Ashfield House Wedding Photographer – Vivien & Daniel

If you're looking for an Ashfield House wedding photographer, you've probably already discovered what a brilliant wedding venue it is. Tucked away in Standish, just outside Wigan, Ashfield House is a beautiful Georgian country house with loads of character, lovely gardens and some really great spaces for a wedding.

I was lucky enough to photograph Vivien and Daniel's wedding there, and it was one of those days where the venue, the weather, the people and the atmosphere all came together perfectly.

I've photographed weddings all over Lancashire and the North West, and Ashfield House is definitely one of those venues I always enjoy coming back to. There's loads going on throughout the day, and importantly from my point of view, there are plenty of opportunities for natural, relaxed photographs without having to disappear off for hours to get them.

A wedding at Ashfield House, Standish

Vivien and Daniel's day started with all the usual excitement and nerves before everyone came together for the ceremony at Ashfield House.

Once the formalities were out of the way, things quickly became much more relaxed. Drinks, plenty of laughter, catching up with friends and family and all those little moments that make a wedding day what it is.

That's generally the bit I love most about wedding photography.

Yes, we'll get some photographs of the two of you, and yes, we'll do the important family photographs, but I don't want you spending your entire wedding day standing in front of my camera.

I'd much rather let you get on with enjoying yourselves and photograph everything as it happens.

Photographing weddings at Ashfield House

Ashfield House is a really good venue for this style of wedding photography.

There's loads of character inside the house, with beautiful period features and plenty of natural light, while outside you've got the gardens and grounds to explore. It means that even when I'm photographing fairly ordinary parts of the day, there's usually something interesting going on around us.

The gardens are particularly handy during the drinks reception. While everyone is enjoying a drink and catching up, there's time to grab a few photographs of the two of you without making it feel like you've been taken away from your wedding.

A quick walk around the grounds, a few photographs together and then you're back with everyone else.

That's pretty much how I like to do it.

Natural wedding photography at Ashfield House

My approach to Ashfield House wedding photography is very much documentary-led.

I'm there to photograph what actually happens rather than manufacture moments for the sake of a photograph.

The nervous moments before the ceremony.

Your mates making you laugh.

Parents getting emotional.

Someone inevitably having a few too many drinks.

The hugs, the chaos, the ridiculous dancing and all the little things that you'll probably forget happened until you see the photographs afterwards.

Of course, there are times when I'll give you a little direction. Particularly when it comes to your couple photographs. Most people aren't professional models and have no idea what they're supposed to do when someone points a camera at them!

But I want those photographs to still feel like you.

Natural, relaxed and hopefully without that awkward "school photograph" feeling.

Why I love Ashfield House weddings

One of the things I like about Ashfield House is that it doesn't feel overly formal.

It's a beautiful old house, but it still feels like somewhere people can relax and have a brilliant party.

That's important for photographs because the best moments generally happen when people forget I'm there.

The house itself gives me plenty to work with, while the gardens are great for portraits and those quieter moments during the day. Then, as the evening gets going, I’m back amongst everyone again capturing the party.

It's a really nice balance.

And being in Standish means Ashfield House is also really easy to get to from Wigan, Lancashire, Manchester and across the North West, which is probably one of the reasons it has become such a popular wedding venue.

Your Ashfield House wedding photographer

If you're getting married at Ashfield House and you're looking for a photographer who will document the day without turning it into a giant photoshoot, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm a Lancashire wedding photographer based in Lancaster and photograph weddings throughout Lancashire, Cumbria, the Lake District, Manchester and the wider North West.

I want your photographs to bring the day back to you properly – not just the big moments, but all the stuff that happened in between.

If you're planning your wedding at Ashfield House in Standish, have a look through the photographs from Vivien and Daniel's day below and, if you like what you see, get in touch.

I'd love to hear what you're planning.

Ashfield House Wedding Photographer – This is Richard Photography