CHESTER WEDDINGS
Chester is a bit different from the rest of Cheshire. It's a proper city wedding, with walls that are nearly 2,000 years old in places, half-timbered streets and a river with its own suspension bridge, all a short walk from your ceremony. For me as a Chester wedding photographer, that means your portraits are a stroll away rather than a drive.
EDITORIAL & FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
why get married in Chester?
Because you get a city wedding without losing the green bits. Chester has the most complete Roman and medieval city walls in Britain, with a walkway running almost all the way round the old city. Inside them are the Rows: two-tier, black-and-white galleries along the four main streets that you won't find anywhere else. Then there's the Eastgate Clock, built for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, and the River Dee curving round the south side of town with The Groves and Grosvenor Park beside it.
It's easy for guests too. Chester has its own train station, and Old Palace Chester is less than a mile from it, so your friends from Manchester or Liverpool can leave the car at home and enjoy the bar.
my favourite spots for wedding photos in Chester
The best spots for wedding photos in Chester are the city walls, the Eastgate Clock, the Rows, the riverside at The Groves and Grosvenor Park. They're all close together in the city centre, so we can fit two or three into a short portrait break without anyone needing a car.
- The city walls: a free walkway round the old city with views over the rooftops and the racecourse. It's shared with walkers, so expect an audience (and maybe a cheer or two).
- The Eastgate Clock: one of the most photographed clocks in the country, sitting on top of the walls over Eastgate Street. It's busy, so a quick stop or a quieter time of day works best.
- The Rows: half-timbered galleries with covered walkways on the first floor. Gorgeous for photos, and our rain plan if the sky opens.
- The Groves and Queen's Park Bridge: the riverside promenade, with the white suspension bridge right next to Old Palace Chester.
- Grosvenor Park: gardens just off the river and a lot quieter than the shopping streets. The Roman amphitheatre is next door too.
GETTING MARRIED JUST OVER THE BORDER? I ALSO PHOTOGRAPH WEDDINGS IN NORTH WALES, LIVERPOOL, LANCASHIRE AND UP IN THE LAKE DISTRICT.
Chester wedding venues I've photographed
From a Georgian palace on the river to country houses a short drive out, these are the wedding venues in and around Chester I know well:
Furthermore, there are some lovely wedding venues near Chester just over the Welsh border too:
I cover more venues across the border on my North Wales wedding photographer page
/ Old Palace Chester
/ Inglewood Manor
/ Soughton hall
/ Carden Park
/HIGHFIELD Hall
/ Tower Hill Barns
getting married at Chester Register Office
Chester Register Office is at Merchants House on Crook Street, right in the city centre. It's a great choice for a small wedding, and the walls and the Rows are only a short walk away for photos afterwards.
- The Merchants Suite: a bright room with windows on three sides, for up to 38 guests (40 including the two of you). It's available Monday to Saturday, excluding bank holidays.
- The smaller ceremony room: just the two of you and two witnesses, on Monday to Wednesday mornings only.
- Booking: both rooms can be booked up to 12 months ahead through Cheshire West and Chester Council.
A register office ceremony is short (often around 20 minutes), so my hourly coverage is usually the right fit: from £600 for 2 hours. That's enough time for the ceremony, family photos outside and a wander for portraits before you head off to celebrate.
planning a Chester wedding
A few Chester-specific things worth knowing:
01. Check the race calendar.
Chester Racecourse holds meetings from May to September, and race days fill the city's hotels, roads and trains. Look up the fixtures before you fix your date.
02. Let your guests take the train.
City-centre parking fills up fast on a Saturday, and the station is close to most of the centre.
03. Pack comfy shoes for the walk
The best photo spots in Chester are on foot, and some of the streets round the cathedral are cobbled. Swap back into the nice shoes for photos.
04. Plan portraits around the crowds.
A Saturday afternoon in the city centre is busy with shoppers. Early evening is quieter, and the light by the river is lovely then.
05. [Magda's top tip]
06. [Magda's top tip]
how much does a wedding photographer in Chester cost?
Full day wedding photography in Chester starts from £2200 for 2027, and travel is included, so there's nothing extra to pay for coming down from Preston. The signature package, from £2700, adds a second photographer and a roll of 35mm film. Register office weddings and smaller days start from £600 for 2 hours.
Everything that's included, plus extras like albums and a highlight video, is on my wedding packages page.
Check out our Pricing
FULL DAY WEDDING
PHOTOGRAPHY
from £2200
2027 weddings
SIGNATURE PACKAGE
from £2700
adds a second photographer
and a roll of 35mm film
MICRO WEDDINGS AND
HOURLY
from £600
for 2 hours
My full day wedding photography for 2027 starts from £2200. That includes
one photographer for the whole day, a complimentary engagement shoot,
planning support, a private online gallery, sneak peeks within 5 days and
travel within the UK. The signature package, from £2700, adds a second
photographer and a roll of 35mm film.
Micro weddings and hourly coverage start from £600 for 2 hours, with
travel charged separately (I'll send you a simple guide with the costs up
front). Extras include a second photographer for £450, a highlight video for
£800 and albums from £400. Everything is on my wedding packages page.
FAQ
Can we have photos on Chester's city walls?
Yes! The walls are a public walkway and they're free to walk. They're narrow in places and shared with walkers, so we'll pick a quieter stretch and keep it quick.
Do you photograph church weddings in Chester?
Absolutely. Cristina and Andy married at St Werburgh's, a short walk from Old Palace, with the light pouring in through those big windows. Some churches have rules about where photographers can stand during the service, so I'll check with whoever's leading your ceremony beforehand.
Do you charge for travel to Chester?
Not for full day weddings. For hourly coverage and micro weddings, travel is charged separately and I'll tell you the cost up front.
What if it rains on our Chester wedding?
We'll head for the Rows. The covered walkways give us cover with all that black-and-white timber behind you. I also bring clear umbrellas, because sometimes the rainy photos are the best ones.
Can we get married outdoors in Chester?
Only in the grounds of a venue that's approved for weddings. Carden Park, just outside the city, has an outdoor ceremony gazebo, and Highfield Hall over the border does garden ceremonies. My guide on how to legally get married in the UK explains the rules.