Sandhole Oak Barn
Wedding Photographer

Are you looking for Wedding Photographer at Sandhole Oak Barn?

I’m Andy Wade, an award winning photographer, and Sandhole Oak Barn is one of Cheshire’s best barn venues: I’ve photographed five weddings here, so I know it inside out. Exclusive use, 400 acres, its own private lake, and a team that gets the balance of a wedding day just right.

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 weddings and counting: this is a venue I know and love. Let’s create something beautiful together at Sandhole Oak Barn.

Wedding Photography at Sandhole Oak Barn

Wedding Stories from the Cheshire

A gorgeous place in the world

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Sandhole Oak Barn Weddings

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Sandhole Oak Barn Wedding Venue

Inside the Oak Barn

Sandhole Oak Barn is one of Cheshire's best barn venues, and I've photographed 5 weddings here, so I know it inside out. It's exclusive use, set in 400 acres of countryside with its own private lake, and it gets the balance of rustic and polished just right.

The oak barn is a beautiful space for both ceremonies and wedding breakfasts, hosting up to 140 for dining and 180 for the evening party, and it's designed so the day moves naturally from one part to the next. With accommodation on site, the celebration doesn't have to end at midnight.

Five weddings in, 400 acres out

The private lake is the jewel: still water, wildlife and gorgeous reflections, with the barn's terraces looking straight out over it. For portraits, the lakeside, the meadow and the barn itself give me everything I need, and I know exactly where the light falls at every hour.

The day flows perfectly: ceremony in the barn, drinks overlooking the lake, portraits along the shore, then dining and dancing as the sun sets over the water.

Elderly woman and young man embrace warmly at event.
  • Bride and groom embracing outdoors, blurred foreground effect.
  • Outdoor wedding under pavilion by a lake
Bride and groom enter wedding reception hall.
  • Couple kissing at sunset in wedding attire.
  • Couple walking down country road on sunny day.

The History of Sandhole Oak Barn

A family farm, thoughtfully converted

Sandhole Oak Barn is a family-run, exclusive-use wedding venue on a working farm just outside Congleton, set within 400 acres of Cheshire countryside. The traditional barns have been thoughtfully converted into warm, versatile spaces for ceremonies and celebrations.

The private lake and the family's care for the land give the venue its soul: this is a working farm that happens to host beautiful weddings, not a venue pretending to be a farm.

A farm first, a venue second

It's become one of the most awarded barn venues in the North West, and having photographed 5 weddings here, I can confirm the reputation is deserved. The combination of the lake, the barn and the family team is special.

How To Get To Sandhole Oak Barn

Sandhole Oak Barn is at Sandhole Farm, just outside Congleton in Cheshire, postcode CW12 2JH. From Congleton, follow the A534 towards Sandbach and the venue's signs; from the M6, junction 17 via the A534 is the natural route.

Congleton station, with trains from Manchester and Stoke, is about 10 minutes away by taxi, and there's plenty of parking at the farm.

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 Sandhole Oak Barn wedding photographer, I’m committed to creating a collection that reflects the true emotion of your day, ensuring you have memories to cherish forever. Let’s tell your unique story together.

I couldn’t be more excited to join you on your wedding day at Sandhole Oak Barn, document your day, and capture all the little moments that make it truly yours.

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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 Cheshire 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
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My Cheshire Wedding posts

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Questions? I’ve got you

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’ve photographed five there, so I know it inside out, including exactly where the light falls at every hour. Five weddings in, this is a venue I know and genuinely love.

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’s the jewel of the venue, still water, wildlife and gorgeous reflections, with the barn’s terraces looking straight out over it. The lakeside, meadow and barn itself give me everything I need for portraits.

Yes, it’s exclusive use across 400 acres with its own private lake, so it’s just your wedding on site. That gets the balance of rustic and polished just right, in my experience.

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Looking for other venues in the Cheshire?

FIND YOUR PERFECT VENUE

I’ve shot all over the Cheshire in Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Chester and the Cheshire Countryside. There are so many gorgeous venues alongside Sandhole Oak Barn! Check out my full list of stunning locations in the Cheshire;

Abbeywood Estate, Alderley Edge Hotel, Arley Hall & Gardens, Carden Park Hotel, Colshaw Hall, Cottons Hotel & Spa, Crabwall Manor Hotel, De Vere Cranage Estate, Delamere Manor, Dorfold Hall, DoubleTree by Hilton Chester, Grange Barn, Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa, Heaton House Farm, Hilltop House, Mere Court Hotel, Merrydale Manor, Mollington Banastre Hotel, Mottram Hall, Nunsmere Hall, Oddfellows Chester, Owen House Wedding Barn, Peckforton Castle, Rookery Hall, Rowton Hall Hotel & Spa, Stock Farm Wedding Barn, Styal Lodge, Tabley House, Tatton Park, The Ashes Barn, The Chester Grosvenor, The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, The Oak Tree of Peover, The Plough Inn, The Stanneylands, The Tytherington Club, Wrenbury Hall
  • Bride and groom embrace on scenic hilltop.
  • Guests celebrating at a joyful indoor event
  • Bride and groom kissing at wedding reception.
  • Couple exchanging vows by the lake under arch.
  • Bride kissing older man at wedding ceremony.

Get in touch

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you’re looking for a Sandhole Oak Barn 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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