The Old Palace Chester – A Luxury Summer Wedding

The Old Bishops Palace against blue sky in Chester

The Old Palace Chester – A Luxury Summer Wedding

SAY, “I DO” AT THE OLD PALACE

I love photographing weddings at the Old Palace In Chester. Not only is it a stunning venue, with some of the best views in Chester, but located just outside the city centre perfectly located as well. Jennifer & Sam could not have picked a better day to say I do at the Old Palace in Chester when I joined them in June 2021, to photograph their early summer wedding. Read our full venue guide for the Chester Old Palace, to see if could be your perfect venue.

If you are looking to get married in cheshire, but dont know where to start check out we have created our own guide including 5 Tips for this amazing city.

THE OLD PALACE MORNING ROOM

With the ceremony at 13:30, we arrived at around 11:30 to meet with Jenifer and her bridesmaids. The girls were getting ready in the luxurious morning room. This room is designed to start your wedding day in true pampered luxury, with a private staircase, hair and makeup stations, and a full-length mirror. I love photographing morning prep. It is a great way to get to know the wedding party and start the day. Still, space is typically limited in most hotels and venues. Here nothing could be further from the truth, and the light-filled room is perfect for unobtrusively documenting your prep.

Bride having her hair done in the morning room at the Old Palace Chester

Bride having her makeup done in the Morning Room at the Old Palace Chester

Bride smiling in the morning room at the Old Palace Chester

THE GROOM & GROOMSMEN

With the bridal party prep well underway, it was time to catch up with Sam and the groomsmen for the pre-wedding drinks. Of course, being so close to the city, they headed to town to have a drink and meet up with their guests. I never get over how close the Old Palace is to the city of Chester itself!

Groom and Groomsmen outside at the Old Palace Chester

Groom and groomsmen walking outside on private road close to the Old Palace Chester

Groom and Groomsmen ordering drinks in Chester before wedding at the Old Palace Chester

Groom pouring champagne outside bar in Chester before wedding at the Old Palace Chester

Groom and groomsmen talking before wedding at Old Palace Chester

THE PALACE SUITE

Once we had a few photos of Sam and the guest enjoying drinks in Chester, it was time to head back to the Old Palace. From midday, we could take advantage of the stunning Palace Suite. A suite perfectly designed with opulent furnishings but an incomparable view across the River Dee. It is a room full of light and magically uplifting. It is the perfect space to finish getting ready before walking down the aisle.

Jennifer looked stunning in her dress. The Palace Suite was a beautiful space to photograph the first look with her father, mother and bridal party.

Wedding dress hanging up in the Palace Suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bridal vale across a blue chair in the palace suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bride looking over her shoulder in the Palace Suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bridesmaids in the Palace Suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bride showing vale against window light in the place suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and brides maids in the Palace Suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and father in the Palace Suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and Mother in the Palace Suite at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and bridesmaids with flowers in the Palace Suite at the Old Palace Chester

CEREMONY AT THE OLD PALACE

Sam and Jennifer had chosen to say their vows on the picturesque Garden Terrace on this warm June day. Peaceful and private, with the river and fields as their backdrop, few locations could have been more perfect to say "I Do"

Bridesmaids walking down garden aisle at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and father walk outside for wedding at the Old Palace Chester

Groom seeing his bride for the first time outside at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and father walking down the aisle at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom exchange vows outside at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom sign the register at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom share their first kiss at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom walk back down the aisle at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom walk through their guest throwing confetti at the Old Palace Chester

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS

As always at the Old Palace we were spoilt for choice when it came to choosing where to take the photos. Jennifer and Sam though were keen to take walk down to the River Dee and the iconic victorian bandstand

Groom and bridesmaids pose for photo next to the river Dee after wedding at the Old Palace Chester

Bride Groom and Guest pose for group photo outside the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom under the Old Palace Chester Victorian bandstand on the river Dee after getting married at the Old Palace Chester

Candid moment of bride and groom looking over the river Dee after getting married at the Old Palace Chester

Black and White photo of bride and groom after getting married at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and Groomsmen after wedding at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom walk along the river Dee after getting married at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom alone after getting married at the Old Palace Chester

RECEPTION & EVENING

We were back in plenty of time to enjoy a few canapés and cocktails on the stunning Garden Terrace before enjoying an unforgettable wedding breakfast in the Ballroom. As afternoon slipped into evening guest enjoyed the summer evening sun on the Garden Terrace before it was time to party the night away. The amazing Brass Monkees, certainly got everyone up dancing!

Guest sitting outside the Old Palace Chester

Wedding speeches at the Old Palace Chester

Champagne glasses ready for toasting speeches at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom listen to speeches at the Old Palace Chester

Groomsmen laughing and joking outside the Old Palace Chester

Wood fired pizza oven at the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom share first dance at the the Old Palace Chester

Bride and groom share first dance at the Old Palace Chester

Live entertainment at the Old Palace Chester

Fitzpatrick Photography came about from the idea of doing something different!

To move away from the traditionally uncomfortable, staged wedding photos we all know so well! Instead, we wanted to create memories, authentic, emotional and genuine mementoes of each day. To Photograph how we knew we would want to be photographed!

To help with your wedding planning we have put together a comprehensive 32 step guide taking you every step of the way from picking your venue, to last minute details. Wedding planning, shouldn't be stressful, and we would love to join you on your journey from saying "Yes" to "I Do"

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