A Wedding Story
Hannah and Ben didn't want any wedding prep photographs so it was straight to the venue for me and what a contrast for the ceremony and the reception! Tying the knot at the beautiful,18th century, old stone St.Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church built in the heart of Liverpool City Centre and then literally straight across the road to the modern, glass and brick-fronted Siren restaurant in the up and coming, trendy Baltic Quarter of Liverpool for the wedding reception. What a fantasic and very different venue for your big day, I loved it.
In keeping with the traditional/non-traditional them, Ben arrived, escorted by his best man and one of his young sons in not one but two gleaming (and bloody huge!) HGV truck cabs, a metallic blue DAF and a pearl white Scania, amazing I've never seen wedding transport like it. Hannah arrived in a stretch limo not long after Ben, looking stunning as she was helped out if the car by the chauffeur and nervously escorted down the aisle arm in arm with her dad. The wedding guests were treated to reading by Hannah's Bridesmaid and also kept entertained in the old church by the couples oldest son Jack a lovely, fun little boy with bags of personality.
After the ceremony
Unfortunately due to the church's location, other than the confetti shots that were taken outside the church there isn't really anywhere for the couple shots, the church doesn't have any grounds other than a small carpark on the side so we jumped into the limo, Hannah and Ben enjoying a glass of champagne on the way and we headed down to the Liverpool Waterfront for the couple's portrait shots. The couple wanted to make sure they had a photograph with the Liver buildings in the background, Ben stopping to help Hannah with her underskirt hoop on the way. While we were at the waterfront we had a walk around to take advantage of some of the other locations the iconic area has to offer, stopping on a metal spiral staircase for a more modern twist. Before jumping into the limo again and heading back to Siren to rejoin their guests we briefly nipped over the the gardens at Liverpool Parish Church, a. beautiful area I've shot at before when covering weddings at both 30 James Street and The Raqcuet Club. It's a great scenic and relaxed, tranquil spot to get some lovely portraits smack bang in the heart of the busy City Centre and as a bonus it'll give you a chance for some fun shots of the couple crossing the busy dock road looking all glamorous and watched by everyone stuck. at the traffic lights.
Over the road to Siren
Once we were all done with the couple portraits it was back in the limo for the short trip back to Siren for the Wedding Reception. Siren describe themselves as a restaurant, bar and event space but it's so much more than that. As wedding venue, it's certainly modern and definitely unique. It's in the heart of the Baltic Triangle Area, once an industrial area it's a quickly up and coming alternative, trendy, quirky destination and the place to head to for live music and great food. Siren is a huge sweeping round building on several floors and huge glass front with bags of natural light flooding into the area. The rooftop terrace gives you amazing views of the city and the outdoor, urban, walled garden is perfect for sunny days and on this occasion a great soft play area for the kids to go nuts. I say kids but one or two of the adults, especially Grandad had a great time on the equipment, especially the robe bridge and including a giant wedding cake that you had to stack the parts together before it all toppled over. The food at Siren was lovely and there was plenty of it, from Pizzas to Mini Burgers, Sausage and Bacon Barms and Chips in a cone, it was spot on and I'm glad I was told to help myself. Hannah and Ben hired a Photo Booth, that's always a chance to get some great shots of people trying on hats, wigs and silly glasses. Great fun!
The Bouquet Toss
For the last few couple portraits we headed to the rooftop terrace to get a shot of Hannah and Ben with their church behind them along with the impressive Liverpool Cathedral further behind in the distance. I also wanted to take advantage of the bags of natural light and the absolutely amazing staircase running straight up through the middle of Siren all the way up to the terrace, having Hannah and Ben stand probably only about half way up and on one of the balconies and I still couldn't fit it all into the frame. Hannah wanted to do a bouquet toss in the gardens initially but there was a risk of it getting stuck in one of the trees there, especially when you're throwing it blindly backwards over your head so we settled for doing it out front. Hannah lined up with the girls all grouped behind her ready to catch. She flung it in the air and as it tumbled back down to earth, out of nowhere one of the wagon drivers appeared at the back, wearing a t-shirt, shorts and trainers, well he only went and caught the bouquet and then proceeded on a victory lap with the flowers held high in the air. So funny!!cHannah and Ben finished their day with their first dance, watched by all their wedding guests surrounding the dance floor.
I'd definitely recommend Siren if you're looking a wedding venue in Liverpool City Centre, I can't wait to go back.
