Osmaston Park Wedding Photography | Hannah & Andrew

Hannah & Andrew got in touch last year to enquire about photography for their Osmaston Park wedding. Osmaston Park is a gorgeous wedding venue. It’s one of these venues which lacks the bricks and mortar but rightly so. Set in acres upon acres of gorgeous park land this marque wedding venue in Ashbourne, Derbyshire is a sure feast for thy eyes.

I’ve known Hannah since I was 11 years young. We had the pleasure of sharing our coming of age years in the same high school. Since then I’ve bumped into Hannah numerous times over the years through mutual friends or even weddings. Two years ago I was at a quaint village hall wedding in Brown Edge, Stoke-on-Trent. The best man was absolutely killer all day. It’s a job which you can give 0 effort and people will still clap you so when Andrew, said best man, gave it 110% I was blown away. Later on I bumped into Hannah again and we had our life catch up which you have with all old friends after not seeing them so long. It turns out just after this Hannah actually bumped into Andrew for the first time and this is where todays story originates from. I was there on the first day and now I was there at Osmaston Park on the first of the rest of their life together.

I knew this day would be great. For me photographing someone I know get married is a real honour. Those people have seen me in many different capacities over the years and still think I do a great job enough to book me. It’s one of the biggest compliments I can get.

Dealing with rain as an Osmaston Park wedding photographer

We started the day with Hannah and her family and entourage of bridesmaids at Penny Lane hairdressers in Leek. I stayed with them and arrived at their home to a nervous father of the bride. After this I made haste to my familiar stomping ground of Swan Bank Methodist Church in Tunstall. With rain imminent we caught a huge group shot before fighting sideways rain to leave for Osmaston Park. upon arrival we caught the family photographs before the heavens opened again. I’m always keen to alter the days events to get the “must have” family shots.

Once we wined and dined we moved on to the speeches. A tearful speech from Stewart the Father of the Bride caught me off guard and despite the thunder and heavy rainfall over Osmaston you couldn’t hear anything but his all too emotional words.

Almost in line with our timings the rain took break and we could then enjoy the atmospheric landscape as we peered out over Osmaston. Pizza, ice cream and incredible cakes from Beth Bakes filled the bellies.

With the party in full swing I couldn’t quite leave just yet and as if by some Harry Potter magic mist settled over the mini valley and the moon shone like the sun for a final shot for the collection.

So when people ask me about rain in the future I’ll direct them to this classic British wedding at Osmaston Park.

Dropped into English Heritage in the Derbyshire Countryside

Nestled on the edge of the Peak District National Park is one of the most picturesque semi-permeant wedding marquee venues in the Midlands.

Osmaston Park sits on the foundations of the now none existent, Osmaston Manor. As with every large luxurious home, Osmaston Manor became too much of a financial burden on the current owner’s grandfather and was demolished in 1965. Even though it’s such a sad end to another piece of English architectural heritage it did provide the best footings and outlook for any wedding in Derbyshire.

Sir Andrew Walker-Okeover Bt., along with many other wedding venue owners was the first person to hold their wedding at Osmaston Park. Following a service at St Martin’s Church, Sir Andrew and his now-wife hosted a huge party in a marquee on the old Osmaston Manor ground. Following the wedding, it was important for Sir Andrew to bring the beauty and enjoyment of his Osmaston Park wedding to many others. Now, he works alongside Top Marques UK to bring Osmaston Park Wedding Venue to the masses.

The original manor was constructed in 1849 from limestone in a traditional Victorian Tudor style. It was designed to echo its nearby neighbour Tissinington Hall which is still standing today. The setting Osmaston Park was an advised instruction from the Head Gardener at Chatsworth, Sir Joseph Paxton. It’s strange to think such an important decision made way back when in 1845 when construction started would carry on bearing fruit even today as 100s of wedding guests enjoy the same views originally intended for the Francis Wright and his family who owned the manor. The nearby quaint Osmaston Village which you drive through on arrival was a small village originally built in 1850 to house all of the workers who worked upon the estate.

The original owner of Osmaston Manor, Francis Wright, died in 1873 just 24 years after construction had finished. From then it was purchased by Sir Andrew Walker in 1888 who is the grandfather of the current owners and also responsible for the demolition of the Osmaston Manor.

Although the building was demolished the footings for which the marquee sits upon are also surrounded by beautiful stone surroundings throughout a tiered terrace which looks over the fish pond and the delightful watermill. This tiered terrace really is the shining beauty of what makes this such a beautiful wedding venue.

Ashbourne Wedding Reception Gold Dust

This unique Derbyshire Wedding Venue is for sure a head-turner for those looking to celebrate their love in the gorgeous town of Ashbourne on the edge of the Peak District. The views although orchestrated by the original owners really speak to those wanting to make the outdoors a big part of their wedding day.

Osmaston Park is a limited availability exclusive wedding venue. They only host weddings between the 1st of April and the 31st of October so you can guarantee your wedding at Osmaston will have an air of uniqueness in comparison to those operating all year.

This beautiful parkland wedding venue is first and foremost a reception venue only. There are no changing rooms for your morning preparations nor accommodation to stay overnight. It’s just an incredible place to host your party with up to 200 wedding guests able to be seated in this super flexible semi-permanent marquee. If your wedding guest list is just never-ending then you’re welcome to extend the marquee and host up to 500 people!

Unfortunately, the opportunity to marry at Osmaston Park is not existent at current. By law, you need a permanent structure which has been sanctioned to license marriages within England. Osmaston, although having glorious outdoor space to host an outdoor ceremony does not have a countermeasure should the English weather turn at a moment’s notice. Saying this there have been people in the past who have chosen to have a blessing beneath the beautiful Derbyshire skies to really add an extra layer of incredible-ness to their wedding day.

The small village of Osmaston boasts a historical church where couples looking for a more traditional Christian marriage may choose to be married. The church was one of the first within the area to be constructed in the gothic style which we now see in abundance. It was constructed in 1845 but the footings of the church are rumoured to have held a wicker church that dated back to the 600s.

As with most wedding venues, Osmaston Park has taken the work out of the catering for you and has an amazing list of caterers who’ve been prior selected for you to choose from. They also boast a no corkage charge which means you’re welcome to provide your own alcohol or Osmaston can take care of this for you and supply a full bar service as per normal.

The whole, ‘Make it Yours’ vibe which Osmaston boasts means you can really go to town with adding your own style and colour scheme to your big day. The large expansive lawns although for outdoor seating, lawn games, or even a bouncy castle to entertain those children or a few inebriated adults. Osmaston is so large you could even make a stylish entrance by helicopter if you so wished.

Osmaston Park – A Landscape Designed To Be Photographed

Photographing amongst the landscape of Osmaston Park just overloads the senses completely. You’re not really sure where to turn to next and I could quite happily photograph 100 weddings here and not even scratch the service when it comes to creating artistic portraits for my couples. It’s just so vast and with its original stone walls, steps, gateposts and fountains still in place, you really do get the feel of walking through a period drama like Downton Abbey when you wander around.

I love to photograph here as I love to shoot really wide within my work and just really focus on my couple and their love with minimal intrusions from the backdrop. The natural landscape of Osmaston allows me to create non-distracting portraits of my couples at every moment throughout their lovely day.

When guests reside for their wedding breakfast I’m also able to capture candid portraits with the forever flowing natural light which floods the marquee throughout.

I really am spoilt for choice when I’m an Osmaston Park wedding photographer and I just can’t wait to return.

Osmaston Park Wedding Photographer