Early September brought one of those gorgeous late-summer wedding days that feels like summer is refusing to leave.
I spent six hours at The Crossley at Thornton Manor, creating live illustrations as part of my Whistledown Bundle.
It's a wedding I'd been particularly excited about because the booking included something a little extra: a venue guestbook.
Live illustration at The Crossley
The Crossley is part of the Thornton Manor estate in Cheshire, and the setting has that lovely combination of historic character and elegant wedding styling.
For this wedding, I was there for six hours, giving me plenty of time to create illustrations throughout the day.
The Whistledown Bundle is designed for couples who want the live illustration experience alongside additional artwork and keepsakes.
And this particular booking included a venue guestbook, which meant the illustrations could become part of something the couple could keep and look back through after the wedding.
Why a venue guestbook is such a lovely addition
There are lots of different ways to approach a wedding guestbook.
But I love the idea of combining illustration and messages from your guests.
Instead of simply having a book filled with handwritten messages, you end up with something visual as well.
The illustrations capture the people who were actually there.
The messages capture what they wanted to say.
Together, they create a much more personal record of the day.
Early September wedding vibes
The weather was absolutely on our side for this one.
There was that lovely early-September feeling where the days are still warm and bright, but there's just a hint that autumn isn't too far away.
It made for a beautiful atmosphere around the venue, and the sunshine meant guests could enjoy the outdoor spaces as well as the celebrations inside.
Why I love working in Cheshire
This is also exactly the kind of wedding that reminds me why I love travelling for my work.
I'm based in Staffordshire, but Cheshire is an area I already regularly travel to for weddings, and it's full of venues where live illustration fits beautifully.
From country houses to barns and estates, there are so many different styles of wedding — which makes every booking feel different.
Planning a wedding at Thornton Manor?
If you're getting married at The Crossley at Thornton Manor and are looking for wedding entertainment that doubles as a keepsake, live illustration could be a lovely option.
And if you want to take it a step further, a personalised wedding guestbook can bring your illustrations and your guests' messages together into something you'll keep long after the day.
