A Liverpool church wedding, iconic waterfront portraits and one seriously busy dance floor!


There are some wedding days that are particularly enjoyable to photograph, and Hannah and Mike's wedding in Liverpool was definitely one of them. From the grandeur of St John the Evangelist Church in Walton to couple portraits around Albert Dock and the Liver Building, followed by a fantastic reception at Malmaison Liverpool, there was plenty to keep me busy.


This was also a wedding where I was flying solo, without my usual second photographer alongside me. Thankfully, I had everything I needed, captured around 3,500 photographs and made it home in one piece. More about that later. So, grab a coffee and have a look at how Hannah and Mike's wedding day unfolded.


The night before: planning ahead for a Liverpool wedding

I'm based in Kinross, Scotland, so photographing a wedding in Liverpool involves a fair bit of travelling. Rather than risk a long drive on the morning of the wedding, I decided to head down the night before. There's nothing worse than sitting in traffic or having car trouble when you've got a wedding to photograph. Planning is important, and I'd much rather arrive early, get a decent night's sleep and know exactly where I'm going. The morning started with a minor disaster. I'd remembered all my camera equipment, lenses, flashes, batteries and memory cards, but somehow managed to forget my jacket! And yes it was pouring down. 


Thankfully, there was an Asda nearby, so I popped in for an early morning shopping trip. I found a rain jacket reduced from £25 to just £7.50. I genuinely thought it was a pricing mistake, so I asked a member of staff to double-check. His response was that I must be the most honest person in Liverpool, before telling me to go away!

Fair enough. I wasn't going to argue. A bargain is a bargain!

Church interior with red carpeted aisle, wooden pews, flags, ornate stone altar and three stained glass windows beneath arched ceilings.
Interior of a church with wooden pews lining a tiled center aisle, stone arches, tall narrow windows and a small altar at the far end.
Interior of a historic church showing a vaulted red and timber ceiling, stone arches, pews, and a white chancel wall with windows.
Red brick church building with twin pointed turrets, arched doorways and a blue sign, with a red car parked in front on a quiet street.
Interior of a stone church with pointed arches, wooden pews, red carpet, a tiled central aisle and a painted timber ceiling.
Church interior with a red carpeted aisle, wooden pews, stone arches and an ornate timber vaulted ceiling leading to the altar.

A pre-wedding visit to Malmaison Liverpool

Before heading to the church, I made a quick visit to Malmaison Liverpool, where the reception would be taking place later in the day.

I wanted to check out the parking arrangements, drop off a few light stands and flashes that I thought might come in handy for the evening, and have a look around the hotel. It's a lovely venue, with a stylish interior and a fantastic position down at Princes Dock. The reception area was particularly impressive, and the real flame fire was a brilliant feature. It looked fantastic, although it was absolutely roasting standing beside it!


Malmaison Liverpool is a popular choice for wedding receptions, and it's easy to understand why. The hotel has dedicated private event spaces, a range of dining options and a waterfront location within easy reach of Liverpool's best-known landmarks. The hotel's wedding reviews also speak highly of the events team, food and customer service. Having experienced the hospitality first-hand, I can certainly understand the positive feedback. With my equipment safely dropped off, it was time to head to the church.


St John the Evangelist Church, Liverpool

On arrival at St John the Evangelist Church, I bumped into the cleaner, who was busy getting everything ready for the ceremony. What a church!

I spent around 20 minutes photographing the interior so the church could have some photographs to show off its beautiful building. My experience photographing properties and interiors certainly comes in handy sometimes. It's always nice to put those skills to use outside of my usual wedding photography work.

Once I'd finished, I got myself organised and started photographing the guests as they gradually arrived.


I also had a good chat with the vicar when he arrived. After around half an hour, most of the guests had found their seats, although there were still a few empty spaces in the pews. I caught up with Mike and his three groomsmen, who were all looking incredibly relaxed. We took a few photographs of them at the altar, along with some natural, candid shots as they welcomed friends and family into the church.

Black and white photo of three smiling men in suits standing together on church steps in front of an altar at a wedding.
Black and white photo of a groom in glasses, light blazer, vest and tie with a boutonniere, checking his wrist in a church.
Black and white photo of a wedding ceremony inside a church, with a bride and groom at the altar and guests seated in wooden pews.
Three men in suits sit on wooden church pews in a black-and-white photo as other guests gather in the background of a historic chapel.
Three men in suits sit in a church pew during a wedding ceremony, one with a boutonniere, in a black and white photo.
Groom in a light suit walks down the aisle of a church as seated wedding guests look on, with floral pew decorations in black and white.
Black and white photo of two women embracing in a church pew while a bearded man and a man in a light suit look on.

A little confusion over which church!

I was then told that Hannah had arrived in her beautiful chauffeur-driven car, accompanied by her bridesmaids. I popped outside to say hello and have a chat with them. They mentioned that there had been a slight problem with some of the guests getting lost.


It turns out Liverpool has more than one St John the Evangelist Church! There is the church in Walton where Hannah and Mike were getting married, St John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Kirkdale, and another St John the Evangelist Church in Knotty Ash. If you'd turned up at either of the other two, you'd have been in the wrong place! I suppose when you think about it, the chances of someone ending up at the wrong church were reasonably high. Thankfully, most people found the correct one, although we did have a slight delay while waiting for a few last-minute arrivals.


Hannah arrives

Once everyone had arrived, Hannah stepped out of the car looking absolutely radiant. We stood chatting at the church entrance for a little while, and she was remarkably relaxed considering she was about to walk down the aisle. It was lovely to see. Hannah had also requested one particular photograph during the ceremony. She wanted an image of herself walking down the aisle, photographed from the back of the church, with her bridesmaid standing at the end of the aisle.


The idea was to capture the full grandeur of the church in one photograph, including Hannah, her bridesmaid and the congregation. It's always nice when couples have a specific photograph in mind, and I was really pleased with how this one turned out.


The wedding ceremony

The ceremony was a traditional Church of England service, complete with readings and hymns. The vicar also brought a bit of personality to proceedings, having a good laugh at Mike's expense. Exactly what we'd expect a vicar to do, to be honest. There was a lovely atmosphere throughout, and before long Hannah and Mike were officially married. Time to get outside and make the most of Liverpool!

Bride in a long white veil walks down the church aisle toward a choir in blue robes and white surplices.
Bride in a long white wedding gown walks inside a church with stained glass windows as guests in sparkly dresses and formal attire look on.
Bride in a long white wedding gown stands at the church aisle facing the altar, with bridesmaids and seated guests in a stone chapel.
Bride in a white lace gown and groom in a gray suit exchange vows before an officiant in ornate vestments during a church wedding ceremony.
Smiling bride in a white lace gown looks over her shoulder at the groom in a gray suit during a church wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom stand before an officiant at the altar of a stone church during a wedding ceremony, with guests seated in wooden pews.
Bride in a lace wedding dress and veil exchanges vows with the groom in a grey suit as a priest officiates inside a candlelit church.
Bride in a lace wedding gown and groom in a gray suit join hands during a ceremony as an officiant in ornate vestments looks on.
Bride and groom stand at the altar of a church as wedding guests sit in wooden pews decorated with floral bows along the central aisle.
Man in a blue blazer with a flower pin speaks at a wooden lectern in a stone church while seated guests listen.

Wedding portraits at Albert Dock and the Liver Building

After the ceremony, I joined Hannah and Mike at Liverpool's famous Albert Dock. If you're looking for somewhere in Liverpool for wedding photographs, Albert Dock is hard to beat. The historic waterfront buildings, distinctive brickwork and views across the water provide plenty of opportunities for interesting photographs.


We spent around 15 minutes wandering around, capturing a mixture of relaxed couple portraits and photographs using the architecture as a backdrop. From there, we jumped back into the car and headed towards one of Liverpool's most recognisable landmarks: the Royal Liver Building. This is where we captured some of my favourite portraits of the year so far.


I love combining portrait photography with interesting architecture. Rather than simply photographing a couple standing together, I like to use the surroundings to add something extra to the image. The Liver Building provided exactly that opportunity. Its distinctive architecture made a fantastic backdrop, and the photographs had a completely different feel to those we'd taken at Albert Dock. I'd also been looking forward to getting my drone into the air to capture some aerial photographs of the building and the surrounding waterfront. Unfortunately, the wind had other ideas. It was simply too windy to fly safely, so the drone stayed firmly in its case. It's frustrating when you have a particular photograph in mind, but weather is one thing I can't control. Still, I was delighted with the portraits we managed to capture.


Wedding reception at Malmaison Liverpool

With the portraits finished, we headed back to Malmaison Liverpool, where family and friends were waiting to celebrate with the newlyweds. The upstairs reception room looked fantastic. The staff had done a brilliant job setting everything up, and I spent some time photographing the room and all the little details before Hannah and Mike made their grand entrance. The wedding cake was beautifully presented, and the room had a lovely atmosphere. Hannah and Mike had their own sweetheart table at the front of the room, while everyone else was free to mingle and enjoy themselves.


There was no formal table layout or complicated seating plan. It was a much more relaxed arrangement, which I thought suited the vibe perfectly.

Everyone could chat, move around and catch up with family and friends without worrying about where they were supposed to be sitting.


Black and white wedding photo of a bride in a lace gown holding a bouquet and a groom in a light suit and glasses posing beside a railing.
Black and white photo of a bride in a lace gown and veil holding hands with a groom in a suit as they walk and smile along a city sidewalk.
Bride in a flowing white gown and veil walks hand in hand with her groom along a waterfront promenade in a black and white wedding photo.
Black and white photo of a bride and groom embracing inside a large heart-shaped floral arch at an outdoor wedding venue.
Black and white wedding portrait of a bride holding a bouquet and her groom embracing her inside a floral-topped heart-shaped arch.
Black and white photo of a bride and groom walking hand in hand toward the Royal Liver Building under a dramatic cloudy sky in Liverpool.
Bride in a white gown and groom in a suit embrace on a lawn in front of a grand historic building under an overcast sky.
Black and white photo of a bride in a flowing wedding dress and groom on a lawn near the Royal Liver Building and a statue in Liverpool.
Bride in a flowing gown and groom in a suit pose beside a large heart-shaped sign on a waterfront promenade with historic buildings behind.
Bride and groom pose inside a heart-shaped 'Love Is All You Need' sign on the Liverpool waterfront with the Liver Building behind.
Black and white photo of a bride in a flowing gown and a groom in a suit walking hand in hand near historic clock towers.
A bride in a flowing lace wedding gown and veil blowing in the wind stands beside her groom on a city waterfront path.
Bride and groom pose inside a heart-shaped green hedge arch decorated with colorful flowers in a courtyard with brick buildings.
Bride in a white gown and groom in a grey suit walk hand in hand across a plaza near the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool.
Bride and groom share a kiss on a grassy lawn with a historic stone building and city skyline in the background.

A little bit of instant printing

While Hannah, Mike and the wedding party enjoyed their meal, I took the opportunity to sit in the bar and back up the photographs I'd taken throughout the day.

I'd already taken around 2,500 photographs, so there was plenty to get through! I also printed ten photographs for the couple using my portable Canon SELPHY printer.

It's a brilliant little printer and a great addition to my wedding photography equipment. It takes around 40 seconds to produce each print, but that's a small price to pay for being able to give couples something tangible to enjoy on their wedding day. It's always nice to be able to hand over a few photographs before the evening is even over.


I'd also like to say a huge thank you to the Malmaison staff. They were incredibly helpful throughout the evening and even kindly provided me with refreshments free of charge. It's not something I ever expect, but when you're working a long wedding day, it's always appreciated. It's lovely to be treated so well as a wedding supplier.


Family photographs and more portraits along the waterfront

Once the meal had finished, it was time to get everyone together for the family photographs. I always try to keep family formals organised and efficient. Nobody wants to spend half their wedding day standing around waiting for photographs, so having a plan makes a big difference. Afterwards, we headed outside again for a few more couple portraits along the dock front. Liverpool really does provide some fantastic opportunities for wedding photography. Having the waterfront so close to the hotel meant we could make the most of the surroundings without having to travel anywhere.

With the photographs finished, it was time to let the evening celebrations begin!


First dance, cake cutting and a very busy dance floor!

We kicked things off with the first dance, followed by the cake cutting. Then the DJ got everyone involved, and before long the dance floor was absolutely packed.

This was one of my favourite parts of the day to photograph. Everyone was having a fantastic time, the energy was brilliant and there was no shortage of opportunities to capture some great photographs. A busy dance floor is a wedding photographer's dream. There are spontaneous moments everywhere, from people throwing their hands in the air to friends laughing, singing and generally letting their hair down.


I also brought out my Insta360 X5, a 360-degree camera mounted on a selfie stick, and handed it over to some of the people on the dance floor. The results were fantastic! It gives people the opportunity to capture the party from a completely different perspective, and the resulting footage adds something extra to the final wedding collection.

Bride in a white lace gown and groom in a navy vest share a first dance on a black and white checkered floor before a fairy light backdrop.
Bride in a lace wedding gown and groom in a vest share a first dance on a black and white checkered floor beneath twinkling string lights.
Bald bearded man in glasses and suspenders dances at a lively indoor party while guests in formal attire celebrate around him.
Guests dance and laugh together on a lively dance floor at an evening party with colorful stage lighting and a speaker in the background.
A smiling man in a white shirt and burgundy tie dances with raised arms at a lively party while a woman holds a drink in the foreground.
Three guests dance and laugh on a black and white checkered dance floor at a lively wedding reception with a white draped backdrop.
Two men in white shirts and suspenders dance and laugh together on a black and white checkered dance floor at a lively party.
Guests in dressy attire dance and hold drinks on a checkered dance floor while a bearded man in suspenders dances in the foreground.
A bride in a short white dress and heels cuts a white tiered wedding cake with her partner beside a decorated table and greenery.
Two men in headbands hold drinks and gesture playfully while seated at a party with a woman holding a cocktail in the foreground.

Giving the wedding party a camera of their own

There was another little addition to the day that I really enjoy incorporating into my weddings. Earlier in the day, I'd given the wedding party my Sony Cyber-shot digital camera to pass around the tables. It’s small but professional and easy to use. The idea is simple. Rather than relying entirely on me to capture every moment, the wedding party gets the opportunity to take photographs from their own perspective.


I can't be everywhere at once, and there are times during a wedding breakfast when it doesn't feel appropriate for me to be leaning across tables taking close-up photographs of everyone chatting and enjoying their meal. Giving the wedding party a camera means I can still capture those moments without getting in the way.

It also has a big advantage over disposable cameras or QR-code photo-sharing services.


I've spoken to brides in the past who've used those services and ended up with hundreds of photographs, many of which aren't particularly useful. With my own Sony camera, I can go through the images afterwards, select the best ones and professionally edit the RAW files before adding them to the final gallery. That means you get a different perspective of your wedding day without compromising on the quality of the finished photographs. It's a little extra that I think makes a big difference.

Young man in a white dress shirt holds a tall glass of red drink at a banquet table while guests dine in the elegant background.
Smiling man in a white shirt and pale yellow tie takes a selfie with a blonde woman in a lace top at a wedding reception with guests behind.
Two smiling men in a pink shirt and a gray blazer sit together at a banquet table during a wedding reception with hanging floral decor.
Two smiling women with long hair pose close together in a cheerful selfie, one blonde and one brunette, both laughing warmly.
Smiling man with a pierced nose and blonde hair and a laughing blonde woman make peace signs at a wedding reception with flowers behind.
Smiling older couple seated at a decorated banquet table at a wedding reception, the woman in a lime cardigan and fascinator.
Two smiling girls with long hair sit side by side indoors, one in a white cardigan and blue top, the other in a floral sleeveless top.
Smiling boy in a vest and tie sits beside a girl at a decorated wedding reception table with glasses, place settings and guests behind.
Two smiling young women with long hair pose together at a restaurant table set with candles, glasses, and bottles.
Smiling woman with glasses and a coral floral top takes a selfie with a bald man in sunglasses, a white dress shirt and a pink tie.
Smiling woman in a red top takes a close selfie with a bald, bearded man in glasses and a tie resting his head against hers.
Bride in a veil and groom in glasses sit at a reception table behind white rose floral centerpieces and candles at a wedding.
Bearded man in glasses and a pinstripe suit points at the camera while a woman with a floral hair accessory smiles at a festive banquet tabl
Two smiling men in smart attire sit at a restaurant table with wine and plates of food beside a large window overlooking city buildings.

The journey home

As the evening came to an end, it was time to pack everything away and head home. There was just one small problem. My car was parked on the top floor of the multi-storey car park next door. This meant the best part of four trips back and forward with all my equipment. Light stands, flashes, cameras, bags and various other bits and pieces. And the lift stops working after 9pm so the stairs it was! Most of it hadn't even been used!


But that's wedding photography. You have to be prepared for every eventuality. You never know what the lighting conditions will be like, what opportunities might present themselves or what equipment you'll need. I'd much rather take everything and not need it than find myself wishing I'd brought something along. Eventually, everything was packed into the car and I set off on the four-and-a-half-hour drive back to Kinross.


For me, the journey home is always a chance to decompress after a long day. There's plenty of time to think about the photographs, the moments you've captured and all the little things that made the wedding special. It had been a long day, but a brilliant one.


Thank you, Hannah and Mike!

Hannah and Mike, thank you so much for having me along to photograph your wedding. You were both an absolute pleasure to work with, and I genuinely loved being part of your day. Your 5 star Google Review was also so appreciated and lovely to read.  From the beautiful ceremony at St John the Evangelist Church to the portraits around Albert Dock and the Liver Building, followed by a fantastic reception at Malmaison Liverpool, it was a wedding with plenty of variety and some brilliant opportunities for photographs.


I particularly loved the relaxed atmosphere throughout the day. Nothing felt overly formal or forced, and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves and making the most of the celebrations. The portraits around the Liver Building are definitely some of my favourites, and the energy on the dance floor made for some fantastic evening photographs and video footage. I hope you both enjoy looking back through your photographs for many years to come. It was a real pleasure telling the story of your wedding day, and I wish you both every happiness for the future.


Thank you again for choosing me to photograph your wedding!


Alan Ruiz Photography

Wedding photographer based in Kinross, Scotland, photographing weddings throughout Fife, Edinburgh, Glasgow and across the UK