#@HCottonPhoto

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Happy 2017 Everyone

Hello everyone, we've managed to open the laptop for the first time over the Christmas holiday! As some of you may know we had the lovely arrival of our second little girl on 22nd December 2016  - bang on due date! It's certainly been a little hectic but wonderful at the same time.

We wanted to post a little video we put together to say thank you to our brides and grooms of 2016! It was an amazing year with some fantastic memories that we got to share with you, we hope that your photographs have brought you lots of love & laughter.

Thank you again for letting us be a part of your special day and look forward to keeping in touch.

We looking forward to the 2017 weddings! love from

Helen & Nick xx

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Haslington Hall Fire!

Oddly enough I decided to drive past Haslington Hall last night on the way home, I was thinking about the many fantastic weddings that we'd been involved in at the Hall. Then we woke up to hear the fire engines earlier today and found out that Haslington Hall was on fire! There has been a few photos and videos posted on Facebook by passers by so we're not fully sure on how much damage has been caused, but the general consensus is that it's pretty bad.

It seems such a shame when it's brought so many happy memories to those who got married there and began their new married lives together. We had a wonderful relationship with the ladies that helped organised the weddings - Sian & Sharyn - many years ago now. It's just a shame that no one came in to take over running the venue with much success. So here's to the beautiful Haslington Hall,  that one day might get rescued and restored to a thriving wedding venue!

To read further details of the fire

Helen & Nick Xx www.helencottonphotography.co.uk

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Why Engagement Photoshoots Are Important?

As photographers when we got married in 2014 we felt it was a MUST to have an engagement photoshoot. We know how to work behind the camera but we were not sure how we'd look together in front of the camera :)

We meet a lot of couples who also say they don't feel confident in front of the camera, which is natural and to be expected. An engagement shoot is an opportunity to help you & your partner feel assured that your photographs will look fantastic on your wedding day. It's a great way to get to know your photographers better and take away your photograph stage fright! When we're done you've got another set of pics to remind yourselves of the excitement of your wedding preparations!

Here are 6 good reasons why an engagement will enhance your wedding experience:

1 - FUN Have fun, it's a great opportunity to relax and enjoy yourself! It's a few hours with just you and your partner to have giggles and spend time alone together.

2 - Get to know your Photographer(s) It's a great way to get to know us and for us to get to know you. You'll be spending a lot of time with us on your wedding day and we'll be there for you whenever you need us. We can discover which poses you feel comfortable with or that you've seen and would like to try.

3 - De-stress Planning a wedding can be pretty stressful - we know, we've been there - an engagement shoot helps you to feel confident about the photographs on the day, giving you that extra trust in your photographers. It's also a great reminder of the planning and lead up to the big day, these images will give you chance to look back and reflect on the happy times you had leading up to the big day. 

4 - Special Place Your wedding day goes by soooo fast, people will tell you this all the time and I'm afraid it's so very true.  Why not chose somewhere special to you both to have the engagement photographs taken at? Where you perhaps got engaged? Where you met? Or even at the wedding venue but in a different season, so you will know where you like the photographs in preparation for the day too. These are relaxed and casual style images, which can be shown by what you wear on the day or perhaps take with you props that mean something to wedding day. It's part of a chapter to the preparation of the big day!

5 - Guest Book We turned our photographs from the engagement shoot into a little book which people could then sign on the wedding day, a guest book. You may get some fun comments and lovely heartfelt words from your family and friends.

6 - Reflect You spend most of your wedding day with your photographers, we help you with lasting memories of that special day. Our style is very relaxed so we do take you off to be alone to reflect on the day and have time for each other. The engagement photographs would be done in a similar style so it's time for you to have fun and be together and show you how great you both look!! Helen & Nick xx

07806559428 info@helencottonphotography.co.uk

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Laura & Ash's Wedding Day at Somerford Chapel

Laura & Ashley's Wedding was such a beautiful day, the weather could not have been better for them as they'd created their day around their fantastic Tipi! It was idyllically placed within Somerford Park, Congleton, right next to the quaint little All Saint's Chapel at Somerford. Everything about their day was carefully thought through and created by Laura & Ash, it all looked fantastic along with a gorgeous bride & groom. The ceremony was conducted by Jeff Cuttell, who brought lots of laughter and good humour to the day.  Whilst friends & family enjoyed the drinks at the Tipi we took Laura & Ash off for a walk around the park to get some beautiful photographs, the scenery was stunning whichever way you looked. After the speeches fish & chips were served to the guests along with gorgeous cakes for dessert! We had a fantastic time with you all and hope you enjoy the preview, to view more just head over to the recent weddings page. Big love! Helen & Nick xx  

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Laurence & Lindsay's Wedding Day - The Upper House Barlaston

We were over the moon to be photographing Loz & Lindsay's wedding, Helen has known Loz for many years through secondary school. They were surrounded by lots of loving family & friends that were overjoyed to be celebrating with them and it was great to see faces from school :) Luckily the weather held out and was beautifully sunny so all their family & friends could enjoy the ceremony outside at The Upper House Barlaston. We had so many locations to take them both around the grounds at The Upper House, we hope you enjoy looking through the preview photographs. To see further photographs from the day just click here. Looking forward to seeing you both soon, Helen & Nick x  

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Alexandra & Alastair's Wedding Day

Alexandra & Alastair's Wedding was held at the lovely Moddershall Oaks, we had hoped the rain would stay away but sadly it made an appearance and didn't stop! However, it didn't dampen anyones spirits, with a fantastic atmosphere of fun, laughter, lots of dancing and some brilliant singing!  We've known Al for many years now and were really pleased when he asked if we could photograph their wedding day.  It was lovely to capture all the beautiful details that made their day so special and lovely seeing their two beautiful girls - Florrie & Lilah - having so much fun with all their friends. It certainly was a wedding made of fun for all ages :) We hope you enjoy the preview photographs but to see more just click here. Looking forward to seeing you all soon. Helen & Nick xx  

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Pete & Chloe's Wedding Day at Gibbon Bridge Hotel

Evening all, it's been a little bit chaotic this past month to say the least! Finally getting around to getting some more previews up so apologies for the delay. We had the absolute pleasure of photographing Chloe and Pete's Wedding at another new venue for us, Gibbon Bridge! We were totally overwhelmed by the beautiful gardens here, every way you turned the scenery was stunning. Certainly looking forward to heading back there. We met Chloe and Pete a few years back at a wedding fayre at the Manor Hotel in Alsager, 2 years later they phoned us up to ask if they could book with us! We were delighted to hear from them and so greatful that they had remembered us. Luckily the weather held out for us to capture some beautiful images of the 2 of them and their lovely family and friends, especially their beautiful little daughter! We also had the pleasure of meeting Stefan Grundy, 'The Tall Toastmaster' (he really is tall!!) a fantastic guy to work with and certainly a massive help on the day.  To see further photographs from the day please click on the link. Thanks again and really looking forward to seeing you all soon. Helen & Nick xx  

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Steph & Alex's Wedding Day

I've known Steph since I was very young so we were over the moon when we got asked to take the photographs for her and Alex's special day! The wedding ceremony took place at our lovely Church All Saint's in Scholar Green and the wedding reception took place at Macdonald Portal Golf Club in Cheshire. The day was full of lots of laughter, Steph and Alex have so much fun together which came across brilliantly in the photographs. The whole day ran smoothly and all their family and friends had a fantastic day, it was lovely getting to know everyone. Sorry it's taken so long to get the preview photographs across to you guys. To have a look at more from Steph and Alex's Wedding day take a look at our recent weddings page. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Helen & Nick xx

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Simon & Michelle's Wedding Day

We had the pleasure of photographing Simon & Michelle's Wedding at the beginning of April, we've known Simon and his lovely family for a long time and we were over the moon when they asked us to take photographs of their special day. 

You could tell a lot of family had been waiting for the big day for some time, so when it finally arrived everyone was in up for lots of laughs.  Simon and Michelle had the wedding ceremony and reception at the beautiful Slaters Country Inn in Staffordshire, a fantastic venue with plenty of locations for some fun shots! luckily the weather stayed dry for us so we got to use lots of the outdoor space.

Their two beautiful boys - Harry & Max - were in charge of the rings during the ceremony and did a brilliant job. We were with them from the morning until the late evening so we loved getting to know all their family and friends. 

Thanks again guys, looking forward to catching up soon. Hope you enjoy the preview pics :) Helen & Nick xxx

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Ed & Laura's Wedding Day - St Chad's Church, Longsdon

What a wedding day! There was so much to do and see at Laura & Ed's wedding it was fantastic, they had done so much themselves and put a lot of effort into making their day their own and they pulled it off in style! The weather was fantastic, the sun beamed down as though we were abroad :) Laura has to be one of the most laid back brides we've had the pleasure of working with, both her and Ed are very chilled and definite sole mates.

We had so much scope with taking them on locations around St. Chad's church and at Laura's family home. They had supplied a beautiful memorable wedding party for all their family and friends, with a vintage ice cream van - we are lollapalooza - hog roast, a live band, and a bar made by her dad! We hope you guys enjoy looking through the sneak preview and we look forward to seeing you soon. To see further piccies from the day just head over to here.

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Family Fun!

Morning all, just letting you know some of our portrait packages! Whether it's family fun in the garden or dancing in the sunshine with the kids we can capture those precious moments for you.

We offer a package of £90 for an hour - bit longer if needed ;) which includes a photoshoot, with all the images at high resolution on a disc for you, an online portfolio for the rest of the family to view and an A4 print for you. Just drop us a message and we'll get you booked in whenever it suits you. See you soon Nick, Helen & the 2 bosses - Eleanor & Annabella :)  xx  

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Trudy & Mike's Wedding Day

We met Trudy & Mike around a year and half ago now and what a fantastic couple! Their big day came around on 3rd September and despite the rain it did shine through for them and the day was absolutely beautiful.  The ceremony and reception was held at Slater's Country Inn Wedding venue which is a fantastic venue out in Baldwin's Gate. We managed to capture the evening with all their friends and family and got to bump into some old faces :) We hope you are having a fantastic honeymoon and looking forward to catching up when you get back. Enjoy the photographs and to see further please visit the Recent Weddings page.

Love from Helen & Nick xx

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Louise & Alan's Wedding Day

We were absolutely over the moon when our friend Louise asked us to photograph her and Alan's wedding day at Crewe Hall. It was a fantastic day and luckily the rain held off for us to get some stunning photographs outside of the gorgeous couple! The ceremony was beautiful, both Louise & Alan had written their own vows and we are pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in room afterwards :) The evening was brilliant with one of the best bands we've seen at a wedding - Switch Entertainment - we were wishing we'd heard of them when we got married :) We have a little preview of the images here but more can be found on the recent weddings page. We hope you've had a fantastic honeymoon guys and looking forward to getting all the images over to you soon. Love from Helen & Nick xx  

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Kate & Mark's Wedding Day

Kate & Mark's wedding day was on Thursday 21st May, it was a lovely personal ceremony with their close family and friends at the stunning location of Lake Vyrnwy Hotel in Wales. We could of spent all day going round the Lake taking photographs it's a super venue. I don't think we've seen a better cake than the one they had it was amazing! Made by the ladies at Mad Hatters Tea room in Chester. We hope you enjoy the selection of preview images we've posted & will see you soon. Helen & Nick  xx

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Helen & Daniel's Wedding

We had the pleasure of photographing Helen & Daniel's wedding over at Carden Park on the 4th April! It was a beautiful ceremony and a gorgeous day, it was lovely being part of their big day and meeting all their family and friends.

We hope you are having a fantastic time on your honeymoon guys and hope you get chance to enjoy the preview :) Helen & Nick

xx

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Lewis George Hart - Baby Photography

We had a lovely morning photographing our friends little boy Lewis George Hart, nearly two months old now and he's absolutely beautiful!  Can't believe just how much hair this little dude has!! :)