Thornton Manor Wedding Photography

Join me on a journey to Thornton Manor in Cheshire, England, where Toni and Louis crafted a Bridgerton-inspired destination wedding straight out of a fairytale.

Hailing from sunny San Diego, California, Toni and Louis were drawn to the opulent charm of Thornton Manor, inspired by the grandeur of the hit Netflix show Bridgerton. Their desire to infuse their love story with this historical elegance led them across the Atlantic to England’s picturesque countryside.

During their wedding preparations, finding the right Thornton Manor wedding photographer became a top priority. Serendipity intervened when Toni’s cousin, Jenna who lives in Australia, shared her heartfelt recommendation based on her own magical destination wedding experience at Stanley House in Lancashire, England, back in 2013.

From continents apart, Jenna’s endorsement led Toni and Louis to discover my work. Entrusting their precious moments to me, they found a storyteller with an eye for authenticity and grace, ready to capture their love in its purest form.

Join me as we journey through Toni and Louis’s Bridgerton-inspired wedding at Thornton Manor. It’s a tale of love, elegance, and the enchanting blend of two continents brought together in the heart of Cheshire.

Thornton Manor Hosts A Bridgerton Style Wedding

Hi! We are Toni & Louis! I am a network marketer at MyMonat and Louis is a Football Coach. We live in San Diego, California. 

I’m originally from Skelmersdale, Lancashire and Louis is originally from Farnham. I moved to California when I was two and Louis came across the pond when he was an adult! 

We officially met in 2016, and we quickly realised we had been in the same place at the same time many, many times, including a festival in England. We knew we were supposed to meet. 

Fast forward to 2019, Louis and I were on holiday with my family in Cabo, Mexico! He popped the question overlooking a gorgeous marina! 

At dinner that night we decided we were going to get married in Cabo in 2021!.. if you have seen our photos you know now life had other plans for our Cabo wedding. 

A Cheshire wedding for an American bride

2020 came and went along with a newborn, a pandemic, and not seeing our families in England for over a year. We changed our wedding venue and date 3 times and in January 2021 decided we were going to get married in England.

After ANOTHER failed wedding date and venue we stumbled upon Thornton Manor in Cheshire, England. Instantly I was blown away and just knew this was our venue. 

The wedding was still up in the air literally until a week before the wedding pending our Covid tests from travelling internationally! 

I coined this wedding the “Bridgerton Wedding” because, for us Americans, the venue and the vibe were exactly like the grand Netflix show. 

Lakeside Wedding at Thornton Manor in Cheshire

Because of the “unknown times” we’ve been living in, we had a small wedding of 60 people. Unfortunately, my friends in the US had to attend via FaceTime, but it was such a beautiful perfect day. 

It had rained for 3 days leading up to the wedding and 3 days after the wedding, but our day was probably the best weather of the year. We are so blessed. 

The ceremony took place outside at The Dell Pavilion. The Lakeside Marquee was the setting for our wedding reception. Our day at Thornton Manor flowed really well. The three venues complimented each other perfectly.

Wes, our wedding photographer captured the venue perfectly. As the sun was setting we nipped off for some couples portraits. It was the perfect time to spend a moment together and make use of the grounds.

I absolutely adore my wedding pictures. Living in America, we don’t get to see our UK family as much as we’d like. Wes captured everyone looking happy, natural and relaxed.

We moved the entire wedding to England so my Grandad could be there, he sang to open our dinner reception and by far made all the stress and change of plans worth it. Everything came together so perfectly.

Wes, Thank you forbeing our Thornton Manor Wedding Photogarpher and capturing our day so perfectly.

Toni & Louis

One luxury estate | Four exclusive venues

Thornton Manor is a large grade II* listed Elizabethan-style manor house in the village of Thornton Hough, Wirral, Merseyside, England. Built in the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Surrounded by an oasis of rural calm and beautifully presented countryside, the venue offers four exclusive locations for weddings. The Manor House, The Dell Pavilion, The Lakeside Marquee and Walled Garden Marquee.

*Since Toni and Louis wedding and at the time of writing this blog, sadly Thornton Manor, in Wirral, has been devastated by a huge blaze as 10ft high flames ripped through the Thornton Manor House, in Cheshire. 

Please contact Thornton Manor for more information. 

Thornton Manor Wedding Suppliers

• Venue: Thornton Manor
• Photographer: Wes Simpson Weddings
• Dress: Watters
• Hair: Purehair
• Makeup: Sarah Jayne 

How to get the best wedding photos at Thornton Manor

Here are my top tips for great wedding photos:

Light is one of the most important factors to consider when taking good photos. The light will be different depending on the time of year and even the time of day, giving your wedding photos a completely different look.

Do not make a shot list. Attempting to recreate Pinterest inspiration images can stifle creativity, but most importantly, your wedding day is uniquely yours, so focus on creating your memories rather than recreating someone else’s.

Select a photographer whose work you admire and with whom you have a good working relationship. I truly believe that as long as people are relaxed and having fun, they can look good in photos.

Thornton Manor Wedding Photographer

Are you planning the wedding of your dreams? Getting married at Thornton Manor in Cheshire or elsewhere and want a documentary-style wedding photographer to capture your special day? If so, I would love to hear from you.

Check out my approach to wedding photography, my portfolio for inspiration, and my blog for the most up-to-date wedding news and ideas.

Contact me to day to be your wedidng photographer.

Wes.