Romantic Gothic Wedding in a Library


When Katie & Luke first reached out to me Katie told me how she wanted to look like a ghost haunting the Library in their wedding photographs and honestly I was immediately on board and so excited to photograph their wedding. They wanted gothic but without the skulls, more fairytale romantic in a gothic style. They told me how they also wanted those natural candid moments of their friends and family who are so rarely all in one place together.


Chethams Library really was the perfect venue for this it's a stunning historic library dating back to 1421 filled with so much history and character (highly recommend a visit if you're ever in Manchester).


For the reception they moved to The Black Friar another beautiful old building in Manchester that has been renovated as a cosy pub and a beautiful garden area.


I would absolutely love to photograph a wedding at Chethams Library or The Black Friar again, so if you're booked in and looking for a photographer definitely get in touch!

Historic stone manor house with grand entrance steps, arched doorway, symmetrical windows, and manicured hedges under a clear blue sky.

Getting Ready at Dakota Hotel Manchester


The day started with a relaxed morning of getting ready in the incredible Dakota Hotel in Manchester with a dark and moody interior and exterior it was the perfect place to start the day. With the amazingly talented Katie Gale to do the makeup and some very organised and supportive bridesmaid the morning was a breeze filled with excitement.


Katies whole look was incredible from head to toe. She'd shared some suppliers with me before the day and I was excited to see it all come together based on that but in person the outcome was absolutely perfect for both Katie and her bridesmaids.


The suppliers behind Katies look:

Hair & Makeup: @katiegale.collective

Dress: @lacydaysoframsbottom

Veil: @brittenweddings

Tiara: @romanticelfjewelry

Necklace: @messageinstone

Flowers: @pennyandpetals


The morning finished with an emotional first look with Katies dad and then they jumped in a taxi to take them to the Library.

Silhouettes of two people standing before a large window overlooking a cityscape in black and white.
A lush bouquet of burgundy, peach, and cream flowers in a mason jar with red ribbon, resting on books on a wooden shelf.
Elderly woman in floral robe getting makeup done under bright light in a dimly lit room.
Ethereal white tulle fabric draped over a chair against a dark black background, creating a ghostly, elegant composition.
Bridesmaids in burgundy dresses help a bride in a white lace gown prepare in a warmly lit room.
Black and white photo of a smiling woman reflected in a small mirror, holding it up to her face.
Silhouette of a bride in veil and gown standing by a window in black and white wedding photography.
Bride in white gown and veil seen from behind, facing her parents dressed in formal attire in a warmly lit room.
Elderly man in a dark suit adjusting his jacket, standing in a doorway in a vintage black and white photo.

A first look & private vows


Katie was so excited to see her soon to be husband Luke and before the ceremony they had a little first look and private vows. A moment just for themselves before and it was such a beautiful moment filled with love, excitement and a groom absolutely in awe at the first sight of Katie.

Bride holding a lush autumn bridal bouquet with deep red, pink, and cream flowers with eucalyptus and ribbon.
Black and white photo of a woman playing violin, captured in a moody, artistic side profile shot.
Bride in off-shoulder lace gown with tiara holds bouquet in elegant dark wood room with arched windows.
Bride in white gown standing in a stone archway of a dimly lit historic church, holding a bouquet.
Black and white photo of a groom in a suit adjusting his cufflinks inside a historic stone church.
Person walking through a dimly lit stone archway corridor in an ancient building with warm torch lighting.
A stylish groom in a dark suit with floral bow tie and pocket square, smiling in a dimly lit elegant venue.
Black and white photo of a bride in a lace gown holding a bouquet, standing by arched windows in a historic manor.
Black and white wedding photo of bride and groom sharing an intimate moment, bride holding floral bouquet.
Bride and groom sharing a tender moment in an elegant wood-paneled room during their wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom share a romantic moment in an elegant wood-paneled room, her long veil trailing gracefully on the floor.

Wedding Ceremony in Chethams Library Baronial Hall


Next was the ceremony in the incredible medieval Baronial Hall at Chethams Library.


Music: @northern_string_quartet

A groom in a dark suit stands beside floral arrangements and candles in a stone-walled venue during a wedding ceremony.
Two people in colorful vintage costumes embracing at an indoor event, one wearing a red fez hat and orange brocade robe.
Bride walks down the aisle with her father in a rustic stone chapel, wearing a lace gown and veil, holding a burgundy bouquet.
Bride walking down the aisle in a stone church toward the groom during a romantic wedding ceremony.
Smiling wedding guests seated in a rustic venue, featuring a woman in a green suit flanked by two men in formal attire.
A bridesmaid in a burgundy off-shoulder gown holds a floral bouquet while standing among seated wedding guests.
Guests laughing and smiling during a wedding ceremony, woman in orange dress with pink fascinator seated beside man in suit.
Black and white photo of a bride walking down a stone church aisle with her father and a man holding the door.
Smiling groom in gray suit holding open ring box during wedding ceremony exchange.
Black and white photo of a blonde woman seated in a crowd, looking forward with a calm expression.
Groom in grey suit placing wedding ring on tattooed bride's finger during intimate ceremony.
Black and white wedding photo of bride and groom exchanging rings during ceremony.
Groom reads vows to bride in elegant veil during gothic castle wedding ceremony with guests seated behind.
A wedding ceremony in a grand medieval stone hall with gothic windows, chandelier lighting, and guests seated before the couple.
Black and white wedding photo of couple sharing first kiss at altar with guests applauding in elegant venue.

Romantic, Gothic Couple Portraits


Next was the moment we got to create some beautiful "ghost haunting the library" kind of magic in the form of couple portraits. It was an absolute dream with this stunning gothic library moodiness and big windows as the backdrop and although Katie & Luke had told me how they weren't very comfortable in front of the camera they also asked me to guide them as much as possible to create something that they loved and I'm so grateful that they really trusted me with this. I know that being in front of a camera can be a really difficult and daunting thing but they really did lean into it and I think the outcome was so worth it.


The wonderful Katie Gale was also on hand ready to do some pre portrait touch ups to Katies makeup (it was an team of Katies this day, what a dream haha).

Bride in white gown seated by gothic window as tattooed stylist adjusts veil in elegant wood-paneled room.
Bride in lace gown and veil stands by stone window with dramatic light rays in a historic castle setting.
Bride in flowing white tulle gown with crown stands in dramatic stone hallway with warm light rays.
Bride in elegant white lace gown stands in dramatic dark stone corridor with light beam, creating ethereal wedding portrait.
Bride in elegant white lace gown with flowing veil stands in dimly lit stone castle corridor with wooden beam ceiling.
Black and white wedding photo of bride and groom sharing a romantic moment, groom tenderly holding brides face.
Bride and groom stand romantically in a dimly lit, wood-paneled library hall during their wedding.
A bride in a flowing white gown and veil embraces her groom in a grand, dark wood library aisle.
Black and white photo of a bride and groom sharing a romantic almost-kiss, bride wearing lace dress and floral crown.
Bride in white gown with long veil stands in a dark, vintage library with tall wooden bookshelves and warm lighting.
Bride and groom share a romantic embrace in a dark, elegant library aisle, bride wearing a flowing white gown with veil.
Black and white photo of a hand with a ring resting on a lace wedding dress beside a pearl necklace.
A bride and groom embrace in a grand library, framed by a dark archway with tall bookshelves and warm lighting.
Bride in lace off-shoulder wedding gown holding pearl jewelry, moody dark background.
Abstract black and white photo of light and shadows on textured lace fabric with dramatic diagonal lines.

Confetti & Group Photographs


After the couple portraits the sun really came out and Katie and Luke walked out into a whirlwind of confetti and then celebrated and documented their special guests with some group photographs.

Wedding party poses outside stone church, bride in white lace gown with groomsmen in gray suits and bridesmaids in burgundy dresses.
Bride in lace gown with two bridesmaids in dark dresses holding bouquets outside a stone church.
Bride in white lace gown with tiara holds bouquet beside smiling woman in orange dress and pink hat outside stone church.
Bride in lace gown and tiara poses with smiling older couple outside stone church door.
Black and white wedding photo of bride and groom with family outside historic stone church.
Large wedding party group photo posed outside a historic stone church building at dusk.

What a beautiful day from start to finish in a truly special venue! If this looks like the kind of day your planning or even better if you're doing it at Chethams Library or The Black Friar then definitely head over to my contact page and drop me a message. I'd love to hear from you!

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