Callum & Stephannie - A Manor by the Lake Wedding Full of Laughter, Tears and Proper Connection
Some wedding journeys feel like a sprint. This one felt like a slow, confident walk in the right direction.
Callum found us the year before, drawn to the quiet honesty of documentary work – the kind that lets people be themselves and lets the day breathe. From that first connection, everything about this wedding was chilled, meandering, and built on trust.
A little venue context
Manor by the Lake in Cheltenham is one of those venues where everything you need is close at hand. Gardens, elegant backdrops, and loads of light variation – all within a short walk. It’s perfect for couples like Callum & Stephannie who wanted to stay close to their people, keep portraits short and natural, and prioritise family and friends making memories above an editorial-style photoshoot.
The London engagement shoot that set the tone
Before the wedding, we spent a day in London together, retracing places that mattered to them.
Science Museum – recreating their first-date energy, including the moment they got separated on the Tube and thought it was over before it began. Borough Market for movement and colour. St Paul’s for skyline scale. Then parkland greenery to slow things down again.
The mix was spot on – big scenes, small moments, laughter throughout. A strong set of engagement photos that quietly set expectations: relaxed, real, and rooted in who they are.
A day shaped by family, travel and Filipino tradition
Stephannie and her family are Filipino, and a number of guests travelled a long way for this. Her dad is a minister, and while he wasn’t permitted to conduct the ceremony himself, it clearly mattered that faith and Filipino tradition were woven into the day in a way that still felt personal.
This is where Manor by the Lake really suited them – it held the celebration gently, without needing the couple to perform.
Morning prep - girls in motion, boys in calm
We shot as a two-person team on stills, with Will covering Callum and the boys while we stayed with Stephannie for prep.
The contrast was classic: the girls deep in beauty routines, details being checked and re-checked, emotion building quietly. The lads kicking back, reworking speeches, and easing into the day with a relaxed game of snooker.
Two different energies, both completely right.
Ceremony in the Maximilian Room - emotion, laughter, and a room that felt alive
The ceremony took place in the Maximilian Room and was conducted by celebrant Emma Butler, who handled the tone beautifully and made sure the Filipino elements were included with meaning, not as token “extras.”
Stephannie’s bridesmaids – including her sister – walked first, then Stephannie entered with her dad.
And the room responded.
There were tears from the bridesmaids and close friends almost immediately. One bridesmaid cried so much the tears actually marked her dress. And then there was laughter – the kind that bursts out mid-ceremony when a moment lands perfectly. One of our favourite reactions of the day was Stephannie’s front-row family absolutely cracking up, with her mum leading the charge. Proper character. Proper joy.
The Filipino wedding veil, cord, and unity candle - what it all means
A few key Filipino traditions were woven into the ceremony:
The veil – a lace veil is draped over the couple to symbolise unity and the joining of two lives under one shared covering
The cord (often called the lasso) – placed around the couple, often in a figure-eight shape, representing an unbreakable bond and lifelong commitment
The unity candle – two flames becoming one, symbolising two lives and two families joining together, with faith and guidance at the centre of what comes next
They’re quiet moments, but emotionally they anchor the whole ceremony.
Confetti, garden hellos and a quick portrait pocket
After the ceremony, we rolled through the essentials – group shots, confetti run, and bridesmaid and groomsmen photos – then shifted across to the gardens for drinks and canapes.
The day opened up again here. Guests relaxed into conversation, family groups formed naturally, and Callum & Stephannie stayed close to their people exactly as they wanted to.
We then stole a short pocket of time for couple portraits. Nothing long. Nothing that pulled them away from the day. Just enough space for them to breathe, connect, and let it all sink in before they were called in for the wedding breakfast.
Ballroom wedding breakfast, speeches and a dancefloor that did not quit
Guests were called into the ballroom for the wedding breakfast, and the atmosphere carried in with them.
Speeches landed beautifully. Warm, funny, and revealing in the way the best ones always are. Then tables cleared, and the evening gently shifted gears.
Their first dance was simple and unforced, then it flowed into a father-daughter and mother-son dance. After that came one of those moments that says everything about the day – the couple and both sets of parents swapping partners. A small gesture, but full of meaning. Two families blending in the most natural way.
And then the dancefloor opened.
From that point on, the party belonged to the guests – and there were some big characters absolutely dominating. The Filipino contingent were out in full force, shoes off, energy up, and it was hardcore partying all the way.
Exactly the kind of ending this day deserved.
Photographing this wedding - why it worked
This is the kind of wedding where documentary photography comes into its own.
Because the priority wasn’t perfection. It was presence.
Callum & Stephannie wanted to be with their people. Guests had travelled. Family mattered. Culture mattered. And the best images were born from that decision – real reactions, real connection, and that feeling of a room genuinely enjoying itself.
By the time we hit the road (Dorset bound), we had everything we needed – and a strong sense that this one will stick with us.
Callum & Stephannie – what a day, what a couple. Thank you. It was a pleasure and a blast.
Planning a Manor by the Lake wedding?
If you’re getting married at Manor by the Lake in Cheltenham and want photography that feels natural, unforced, and close to the real story – we’d love to hear what you’re planning.
Supplier credits
Venue – Manor by the Lake, Cheltenham
Celebrant – Emma Butler
