Highlights from Megan & Stuart’s brilliant wedding at this stunning Saddleworth wedding venue

Saddleworth Hotel Wedding Venue

The Saddleworth Hotel is a stunning wedding venue, located in Delph, near Oldham. About a 30min drive from Manchester, and you’re there, deep in the Saddleworth landscape, with rolling hills and stunning views. Opened in the 1960’s as a transport cafe, the Saddleworth Hotel developed from its humble beginnings, into the exclusive wedding venue it is today….well, see what they say…

“During the 1960s, the A62 Huddersfield Road was the main pennine crossing, so (the owner) Anthony opened The Saddleworth as a transport cafe. In early 1970s, with the opening of the M62, the cafe gradually ground to a halt so he adapted the business to become the Cottage Motel, a B&B with bar and restaurant, this was when he found his love for hosting wedding events and parties. In 1973, the second generation arrived with the birth of Scott Anthony Baker. Scott grew up with the business and now is an integral part of the day to day running of the Hotel. In the early 1980s the name was then changed to the Cottage Hotel and subsequently to the Saddleworth Hotel. Through the 1980s and early 1990s, the Hotel grew into a renowned, thriving party and wedding venue. In 1995, the wedding laws changed to allow marriages to take place in venues other than registry offices and churches. The hotel immediately took advantage of this, offering guests not only receptions, but also marriage ceremonies. In fact, Anthony and Sandi were the very first couple in England to be married under this new law as they became Mr and Mrs Baker at the Saddleworth Hotel. To this day, the Hotel remains a family business and a real labour of love with the owners working 7 days a week, 365 days a year. To the Bakers, the Hotel is not just a business, it is a member of the family. We hope that for any occasion your visit to The Saddleworth Hotel is warm, welcoming and everything you dreamed of…”

Saddleworth Hotel Wedding Photographer

Megan & Stuart booked me on recommendation to be their Saddleworth Hotel Wedding Photographer. Based, just ‘over the hill’ near Halifax, the couple wanted an exclusive wedding venue, fairly central for their friends and family. The Saddleworth Hotel was a perfect fit for them, and Megan told me I was a perfect fit for my being their Saddleworth Hotel Wedding Photographer. I have photographed at The Saddleworth Hotel before a few times over the years, but was ‘really looking forward to going back’ (if that makes sense!) as their Saddleworth Hotel Wedding Photographer for their Summer wedding.

Saddleworth Wedding Videos

Up for the day was the lovely Charlene and her second cameraman from Love Gets Sweeter. I have worked with Charlene on numerous weddings over times past and can thoroughly recommend her. In fact, she was a bridesmaid at her sister-in-laws’ wedding which I photographed at Milton Hal, on her recommendation! Charlene, like myself travel throughout the UK on wedding duties. Go check her out!

Natural wedding photography at The Saddleworth Hotel

This was to be one of those weddings where I meet my clients for the first time, on their wedding day. No Zoom or WhatsApp calls, the booking and scheduling was all done with a few emails. Simple! My day as a Saddleworth Wedding Photographer was going to be fantastic; relaxed, live and natural, and with Charlene alongside on video duty. Megan and Stuart wanted me to capture their day live and unstated, though they did want a few posed photos with their daughter….and why not? The day was perfectly chilled, from bridal preps in the annexe, to catching up with the boys’ arrival in the bar (where else?), the day ran like clockwork. After the ceremony, we spent a few minutes photographing a handful of family group photos, plus some natural couples portraits in the woods. All part of the day being a Saddleworth Hotel Wedding Photographer.

Singing Waiters at a wedding

There was a great female singer -Lorna Adams, on piano for the ceremony, becoming a fantastic duo for the reception. Then, from nowhere a Singing Waiter appeared blasting out some rock and pop classics as a duet with her. The room exploded into life, with nigh on a hundred guests waving serviettes or playing air guitars along with him. All very fast-paced for this Saddleworth Hotel Wedding Photographer, but we nailed it! Charlene and her second cameraman were kept busy too, as the singer darted around the room, picking on his ‘victims’. Brilliant fun!

Here’s some of my favourite photos from the day…