Outdoor Summer Wedding at The Roman Lakes

July 19, 2022 In blog

The Roman Lakes is a venue I know VERY well. For those of you who don’t, it’s a heritage site hidden away in the Goyt Valley and has small country roads leading to Mellor and the centre of Marple. Not only have I shot a wedding at this unique venue before, but I have walked around the surrounding area to enjoy the scenery with my wife and, more recently, my baby in a harness on my back. My little boy loves to point at the ducks, the sheep, the horse-riders, the dog-walkers, the trees and the waterfall and river. There’s so much nature to look at and enjoy. Happy times! With all this to appreciate, it was no surprise that one of my recent couples, Caroline and Paul wanted to share their small intimate wedding with their family and friends in such a beautiful place.

Going to the Chapel…

Before going to The Roman Lakes, however, Caroline and Paul decided to get married at Chadkirk Chapel, not too far away in Romiley. This is another beauty spot in the Goyt Valley surrounded by woodland and meadows. Also, another venue filled with history. It’s a Grade II listed building with parts of it dating back to the 16th Century. Of course, it’s had a bit of work done since then! With various renovations and uses across the centuries, it has now become a venue licensed for wedding ceremonies and run by Stockport Council. It’s perfect for couples who love the countryside and want a smaller wedding as the chapel can seat up to 80 guests.

I started my day as the wedding photographer at the chapel itself and met the groom, Paul there. He was sorting out the finer details and making sure everything was in place before Caroline arrived at the venue, accompanied by her father. Before she made her entrance, the couple’s children and their niece and nephews marched down the aisle – some were more keen than others! With flowers in the girls’ hair and mini waistcoats and button holes for the boys they looked as great as the bride and groom. The pair looked stunning yet relaxed with an elegant lace dress and no jackets for the groom and best man. They all looked at home in the wedding venue which was rustic with its stone floors, timber beams, stained glass and carved wooden decor. Such a fabulous, intimate setting to say the ‘I Dos!’

groom walking to Chadkirk ChapelStockport events team welcoming guests at Chadkirk Chapel Flower girl blowing dandelion Boys posing flower girl walking inside Chadkirk Chapel Bride arriving at Chadkirk Chapel Groom waiting fro the bride's entrance at Chadkirk Chapel Flower girl walking down the aisle at Chadkirk ChapelFlower girl looking moody walking down the aisle Page boys very keen to walk down the aisle at Chadkirk Chapel Bride arriving with her dad at Chadkirk Chapel Bride walks down the aisle with her dad at Chadkirk Chapel Bride and her dad at Chadkirk Chapel Groom see the bride walking the aisle at Chadkirk Chapel Bride and groom meet up at the top of the aisle Wedding at Chadkirk Chapel Page boy and flower girl watching the wedding ceremony at Chadkirk Chapel Exchanging vows at Chadkirk Chapel Groom gets the rings from his bestman Exchanging rings at Chadkirk Chapel Bride and groom wlking out with their children at Chadkirk Chapel Confetti at Chadkirk Chapel Page boy throwing confetti at Chadkirk Chapel After the ceremony Bride leaving Chadkirk Chapel

 

To the Lakes

Once Caroline and Paul were officially husband and wife, they went with their wedding party by shuttle bus to The Roman Lakes. This is a small family-owned venue in Marple – very well known to the locals – and it’s quite a bumpy (but short!) road trip from the centre. It’s not far but you still feel like you’re miles away from everything thanks to being surrounded by greenery. The owners of this wedding venue kept all the fun and activities outside so that the wedding party could enjoy the sunshine. Not only did they spread outdoor games out for the wedding guests, but they also set up an outdoor photo booth complete with props for everyone (especially the kids) to enjoy. There was something for everyone, including the ducks as the venue had arranged bags of duck food for the guests to use!

As I was taking the wedding photographs, I realised that there were thousands of white daisies everywhere! This gave Caroline and Paul’s portrait photos a stunning natural backdrop and the guests enjoyed making daisy chains and decorating beards with the tiny flowers.

Bride arriving at The Roman Lakes Order of the day at The Roman Lakes Duck food at The Roman Lakes Guests cheering with the bride at The Roman Lakes Happy baby at The Roman Lakes Groomsman playing table tennis at The Roman Lakes page boy building a tower with blocks Boy using a tea pot a prop for the photobooth at The Roman Lakes Baby sleeping in the car seat at The Roman LakesGroom and his son at The Roman Lakes Kids playing with blocks at The Roman Lakes kids crying after the block tower was knocked over block tower being knocked over boy playing table tennis at The Roman Lakes boy using a skipping rope with a pug mask girl feeding the chickens at The Roman Lakes Table tennis at The Roman Lakes Going for portrait photos at The Roman Lakes Bride and groom kissing in afield of daisies at The Roman Lakes Wedding at The Roman Lakes Guest putting daisies in someone's beard

The Tea Rooms

After the fun in the sun, the guests moved indoors to The Tea Rooms. This is another cosy space, once again perfect for smaller weddings. Caroline and Paul wanted to keep the relaxed vibes going and didn’t bother with a table plan for the space which was made up of wooden benches and chairs, simple table cloths and vases of mixed wild flowers. Perfect for the setting. Once they’d sampled the Hog Roast, fizz and speeches on offer the couple had their first dance as husband and wife under fairy lights and bunting while the Rhythm “n” Blues band, ‘Louis, Louis, Louis’ played. There were more games outside and of course more dancing, which included throwing some of the smaller guests around the dance floor.

This was a wedding for both the little kids and the big kids, and one where family and friends were at the heart of all the planning. Caroline and Paul also showed what fabulous style and personality they both had. You could see it in every detail from the stack of cheeses they chose for their “wedding cake” to the grand and green scenery they chose as the setting or both of their two venues.

Wedding at The Roman Lakes Table details at The Roman Lakes Cosy blankets for the guests Groom's speech with his son at The Roman Lakes Groom's mum crying out loud Groomsman embarassing the groom Groomsman show photo evidence of the groom's hair guests looking at photosflower girl playing boy wearing a pub mask First dance at The Roman Lakes Bride and groom dancing at The Roman Lakes Dad dancing at The Roman Lakes Girl dancing woman throwing moves on the dancefloor at The Roman Lakes girl and guest spinning on the dancefloor at The Roman Lakes Spinning a girl on the dancefloor at The Roman Lakes guests dancing at The Roman Lakes Bride dancing at The Roman Lakes Evening party at The Roman Lakes Guest cuddling a boy on the dancfloor at The Roman Lakes Groom dancing with a friend at The Roman Lakes Party at The Roman Lakes Boy being thrown in the air guest dancing with the bride's dad Cuddle before leaving

If you want to see The Roman Lakes for yourself, you’ll have to go to one of their monthly Tea Dances or Open Days to enjoy the venue. Since the Pandemic, the venue is not open to the public as often as it used to be. But hey, another way you can see what this fabulous venue has to offer is to book your wedding there, and if you need a photographer I’d love to hear from you!