Askham Hall
Wedding Photographer

Are you looking for Wedding Photographer at Askham Hall?

I’m Andy Wade, a documentary wedding photographer covering the Lake District. I’ve photographed weddings at Askham Hall near Penrith, and it’s one of the most atmospheric venues I work at: a medieval hall, terraced gardens, and a main lawn that does something special at sunset.

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.

If you’re getting married at Askham Hall, this page covers what the venue is like through my eyes: the spaces, the light, and how I keep the photography relaxed. Portraits take around 20 minutes, so you stay with your guests.

Wedding Photography at Askham Hall

Wedding Stories from the Lake District

A gorgeous place in the world

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Askham Hall Weddings

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

What Askham Hall is like as a wedding venue

Inside Askham Hall

Askham Hall is a Grade I listed medieval hall in the Eden Valley, a few miles from Penrith, with the Lake District fells on the doorstep. Ceremonies have real grandeur here, with centuries of history in the walls around you, and the Bank Barn handles the party side with exposed beams and warm, low light.

The food deserves a mention of its own: the kitchen has held a Michelin star, and much of what lands on your plate comes from the hall's own gardens and farm. It tells you a lot about the place. Weddings here feel rooted, generous and completely unshowy, despite the setting being genuinely extraordinary.

Michelin food and fell views

The main lawn at sunset is the moment photographers dream about: the hall glowing behind you, the Eden Valley rolling away, and the fells catching the last of the light. The gardens are gorgeous throughout the day, with the kitchen garden and terraces giving variety for portraits, and the parkland adds the big wide shots.

Because the hall, the barn and the gardens all sit together, the day flows effortlessly from ceremony to drinks to party, and with bedrooms in the hall and around the estate, everyone can properly settle in and enjoy it.

Silhouetted figures, scenic countryside view through window.
  • Bride and groom entering wedding ceremony.
Couple posing in front of historic castle and garden.
  • People relaxing in garden with green lawn and trees.
  • Silhouette couple under ornate ceiling light

The History of Askham Hall

A medieval survivor

Askham Hall is one of the oldest wedding venues in the Lake District: a Grade I listed medieval hall built around a 14th-century pele tower, put up when this was border country and towers like it were built for defence. The thick walls and battlements aren't decoration; they were genuinely needed, and they give the hall a character you can't buy.

It became a Lowther family home in the 1830s, and the 7th Earl of Lonsdale lived here after Lowther Castle, the family seat a few miles away, was closed up in 1937. It remains part of the Lowther estate today, one of the great landholding families of Cumbria, and that stewardship has kept the hall in remarkable condition.

From pele tower to Lowther seat

In recent years the hall has been carefully restored as an intimate hotel, wedding venue and destination restaurant, with the gardens and farm supplying the kitchen. It regularly appears on lists of the country's most romantic wedding venues, and once you've seen sunset on that lawn, you understand why.

How To Get To Askham Hall

Askham Hall is in the village of Askham, a few miles south of Penrith, postcode CA10 2PF. Leave the M6 at junction 40 and follow the A6 south towards Shap for a couple of miles, then the B5320 signed to Askham. The hall is in the heart of the village, with parking on site.

Penrith station, on the West Coast Main Line, is about 10 minutes away by taxi, making it an easy run for guests coming from London, Glasgow or Manchester.

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.

I’ve photographed weddings at Askham Hall and I know how the day moves here: the lawn at sunset, the main room before the barn, and the spots that make this venue look its best.

My approach is documentary: real moments as they happen, with around 20 minutes of relaxed portraits. If that sounds like your Askham Hall wedding, tell me about your plans. You can see real Askham Hall weddings in my galleries from Sally & Jordan and Hollie & James.

MORE ABOUT ME
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 Lake District 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.

  • A badge with a black background shaped like a stylized "R." It reads "TOP 10 Photographers UK 2022" in white and silver text. Perfect for a wedding photographer, the bottom of the badge features the "This is Reportage" logo in white. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • A black and white badge with the text "2022 TOP 30 PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD" in bold white letters. Shaped like a stylized 'R,' the badge features "This is Reportage" at the bottom in smaller letters, celebrating excellence in Documentary Wedding Photography. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • Text in the image reads "Top 2 Wedding Photographer UK & IE 2023 - MASTERS of Wedding Photography" in black and gold text on a white background. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • Green text inside a rectangular frame reads "Fearless Award" with the words divided across three lines. A small, stylized ampersand connects the second and third lines. The frame and text are drawn in a simple, clean style. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • A circular logo with a red center featuring a stylized white "M" and the text "MASTERS OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY" encircling the red center against a white background, followed by the words "AWARD WINNER" at the bottom. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • WPS Inspirational Wedding Photographers logo. The text features 'WPS' in bold black letters, with the 'S' in red, followed by 'INSPIRATIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS' in black. Below, it reads 'ABOUT ME: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SELECT' in smaller black font. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • A logo featuring the text "ISPWP - International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers" on the left, and a mosaic pattern with the word "MEMBER" on the right, perfect for your About Me page. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • A circular badge with a dotted border reads "Fearless Photographers." Inside, the text says "2023 World Top 50" with "Andy Wade" and "UK" beneath. Learn more about me and my journey in capturing moments that matter. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • Regional Wedding Industry Awards logos
  • Top 10 Keeping It Real 2025 Awards badge
  • 2026 Wedding Industry Awards Regional Winner Logo
MY AWARDS

My latest blogs

My Lake District Wedding posts

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Frequently asked questions

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.

It is the moment photographers dream about, honestly. The hall glows behind you, the Eden Valley rolls away, and the fells catch the last of the light. I always try to get you out there for a few minutes if the sky is playing along.

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.

It really does. The hall is Grade I listed and built around a 14th-century pele tower, so the thick walls and battlements give ceremonies a genuine sense of history rather than something dressed up to look old. It is one of the most atmospheric venues I work at.

The Bank Barn handles the party side, with exposed beams and warm, low light that suits candid evening shots beautifully. Between the hall, the barn and the gardens, the day flows naturally and gives us plenty of different looks across one wedding.

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Looking for other venues in the Lake District?

FIND YOUR PERFECT VENUE

I’ve shot all over the Lake District in Bowness, Windermere, Keswick and Ambleside. There are so many gorgeous venues alongside Askham Hall! Check out my full list of stunning locations in the Lake District;

Abbey House, Armathwaite Hall Hotel, Augill Castle, Briery Wood Country House Hotel, Broadoaks Country House, Burnside Hotel, Castle Inn Hotel, Cragwood Hotel, Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Fallbarrow Hall, Gilpin Lake House, Heather Glen Country House, Inn on the Lake, Lakeside Hotel & Spa, Langdale Hotel and Spa, Lindeth Howe Hotel, Lodore Falls Hotel, Low Wood Bay, Melmerby Hall Weddings, Merewood Country House Hotel, Muncaster Castle Weddings, Rookin House Weddings, Storrs Hall Hotel, The Borrowdale Institute, The Forest Side, The Netherwood, The Villa, The Wild Boar Inn, Yew Tree Farm
  • Historic mansion surrounded by lush gardens and trees.
  • A bride in a white gown and veil walks beside a groom in a dark suit along a gravel path at Storrs Hall. They are in front of an elegant white mansion with a manicured lawn. Guests are gathered outside, while trees and the partly cloudy Lancashire sky frame the scene. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • Bride and groom embrace at castle wedding
  • A bride and groom stand on a narrow stone pathway in front of an old stone building at Storrs Hall on the water at sunset. The bride holds a bouquet, and they share a tender moment, with hills and a tranquil lake in the background under a partly clouded sky. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • Couple by historic castle with UK flag waving.
  • Outdoor wedding ceremony in a picturesque countryside setting.
  • Couple embraces on pier by scenic lake view.
  • Wedding guests gathering in scenic garden landscape.
  • A group of people dressed in formal attire poses on the stone steps and terrace of a large, historic building. The setting includes lush gardens and distant trees with a blue sky and scattered clouds. It appears to be late afternoon or early evening. Image by Andy Wade Photography.
  • Historic mansion with lush green garden and gathering.
  • Wedding couple outside castle with scenic landscape
  • Formal gathering in ornate, portrait-adorned dining room.
  • Sunny garden with mountains and flowers

Contact Me

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you’re looking for a Askham Hall 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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