A winter wedding at Leaf on Bold Street
It’s always a really, really lovely thing to witness a wedding that’s so personal and taking Suze and Paul’s Leaf on Bold Street wedding photography right at the end of last year in Liverpool was a really brilliant end to my wedding season.
“And I need you more than want you
And I want you for all time”
One of the most beautiful parts of Suze and Paul’s wedding day was Paul performing with his band in the evening, when he sang the lyrics above to Suze and she sang them right back at him.
A Harry Potter inspired first look
A first look in a library that felt like something out of Harry Potter, twinkling lights, a light installation at St George’s Hall which gave me the opportunity to photograph Suze and Paul with giant light up flowers (errr, YESSS!), a bagpipe led procession through the streets of Liverpool and the friendliest of welcomes by one of the loveliest couples and it really was the most perfect end to the year.
Working with Laura was lovely, she felt like a guest at the wedding
Here’s what Suze and Paul had to say about working with me for their Leaf on Bold Street wedding.
Babb Photo’s creative and colourful style is why we booked Laura! We didn’t want conventional stiff photography which would dominate our day. Our priority was photos that would document the fun and the atmosphere. We actually fell in love with an image on Pinterest when we were first planning the wedding and it turned out to be Laura’s! When we found that out we knew we had picked the right photographer! Not to mention the ability to take amazing pictures with little natural light – which we thought might be an issue given the winter months. Working with Laura was lovely, she felt like a guest at the wedding – she was so nice to everyone, we never once felt uncomfortable or awkwardly posed, and she blended in capturing the moments which mean so much to us.
Thank you xx
Scroll down to the bottom to read more about Suze and Paul and their Leaf on Bold Street wedding in their own words.
If you’re looking for Leaf on Bold Street Wedding Photography or wedding photography in Liverpool, get in touch!
We started as friends
We met and became friends when we both cared for Autistic adults in 2009. I knew from the moment I met Paul he was going to be someone special in my life. We have had ups and downs. From travelling together around SE Asia, to moving to London. Paul is training to be a paramedic and I am so proud.
A proposal in Scotland
For Paul’s 30th I surprised him with a trip around Scotland in a motor home – something he has always wanted to do. On the 3rd night we stayed in a little beauty spot overlooking Loch Awe, In the morning Paul was very insistent we had breakfast on the platform overlooking the Loch as the sun had come out for the first time on our trip (it is Scotland after all). We had pancakes sitting on a piece of tarpaulin and Paul proposed, with an amazing antique sapphire ring which is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen!
A Liverpool wedding
We live in London, Paul is from Dundee and I am from the Wirral. Liverpool is really special to us both. We had our first date there, and years of more dates together following that. Our plan is to move back there in a few years, as it feels like home.
We wanted an informal, comfortable, colourful wedding just like us. As we’re not very “polished”, a conventional wedding didn’t feel like “us”. We wanted to bring a bit of Scotland to the day. Tartan was the answer and with this came the idea of a winter wedding, which we both fell in love with. Our venues were both beautiful inside, so we didn’t have to spend the whole day worried about the weather.
St Georges hall is the first thing you see when you arrive in Liverpool and leave lime street station. It’s always felt so welcoming and homely to us and the concert room is so beautiful and vintage. We saw it once years ago when we went to a craft fair there and I actually said to Paul “I wonder if you can get married here, that would be a dream”. We looked at so many reception venues and they all felt cold and formal. On one of the days we were searching, we went to Leaf and it suddenly came to us: let’s do it here! We love the art deco features and coloured bulb lights – it feels homely.
A Tartan suit and a vintage style dress
Everyone expected Paul to be in a kilt – but he feels better in a suit so went for a compromise – Tartan suit. He wanted something fitted which looked designer and cool – but without the price tag. Black Watch tartan is one of our favourites and when we found this stylish 3 piece from Noose and Monkey he snapped it up and looked so handsome.
I have always loved Anna Campbell’s designs – they are vintage, lacy and hand-beaded. They look like something out of a film! Originally I didn’t know you could buy her designs in the UK and spent a long time trying to find a replacement for my dream “Sierra” dress. I found Jean Jackson Couture in Manchester and once I saw the dress in real life I was smitten and felt like me. The shop owners are the loveliest people, they are so kind and genuine, Beck, in particular, went out of her way to help me and really made my experience so amazing. I loved chatting to her as much as I loved trying on my dress.
Brides shoes – Emmy London – a lovely little shop in London where all shoes are hand embellished – I love my blue shoes.
My necklace, circa 1900 and Edwardian, was my wedding gift from Paul, from the same place he got my engagement ring. Paul’s wedding ring is a combination of his Dad’s and Grandad’s rings melted together. We love old things. The idea that they have been loved before and have a history gives them more meaning we think.
The Wedding Ceremony
We wanted our ceremony to continue fit with “us”. As we aren’t sensible or serious so went or the most informal and natural vows we could. Paul’s dad read Robert Burns ‘A red, red rose’ and Suze’s good friend Estelle read the Lyrics to “When stars go blue” by Ryan Adams, our first dance song and the first song we ever danced to together.
Tartan styling
Tartan was the main theme throughout, due to Paul’s Scottish roots. We loved the idea of giving a tartan scarf as a favour to keep everyone cosy on their walk to Leaf. It was great to give everyone something they could remember the day with, and who doesn’t smile at a tartan scarf? We have about 20 between us! Mixed colours made it festive, warm and informal.
We went for dark red, green, navy and yellow for the Bridemaids and the flowers. The bridesmaids each wore a colour that suited them. I did the flowers myself with the Bridemaids doing their own bouquets the day before as a bit of pre-wedding fun. Red roses – the flower of England and blue thistles the colour of Scotland – with other colours thrown in so they were bright and pretty.
Wild dear for Scotland
On the trip where we got engaged, we saw lots of wild deer, which we loved. As big fans of British wildlife we used foxes, robins, deer and of course BEAGLES (because of our most loved family pet beagle Ben) for our wedding stationery and table plan. Our very talented friend and bridesmaid Sam painted the pictured of the animals.
Paul sang Wichita Lineman
Paul did some songs with his friend’s Chris and Mark. I didn’t know what they were going to play and Paul sang Wichita Lineman to me. It was one of my favourite moments of the wedding. There is a line in the song that means a lot to us and I had engraved on Paul’s wedding gift. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Our favourite parts of the wedding
It’s so hard to pick! Probably the first look, and walking through town with our nephew playing the bagpipes. Both of those moments were very emotional for us.
Advice for other couples who are getting married
Don’t listen to others telling you how to do things. It’s your day and you will love it more if it feels like YOUR day! Get a great photographer as that’s how you capture the memories you get to keep. Finally, have a first look. It was the best idea we had! As a result of having one, we felt calmer and also shared a very special moment together.
The Credits
Leaf on Bold Street wedding photography – Babb Photo
Outfits (Designer & boutique ) – Anna Campbell www.annacampbell.com.au – boutique: Jean Jackson Couture www.jeanjacksoncouture.com
Accessories – Necklace – Miwa’s Fine Jewellery, Gray’s Antiques.
Shoes – Emmy London. www.emmylondon.com
Florist – Suze and Bridemaids (Sarah, Lucy, Jackie and Sam
Venue – St George’s Hall www.liverpoolcityhalls.co.uk/st-georges-hall, Leaf on Bold street www.thisisleaf.co.uk
Decor/styling – Us
Cake Maker – Suze
Caterer – Leaf
Best Men = Alex and Mackie
Bridesmaids Dresses – Lindy bop
Groom/Groomsmen – they wore their own suits with tartan ties
Wedding Planner – N/A
Stationery – Sam and Suze
Entertainment (day & evening) – Us
Transport – Hackney cab
Videographer – Jonathan Tyler (Suze’s Brother) and Dave Short at Blue Almond Films
Bagpiper – Rhys Beattie – our nephew
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Wow, this wedding is stunning! Beautiful work Babb! <3
Thank youuuu x