touch that gave everyone something to take home besides a hangover.
The Food (Obviously)
Katie described herself as a foodie, and by the sounds of it that’s putting it mildly. The Black Friar’s food was the reason they booked the venue in the first place, and on the day itself it delivered: proper homemade pies, gravy, and a sticky toffee pudding that got a special mention. Once everyone was fed, the evening buffet came out, complete with a cheese selection Adam wanted signed off by yours truly, since everyone knows that being French makes you a cheese (and wine) expert by birth.
First Dance: Heckled by Their Own Guests
Katie and Adam’s first dance was Dance Yrself Clean by LCD Soundsystem, a track with a long, quiet intro before it builds into one of the best bass drops going. Their guests weren’t prepared to wait that long. The slow start got a chorus of heckling from the crowd before the song properly kicked in and the dance floor filled up, with James from Holy Scratchimony on the decks for the rest of the night.
Why Guests Loved It
Ask Katie and Adam what their friends and family enjoyed most and the answer is simple: how relaxed the whole thing was. Gravy, pie, pints, good music, and everyone they love in one room. Guests kept telling them afterwards how much the day felt like them, which is about as good a review as a wedding can get.
About The Black Friar as a Wedding Venue
The Black Friar sits at 41-43 Blackfriars Road in Salford, a short walk from Manchester city centre. Built in 1886, the building stood derelict for over 15 years before being fully restored and reopened in 2021 as the pub and restaurant it is today.
For weddings, they offer everything from an intimate ceremony to a full day for up to 250 guests, with a handful of spaces to mix and match: The Glass Room (up to 80), the award-winning Garden (up to 170 and licensed for ceremonies), The Tavern (50 seated or 70 standing), The Sanctuary (25 seated or 40 standing, where Katie got ready), The Choir’s Loft (up to 16), and The Cabins (up to 8) for smaller gatherings. Menus are put together by Head Chef Ben Chaplin, and they’ll do bespoke packages for styling too, from florals to vintage glassware.
For couples who want somewhere that already looks the part, serves proper food, and doesn’t feel like a conventional wedding venue, it’s one of the better options around Salford and Manchester.
If you’re planning a wedding at The Black Friar in Salford and looking for a photographer who’ll capture the day as it actually happens, without posed group shots or forced moments, get in touch. I cover weddings across Salford, Manchester, and the wider North West.
Suppliers
- Venue: The Black Friar, Salford
- DJ: Holy Scratchimony
- Dress: Bridal Serendipity, Stockport
- Live illustrator: Angel Alicia
