Arriving at Mercure St Helens
We arrived at Mercure St Helens with plenty of time to take a look around the ceremony room, which had been beautifully prepared and was ready to welcome Ashleigh & Jon’s family and friends.
Our next stop was the bridal suite to see Ashleigh, who was getting ready with her chief bridesmaid and flower girls. She looked absolutely stunning, although beneath the excitement there were understandably a few pre-wedding nerves.
Rather than rushing straight into photographs, we spent some time chatting with Ashleigh about the day ahead while capturing a few relaxed images of those final preparations. It gave us a lovely opportunity to settle into the day together and allowed Ashleigh a little time to relax before the ceremony.
Ashleigh later told us how much those few moments had helped to put her at ease. For us, that is such an important part of wedding photography. Sometimes it isn't about taking a photograph at all — it's about knowing when to slow things down, have a chat and help someone enjoy the moment they're in.
We then headed downstairs to find Jon, who was welcoming guests as they arrived in the hotel lobby and grounds. After a quick catch-up, we took Jon and his groomsmen aside for a few photographs before the ceremony.
This is another part of the day we really enjoy. A little humour and friendly conversation quickly breaks the ice, particularly with anyone who isn't used to being in front of a camera. Within a few minutes the laughter was flowing, everyone was more relaxed and we were able to capture photographs that felt far more like them.
With Ashleigh settled, Jon and his groomsmen relaxed and the guests beginning to gather, everything was ready for the ceremony.
A First Look to Treasure
Before the ceremony, there was one particularly important moment that Ashleigh wanted us to help create.
Having sadly lost her dad, Ashleigh wanted her brother and her boys to share that special first glimpse of her as a bride. It was a moment that could only happen once, and we knew how much it meant to her.
We talked everything through with Ashleigh beforehand and carefully prepared the location. Her brother and the boys were positioned so they would have the perfect view as Ashleigh appeared, while we made sure we could photograph both their reactions and Ashleigh herself without intruding on the moment.
Then everything was ready.
As Ashleigh appeared, the reactions were completely genuine. For those few moments, our job was simply to capture what unfolded — the expressions, the emotion and the connection between them.
Photographs like these remind us why planning matters. You cannot recreate a first reaction or ask somebody to feel that emotion for a second time. By preparing everything beforehand, Ashleigh and her family could simply experience the moment while we made sure it was preserved for them.
For Ashleigh, these weren't simply photographs from her wedding day. They were photographs of a moment she wanted to treasure.
The Ceremony
With family and friends gathered and Jon waiting alongside his groomsmen, it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for.
Ashleigh made her entrance, walking gracefully along the immaculate white aisle towards Jon. As she reached his side, the nerves and anticipation of the morning gave way to smiles, emotion and the excitement of finally being there together.
The ceremony is where our father-and-son approach really comes into its own. We work as a team, each knowing where the other will be and what we're looking to capture.
Damian photographs from close to the couple, concentrating on those essential moments between Ashleigh and Jon — the glances, smiles, exchange of rings and all the little expressions that can disappear in a second.
Meanwhile, Danny photographs from a completely different perspective. From the side and rear of the ceremony, he can capture views that simply wouldn't be possible from Damian's position, while also watching the people gathered around them.
And often, that's where some of the most precious photographs are found.
A proud smile from a family member. A guest wiping away a tear. Laughter shared across the room. The little reactions Ashleigh & Jon couldn't possibly see while standing together at the front.
Having two photographers isn't about creating twice as many photographs. It's about telling more of the story.
While one of us captures the moment Ashleigh & Jon are experiencing, the other can capture everything happening around them — giving them memories of their ceremony that they may otherwise never have seen.
The Formal Photographs
One photograph we always aim to create at Mercure St Helens is the fantastic full wedding-party photograph from the second-floor balcony.
With Ashleigh & Jon surrounded by their family and friends in the lobby below, we headed upstairs and photographed everyone looking up towards us. The elevated viewpoint means we can see virtually every face, while inevitably having a little fun with everyone as we organise the shot.
It's always an impressive photograph, but its real value is what it represents — the people who were there.
A wedding day brings together family and friends from so many different parts of a couple's life, sometimes in a way that may never happen again. As the years pass, a photograph showing all those people together can become one of the most meaningful images from the entire wedding.
After our balcony photograph, we headed outside with Ashleigh & Jon for the family and group photographs they had requested.
We always talk to our couples beforehand about keeping their formal photograph list manageable. While these photographs are important, they usually happen immediately after the ceremony when everyone is ready to relax, chat and enjoy the celebrations — and the couple themselves are at the centre of almost every photograph.
Our advice is usually to aim for around 8–10 key combinations. That gives us time to photograph the people who matter most without allowing the formal photographs to take over this part of the day.
Of course, every wedding is different. Some couples love traditional group photographs and want more; others would happily have very few at all. There is no right or wrong approach — it should always reflect what matters to you.
What we do encourage couples to consider is how these photographs might feel in years to come. Today they may simply be a family group photograph. In twenty or thirty years, the people standing beside you may be exactly what makes that photograph priceless.
That's why we believe the best approach is not necessarily lots of formal photographs — just the right ones.
Making an Entrance
Ashleigh & Jon certainly knew how to make an entrance into the Pyramid Suite!
Wearing fantastic bride and groom glasses, they entered their wedding reception to an incredible welcome from their family and friends. Napkins were waving in the air, everyone was cheering and the whole room was instantly full of energy.
We couldn't resist joining in with the atmosphere.
Rather than simply photographing their entrance from a distance, we turned the moment into our own little paparazzi-style shoot. Cameras up, flashes firing and Ashleigh & Jon completely embracing the attention — it was spontaneous, slightly chaotic and absolutely brilliant fun.
These are the moments when we love allowing the personality of a wedding to take over. There was no need for posing or direction; we simply reacted to what was happening and captured the energy around us.
The result was a collection of photographs full of movement, laughter and character that felt completely Ashleigh & Jon.
And what an entrance it was!
The Speeches
The speeches brought some of the most emotional moments of Ashleigh & Jon's day.
Ashleigh's brother spoke first, and in the absence of their much-loved father, his words carried an extra significance. His speech reflected his memory beautifully, bringing both smiles and tears as family and friends remembered someone who remained such an important part of the day.
It was an incredibly personal moment and one we felt privileged to witness and photograph. Looking around the room, there were tears, embraces and quiet reactions everywhere — the kind of moments that often say far more than words ever could.
Then came a complete change of pace!
Jon's joint best men took their turn and soon had the room filled with laughter, sharing stories and, inevitably, a few suitably embarrassing memories about the groom.
But underneath all the hilarity was something equally lovely to photograph. You could see the genuine affection between them and the strength of a friendship built through years of shared experiences, adventures and memories.
For us, that's what makes speeches such a wonderful part of a wedding to photograph. Our cameras aren't only focused on the person holding the microphone. We're watching the whole room — the laughter, the tears, the knowing looks between friends and those fleeting reactions that Ashleigh & Jon may not have noticed themselves.
Within the space of a few speeches, there had been remembrance, emotion, friendship and huge amounts of laughter.
Everything a wedding day is really about.
Just the Two of Us
After the excitement of the ceremony, celebrations and speeches, we always love giving our couples a little time away from everyone else.
We call this part of the day “Just the Two of Us.”
For Ashleigh & Jon, it was a chance to step away from the busy reception for a short while, take a moment together and simply enjoy being newly married.
Although we're there with our cameras, we don't want this time to feel like a photoshoot. We keep things relaxed, offer a little direction when it's needed and then allow the conversation, laughter and natural connection between our couple to do the rest.
It's also when we can become a little more creative. We look for the best light, interesting surroundings and opportunities to create those beautiful portraits that sit alongside all the candid, documentary photographs from the day.
Most importantly, we don't believe couples should disappear from their own wedding for hours just to have photographs taken. We would much rather have a focused period together, create something special and then get them back to celebrating with the people they love.
For Ashleigh & Jon, this gave us photographs that were relaxed, romantic and full of their personalities — but it also gave them something perhaps even more valuable: a few quiet moments together in the middle of an incredibly busy day.
The Evening Celebrations
As the evening arrived, it was time for the party to begin.
With their family and friends gathered around the dance floor, Ashleigh & Jon stepped forward for their first dance as husband and wife.
After everything the day had already brought — the nerves of the morning, the emotion of the ceremony, heartfelt speeches and plenty of laughter — this felt like another moment for them simply to concentrate on each other.
As the music played and they moved around the dance floor together, the significance of the moment was clear. The formalities of the wedding day were almost complete and the evening celebrations were about to begin.
Before long, their guests joined them and the dance floor came alive. From that point onwards, it was about celebrating — music, movement, laughter and all those spontaneous moments that make the evening such a fantastic part of a wedding to photograph.
For us, the first dance isn't simply another photograph on the wedding-day checklist. It's the moment that opens the final chapter of the day — when the wedding becomes the party.
Thank You, Ashleigh & Jon
What a wonderful day this was to be part of.
From those nervous moments with Ashleigh before the ceremony to the emotion, laughter, friendships and celebrations that followed, this was a wedding filled with personality from beginning to end.
Mercure St Helens is a venue we know incredibly well, but every wedding here gives us something completely different to photograph. Ashleigh & Jon made the day entirely their own, and it was an absolute pleasure for us to capture their story.
Thank you both for trusting us with such important memories. We hope these photographs will always take you straight back to the people, emotions and moments that made your wedding day so special.
Damian & Danny
Damtoria Photography
“We honestly cannot thank our photographers enough for everything they did for us on our wedding day. From the very beginning, they listened to exactly what we wanted and made us feel completely relaxed and comfortable throughout the day.
They worked so amazingly well together and truly captured all of the special moments, including the little moments we didn’t even realise were happening. The photos are absolutely beautiful and we couldn’t be happier with them.
They were both so friendly, professional and genuinely lovely to have around on such an important day. Looking through our photos brings back all the emotions and memories of our wedding, and we are so grateful they captured it all so perfectly.
We would recommend them to anyone without hesitation. Thank you both so much for giving us memories we will treasure forever!”
Ashleigh & Jon
