Catholic Wedding Photography In Liverpool
Maria & Rohan’s DIY Wedding.
When you picture a Catholic wedding in Liverpool, you might imagine timeless traditions, family, and faith. But Maria and Rohan’s celebration was something truly personal — a heartfelt DIY wedding that beautifully reflected their shared beliefs and love story.
Their day began with a joyful ceremony at St Anne’s Church, Liverpool, followed by a relaxed school celebration where they both now teach. This was something very special to capture.
As a wedding photographer, what stood out to me was how personal every moment felt. This wasn’t a styled shoot or a Pinterest-perfect setup — it was a genuine reflection of who they are. Surrounded by colleagues, pupils’ families, and friends, their celebration felt like a community coming together to witness something sacred and joyful.
Every part of their day carried meaning — from the food they chose to the handmade touches crafted by friends and family. Maria and Rohan’s Catholic wedding in Liverpool is proof that the most beautiful weddings aren’t about extravagance, but about authenticity, connection, and faith.
Here’s their story, told in their own words.
The Couple’s Story – in Their Own Words
We are Maria and Rohan Boulton-Bald, and this is our Catholic wedding in Liverpool. I (Rohan) was born in Leeds but raised in Poole on the South Coast. Maria was born and raised in Liverpool (though you’d never tell by the accent).
Neither of us was raised Catholic. I had a nominal Anglican background, attending church occasionally as a child, but I became a committed atheist in my teens. Maria grew up in a very faithful Evangelical environment, attending a Christian school that felt more like a family than a school.
Despite these differences, we met at the Catholic chaplaincy in Glasgow. After many years of prayer and consideration, Maria was baptised and confirmed as a Catholic in 2017, and I was confirmed in 2019 after a long period of research into Christianity and the Catholic Church.
As I said in my wedding speech, because I knew the serious and radical nature of Jesus’ teaching, I wanted to dedicate my entire life to Him. I assumed this meant becoming a monk or a priest, so after finishing university, I went off to seminary.
Before this, I had become close friends with Maria. Without fully realising it, I had started to fall in love with her. Maria had loved me for a long time but kept it hidden, supporting me as I went to seminary.
Midway through seminary, after I tried to cut all contact with Maria, we ended up kissing and realised that God might be calling us to be together.
Catholic Wedding in Liverpool – St Anne’s Church
Our engagement was very special. As Catholics, we love the saints and often ask them to pray for us. We especially feel an affinity for saints who were married. One famous couple is Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
To cut a long story short, we got engaged in the same spot where Maria first ever prayed for a husband — in front of a statue of St. Joseph, in the church where Louis and Zélie were married in Alençon, France. It was beautiful and felt like a real gift from God.
Initially, we were unsure where and when to get married. I wanted it sooner, but we both wanted the date to be significant, particularly on the feast day of married saints.
After some consideration, we chose 26th July, the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne — the grandparents of Jesus and parents of Mary. We also felt that St Anne’s Church would be appropriate for our Catholic wedding in Liverpool because it was where I first heard a whisper from God that I should marry Maria.
A DIY School Wedding Celebration Full of Faith and Joy
After months of prayer and planning, everything finally came together for our Catholic wedding in Liverpool — a day that felt deeply personal and filled with community spirit.
We now both teach at the same wonderful school where Maria was once a pupil, so hosting our wedding reception there made the day even more meaningful — a true DIY celebration surrounded by our school community. We were thrilled when the school allowed us to use the grounds as our reception venue, conveniently right next door to St Anne’s Church.
Honestly, we can’t believe how perfectly everything came together. We are so grateful to the many people who gave up their time in countless ways, even helping with our clothing to make our dream Catholic wedding in Liverpool a reality.
Despite a small budget, I had a kilt made to measure, and Maria wore a second-hand wedding dress — both funded by our families. Maria’s dress required hours of alterations, lovingly done by a friend who teaches textiles at the school.
A Joyful Celebration Next Door
We didn’t have a wedding theme other than “Maria and Rohan.” We wanted it to be a place of joy — perhaps even a glimpse of heaven. And, by God’s grace, that’s exactly how it felt.
What truly made our Catholic wedding in Liverpool were the people: our family and friends. We felt so loved and celebrated. A previous pupil played guitar, my former flatmate cooked, and a parent from school served ice cream. The only things we hired from companies were the Ceilidh, photography, and marquee.
Maria’s mum also organised a wonderful surprise: two donkeys for the children to enjoy at the school. Maria adores donkeys and has previously volunteered to care for them, so this was a beautiful and meaningful moment.
We are so grateful to everyone who contributed and to Wes — our photographer — who captured these memories from our Catholic wedding in Liverpool so beautifully. His calm approach allowed us to step away from the crowd and simply be together, appreciating the day.
Our top tip for marriage prep is to pray together as a couple. God will guide you; you just need to trust Him.
Thank you, best wishes,
Maria and Rohan x
5 Timeless Photography Moments
When I photographed Maria and Rohan’s Catholic wedding in Liverpool, I wanted them to take time — to pause, breathe, and just be. Those moments, where they looked at each other and truly saw what the day meant, became some of the best images of all.
- The quiet, prayerful pause before walking down the aisle — pure peace and anticipation.
- The light falling through St Anne’s windows as the couple exchanged vows — faith and warmth captured in one frame.
- Their laughter together during portraits — unposed, genuine, perfectly them.
- The moment Maria saw the donkeys and the family dog, surprise, joy, and pure love.
- The calm embrace at sunset, just the two of them in front of their school — gratitude for everything the day had brought.
Each of these moments reminded me why I love photographing a DIY wedding, and why this Catholic wedding in Liverpool was special— not for the grandeur, but for the humanity.
Reflections on Catholic Wedding Photography in Liverpool
Stories like Maria and Rohan’s remind me why I love photographing a Catholic wedding in Liverpool. These days are not about perfection; they’re about meaning — a celebration of faith, love, and community.
If you’d like to see more authentic wedding stories like this one, visit:
My Wedding Blog – more real wedding stories and photography inspiration.
Portfolio – see how natural moments tell powerful stories.
Contact Me – enquire about your wedding photography in Liverpool or beyond.
At Wes Simpson Weddings, it’s not about perfect poses — it’s about documenting your story, naturally and authentically, just like this beautiful Catholic wedding in Liverpool.
