1960s social club wedding
When I met Allegra & Tom at a wedding fair in 2018, they had been planning for their wedding to take place in 2020. We all know how that turned out! And so, Allegra & Tom, sadly postponed their 1960s style social club wedding to 2022.
While I'm sure it was excrutiating to wait 2 more years, it definitely gave them more time to plan out a wedding that truly matched their personalities. They wanted something with a retro feel, that felt like a wedding of yester-year. Which is why they ultimately chose to host their full scale wedding in Saltaire. The architecture, the shops, the hotels; the whole town really does make it feel like you have stepped back in time.
FADED GRANDEUR
First of all, let me talk about the bride prep hotel. In 2022, the Queens jubilee was taking place, so the lobby of Oakwood Hall Hotel was all decked out in Union Jack bunting with vintage elevator music playing in the background. It honestly looked and felt like a movie set from a movie set about VE Day in 1945. From the oak panelled staircase to the bellying stained glass windows, it was glorious.
And then there was the bride prep suite with it's chintzy curtains, 1980s beige hairdryers on the wall and peeling paint on the windows. Something that may sound like a nightmare for some really made me gasp with delight. If there's something you must know about me, I love nothing more than FADED GRANDEUR.
celebrant and humanist ceremonies...
As I mentioned before, Allegra and Tom officially tied the knot on a beautiful beach in St Abbs back in 2020, and it was such an intimate affair. Just me, the officiant, and her assistant! I felt truly honored to sign as a witness alongside the assistant. Since they had already completed the legal paperwork, Allegra and Tom were free to plan their own unique ceremony for their big celebration day. The perfect 1960s social club wedding was always a goal for the couple.
... and why you should have your own!
Sadly, in England, celebrants can’t officiate legal weddings yet, but that’s something the wedding industry is working hard to change. In the meantime, celebrants are a fantastic option if you’re after a more personalized touch for your ceremony. A benefit of having a celebrant wedding is that they will arrange a series of lovely chats with you to get to know you better. This helps them craft a ceremony that feels like a friend is marrying you. During the service they will share cute stories about how you met and the life you’ve built together, plus some fun facts about your family and friends.
I’ve also been to some celebrant-led ceremonies that included "hymns"! Not religious hymns, but pop songs! Basically an unforgettable group karaoke session with everyone singing along. It’s such a fun and refreshing way to celebrate, and definitely something your guests will remember for years to come!
why a social club wedding in saltaire?
One of the first things that Allegra, Tom, and I bonded over was our shared love of nostalgia, old-fashioned buildings, and Wes Anderson films. When they finally chose their wedding venues, Allegra said to me, "The social club smells like the '80s; you're gonna die!"
Saltaire is an old industrial town in Yorkshire that was once filled with mills and thousands of hardworking, salt-of-the-earth people. The town has retained much of its Victorian architecture, with mills and townhouses built from locally mined sandstone. This led to its designation as a World Heritage Site in 2001. Because of this, Saltaire doesn't tend to change much. Not only does it resemble the backdrop of a Warburtons advert, but it also possesses a lot of charm from the mid-20th century. All of this perfectly aligned with Allegra and Tom's vision for a retro feel for their ultimate 1960s social club wedding.
We sent the gallery to our parents and there have been lots of happy tears. thank you so much!
perfect pink 1960s portrait spots
Victoria Hall is a landmark in Saltaire. A Grade II listed building that’s perfect for events, featuring gorgeous large rooms with stunning floor-to-ceiling windows. It was a no brainer for Allegra & Tom to host not only their ceremony there, but also their reception and wedding breakfast! Plus, we had the opportunity to explore some of the empty and unused spaces throughout the day to capture some incredible portraits. And you know ya girl couldn't resist poking her nose behind all of the closed doors she could find, hoping to stumble across some more spectacular locations!
long forgotten charm
When people ask me what I look for in a backdrop for portraits, I often say "beautiful or interesting lighting," but what I really crave is "the unexpected". Something that takes your breath away, feels otherworldly - a unique vibe that you wouldn’t normally consider for wedding portraits. The old theater hall with its pink stage and red velvet seating was a total dream come true for me! We pulled back some of the heavy curtains to allow light to drift lazily into the room, highlighting thousands of dust motes, active after years of being undisturbed. And let’s not forget about the old basketball court! At first, this sounds unremarkable, but with its pastel pink walls, the ivy climbing over the large windows, and the faded paint markings on the floor, you can appreciate why we were so drawn to it's long forgotten charm.
PINK AND GREEN SHOULD ALWAYS BE SEEN
Once we stepped out of Victoria Hall and into the town, we didn't have to go far before we came across a few stores with vintage façades. For some reason, they all seemed to be painted in a rich forest green! Our first stop was the laundromat, followed by an old TV repair shop across the street. There was something about these places, which seemed to be frozen in time. Never updating their style for over 40 years, offering services that the modern household may no longer need. They just ticked the right part of our nostalgic loving brains.
social club of dreams
The final location for Allegra and Tom's 1960s social club wedding was one of the most incredible places I have visited in years. A working mans club straight out of the past. From the outside, it is a one-floor concrete building in an unwelcoming and brutalist architectural style. However, inside, it is a delight.
The first thing that hits you is the smell of lager, floor cleaner, and a faint whiff of cigarettes. Nothing prepares you for a time warp quite like it - it’s reminiscent of 8th birthday parties and your aunt's 1987 wedding.
As you enter, you are greeted by a cloakroom where an attendant would stamp your membership card. Above the door to the cabaret bar is a star-studded wall showcasing the incredible entertainment acts that delighted crowds in the mid- to late-20th century. There were bubble perms, lycra, white dinner suits, moustaches and mullets galore.
nostalgia is alive and well in saltaire
To the right is a wood-paneled pool room. I can't express how long I’ve searched for a social club that hasn’t already ripped out the iconic wood paneling that was so popular 40 or 50 years ago. This was the perfect spot for Wes Anderson-style portraits.
Straight in front of you is the pièce de résistance - the cabaret room. An indie band, dressed in late1960s style clothing, was already strumming out some retro grooves on their guitars. They stand on a stage adorned with a yellow and red silk backdrop - I was expecting a curtain of silver tinsel. The ceiling features panels that, at some point, were definitely made of asbestos. Scattered around the dancefloor are small bistro tables, each holding a candle in a low boy candle holder, surrounded by metal banqueting chairs. The room is softly illuminated by a slowly rotating disco ball. Various vintage machines adorn the walls, including a cigarette dispenser and a lucky dip lottery machine. Later, the buffet will be served from tin foil containers - no fancy nonsense, just good old-fashioned food, complete with pineapple and cheese on sticks.
Nostalgia heaven is real, and it lives in Saltaire.
LOOKING FOR an epic WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
Well look no further, you've found her! Let's arrange a meeting so we can chat about your plans and get you booked in with me!
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Did you love reading about Allegra & Tom's 1960s social club wedding? Want more incredible wedding inspiration?
Head over to my main blog page, or click one of the blog posts below, for lots of no-bullshit advice and tonnes of gorgeous images.
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