Toastmasters take notice of the weather more than most. In particular, we hope and pray that wedding days are bright and sunny. I have to say that the summer of 2008 was rather disappointing however Eleanor and Ben hit the jackpot. After such a poor summer, their special day was quite sensational. Blue skies, brilliant sunshine and temperatures up into the mid-seventies for what turned out to be the last time of the year.

Guests gathered on the patio outside of the hotel for welcome drinks. I had to call them inside for the Receiving Line which was great fun. The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic. The happy couple were clapped into the wedding breakfast and the decoration of the room matched the magnificence of the occasion. Local crooner, Victor Haynes, provided entertainment during the meal and when Ben took the microphone to sing the chorus of 'Three Times A Lady' to his beautiful bride, it brought the house down.

A wonderful day and a lovely way to bid farewell to the summer of 2008.

Peckforton Castle is a Grade 1 Listed building situated between the lovely villages of Peckforton and Beeston in a particularly beautiful part of Cheshire. The building was commissioned by John Tollemach in the mid-1800s and took almost ten years to complete. It is modelled upon a 15th Century Castle and is exceptionally impressive.

Emma and Daniel Howarth chose Peckforton Castle for their special day and they were blessed with a blisteringly hot and sunny day. Daniel was one of the most nervous bridegrooms I have ever encountered and his nerves were not helped by the bride arriving at the ceremony twenty minutes late.









The rest of the day went like a dream. My photographs show the wonderful castle in the background along with one of my favourite photographs looking down the Grand Hall as the wedding ceremony took place.

Worsley Court House is found right alongside Junction 12 of the M60 just a few miles outside Manchester City Centre. It is a building rich in history and, as the name suggests, it is a former courthouse of days-gone-by. It is now owned by Salford City Council and is a popular venue for weddings and other events. One of its main attractions is the superb wood panelling along with its original features.

What the building lacks in space and modern amenities is more than made up for by the character and personality of the rooms. Many brides choose the buildings because of its internal and external beauty. Sharon Chamley was no exception. She and Colin were enchanted by the location from the first time they set eyes upon it.

The main room made for a cosy and informal wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast. It was a cold day in late March. Thankfully, it was dry and bright so we all made our way down to the canal (just yards away) for the photographs. The setting was wonderful but, my goodness, it was cold. We were all glad to get back into the courthouse. The photographs do not tell the tale of how cold the day was. My photographs show the interior of the courthouse and a shot of some of the main guests down by the canal.

I first met Marie-Therese and Derek Hill at a Wedding Fair where they explained to me that their 35th wedding anniversary was fast approaching. They wished to celebrate the occasion in style along with their four adult children, four grandchildren plus other family and friends. They clearly wanted to make this a really special occasion and quickly booked my services. The majority of my engagements entail wedding celebrations however, now and again, I am asked to officiate at something a little bit different.

They had no intention of cutting corners. The event was planned with meticulous attention to detail with the help of one of their daughters - Eleanor, known as Ellie. On the day, the happy couple along with 69 family and friends (120 later in the evening) took over the magnificent Great Hall at the Lancashire Manor Hotel at Upholland near Wigan. Following a ceremony to renew their vows at a nearby church, Marie-Therese and Derek rolled up at the hotel in a magnificent vintage car. The couple, along with their principal guests, were dressed for the occasion as the photographs show. Spirits were not dimmed when it actually started to snow and the 'bride' seemed oblivious to the freezing cold north wind.



Marie-Therese had decked out the walls inside the hotel with jokes and anecdotes about marriage to entertain their guests. Memory Cards had been placed on each table for guests to record their personal recollection of Mr and Mrs Hill. The provision of Trivia Cards, Goody Boxes for the children along with the services of a magician, made this a very special day. Everything was expertly captured on camera by their long-time friend, former newspaper photographer and local author Geoff Shryhane. Just look at the photographs to see how Geoff captured the occasion.

I remained at the hotel into the evening to introduce the first dance and it was so rewarding to see Marie-Therese and Derek's children join them on the dance floor. It was a remarkable family event. Not only had I been there to witness the occasion, I had also been able to enhance this unique gathering. A wonderful day all round.

I first met Paula and Philip at a wedding fair at Farington Lodge Hotel. They had chosen the hotel for their wedding which was scheduled for Saturday 15 December. The date of the wedding meant that poor weather was always a possibility. As it happens, the day was bright and clear but, my word, it was bitterly cold. The sunny weather tempted many of the guests out of the hotel for photographs. Once the photos were done the guests scurried back indoors, if only to guard against hypothermia.

There was a Scandinavian influence at the wedding breakfast. The Norwegian branch of the family was keen to maintain a time-honoured tradition. Every so often, a table of guests would start to clap and pound on their table. The rhythm spread swiftly around the room whereupon the bride and groom clambered onto their chairs and kissed before returning to terra firma to loud applause. It was another new experience for yours truly, the toastmaster.