DoubleTree by Hilton Wedding Photography – Katie & Gaz

DoubleTree by Hilton Wedding Photography

Within an hour of meeting Katie and Gaz at V Festival a few years ago we were sat in a tent together having shots of Jager. So when they asked me to photograph their DoubleTree by Hilton Wedding, I knew it would be an awesome day. I wasn’t disappointed. I don’t think Katie or Gaz stopped smiling all day as you can see from the pictures.

The DoubleTree by Hilton is such a lovely venue. The fairy lights and brick walls in the Abbey Suite, where Katie and Gaz’s ceremony was held, were beautiful. A massive thank you to all the staff for all your help (and making sure I was fed) on the day 🙂

Here are a few words from Katie and Gaz themselves about their DoubleTree by Hilton wedding:

How did you both meet?
We bumped into each a few times in our last year of University as Gareth was on the same course as my housemate Hannah. It was at the Leeds University Chemistry Ball at Elland Road that Hannah introduced us properly and the rest is history.

What was the proposal like?
Gareth proposed in while we we’re on holiday in Thailand. We’d spent the day on Relax Bay (how ironic) and as the sun was going down Gareth got down on one knee and proposed. We’d been together 7 years so it wasn’t a complete surprise, but I was shocked he’d managed to get the ring all the way to Thailand without me finding it!!

How did you find wedding planning? Do you have any tips for other brides?
I loved the whole process, I’m actually really missing the planning part of it!! My big tips are to become best friends with excel and when choosing your suppliers, go for the person as well as what they’re service. We booked suppliers that we really clicked with on a personal level and I think that really helped. Also, be selfish. You’re not going to please everyone so do things your way don’t worry about what other people are going to think.

Why did you choose the Doubletree Hotel for your wedding venue?
We wanted somewhere with a contemporary feel but as it was a winter wedding, cosy as well. We seen a few venues and weren’t feeling too inspired until we saw the Abbey Suite at the DoubleTree in Chester. It was intimate and cosy as well modern.

What was your favourite part of your wedding day?
Probably the vows. We were expecting this to be more of formality more than anything and hadn’t anticipated how lovely it would feel to say those words to each other. Also, the party was fab. The band got everyone up on the dance floor and it was brilliant to see our friends and family throwing some amazing shapes!! 

What song did you choose for your first dance and why?
Fleetwood Mac- Everywhere. We really struggled to pick a first dance as we don’t have a song we think of as “ours”. We not really the romantic types either so the thought of a slow number filled us with dread. Fleetwood Mac is one of the few bands we both really like and liked the idea of something more upbeat.

Supplier Shout Outs

Venue- DoubleTree, Chester
Dress- Brides of Chester
Hair- Courtney at the Stylist
Make Up- Emily Victoria
Florist- Peaches and Herbs
Pianist- Andy Smith
Fairy Lights- My wedding Lighting
Band- The Holt Brothers

I loved that we laughed and smiled throughout the ceremony as it made it feel very relaxed and informal.