We love working at Parley Manor weddings. This secluded Georgian Manor House is the perfect dedicated wedding venue for couples wanting a touch of English splendor to their wedding day. Ross and Lisa had not only fallen in love with each other but the grandeur of the house and the detailed feel of the huge enchanting gardens and surrounding countryside. It certainly made for some stunning documentary wedding photographs.
Parley Manor Wedding Morning with the Bride
I arrived at Lisa’s family home in Christchurch, Dorset on her Parley Manor wedding morning. All of the girls were grouped together in a bedroom busily getting ready.
In the next room all of the wedding shoes and dresses hung ready for the day ahead. Lisa’s stunning ivory trumpet, sleeveless wedding dress dominated the room in the window. Hanging on a personalised hanger it showed off its sequinned detail, glowing in the backlight
The mirrored wardrobe served as a huge mirror for all styling hair and makeup, a real jovial team effort. The little flower girls were first into their pink dresses, shortly followed by the bridesmaids into their gorgeous aqua bridesmaid’s dresses. Downstairs the stunning wedding bouquets in dusky pinks had arrived and started to fill the house with a wonderful floral scent.
Once Lisa’s Gran was ready it took most of Lisa’s bridesmaids and her mother to help her into her dress. By this point in the morning the nerves had passed and she was radiating a happy beauty that can only come from a bride on her wedding morning.
Outside in the bright sunlight the sound of a four-cylinder engine announced the arrival of Superior Wedding Cars’ (one of our recommended wedding car suppliers) 1928 Chevrolet Old English Tourer – a breath-taking classic.
Parley Manor Wedding Morning with the Groom
Meanwhile Murray joined the chaps half a mile across Christchurch. Cufflinks, aqua cravats and hip flasks were prepared.Obvious height differences resulted in laughter at the best man’s step he had to use to tie Ross’s cravat. With wedding morning nerves starting to creep in the final touches were made to speeches and button holes before leaving for the Parley Manor wedding.
At Parley Manor wedding venue the bright sun showed off the deep greens and colourful flowers of the gardens, casting guest’s shadows long across the grounds. Ross greeted guests and prepared himself for the pavilion ceremony with the aid of his hip flask.
Back in the Manor House the girls waited for all of the guests to be seated, backlit by the low sun in the Garden room. Even their dog was dressed up!!
Lisa and her father were led out by flower girls sprinkling flower petals with the four bridesmaids.
Parley Manor Wedding Ceremony Photos
Under the columns of the faux Roman Temple Ross awaited with best man Alex by his side. All nerves were replaced for tearful smiles on sight of his stunning bride.
Unusually the wedding rings they were delivered by their dog, also looking smart in his dog suit! As birds merrily chirped outside the mothers and one of the bridesmaids conducted some heartfelt readings.
Photographs of Parley Manor Wedding Reception
After the ceremony Merlin’s Catering served celebratory drinks in the heat of the gardens
We had time to organise a few group photographs before the guests proceeded through gardens and into the wedding breakfast marquee. The happy couple was announced into the room by Lisa’s father and a standing ovation from their guests.
Parley Manor Wedding Breakfast
Lisa and Ross had predicted good weather for their perfect Parley Manor wedding day and had chosen Merlin’s Catering’s option of sumptuous BBQ style food.
Once well fed and invigorated with an array of sweet summer deserts the guest were treated to some heart-warming and tear filled speeches. A comical high point (excuse the pun) was Alex the best man getting on his stool and providing enough tears for all!
With coffees in hand the wedding guests were then treated to the sweet temptation provided by Charlotte Louise events’ Wedding Sweet Cart. The younger guests and their parents took advantage of the children’s pay equipment on the lawns and the guests enjoyed the coy pond and Italian walled gardens.
Wedding Evening Photographs at Parley Manor in Dorset
As the sun stared to dip into the horizon we took a wander around Parley Manor wedding venue’s beautiful gardens with the happy couple. Hand in hand and grinning from ear to ear the entire time Ross and Lisa enjoyed ten minutes of peace and a wonderful sunset.
As it does on every wedding day time flew and before they knew it, it was time to cut the aqua and pink birdcage style wedding cake from Sweetcheeks bake house.
Mr DJ had set up and the evening swiftly onto the First Dance. The twirling couple were joined by guests eager to show off some serious moves and the dark of night slowly crept in outside.
Wedding Sparklers Photographs at Parley Manor
The guests joined Murray and I on the lawns with more giant Sparklers than you could shake, well, a sparkler at! We left the merriment with the smell of fireworks and the sound of laughter in the air.