SIR THOMAS HOTEL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: FUN LIVERPOOL WEDDING
Emma and Sam are a fun-loving couple who were 100% true to themselves on their wedding day. They had a traditional ceremony at their family church, St Teresa’s followed by a Liverpool city wedding reception at the Sir Thomas Hotel.
Walking through Liverpool City Centre and bumping into a Drag Queen outside of The Lisbon, visiting the water fountains in Queen Square and having an impromptu photo sat next to the Eleanor Rigby statue! These are just some of the fun and memorable moments that make Emma and Sam’s Liverpool city wedding at the Sir Thomas Hotel a wedding day to remember.
Here is their story…
WEDDING SIR THOMAS HOTEL LIVERPOOL
Hi, we are Emma and Sam Lomax from Walton and Norris Green. We got married at St. Teresa’s Church, Norris Green followed by a Liverpool City Centre wedding at The Sir Thomas Hotel.
We planned a small intimate wedding with just 55 guests during the day and 150 in the evening. We went for a 1920’s wedding theme as we wanted the venue to look classic and royal, with red, silver and black table drapes and white blossom centrepieces.
We chose The Sir Thomas Hotel for our Liverpool city wedding because I had a personal connection with the wedding venue. My Dad who passed away when I was 16, he used to take me there when I was younger. It meant the world to me to have our reception there.
The hotel is located just a short walk from the historic Royal Albert Dock, lively Cavern Quarter and Liverpool ONE. The Sir Thomas Hotel is a contemporary newly refurbished venue. Steeped in history this beautiful 19th-century building, which was once the Bank of Liverpool, combines class and elegance with a modern-day twist.
A UNIQUE PROPOSAL
Sam and I met in a bar in Liverpool, Igloo in 2010. Sam approached me and insisted on buying me a drink, after a while, I accepted and made him get my best friend Leah a drink too. We ended the night in Garlands dancing the night away till 6 am.
Sam proposed on Valentines Day 2014. I’d had a very long day at work, I came home to a lovely cooked meal which Sam has made for us both, I noticed he hadn’t even touched his meal I had eaten mine and went to get some garlic bread from the freezer, I turn around and to my surprise, Sam was on one knee with a ring, and I was standing there with frozen garlic bread in one hand… a moment I’ll never forget!
WEDDING PREPARATIONS
My wedding day began with getting ready at The Sir Thomas Hotel in Liverpool. I felt very chilled, even if most of my bridesmaids were having a break down because my flowers had not turned up and my dress was also still in the shop having last-minute alterations two hours before I was due to leave for the church!
I knew it would all come together in the end and it did thanks to the amazing team from The Big Events Company, making 10 stunning bouquets last minute from the centrepieces from the venue.
I stayed at Sir Thomas Hotel the night before my wedding with my 9 bridesmaids, daughter, and some family. This is a great tip for future brides reading this as it just made the experience that bit more enjoyable. The atmosphere was amazing, I felt so much love from my friends and they really looked after me surprising me with a DVD of my hen party In Marbella.
WEDDING DRESS AND GROOMS-WEAR
My wedding dress was made by the designer Alessandro Rossi and it was called ‘Snow Flake’ purchased from Copple Stone Brides and my shoes were purple sparkle Christian Louboutins. My bridesmaids all wore indigo Grecian maxi dresses with crystal drape back detail called Vestido largo con adornos. Made by TFCN.
The groom and groomsmen were in a three-piece fitted indigo suite with black Dickie Bow the design was called Cavani’s Jefferson purchased at The Wedding House in Liverpool.
ST TERESA’S CHURCH LIVERPOOL
The wedding ceremony took place at St Teresa’s in Liverpool, which is Sam’s family church. The church has a grand standout alter which was perfect and created a dramatic effect.
One stand out moment from the ceremony was when the Reverend Donic soaked all the guests with holy water to wash their bad sins away, he was looking for people with a fake tan which was very funny. He worked with me and Sam and created a brilliant personal wedding service for us, with our own words, vows and music.
It was lovely saying “I Do” in a church in front of family and friends and actually becoming man and wife and then laying flowers for my Dad in the chapel of rest with was really special.
STREET STYLE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
After the ceremony we didn’t just want to head straight back to The Sir Thomas Hotel, so we hired a beautiful white Rolls Royce wedding car. Sam and I went with our amazing photographer Wes to St. George’s Hall and then for a fun ‘street style’ photoshoot around Liverpool city centre.
It was important to us that we had some private photographs of just the both of us, this was also a great way to spend some time with my new husband and create some memories just for ourselves.
Walking through Liverpool City Centre in my wedding dress and bumping into a Drag Queen outside of The Lisbon, who tried to steal my new husband was really funny! We then went to the water fountains in Queen Square, it was so sweet having the applause form random strangers drinking at bars and from passers-by in the street.
On the way back to The Sir Thomas Hotel we had a quick photo sat next to the Eleanor Rigby statue. Wes incorporated elements of Liverpool city centre into our wedding pictures, the images are vibrant, unique and fun, which is exactly what we wanted.
SIR THOMAS HOTEL RECEPTION
Our wedding reception was at The Sir Thomas Hotel, Liverpool. We hired the whole venue out for our guests and treated them to champagne, Kir Royals and canapés on arrival which was then followed by a delicious three-course meal.
One of the best stand out moments was the ‘Secret Singing Waiters’ we had hired. They blended in with the Sir Thomas Hotel staff in the same uniform and caused a dramatic scene in front of all the guests. They had an argument and all the guests were in shock, they then burst into song and dance with a Michael Buble number.
SIR THOMAS HOTEL MENU
For the wedding breakfast meal, we had the cream of mushroom soup, followed by roast chicken and roasted vegetables, and then for dessert, we had a chocolate brownie and ice cream. During the meal, we had two speeches which Sam started off followed by the best man. Both were great and provided lots of laughter and some tears from myself.
LIVERPOOL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
If you’re looking for a Liverpool wedding photographer, I would highly recommend Wes Simpson Weddings to photograph your day, he is first class at what he does. He captures the “in-between moments,” and the bit’s that you miss throughout the day as it goes so fast. He’s a real storyteller.
Wes was the first person we booked on the wedding list, even before we had the venue. I had seen his work and I loved his portfolio and ability to capture the emotion of the day. I knew we would be a great fit.
One of my favourite pictures from the day is of Sam and I as were about to walk out of the church, so happy and so excited for the rest of the day and our lives together.
WEDDING PLANNING ADVICE
My advice for future couples reading this would be to simply enjoy the day because it flashes by so quickly. Take time out together away from the guests to enjoy the moments with each other… and to relax!
As a couple, we are now looking forward to more babies, a new house and the rest of our lives together with our three children. Going on lots of adventures as man and wife and as a family.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
“Wes, thank you again for capturing our Liverpool city wedding at The Sir Thomas Hotel, our wedding album is the most precious thing we have from the day, you really are amazing at what you do.” – Emma
Are you planning a Liverpool wedding at The Sir Thomas Hotel or anywhere else in the world and want me to be your wedding photographer? What can I do to help? Feel free to contact me with any question or for a wedding brochure.
Check out my portfolio for examples of work, the blog for the latest weddings and my approach to photographing your wedding.
