A Spring Wedding at The Castlefield Rooms – Gabriella and Ashley

June 26, 2026 In blog Castlefield Rooms

The Castlefield Rooms is one of my favourite spots to work in Manchester, and I never get tired of it. If you’re thinking about getting married there and want the full picture on the venue, head over to my Castlefield Rooms wedding photography page.

Gabby and Ashley had been together for 14 years before their wedding day, which made the whole thing feel like a long time coming in the best possible way. They weren’t after anything elaborate. A great venue, the people they love, good food and a proper celebration. The Castlefield Rooms ticked every box, and with Gabby’s family travelling from Gabon and guests coming in from across the globe, it was one of those days where you could feel how much it meant to have everyone finally in the same room.

The Ceremony – The Brindley Room

The ceremony was held in The Brindley Room, which with its exposed brick and oak beams is always a great setting for a civil ceremony. Gabby and Ashley kept it short and sweet, which suited them perfectly. Neither of them are big fans of speaking in front of a crowd, so they made it personal without making it a performance.

Ashley told me he was nervous as it started, and nearly lost it when the bridesmaids walked in to an instrumental version of Halle’s Angel. Then when Gabby appeared and the music switched to At Last by Etta James, he said he completely calmed down. From that point it was Gabby who was welling up, with Ashley quietly keeping her calm throughout.

One of the highlights for me was the ring exchange. The rings arrived in custom made pokéballs, carried by their nephew as ring bearer. He took the job very seriously and resisted all temptation to throw them, which I think everyone appreciated.

A guest in a cream suit with a yellow rose buttonhole hugging another guest at The Castlefield Rooms before the wedding ceremony.
A guest in a cream suit laughing with an older male guest at The Castlefield Rooms ahead of the wedding ceremony.
The groom in a teal suit holding the custom pokeball ring boxes while chatting with a guest at The Castlefield Rooms, with a guest in a kilt visible in the background.
Two custom pokeball ring boxes open to reveal the wedding rings, each inscribed with I Choose You, held by the groom at The Castlefield Rooms wedding.
The Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms set up for a wedding ceremony, with wooden cross-back chairs lining the aisle, floral decorations and a white draped arch against the exposed brick wall.
Close-up of a floral chair decoration with peach roses, gypsophila and eucalyptus tied to an aisle chair in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
Black and white photo of the bride stepping out of a wedding car, smiling, with the Manchester city skyline in the background outside The Castlefield Rooms.
Black and white aerial shot of the bride arriving outside The Castlefield Rooms, surrounded by bridesmaids and family on the cobbled street below.
Black and white wide shot of the groom standing at the altar in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms, waiting for the bride with guests seated on either side.
Two bridesmaids in orange dresses walking down the aisle at The Castlefield Rooms during the wedding ceremony, carrying bouquets of peach roses and gypsophila.
The bride walking down the aisle with her father at The Castlefield Rooms, smiling and waving to guests during the wedding ceremony.
The bride arriving at the altar and meeting the groom for the first time during the ceremony in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
Black and white candid of the bride and groom holding hands at the altar during their wedding ceremony in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride laughing with the groom at the altar during their wedding ceremony in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms, with guests smiling in the background.
The bride and groom holding hands and smiling during their civil ceremony in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms, with the registrar visible to the side.
Wide shot of the bride and groom holding hands at the altar in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms, with the registrar conducting the ceremony and guests watching on.
A young flower girl sticking her tongue out during the wedding ceremony in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride placing a ring on the groom's finger during the ring exchange at their wedding ceremony in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride wiping a tear from the groom's cheek during their wedding ceremony in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms, with guests applauding in the background.
The newly married couple walking hand in hand back down the aisle in the Brindley Room at The Castlefield Rooms, with guests cheering on either side.
The bride and groom walking back down the aisle at The Castlefield Rooms, both smiling, with guests applauding on either side.
The bride and groom walking through a confetti shower outside The Castlefield Rooms in Manchester, with the city skyline visible in the background, the bride raising her bouquet in celebration.

Drinks Reception – The Gallery Bar and Balcony

The drinks reception was out on the balcony and gallery bar, and the weather played ball in a way that only happens a handful of times a year in Manchester. Prosecco, canapés and May sunshine. It set the tone perfectly for the rest of the day.

The bride walking up the stairs at The Castlefield Rooms during the drinks reception, holding her bouquet and a glass of prosecco, smiling.
A young wedding guest in a white suit and red bow tie blowing bubbles on the stairs at The Castlefield Rooms during the drinks reception.
A wedding guest holding a baby during the drinks reception at The Castlefield Rooms, the baby chewing on her mother's handbag strap.
Wide shot of wedding guests enjoying the drinks reception on the balcony at The Castlefield Rooms, with the Castlefield viaduct, canal and Manchester city skyline visible in the background.

Portraits Along the Bridgewater Canal

Towards the end of the drinks reception, while guests were finding their seats in the Merchant Room, Gabby and Ashley slipped out for a short walk along the Bridgewater Canal. We kept it to about fifteen minutes, which is honestly plenty when a couple are relaxed and not worried about ticking off a list of poses. We looped along the canal and back up through the streets, kept it casual, and were back in time for the main event.

The bride and groom laughing together outside The Castlefield Rooms during their wedding portrait session, with guests visible on the balcony above.
The bride and groom walking hand in hand past Albert's Shed in Castlefield during their wedding portrait session, with the Manchester city skyline in the background.
The bride and groom walking hand in hand along the Bridgewater Canal during their wedding portrait session, with a footbridge and canal boats visible in the background.
The bride and groom walking hand in hand along the Bridgewater Canal towpath during their wedding portrait session, with the iconic red Castlefield railway viaduct visible behind them.
The bride and groom laughing together on the Bridgewater Canal towpath during their wedding portrait session, with the red Castlefield railway viaduct in the background.
The bride and groom walking along the Bridgewater Canal towpath during their wedding portrait session, with a canal narrowboat and the Manchester skyline visible in the background.
The bride and groom laughing together against a graffiti wall on the Bridgewater Canal towpath during their wedding portrait session in Castlefield, Manchester.
The bride and groom standing together under the red Castlefield railway viaduct during their wedding portrait session along the Bridgewater Canal in Manchester.
The bride and groom walking hand in hand on the cobbled streets of Castlefield during their wedding portrait session, with the red railway viaduct and a passing train visible in the background.
The bride spinning as the groom raises her hand on the cobbled streets of Castlefield during their wedding portrait session, with the red railway viaduct in the background.
The bride and groom relaxing together on the balcony at The Castlefield Rooms while guests take their seats for the wedding breakfast, with the Castlefield viaduct and spring trees visible in the background.

Wedding Breakfast – The Merchant Room

The entrance into the Merchant Room set the tone straight away. Gabby and Ashley had set up a personalised shot wall with custom shot glasses, and as they were announced in, they did a tequila shot with their guests. It’s the kind of detail that tells you everything about a couple.

The table names were another touch I loved when I heard about them. Rather than numbers or flowers, each table was named after an in-joke or a phrase that means something to them as a couple. Things like “why is water so good” which apparently Gabby says every time she has a sip of water. Small details like that make guests smile and make the day feel genuinely theirs.

Speeches came from Gabby’s father, her brother, and the couple themselves. Heartfelt without being over the top, which is exactly what they were after. The food went down incredibly well too, with pretty much every guest mentioning it afterwards.

The cake was three tiered and included a nod to Ashley’s love of Pokémon, as did the custom pokéball ring boxes from earlier in the day. Gabby has since told me that Ashley is very happy to believe it was a Pokémon themed wedding. We’ll leave it at that.

The Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms set up for the wedding breakfast, with round tables dressed in white linen, rust-coloured table runners, white floral centrepieces and views over Castlefield through the large windows.
Two wedding guests laughing together at their table during the wedding breakfast in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
A wedding guest in an orange dress tapping a wine glass with a fork during the wedding breakfast at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride raising a tequila shot glass as she and the groom are announced into the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms for the wedding breakfast.
A wedding guest in an orange dress hosting a wedding game with a microphone during the wedding breakfast at The Castlefield Rooms, leaning over to show a guest their answer sheet.
A wedding guest applauding and laughing at his table during the wedding breakfast in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
A wedding guest in a traditional African print dress raising a peace sign at her table during the wedding breakfast at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride and groom playing Mr and Mrs in the middle of the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms, both holding up their answer paddles during the wedding breakfast.
The bride and groom playing Mr and Mrs in the middle of the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms, the bride pointing at the groom's answer in surprise.
Black and white photo of the bride wiping a tear at the top table during speeches in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms, the groom watching beside her.
Black and white close-up of the bride hugging her father after speeches in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
The groom kissing the bride on the head at the top table during the wedding breakfast in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride and groom laughing together at the top table during the wedding breakfast in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride pointing at a speaker during speeches at the top table in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms, the groom laughing beside her.
The groom hugging a male guest after speeches in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms, with the bride visible in the foreground and fairy lights in the windows behind.
The bride wiping a tear while the groom delivers their joint speech in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms during the wedding reception.

Evening and First Dance

The first dance had a slightly chaotic start, which Gabby and Ashley took completely in their stride, and after a couple of false starts they landed on At Last by Etta James. Given they had been together for fourteen years, it was hard to think of a more fitting song.

The photobooth was a big hit, though perhaps not quite in the way you might expect. About 95% of the photos were the kids absolutely making the most of it. Sometimes that is how it goes and honestly it makes for great pictures.

The bride and groom sharing their first dance in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms, with guests watching from their seats in the background.
The bride and groom dancing together on the dance floor in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms during the evening reception, with other guests dancing around them.
The bride and groom dancing together on the dance floor in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms, the bride smiling up at the groom during the evening reception.
The bride and groom cutting their three-tiered wedding cake decorated with Pokemon figures and a personalised wooden topper reading Ashley and Gabriella at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride singing into a microphone during the evening reception at The Castlefield Rooms, with the Castlefield viaduct lit up in the background through the windows.
A wedding guest in an orange dress singing into a microphone with another guest during the evening reception at The Castlefield Rooms, with the Manchester skyline visible through the windows.
Wedding guests dancing on the dance floor at The Castlefield Rooms during the evening reception, including a young girl in a red dress being spun around.
Two bridesmaids in orange dresses taking a selfie during the evening reception at The Castlefield Rooms, with the Castlefield skyline and fairy lights visible through the windows.
The bride dancing energetically on the dance floor during the evening reception at The Castlefield Rooms.
The bride doing tequila shots with wedding guests during the evening reception at The Castlefield Rooms.
A young wedding guest dancing on the dance floor at The Castlefield Rooms during the evening reception, with a tie wrapped around his head.
The bride and wedding guests doing tequila shots together at The Castlefield Rooms during the evening reception.
A young girl climbing a pillar in the Merchant Room at The Castlefield Rooms during the evening reception, helped by a wedding guest.
The bride dancing energetically on the dance floor during the evening reception at The Castlefield Rooms, surrounded by guests and a bridesmaid singing into a microphone.

Gabby and Ashley’s day was exactly what they wanted. No fuss, no pressure, just a room full of people who love them, many of whom had travelled from across the globe and had never all been together in the same place before. That energy was there from the start and never let up.

As a French photographer working in Manchester, being booked for a wedding where part of the family speaks French always feels like a good fit. Gabby’s family are from Gabon and being able to communicate with them in French on the day was one of those little things that just makes everything easier and more relaxed.

They made a weekend of it too, with a more casual get together the day after to carry the celebrations on and spend more time with everyone. Then off to Rome for a few days. Not a bad way to start married life after fourteen years together.

If you’re planning a wedding at The Castlefield Rooms and looking for a photographer, I’d love to hear from you. You can find out more about the venue, what to expect on the day, and see more of my work there on my Castlefield Rooms wedding photography page. Or if you’re ready to get in touch, head over to my contact page and drop me a message.