Suezy & Eric’s Wedding at St Michael’s Manor Wedding

Suezy and Eric’s wedding at St Michael’s Manor was a lovely example of how well the venue works for a smaller celebration. With just 13 guests, it felt intimate, relaxed, and personal from start to finish, with an outdoor ceremony on the jetty, drinks in the gardens, and an outdoor sandwich buffet in the Summer House.

One of the things that works especially well about St Michael’s Manor is that it can handle a full wedding day without ever feeling overcomplicated. The venue is licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 140 guests, but the gardens, jetty, and Summer House also suit much smaller gatherings beautifully. The Summer House and lakeside jetty are used for relaxed outdoor celebrations and canapés for up to 25 guests, so they were a perfect fit for this kind of intimate day.

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The Wedding Day

Arrival at St Michael’s Manor

I started by photographing Eric getting his buttonhole on and helping his groomsmen with theirs. It was a relaxed start to the day and a good way to ease into the coverage, especially with such a close-knit group of guests.

Bride prep in one of the hotel rooms

Suezy got ready in one of the hotel rooms, where I photographed the final touches before the ceremony. After that came a first look with her dad, which was a really lovely moment.

Outdoor ceremony on the jetty

The ceremony took place on the jetty, with the bridesmaids and Suezy’s brother walking in first, followed by Suezy with her father. It is such a lovely setting for a wedding, with the water and gardens behind the couple and the manor itself adding to the overall feel of the day. During the signing of the register, there was a really funny moment when Suezy’s two bridesmaids tried to make a heart shape behind the couple with their arms. It did not look remotely like a heart, which set everyone off laughing before the groomsmen stepped in to show them how to do it properly.

Confetti

After the ceremony, we went straight into confetti. With a wedding this intimate, moments like that felt especially fun because everyone was close enough to really be part of it rather than just watching from the sidelines.

Group portraits

We then worked through group portraits with everyone, along with a few different combinations. With only 15 people in total including the couple, this part of the day stayed quick and easy, which meant there was still loads of time left for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves.

Drinks in the gardens

After that, everyone spent time in the gardens with drinks, chatting and enjoying the sunshine. It was a very relaxed part of the day and perfect for candid photos. One of the big strengths of St Michael’s Manor is that, although it is close to the centre of St Albans, it still feels tucked away once you are in the grounds.

Guests then made their way to the Summer House for sandwiches, which suited the scale and feel of the wedding perfectly.

Portraits around the grounds

After that, we explored the grounds for portraits, making the most of the gardens and lake before finishing with one final portrait inside on the stairs.

  • Bride and groom portrait in the gardens at St Michael’s Manor Hotel

Suezy and Eric’s wedding at St Michael’s Manor was such a lovely one to photograph. It had all the atmosphere of a summer wedding in St Albans, but on a much smaller and more personal scale, which suited the venue beautifully. They were such a lovely group to spend the day with, and the whole celebration felt warm, relaxed, and genuinely fun from start to finish.

A couple of days later, I also photographed a larger celebration for Suezy and Eric at the Golden Dragon restaurant in Colindale, which made a really nice follow-on to such an intimate wedding day. You can also see more of my work across the county on my Hertfordshire wedding photographer page.

If you’re planning your own day and looking for a St Michael’s Manor wedding photographer, I’d love to hear more about your plans.

  • Fun, easy-going, and instantly put us at ease

    We met Andy at a Wedding Fair in Hertfordshire, and we definitely made the right choice. Before the wedding, he was responsive, organised, and offered advice from his experience when we needed it.

    On the day at St Michael’s Manor in St Albans, Andy was incredibly fun, easy-going, and confident, which eased any nerves we had about posing for photos. He also photographed our traditional Chinese ceremony and was very accommodating with last-minute changes.

    He was prompt on the day and quick to deliver the final edited photos. We’re so grateful we met Andy, he was one of the highlights of our big day.

    Suezy & Eric

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Dream Team of Suppliers

Wedding Venue
St Michael’s Manor Hotel
Photographer
Andy Sidders Photography Instagram
Registrar
Hertfordshire Registration Service Instagram
Hair / Makeup
Jade Anna Instagram
Florist
Charles and Faye Instagram

Relaxed, natural wedding photography

Experienced with intimate weddings and smaller guest numbers

Calm approach that helps couples feel comfortable in front of the camera

FAQs

Yes. St Michael’s Manor works really well for wedding photography because it combines a historic manor house with five acres of private gardens and its own lake, which gives you plenty of variety without needing to leave the venue. It also feels tucked away despite being close to the centre of St Albans.

Yes. St Michael’s Manor offers outdoor options including the Summer House and lakeside jetty, which make a lovely setting for a smaller, more relaxed wedding or drinks reception overlooking the water.

Yes, it suits smaller weddings really well. The venue’s Summer House and jetty are described as ideal for relaxed outdoor celebrations, drinks, and canapés for up to 25 guests, which makes them a great fit for intimate wedding days.

Some of the best spots are around the lake, by the jetty, near the Summer House, and in the wider gardens. Those spaces give you a nice mix of natural backdrops and more elegant manor house views.

Yes. The gardens, lake, Summer House, and jetty all lend themselves really well to a laid-back drinks reception. The venue specifically highlights the Summer House and jetty as a relaxed al fresco option for drinks and canapés.

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