Merrydale Manor Wedding VideographER
As Elle and Henry’s Merrydale Manor wedding videographer, I once again returned to one of the most popular wedding venues in the country. This wedding felt a little more personal to me, as Elle’s father, Jim, used to be my boss during my previous career in the police. We worked together on the same team for a year, so it was great to catch up with both Jim and Elle’s mum, Alison, who I had also worked with, as they enjoyed retirement from their police careers.
Elle and Henry got ready at Merrydale Manor before Catherine from Your Ceremony held the wedding ceremony in the Ceremony Room, bathed in glorious spring sunshine. The unseasonably warm weather allowed the drinks reception to take place in the gardens before surprise singing waiters whipped the guests into full party mode. A rare golden hour provided the perfect opportunity for couple portraits in the grounds of Merrydale Manor before the first dance and evening celebrations began. It was a wedding full of energy, and it was great to work alongside Philip James Photography on the day too!
RECOMMENDED Merrydale Manor VideographER
is set within acres of private land, featuring manicured grounds, a private lake, and a dramatic sweeping driveway.
I have worked with the teams at Merrydale Manor and the caterers, Top Table, for years, so I understand how the venue operates and always ensure my coverage fits seamlessly with the flow of the day. Being easy to work with and flexible in my approach, I always aim to work closely with the Merrydale Manor team, which is one of the reasons I am proud to be one of their recommended wedding videographers.
Why Merrydale Manor Works Beautifully on Film
Merrydale Manor is an exclusive use wedding venue where every element of your wedding day has been considered and carefully catered for. Preparation spaces are available for both parties, either inside the Manor House or in The Cave, allowing everyone to get ready at the venue.
Merrydale Manor is one of Cheshire’s largest luxury wedding venues, with capacity for 200 guests for the wedding breakfast and up to 220 for the evening celebrations. It is one of the largest capacity wedding venues in the country, but has been thoughtfully designed so that even weddings with fewer than 200 guests still feel personal and intimate.
The Stables ceremony room has recently had a full glass wall installed, allowing natural light to flood into the space, which makes ceremonies look incredible in both photos and film. The grounds are extensive, with manicured gardens, a private lake, and the perfect setting to take advantage of golden hour portraits. The venue is luxuriously styled and looks beautiful on film. It is a fantastic venue to work at and one I am lucky enough to return to multiple times each year.
HOW I CREATED ELLE & HENRY'S WEDDING FILM
One of the questions I get asked is how you make a film unique at a venue you film at often. The answer is simple: whilst the venue might be the same, the people and story change at every wedding. My style of wedding videography is all about capturing people and each couple’s unique story.
Elle and Henry wanted a fun, upbeat party and their day lived up to those plans, aided by amazing weather. For my edit, it was a simple choice: the film had to be high energy, fast paced, and showcase all the energy and fun that took place on the day.
I decided to start the trailer with a lighter moment from Henry’s groom speech, alongside footage of Elle and Henry during golden hour, to introduce the couple on screen as Henry tells a story about the early days of their relationship. I like to start with something funny and upbeat. Weddings are a celebration, and I think a wedding film should lean into this style more.
The footage I used wasn’t in slow motion. I wanted the shaky handheld style to foreshadow the more energetic style of the day and the film that is to come.
From Henry’s speech, I cut to guests hugging Elle and Henry post ceremony, before briefly showing bride and groom preparations as we jump around in the timeline. I chose to mix up the timeline to keep the viewer engaged. One of the highlights of the morning was Elle’s father, Jim, seeing Elle in her dress and the raw emotion that he showed. I wanted to build up to that and show the joy and pride in Elle’s father, a real emotional high on the day.
As I had built the emotion up, I felt it was time for the money shot of Elle arriving at the aisle and then the first kiss. Sometimes I like to hold this back, but with so much party footage to come, I decided this could be the gateway to ramping up the pace of the edit.
From here it was fast cuts of the reception, singing waiters, and first dance. At this point, I wanted to go back to Henry’s speech and use a more heartfelt section where he talks emotionally about the magic of their relationship, about doing nothing meaning everything. I like to contrast this observation against the couple doing so many things on their wedding day, the contrast of simplicity and celebration, before ending on a repeated shot from the opening golden hour, match cut through movement to a drone shot on the lake.
I wanted to include lots of content in this film, keeping it raw and real, with high energy and party taking centre stage. I think this trailer really showcases the fun side of Elle and Henry’s wedding at Merrydale Manor.
ELLE & HENRY'S TESTIMONIAL
I’m not one to shout too loud about myself, but Elle and Henry left a lovely review after receiving their film:
“James was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Our wedding film is truly beautiful and something we will cherish forever. Watching it back made us appreciate life, love, and all the special moments from our day even more.
James captured every emotion, detail, and memory so naturally and perfectly, allowing us to relive the day all over again. His professionalism, creativity, and calming presence throughout the day made such a difference, and we honestly couldn’t have asked for anything more.
This is a memory that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Thank you, James, for creating something so meaningful and special for us. Elle & Henry.”
If you’re planning a wedding at Merrydale Manor and want a wedding film that feels natural, emotional and full of energy, I’d love to hear about your plans.