The Halston
Wedding Photographer

Are you looking for Wedding Photographer at The Halston?

I’m Andy Wade, an award winning photographer who specialises in natural, candid wedding photography, and a grand Edwardian post office turned stylish city venue is right up my street. The Halston’s mix of heritage and modern style makes for photographs with real character.

My approach is all about storytelling in a relaxed documentary style, focusing on the real emotions, and creative yet natural portraits. The weddings you see across Andy Wade Photography are all real days I’ve documented, so what you see here is exactly how I’d photograph yours.

Five unique spaces means five times the opportunity for moments worth keeping. Let’s create something beautiful together at The Halston.

Wedding Photography at The Halston

The Halston Weddings

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

The Halston Wedding Venue

Inside The Halston

The Halston is one of Carlisle's most celebrated buildings: a grand Edwardian former post office in the heart of the city, now a stylish hotel and wedding venue with 5 unique wedding spaces to put your stamp on. It combines period grandeur with a contemporary finish, and its city-centre position makes it brilliantly easy for guests.

The spaces range from intimate rooms to the grand hall, all beautifully restored, and the hotel's apartments and suites give guests stylish city accommodation. The team are flexible, creative and keen to make the day entirely yours.

Carlisle's grand Edwardian survivor

Carlisle's cathedral, castle and historic streets are all within walking distance, giving portraits a city-break variety, while the Halston's own Edwardian interiors provide grandeur whatever the weather.

The day flows with urban style: ceremony in one of the five spaces, drinks in the restored halls, portraits around historic Carlisle, then a party in the heart of the Border City.

Smiling couple in wedding attire in garden

The History of The Halston

From post office to boutique hotel

The Halston began life as one of Carlisle's grand Edwardian buildings, serving as the city's post office for decades until it closed in 2008. The building was beautifully restored and reopened as The Halston in 2014, a boutique hotel with apartments, event spaces and weddings at its heart.

The restoration kept the Edwardian grandeur, the high ceilings, the fine detailing, while giving the building a fresh, contemporary personality that makes it unique in the city.

Postmarked 2008, reborn in style

Today The Halston is Carlisle's most stylish wedding venue, combining historic character, five flexible spaces and a city-centre location that guests love.

How To Get To The Halston

The Halston is on Warwick Road in the centre of Carlisle, postcode CA1 1LP. Carlisle station, on the West Coast Main Line with trains from London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, is about 10 minutes' walk away.

There are city centre car parks close by, and the hotel's team can advise on the best options for your guests.

My Style of Photography

I’m known for my documentary approach in wedding photography, capturing authentic, natural, and heartfelt moments. I aim to narrate each couple’s unique story through genuine, candid captures that resonate with real emotion. Having received numerous awards both in the UK and globally, my commitment and expertise in my field are well recognised. Offering my services throughout the UK and overseas, I cater to couples looking for a photographer who can document their day as it unfolds, ensuring a true representation of their special moments.

Why book Andy Wade Photography?

You’ve found your venue, and now you want the day photographed as it actually happens, not staged around the camera. My style is natural and documentary: genuine moments, real emotion, and the laughter, tears and everything in between, documented quietly while you get on with enjoying it.

As your wedding photographer at The Halston, I’m committed to creating a collection that tells the real story of your day: relaxed, honest and full of the moments that matter, with the building’s Edwardian character in every frame.

I couldn’t be more excited to join you on your wedding day at The Halston, documenting every laugh, tear and dance floor moment as it happens.

Smiling man holding a camera in monochrome photo.

What my couples say

LOVELY WORDS FROM LOVELY PEOPLE

I am super grateful for the amazing reviews my previous Cumbria couples have left on my Google and Facebook profiles.

My Features & Awards

I’m an internationally recognised photographer, and I measure and challenge myself against the best in the world.

Latest musings

My Cumbria Wedding posts

Questions I get

ABOUT ANDY WADE PHOTOGRAPHY

No. 90% of any day I shoot is completely candid. I can photograph all day without a single ‘posed’ photo. The portraits of you both, if you’d like some, are kept simple and as natural as possible; nothing cheesy and nothing awkward. Usually the portraits of you are created during a relaxing wander together for 20 minutes or so with me capturing shots as we go along – so not really posing. We may stop in a certain spot but most of that time you’ll forget I’m there and the portraits will feel and look perfectly natural. Just think of this as a bit of ‘you time’! There is the option to create a specific photo with flashes which I set up – but only if you want that. Even if I do it will be set up before we do it so that you can spend the maximum time with your guests. Otherwise I’ll just photograph the day as it happens.

Firstly I have to be available on your day but after that just say “Let’s do It!”. Just fill out the email form on my contact page or just send me a text, a message on Instagram or just give me a call. A small deposit then secures the day. That deposit is refundable up to one month after the agreement to go ahead. In the meantime, I will send you some paperwork and that will include a contract which has the terms and conditions, which we both sign when you’re 100% happy. You’ll also receive a summary of what is in your package.

Your photos will be delivered in a beautiful gallery that will work on any device. You can control the sharing of your photos from your gallery for family and friends or to social media. You can download your photos in full, high resolution or in a smaller version should you wish to share them. There are no watermarks on your photos and are free for your personal use. There is also the option to buy prints and wall art and you can create and order albums from the ‘Shop’ area of your gallery. If you have a slideshow made then it can be viewed from your gallery as well.

For a 9 hour wedding you get an edit of about 500+ photos. If it is a 12 hour day then around 700+. I work on your photos intensely after the wedding, lovingly crafting them so that they are perfectly colour balanced with a bright, fresh look. There’s probably a ratio of a third black and white and two thirds colour.

I like to use the variety rather than stick to one space, moving between the intimate rooms and the grand hall as the day unfolds. Five spaces really does mean five times the opportunity for different-feeling photographs.

Yes. I think it’s good to meet as you can ask all the questions you need to. I’ll be around you for almost all of your wedding day so meeting up before the day is a great way of getting to know each other. I’m a nice chap and very comfortable with people I’ve just met, so it’s not a problem if we don’t. A video call is a really good way of talking things through if we can’t arrange a meeting.

Yes. Most people like a few photos of mum, dad and their close family as well as the bridesmaids and groomsmen. I get that it is important and can be good fun, too. It takes about 10 minutes to organise a photo of everyone, for example, and then about 2-3 minutes for each one after that providing everyone is available. You decide what those photos are if you want them – I don’t have a ‘list’ of my own. If there is 1.5 – 2 hours between your ceremony and wedding breakfast then I’d suggest to have something like 20 mins with you portraits and then 20 mins of group photos dotted about, so between 6-10 group shots max. This way you spend more time just being with your guests, which I will capture naturally. I hear many stories of people who have been to weddings and were really bored and made to stand around for hours while the photographer goes through a repertoire of their own group photos. That’s not me!

Yes. There is an amazing choice of albums and wall art that will be available from your gallery and that I can send you information on. There is so much choice that I do not put albums in my packages unless on specific request. I do have three album packages that broadly cover the options so if you would like to include one I would be happy to chat and look at putting an album in your package.

Yes, but you can have another photographer if you wish – called a ‘2nd shooter’. If, for instance, you’d like the groomsmen preparation photos covered fully as well and they are over 15 mins away, I can employ a second photographer to cover that for £350/day and they will stay until the speeches – so about 6 hours. A second photographer is great to cover a specific span of time but does not necessarily mean a ‘better’ set of photos. I can be in and amongst a whole wedding party quite easily and capture the essence of the day without a 2nd shooter but it does enable us to do more portraits together – if that is what you’d like – and we can have more angles covered in the ceremony. If you would like a 2nd shooter then we’d book them about 3 months before the day. They are always 1st class, professional photographers like me and shoot in my style.

Yes, the cathedral, castle and historic streets are all within walking distance, giving portraits real city-break variety. The Halston’s own Edwardian interiors are a strong backup if you’d rather stay close by.

It does, the high ceilings and fine detailing from its post office days give every space real grandeur. Mixed with the contemporary finish, it photographs with a lovely blend of old and new.

Looking for other venues in Cumbria?

FIND YOUR PERFECT VENUE

The Halston is right in the centre of Carlisle, and Cumbria has plenty more to offer if you are still deciding. Dalston Hall is just south of the city, a medieval pele tower with real history. Head towards Penrith for Askham Hall, a Grade I listed house with stunning gardens, and Melmerby Hall for a fortified manor full of character. Augill Castle near Kirkby Stephen is pure fairytale. And if the Lake District proper tempts you, Inn on the Lake on Ullswater has one of the best settings in the county.

Get in touch

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you’re looking for a The Halston Wedding Photographer, it would be great to talk!

Whatever stage you’re at in your wedding planning, I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a message to see if we’re a good fit or to check my calendar and we can go from there. I’d love to hear from you!

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