Nikki and Sam married in the Italian Gardens at Manor by the Lake, Cheltenham, on 4 May 2025, with their four children beside them. Paul Hickey of Once in a Lifetime Photography photographed the day, from cottage preparations to golden-hour portraits by the lake and flash-lit portraits on the Yew Tree Walk.
Nikki and Sam’s wedding was my first at Manor by the Lake, a Victorian manor house on Hatherley Lane in west Cheltenham. I returned three weeks later for Marta and Gary’s wedding. Between the gardens, the lake and the manor itself, the venue gave me a lot to work with.
A Love Story Years in the Making
Nikki and Sam's journey is one of reconnection and perfect timing. "Sam and I first met at Chipping Campden Secondary School," Nikki explained, "although we were several school years apart, so didn't know each other." It wasn't until many years later that they reconnected through work, with Sam being the finance manager Nikki had to contact regarding her school's swimming lessons.
After 15 years together and four children, the couple live in Bishop’s Cleeve. They chose Manor by the Lake, in the Regency spa town of Cheltenham, for their wedding. It was the culmination of a long story.
Wedding Morning at the Manor
The wedding day began in the cottage in the grounds, where Nikki and her bridesmaids started their preparations. Nikki’s daughters stayed close while their make-up was done, and those quiet family moments mattered most to her. Later they moved to the Bridal Suite, where a bridesmaid fastened Nikki’s lace-backed dress.
Meanwhile, Sam and his groomsmen got ready in the Rock Bar, the venue’s own bar and games room. The morning was full of laughter and anticipation. Nikki and Sam had asked for candid moments with all four children, so that is where I concentrated.
The venue’s wedding coordinator kept the morning running to time, which let me concentrate on the family.
An Outdoor Ceremony in the Italian Gardens
Manor by the Lake offers both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, and Nikki and Sam chose the Italian Gardens, just around the corner from the lake. Sam and his groomsmen made their entrance up the yew-lined path, which gives the groom’s arrival a strong, natural line.
Under bright May sunshine, Nikki walked in with her father, and the flower girls led the way down the aisle. During the ceremony I photographed the family’s reactions as much as the couple, including a quiet moment between Sam and his son. After the ring exchange and first kiss, Nikki signed the register with a wide smile. Guests then had sparkling wine or orange juice in the gardens.
Celebrating in Style: The Wedding Reception
The wedding breakfast was served indoors, and the kitchen catered for every dietary requirement. House wine was served with the meal. During the speeches I watched Nikki and her mother as closely as the speakers, and both of their reactions are in the gallery.
Later the celebration spilled onto the lawns for garden games. This was exactly what Nikki and Sam wanted: candid photographs of friends and family relaxing in the grounds.
The ornate garden swing and the landscaped lawns gave us relaxed, unposed portraits in the afternoon light.
Golden Hour and Creative Evening Portraits at Manor by the Lake
Before the evening reception moved into the ballroom, we used the golden-hour light by the lake for portraits. Inside the manor, an ornate staircase mirror gave us a very different frame.
After dark, I lit Nikki and Sam with multiple off-camera flashes on the Yew Tree Walk and beside the lake. The flash separates the couple from the dark yew trees and the water, which is what makes these night portraits work. Creative night portraits are central to my work: I am a Flashmasters Gold Award recipient and a multiple Wedisson Award winner.
Photographing Manor by the Lake: What Worked
The Yew Tree Walk gives the groom’s entrance a strong line in daylight. Once the light goes, it becomes the best night-portrait location in the grounds.
The lake is at its best in the hour before sunset. Allow 15–20 minutes there before the evening reception starts.
The cottage in the grounds is a calm, private space for bridal preparations, especially with children involved. Venue details and practical planning notes are on my Manor by the Lake wedding photographer page.
Capturing Your Manor by the Lake Wedding
Congratulations to Nikki and Sam. Photographing a family wedding like theirs, with four children at the centre of it, was a privilege.
If you are planning a Manor by the Lake wedding and want documentary coverage plus creative night portraits, I’d love to hear about your plans. My Signature Wedding Photography package is £1,395, with 700+ edited images, and travel to Cheltenham is included.
You can also see Marta and Gary’s wedding at Manor by the Lake, and Rebecca and Matthew’s wedding at Hotel du Vin Cheltenham.
Paul Hickey of Once in a Lifetime Photography is a documentary wedding photographer based in Worcestershire, covering Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. He is a multiple Wedisson Award winner and Flashmasters Gold Award recipient, known for natural storytelling and creative night portraits.