The wedding of
Chris Northwood &
Megan Challinor

The ceremony

Friday 9th October 2026
The Monastery, Manchester

1pm

Day guests please start arriving from this time to be welcomed to the venue.

1:40pm

Please be seated in the Great Nave ahead of the brides' arrivals and the ceremony.

2pm

The ceremony.

2:30pm

Drinks reception in the Welcome Wing or courtyard garden (weather allowing!).

4pm

Please be seated in the Great Nave for the wedding breakfast (this is just a fancy way of saying the main meal, it's not actually breakfast!).

6:30pm

Toasts and speeches.

7:30pm

Evening guests please arrive from this time for the after-wedding reception!

8:30pm

Meg and Chris will have their first dance, and will invite you to join them.

9:30pm

A hot food buffet will be provided.

11:45pm

Last orders.

Midnight

Carriages.

FAQs

How can I RSVP?

Please scan the QR code or the web address on your invite to RSVP to the event for you and any +1s you may have. If you have lost your invite, please contact Chris or Meg and we can send you the link!

How can I get to the Monastery?

The Monastery is on Gorton Lane M12 5WF, and easily findable on Google Maps for drivers. Buses 205 or 53 from Piccadilly stop directly outside the Monastery, and it is about a 10-minute walk from Ashburys rail station. Manchester is well provided with taxi firms (we usually use Uber) as well.

Where can I park?

There is plenty of free car parking at the Monastery, and you can leave your car there overnight and come and collect it the next morning (the car park is locked).

What's the dress code?

Meg will be wearing a black dress, and Chris a white one, with the wedding party in pink. We want to celebrate with our friends in a way that everyone feels comfortable so please come dressed in a way that you feel comfortable, but expect it to be a bit dressy!

Where can I stay?

Manchester has plenty of accommodation, and the Monastery is a short taxi ride away from the city centre with options for all budgets. Several people are staying the Premier Inn Piccadilly as it has early check-in to check-in before the ceremony. Manchester's tourist board website has an accommodation finder.

Can I take my own photos/videos?

We will be having a professional photographer during the wedding, but if you want to capture your own moments that you can share with us, please feel free!

Can I bring confetti?

As the Monastery is a grade II listed venue, we're not allowed to have confetti or anything like that, so please don't bring anything.

Can you accommodate food intolerances or allergies?

Yes, but please provide this information when you RSVP and before the deadline.

Can I smoke?

Because the Monastery is listed, you can not smoke in the courtyard at the venue. There is a designated smoking area outside.

What about drinking?

The Monastery is a licensed venue, with a cash bar available for you to buy your own drinks at (either alcoholic or soft), in addition to drinks served during the reception and dinner.

Will children be welcome?

Yes, just bear in mind that we aren't doing anything to specifically accommodate children, so it might not be super child-friendly, and you may prefer to make other arrangements. We just ask that you plan for this and that guests take responsibility for any little ones they bring!

Can I buy you a wedding gift?

Meg and I have already established our home in Ancoats and the traditional wedding gift list is not needed for us! We are planning a honeymoon in early 2027 and contributions towards that would be welcome (we'll have a little mailbox on the day for cards and contributions), but please do not feel an obligation.

Our story

Meg first saw Chris while she was on stage at the Manchester Tech Festival back in October 2022, Meg gave Chris a follow on Twitter (before it became terrible!) and dropped her a modern-day classic love opener of:
“Are you hiring?”

As it turns out Chris wasn't hiring, but they found lots to talk about once they realised they were in the same Discord server already. It wasn't long until something had began to spark.

You'd think the rest of this story would be straight forward from there when Meg asked Chris out for a coffee. But it turns out Chris thought it was just a casual networking catch-up, missing Meg's smooth romantic intentions. Thankfully, like the perfect wingwoman that she is, Jess suggested Meg give Chris a clearer hint.

Other than a small issue with restaurant bookings that first date went so well it quickly escalated and during Chris's election campaign, Meg started spending more and more time in Ancoats. They created a group on WhatsApp; filling it with old and new friends to organise nights out on Canal Street and Eurovision parties. Chris even managed to lure Meg into delivering Lib Dem propoganda leaflets. All in all it meant Meg spent even more time in Manchester and they both quickly went from “getting to know you” to “we're building a life together here”.

In August 2024 Meg moved from Crewe to Ancoats, Chris moved across a canal to the other bank! But most importantly Meg and Chris moved into their current place together. starting the next phase of their life, making it their home and a place for all of their friends to regularly gather and share with them.

For Meg's birthday in 2025, Chris booked a weekend away in Whitby. Over dinner on Saturday 14th June 2025, they discussed whether or not now was the time to actually do it, and get married. They agreed to go to the beach to propose to each other. Finding the tide in, they went out to the jetty, each got down on a knee and asked the other the question. They both said yes!