Jonathan and Miriam’s Summer Wedding at Peel Street Baptist Church and Cronkshaw Fold Farm
A Beautiful, Faith Filled Summer Wedding Day in Lancashire
By Rebekah, Lancashire wedding photographer specialising in classic, natural wedding photography across Greater Manchester and the North West.
Jonathan and Miriam’s wedding holds a very special place in my heart. It was my very first wedding as a professional photographer, and what a wonderful day it was to begin with. On a warm August morning I arrived at Peel Street Baptist Church in Accrington, their home church, feeling the nerves that come with any first, but the warmth of the church community settled me immediately. From the moment I walked through the door, I felt genuinely welcomed, and that warmth carried through every single moment of the day.
Groom Portraits at Peel Street Baptist Church, Accrington
Before the ceremony I took Jonathan outside for some groom portraits on the church steps. He was relaxed and completely at ease, which made my job much smoother. His three groomsmen joined him shortly afterwards, happy and full of laughter, and together they made for a wonderfully natural group to photograph.
Jonathan showed no signs of nerves as he waited for Miriam to arrive, which was lovely thing to see.
The Ceremony at Peel Street Baptist Church
The ceremony at Peel Street Baptist Church was a beautiful and genuine reflection of Jonathan and Miriam’s Christian faith. Close friends and family participated with heartfelt readings and songs, and their pastor Alex delivered a touching and personal sermon that spoke directly to the couple and the life they were beginning together. It was a meaningful and joyful service, and a real privilege to photograph.
The church itself was decorated beautifully with wild flowers throughout, from the buttonholes and chair decorations to the stage, which was draped in purple cloth and framed with arrangements of wild flowers. Every detail felt personal and considered.
Miriam arrived with her father, and together they walked down the aisle in one of those quiet, tender moments that never gets old to photograph. Jonathan waited at the front, and the love between them was clear from the very first moment she appeared.
The ceremony included the exchange of rings, a first kiss, and the signing of the register, before Jonathan and Miriam walked back down the aisle together as husband and wife to the celebration of everyone gathered.
Confetti and Family Portraits Outside the Church
After the ceremony, guests gathered outside to shower Jonathan and Miriam with confetti in a wonderfully joyful moment. Then guests headed inside to enjoy a delicious buffet hosted by the church, while I stayed outside with Jonathan, Miriam, and their families for the formal group photographs.
One of my favourite moments of the entire day happened during the family portraits. Jonathan’s dad, clearly enjoying himself, peeked playfully through the church doors in the background of one of the shots, completely unaware that I had spotted him. It brought genuine laughter from everyone and produced one of the most natural and joyful photograph.
Arriving at Cronkshaw Fold Farm, Rossendale
From Accrington I travelled to Cronkshaw Fold Farm in Rossendale for the reception, and the venue was everything a summer wedding reception should be. The farm had a wonderful rustic charm, and Miriam, her bridal party, and their florist had decorated it beautifully with wild flowers throughout. Capturing all those creative details was a genuine pleasure.
When Jonathan and Miriam arrived, we began their couple portraits with a fun and memorable start. Their first request was a shot with both of them poking their heads through the sunroof of their wedding car, and it is exactly the kind of joyful, personality filled moment that makes a wedding album feel truly theirs.
Couple Portraits on the Farm and Rolling Hills
From the wedding car we wandered out to a nearby field on the farm grounds, with the most beautiful rolling hills stretching out behind us. Jonathan and Miriam were completely natural together, laughing, holding hands, and simply enjoying being with each other. The love between them came through in every frame without any need for direction.
Jonathan and Miriam had also hoped for a hammock photograph among the farm’s features, but it had been taken down before the wedding day. It was a small disappointment, but the farm offered so many other wonderful spots that we were never short of beautiful locations to work with. From a little cabin to a treehouse, a rustic barn, and the courtyard itself, Cronkshaw Fold Farm provided a genuinely lovely variety of backdrops for both the couple portraits and the wedding party photographs.
As a Lancashire wedding photographer, these outdoor couple portrait sessions in beautiful countryside settings are some of my most favourite moments to capture, and Jonathan and Miriam’s session in those rolling hills was no exception.
Wedding Party and Reception Details
Back in the courtyard, guests enjoyed the warm summer sunshine, chatting and celebrating together. The reception room itself was beautifully dressed, with purple cloth running down the centre of the tables and wild flower arrangements in small vases at every setting. Every detail felt carefully chosen and full of personality.
We gathered the wedding party together for a few final group photographs in front of one of the farm’s beautiful wooden doors, before I left Jonathan and Miriam to enjoy the rest of their wonderful day with their loved ones.
Thank You, Jonathan and Miriam
Jonathan and Miriam, your wedding will always hold a special place in my heart as the day my journey as a wedding photographer began. Thank you for trusting me with such a significant and meaningful day. I wish you both a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness together.
Planning a Wedding in Lancashire?
If you are planning a wedding in Lancashire and are looking for a Lancashire wedding photographer who will capture your day with care, warmth, and genuine attention to every important moment, I would love to hear from you.
Whether you are planning a church wedding, a farm reception, or any celebration across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, or the wider North West, I bring the same dedication and love of natural, classic photography to every single wedding day.