Elle & Henry's Merrydale Manor Wedding
Elle and Henry wanted one thing for their wedding: they wanted it to be upbeat, lively and fun, and they absolutely delivered. Luckily for me, I got to film their day at one of my most popular venues, Merrydale Manor in Cheshire. And this wedding had a personal connection to me too, as I used to work with Elle’s father, Jim, in my previous career. So I really wanted to knock this one out of the park!
Both Elle and Henry got ready at Merrydale Manor, Elle in the Main House and Henry in The Cave. The Main House preparation room is situated right next to the kitchen and conservatory-style living area, which has skylights that fill the room with light. This space is perfect for exchanging gifts with your bridesmaids or doing your dress reveals. It’s a comfortable, stylish space that looks great on camera, and the skylights make every shot look beautiful. The Cave implies a darker, moodier setting for the guys, but I always recommend getting ready closer to the glass doors and skylights, which give me light and shade to shape the light for my preparation shots.
Merrydale’s ceremony room has had a facelift over the past couple of years with floor-to-ceiling windows installed at the front. I know I talk about light a lot, but as a wedding videographer, having clean, natural light is critical to getting interesting, creative shots, and the huge glass windows flood the spot where you get married with natural light. Every ceremony I film at Merrydale now looks amazing, and the best part is that the couple get married overlooking the beautiful grounds of the estate.
Now, the brief was upbeat and fun, and the weather got the memo. With a stunning, summer-like day in March, the drinks reception was held entirely in the gardens. Then came the surprise of singing waiters after the meal, getting the guests dancing and partying. The unscripted chaos of singing waiters is perfect for my style of filming; it gives me so much party footage of guests having a fantastic time, which is exactly what every couple wants for their day (and their film).
Of course, beautiful sun in March means a beautiful golden hour, which means I have even more amazing footage for the film.
How I edited Elle and 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 story in an honest and unique way.
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.
I wanted the shaky handheld style to mirror the more energetic style of the day and to set the tone for 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 and exactly the kind of genuine moment I want a wedding film to preserve. 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 the 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 the party taking centre stage. I think this trailer really showcases the fun side of Elle and Henry’s wedding.
Elle and 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.