Is this the coolest Greater Manchester wedding ever?

Salford Lads Club shot to international fame when its iconic sign and redbrick frontage was the backdrop for a picture (now in the National Portrait Gallery, London) by photographer Stephen Wright, and used on the inner sleeve of The Smiths’ album The Queen Is Dead in 1986.

The building, which is listed as the best surviving example of a pre-WW1 lads club in England, has attracted music fans and visitors from all around the world over the years.

You can even get married there, as the venue has recently become fully registered and licensed to hold weddings, civil partnerships, civil services and vow renewals.

Each wedding can be tailored to couples’ requirements with organisers working with local suppliers including caterers, bar providers and venue dressers to create the full wedding experience.

Prospective brides and grooms can select one of four function rooms that accommodate 20-150 people including The Band Room (20 guests), The Smiths Room (40 guests max), The Senior Games Room (up to 80 guests) and The Concert Hall, for up to 150 guests.

And every penny generated by Salford Lads from events and merchandise sales is ploughed back in to the local community.

The creative team at Northern wedding fair organisers and magazine publishers Little White Books, meanwhile, are more than obsessed with the Manchester music scene. 

Veterans of The Hacienda, The Boardwalk, Band on The Wall and The Venue, they witnessed the top Manchester bands play at the top Manchester venues.

So when they were thinking of a location for their 20th issue front cover shoot, they wanted somewhere that would tick the Great Northern box, tick the wedding venue box – and as a bonus, tick the ‘music’ box, too.

Their choice? Salford Lads Club.

“When we heard the news that Salford Lads Club are now fully licenced for wedding ceremonies, we made it our mission to create the most incredible cover story befitting a venue of such cultural importance,” say the team.

“We gathered our award winning team of suppliers who have helped us create our 19 previous covers. 

“The task: create the coolest wedding ever.

“Cool enough for Morrissey.”

The result is a stunning set of photos, showing exactly how to do a Greater Manchester wedding in style – something which more couples than ever are eager to do as restrictions begin to lift.

“Marketing weddings during a global pandemic? Watch us make it work!” say the team.

You can find out more here.