Jan and Sam travelled back to the UK from abroad to get married on the Marble Staircase at Stockport Town Hall, surrounded by their closest family. Their wedding was everything they wanted it to be—relaxed, personal, and completely focused on the people around them.
From finding the perfect wedding dress on Vinted just days before the ceremony, to heading out into Stockport town centre in full wedding gear for photos around Underbank and the A6, the whole day felt very true to them.
I photograph weddings at Stockport Town Hall regularly, and one of the best things about the Marble Staircase is that no two ceremonies ever feel the same. It’s such a distinctive space, but it always ends up reflecting the couple using it—and Jan and Sam’s day had a really warm, funny, no-fuss atmosphere from start to finish.
If you’re planning your own wedding there, you can have a look through more of my Stockport Town Hall wedding photography here:
Why they chose the Marble Staircase at Stockport Town Hall
“When we registered the marriage, we were sat in reception at Stockport Town Hall and ended up getting a glimpse of the Marble Staircase. A very kind registrar snuck us in for a quick look and we just thought—yeah, we’ll get married here.”
Living abroad meant Jan and Sam wanted something simple and easy for everyone to get to, with all their family based in the north of England.
“Stockport is the new Berlin,” they joked. “We genuinely love it and hope to move back home one day. The Town Hall is basically the wedding cake building—and the Marble Staircase ticked every box.”
A wedding centred around family
When asked about their wedding “must haves”, their answer was pretty straightforward:
“A happy family. Us actually being able to get there despite flight disruptions—that’s really it.”
That mindset carried through the whole day. Nothing felt overcomplicated or overly traditional, but it still had all the moments that mattered.
“We didn’t really want a traditional wedding, but we kept a few classic elements so it still felt special for everyone.”
Sam’s olive green suit came from a shop in Amman where they’re currently living—although Hawaiian shirts were apparently considered at one point.
The £50 wedding dress
Jan’s wedding dress story is easily one of my favourites.
“When we got engaged, I searched for bohemian wedding dresses and found one by Kelsey Rose that I loved, but I didn’t want to spend that much on something I’d only wear once.”
A few days before the wedding, she had another look.
“I went on Vinted and found a Kelsey Rose dress almost identical to the one I’d sent to my sister months before. I secretly bought it four days before the wedding and just hoped for the best.”
It fit perfectly.
“I borrowed my sister’s hair clips, my mum’s garter and my auntie’s bag. Done.”
You genuinely wouldn’t guess it was a £50 dress.
Their ceremony on the Marble Staircase
The ceremony took place on the Marble Staircase inside Stockport Town Hall—one of the most unique ceremony spaces around.
“We made all of our choices through the Town Hall team and they were really supportive. They helped with where people should stand and coordinated everything on the day, which made it all feel really relaxed.”
After the ceremony, everyone stayed on the staircase for drinks while we did a few family photos, before heading over to Sutton Hall for food, speeches and cake (made by Sam’s mum).
Photos around Stockport town centre
One of the best parts of the day was heading out into Stockport town centre for portraits.
“Walking through town in full wedding gear was absolutely hilarious. People shouting from buses, stepping over vomit—we were a complete spectacle.”
They wanted the photos to feel properly connected to Stockport, so we headed through Underbank, past the red brick buildings and rooftops, and out along the A6.
“Walking past Stockport Gin with a ‘Stockport Isn’t Shit’ bag we borrowed from the barbers was definitely a highlight. We really appreciated being able to go into those parts of Stockport—that’s what we wanted the photos to look like.”
Those ended up being some of my favourite images from the day—completely unpolished, a bit chaotic, and very them.
Planning a wedding at Stockport Town Hall
If you’re planning your own wedding at Stockport Town Hall and are considering getting married on the Marble Staircase, it’s one of the most visually unique ceremony spaces in Greater Manchester. The combination of natural light, architecture and central Stockport locations nearby makes it an amazing venue for relaxed wedding photography.
