The Old Parsonage in Didsbury is a fantastic wedding venue in the stunning area of Didsbury. It is a Grade II listed building that dates back to 1824. The stunning building and gardens were let by Alderman Fletcher Moss in 1919 and the Didsbury Parsonage Trust have provided an incredible community hub ever since ensuring it has been beautiful restored and will be preserved for years to come. Hosting a variety of events such as weddings, christenings and more I was absolutely delighted to be part of Michelle & Tom’s small and intimate wedding.
If you’re interested in getting married at The Old Parsonage, Didsbury, you can Get in touch with their excellent wedding team to arrange a viewing or to discuss your wishes in detail on
Michelle & Tom’s wedding at The Old Parsonage, Didsbury
What a great wedding this was. Small, intimate and in the whole a lovely way to get back into weddings. Michelle and Tom tied the knot in front of their closest family and friends apart from a few including Michelle’s sister who had to miss the wedding due to living in Australia. They were lucky enough to watch it via zoom.
It was a short ceremony conducted by registrars from Manchester who were fantastic. It is so good to have great registrars like this who want the best for the couple and work with the photographer to ensure they are able to get great photos.
After the ceremony it was time for confetti and then some drinks in the park as unfortunately we couldn’t have an official reception due to the current situation of Covid.
Couples portraits at Fletcher Moss
I have been to Fletcher Moss in Didsbury a few times now and it is such a great place for couples portraits. Especially in spring and the autumn months! After the bride and groom and their guests had some much deserved Prosecco we headed off for ten minutes for some couples portraits whilst the guests headed to a near by restaurant for some food.
The Last Signing of the Register in Manchester
What a way to start the year! After a while away from photographing weddings because of COVID-19 it as an absolute pleasure to photograph this wedding in Didsbury. Michelle & Tom were meant to get married last year and have had to change their date a few times. They have been fantastic throughout, constantly checking in and making sure they got a date that I was free for. It is great when we all work together and I am so pleased I was there to capture this small wedding, but even more pleased I will be there in 2022 for their massive party!
The wedding is also a part of history, Tom & Michelle were officially the last people in Manchester as they were the last people to sign the register for the whole of Manchester.
The system for registering marriages changes in May 2021, when the paper-based system will move entirely online. There will no longer be a requirement to complete a paper-based formal register for marriage, and the legal marriage certificate will not be issued at the time of marriage. So Tom and Michelle were the last people to get married and actually signed the register.
The signing of the register dates back to the Victorian times and provisions introduced by the Marriage Act 1836, reflective of how marriage was viewed within the patriarchal society at that time. Children were seen as their father’s property, brides were “given away” by their fathers and there was little consideration as to the importance of mother’s role within a child’s upbringing and life but this is no more.
It was an absolute pleasure photographing this wedding and I am so pleased to share my first wedding of 2021 after a long time away from doing what I love!
