St Luke’s Bombed Out Church in Liverpool is a really cool and unique city centre wedding venue. That suited Amybabe & Paul’s wedding vibe perfectly. I’m a huge, HUGE fan of weddings that are big on personality and this wedding had it by the bucket load.
Normally, this is where I’d share a few highlights from the day, before I hand over to the couple for the details. But their whole day was one big highlight.
After a lovely, but relatively chilled morning, the day just kept getting better. It’s like music to my ears when a couple tell me they’re having a friend perform their wedding ceremony. So, I was really happy when I found out that Paul’s sister would be conducting their ceremony and even happier when I found out there would be 2 (TWO) sing-a-longs too!
Side note: If you’d like all the benefits of having someone you know conduct your ceremony, but can’t choose, or everyone you know is unwilling to take that responsibility check out Celebrant Wendi – as she’s definitely the next best thing š
Getting between venues can stressful on a wedding day, unless of course, you’re walking everywhere. In which case, it’s great fun – especially when you add in a few tinnies, a bluetooth speaker and a some smoke bombs!
Hayli Kincade did a fantastic job of keeping the celebration going when we all arrived at Scale for their wedding party. There was plenty of dancing long before the wedding breakfast. After a delicious meal provided by Relish, Wedding Jam kicked it up a gear until late into the night. Oh and I almost forgot – they had surprise fireworks too! Literally, their whole day was filled with fun, excitement, music, love & more fun.
What. A. Day. But, that’s enough from me, this is what Amybabe & Paul had to say about their awesome wedding…
- Can you tell everyone a little about yourself?
Paul and I met in 2016. Even though we are both from Liverpool and actually went to the same school, we met on Tinder when we were both living in London.
I moved to Belgium a couple of months later to work for Leviās as a Buyer and so the beginning of our relationship was spent going back and forth on the Eurostar and drinking 8% beers in the pubs of Antwerp. Paul is Head of Legal for a record label and we both share a massive love for music. We both love travelling and I love dragging him up mountains when we do so.
- What about the proposal?
Paul proposed in November 2019. We were actually meant to be in Patagonia and he was planning to do it there on a trek. However, we got pregnant (a lot quicker than we thought it would take) and I was advised not to travel so far.
Instead we went to Scotland which is one of my favourite places and is quite sentimental to me as I used to go there as a child and was my Dad’s favourite place in the world (he passed away in 2016). We travelled around and Paul proposed at the top of a mountain in the highlands, it was perfect and just after a rainbow appeared!
St Luke’s Bombed Out Church Wedding
- How long were you engaged / how long did you spend planning your wedding?
We were engaged for a couple of years but only started planning properly and booked the venues in April / May this year. So just 4 months planning! - What were you most looking forward to about your wedding?
Getting all of our friends and family in one place! Enjoying a day that we put together. - Did you have a specific theme, style or colour palette?
ALL THE COLOURS! I wanted the wedding to be colourful, bright, fun. No sage green or pastel pink bridesmaid dresses ā I wanted them all to be different and still come together, I wanted the girls to love their dresses and we chose each one together to their own style.
Other than that, it wasnāt sticking to a specific theme but had elements of things that meant something to us – music, people, places ā e.g. my grandparents were Chinese / Malaysian and I spent some time there so there were a couple of references to that.
- Where did you find inspiration when planning your wedding?
All over the place – things we’d see in the street – not particularly wedding specific. - Did you do anything to make your wedding unique to you or your story as a couple?
Songs – we LOVE music and it was really important to have significant songs throughout the day. We had UB40 and The Beatles “hymns” in the ceremony, I walked in to The La’s (another scouse band) – There She Goes. Florence and the Machine made a couple of appearances and “Heroes” was our first dance.
Cake – My mum (at 76) made the cake. She has made them for our family for decades but the more traditional, fruit / marzipan kind. My brief was a bit different but she absolutely smashed it. She wanted to do 3 tiers and 3 flavours!!
Banner – We asked Paul’s mum to make a banner for us that represented our first dance. We briefed colours / style that would fit with the venue and it is amazing. We now have this to keep forever.
Ladder (!) – Possibly my favourite thing in the wedding. My Dad passed away in 2016 and I wanted to make sure he was with us on the day. He made a wooden ladder for me years before as a decorative piece for my bedroom and he was a roofer so he was up and down ladders every day. I briefed my florist (also a friend) to do an installation of hanging flowers from the ladder to be hung above the top table. It was the most unique, beautiful thing and I think turned out like a piece of artwork.
Arch – My uncle made the arch at the front of the church and my cousin, Stephie, stained it.
Signs – My best friend, Tessa, made signs / order of the day as she is an amazing painter. She also did a speech as I don’t think we need to leave it up to the Men to say things on the day!
Paulās sisters both played a big role too: Becky, was our celebrant and Rachael our Master of Ceremonies. It was really important we had people close to us do these jobs as they know us the best and could make it personal.
Fireworks – these mean a lot to me as my Dad always did them. But by the time it came around we had run out of time and money. Our Best Man, Amean, pulled through and sorted the most amazing display!!! Even burning his new Paul Smith suit in the process. - Did you enjoy the planning process?
Loved it!!!! Every second. I wish I could have done it full time!
- How did you choose your wedding venue?
It happened by chance ā through the years weāve had different ideas ā up in Scotland, down in London (where we live). Then back in April we were planning a simple registry office and party in Liverpool as it was close to home and our families. It snowballed as we looked at some party locations and in the end it couldn’t have been more perfect to be held across different spots our home city.
Weāve both always loved the iconic bombed out church and it just happened to be available on the date we originally booked the registry office. Then when our original reception venue pulled out we heard about Scale, which again, just āhappenedā to be available (because of a cancellation) and it was exactly what we wanted (without knowing what we wanted in the first place!). - What advice would you give to couples looking for a wedding venue?
Don’t obsess over everything, you will make it perfect to you when you create the wedding.
- What was your biggest worry or concern when choosing a photographer?
The photos would be too rigid. We didnāt want to be dragged away from the fun for loads of posed shots (just a few to tick the boxes). We wanted someone with energy and captured the moments rather than the poses. - What advice would you give to couples who are looking for a photographer?
Do your research, check out examples of their work, connect with their personality. - Would you like to give a shout out to anyone in particular?
All of our friends and family in every single way. The energy that everyone brought on the day was incredible. Chris, I also don’t understand where you found all of your energy. It was a busy day, different venues, walking in between, a hell of a lot of dancing and you were there just getting your shit done!
Scale Wedding Party
Congratulations & Thank Yous
Massive, massive congratulations to Amy & Paul – thank you so much for choosing me to photograph your wedding. From start to finish it was the most awesome day. I loved every single minute of it. Plus, you’re both crazy cool people too! Thank you š
I’d like to give a special shout out to everyone involved in making this day so awesome. Thank you:
St Luke’s Bombed Out Church
Leece St, Liverpool L1 2TR
Website: slboc.com
Insta: bombedoutchurchliverpool
FB: stlukesbombedoutchurch
You may also be interested in: Featured Wedding Venue ā St Lukeās Bombed Out Church & St Luke Bombed Out Church Wedding Photos
Scale
68-76, The Tapestry, Kempston St, Liverpool L3 8HL
Website: www.scaleliverpool.com
Insta: scale_liverpool
FB: scaleliverpool
The Other Pros: Florist: @paperflowers_paperflowers | Singer: @hayli_k_vocalist | Caterers: @relishcateringliverpool | D.J. @wedding.jam
Liverpool Wedding Photographer
If you’re planning your wedding and like what you’ve seen here then please drop me a message. I photograph Weddings in Liverpool and all over the UK. Oh, and if you’re not married, but are thinking about popping the question – check out my Surprise Proposal Photography.
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