The Ashes Barn
Wedding Photographer

Are you looking for Wedding Photographer at The Ashes Barn?

I’m Andy Wade, an award winning photographer, and The Ashes is a gorgeous barn venue on the Staffordshire edge of the Peak District where I’ve photographed a wedding. Fifty acres of private estate, 16th-century barns and views across to the hills: it ticks every box for relaxed, candid wedding photography.

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.

Historic barns, Peak District views and fifty acres to yourselves. Let’s create something beautiful together at The Ashes.

Wedding Photography at The Ashes Barn

Wedding Stories from the Cheshire

A gorgeous place in the world

The Ashes Barn Weddings

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

The Ashes Barn Wedding Venue

Inside The Ashes

The Ashes is a gorgeous barn venue on the Staffordshire edge of the Peak District, and I've photographed a wedding here. Fifty acres of private estate, 16th-century barns, and views across to the hills: it ticks every box.

The barns are full of character, hosting ceremonies and celebrations in spaces that keep their 16th-century soul, and with onsite accommodation and no corkage fees, it's as practical as it is beautiful. The family-run team are one of the venue's great strengths.

50 private acres at Endon

The 50 acres of private estate give you immaculate grounds, open views and complete privacy, with the Peak District hills on the horizon. For portraits, the ancient barns, the gardens and the countryside views give you everything in every season.

The day flows with rustic perfection: ceremony in the old barn, drinks in the grounds, portraits around the estate, then dinner and dancing in the timbered warmth of the barns.

Bride and groom in lush garden setting
Bride and groom kissing by tree and lake.

The History of The Ashes Barn

A 16th-century farmstead

The Ashes is a 16th-century farmstead at Endon, in the Staffordshire Moorlands at the foothills of the Peak District National Park. The original stone barns have been carefully converted into ceremony and celebration spaces that keep all their historic character, from the massive timbers to the ancient stone.

The conversion was a labour of love by the family who own it, and their care for the old buildings is visible in every beam.

Every beam a labour of love

Today The Ashes is one of the most awarded barn venues in the region, loved for its character, its grounds and its family team. Convenient for Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire, it draws couples from across the North West.

How To Get To The Ashes Barn

The Ashes Barns is on Clay Lake in Endon, near Leek, Staffordshire, postcode ST9 9BP. From Leek, follow the A53 towards Stoke and local signs to Endon; from the M6, junction 15 or 16 via the A500 and A53 works well.

The nearest station is Stoke-on-Trent, about 20 minutes away by taxi, and there's plenty of parking on the estate.

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 The Ashes 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 The Ashes Barn, document your day, and capture all the little moments that make it truly yours.

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.

Latest musings

My Cheshire 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.

The old barns keep their 16th-century character but the light inside is lovely, timbered and warm. I’ll use it as my fallback if the weather over the Peak District turns, and it photographs beautifully either way.

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 views across to the hills are one of the best things about this venue, and the fifty acres of grounds give plenty of open space to use them as a backdrop. I know the spots that make the most of that view.

They are, the private estate and gardens change character through the year but always give me something to work with. Whatever the season, there’s countryside on the horizon and privacy to get the shots done without an audience.

Say hello

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you’re looking for a The Ashes 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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