Styal Lodge, Cheshire - a real winter wedding – Beth & Connah

Beth and Connah’s February wedding at Styal Lodge was a proper Cheshire winter wedding. Cold enough to need your coat, beautiful enough that you didn’t really care.

Newly weds Beth and Connah make their entrance at Styal Lodge.

Styal Lodge is one of those venues that works brilliantly for a wedding whatever the weather, and on a cold February day, the big windows and beautiful grounds made a pretty impressive backdrop for Beth and Connah’s day.

Beth spent the morning getting ready at the Lodge with her friends and family. Her wedding dress was hanging in the room, waiting for its big moment, while everyone got ready around her.

Over at nearby Stanneylands, my friend Matt was capturing Connah getting ready with his dad and his mates. A slightly different start to the morning, but with the same mixture of excitement, nerves and the realisation that the day was actually happening.

Before the ceremony, Beth had a first look with her dad. It was one of those moments where nobody needed to say very much. Beth saw her dad, the emotion hit, and before long there wasn't a dry eye amongst them. These are the moments I love photographing — the ones that happen naturally, without anyone needing to pose or perform for the camera.

Then it was time for the ceremony. Beth and Connah were married in front of Styal Lodge's huge windows, with their family and friends gathered around them. The winter light coming through the windows made a beautiful setting as they said their vows and officially became husband and wife.

Outside, we had confetti and a big everyone photograph in front of the Lodge. It was cold. Very cold.

Beth and Connah showered in confetti by their bridesmaids.

So this was not the time for a 45-minute photographic production. We got everyone together, got the shot, and got them back inside where they could warm up. Exactly how it should be.

Once everyone was back enjoying themselves, I took Beth and Connah off for their couple portraits. Rather than dragging them around the grounds on foot, we jumped on the golf buggy and headed down to the lake.

And the lake was worth the trip.

It had completely iced up, giving the whole place a proper winter feel. The combination of the frozen water, the winter landscape and the two of them made for some beautiful portraits — photographs that feel very different from the usual summer wedding images.

The whole portrait session was short and sweet. We had a wander, made some great photographs and then headed straight back to the warmth and, more importantly, their guests.

That's pretty much my approach to couple portraits. You don't need to disappear from your wedding for an hour to get photographs you'll want to hang on the wall. Give me around 15 minutes, a decent backdrop and the two of you, and we'll make the most of it.

The rest of the day was all about spending time with family and friends, eating, drinking and enjoying the fact that Beth and Connah were finally married.

And once the evening arrived, there was only one thing left to do. Dance.

The cold February weather was quickly forgotten as everyone hit the dancefloor, and the celebrations carried on late into the night.

Beth and Connah's wedding was a brilliant reminder that winter weddings have their own character. You get the cosy atmosphere, beautiful winter light, frozen lakes and, occasionally, the sort of cold that makes getting the group photograph done at speed a very sensible idea.

A beautiful venue, a brilliant group of family and friends, and a couple who were completely surrounded by the people who matter most to them.

A pretty great way to spend a February day in Cheshire.