The Forest Side
Wedding Photographer

Are you looking for Wedding Photographer at The Forest Side?

I’m Andy Wade, an award winning photographer that specialises in capturing authentic, candid moments of your wedding day at The Forest Side in the Lake District.

My approach is all about storytelling in a relaxed documentary style, focusing on the real emotions, and creative yet natural portraits. Wherever you look at Andy Wade Photography, you’ll see exactly how I can capture your story.

My passion is to tell a story that evokes feelings of your day every time you look at them. Let’s create something beautiful together at The Forest Side!

Wedding Photography at The Forest Side

Wedding Stories from the Lake District

A gorgeous place in the world

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The Forest Side Weddings

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

The Forest Side Wedding Venue

The Forest Side, nestled in the picturesque village of Grasmere in the Lake District, is a dream venue for couples seeking a blend of elegance and natural beauty for their wedding day. This charming venue offers an enchanting backdrop with its stunning Victorian Gothic architecture set against the lush greenery of the surrounding woodland. The Forest Side provides a bespoke wedding experience, accommodating both intimate ceremonies and larger celebrations.

The facilities at The Forest Side are designed to ensure a seamless and memorable event. The elegant dining room, with its high ceilings and large windows, allows for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, adding a touch of grandeur to any wedding breakfast. The venue prides itself on its Michelin-starred restaurant, where the culinary team crafts exquisite menus using locally-sourced ingredients, ensuring a delightful dining experience for all guests.

Accommodation at The Forest Side is equally impressive, with 20 individually designed bedrooms that reflect the venue’s luxurious yet homely atmosphere. Each room offers modern amenities and picturesque views, providing a serene retreat for the wedding party and guests.

Unique features of The Forest Side include its beautifully landscaped gardens and the enchanting woodland paths, offering endless opportunities for stunning wedding photographs. With its combination of exceptional service, exquisite dining, and breathtaking surroundings, The Forest Side is an ideal choice for couples seeking a romantic and unforgettable wedding experience.

Bride and groom walking in lush garden.
  • Bride and groom in garden.
  • Wedding ceremony with couple exchanging vows indoors.
Country manor amidst trees and hills in rainy weather.
  • Elegant dining room set for a festive event.
  • Couple dancing at a wedding reception.

The History of The Forest Side

The Forest Side, a distinguished wedding venue located in the picturesque town of Grasmere in the Lake District, boasts a rich historical tapestry. Originally constructed in the mid-19th century, this Victorian mansion was built in 1853. It was the brainchild of Stephen Tomlinson, a wealthy industrialist who intended it as a country retreat, exemplifying the grandiose architecture of its era. Over the years, The Forest Side has gone through several transformations, each contributing to its unique charm and character.

In the early 20th century, the property hosted notable guests, adding to its social historical significance. Famously, the house is located within the scenic surroundings of the Lake District, an area that inspired renowned poet William Wordsworth. The landscape around The Forest Side continues to evoke the poetic beauty celebrated in Wordsworth’s works, making it a fitting venue for romantic occasions such as weddings.

Today, The Forest Side is positioned strategically near local towns, including the vibrant hub of Ambleside and the historical enclave of Keswick, offering guests easy access to the wider wonders of the Lake District. The venue blends its historical roots with modern elegance, providing a captivating backdrop for weddings and events. The Forest Side remains a testament to the historical and cultural richness of the Lake District.

How To Get To The Forest Side

The Forest Side is a renowned wedding venue nestled in the heart of Grasmere, Lake District. To locate this picturesque setting, travel along the A591, a major route through the region. From the centre of Grasmere, follow the Easedale Road, a short drive will lead you to the venue. The Forest Side’s signage is prominently displayed for easy identification. Accessible via public transport, the nearest bus stop is Grasmere Village. Alternatively, the closest train station is Windermere, from which taxis are readily available. Surrounded by stunning landscapes, this venue is ideally situated for weddings in the Lake District.

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 perfect match, and now you’re seeking to capture the essence of your love story. With a natural, documentary style, I focus on genuine moments, allowing you to immerse fully in your celebration while I discreetly document the laughter, tears, and everything in between.

As your The Forest Side 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 Forest Side, document your day, and capture all the little moments that make it truly yours.

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

Latest musings

My Lake District Wedding posts

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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 twenty 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 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 you 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 all the T&C’s in 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.

Everything is moving to digital transfer, now, so you can simply download the full high resolution photos from your gallery. You can have them on a USB if you wish but these are gradually being made obsolete. Whatever the means you get your edited photos in full size/resolution and with no watermarks. The images are free for your personal use.

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 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.

Guest Wishes! is a contemporary alternative to the wedding guest book. At the wedding breakfast I collect hand written message from your guests, take a quick snap of them and put it all together in a polaroid style. They can have a personal design and even go into you album. For more info, click here.

Yes. They are for half a day or less and can be done in a location of your choice or a fab location that I know of. You’ll get a set of online photos, usually an edited set of around 50-100 in the same gallery style that your wedding photos are. For more information about pre-shoots, click here.

SEE MY FULL FAQS

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 The Forest Side! Check out my full list of stunning locations in the Lake District;

Abbey House, Armathwaite Hall Hotel, Askham Hall, 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, Muncaster Castle Weddings, Rookin House Weddings, Storrs Hall Hotel, The Borrowdale Institute, 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

Get in touch

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you’re looking for a The Forest Side 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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