A stylishly colourful wedding at Oakhill, Cromford

The perfect wedding doesn’t exi…

As a wedding photographer, I try my best not to play favourites. But Will and Cat’s wedding at Oakhill Hotel, Cromford, was a truly incredible day.

And I do mean incredible!

Filled with laughter and colour, sentiment and style, and just bursting with *the most* incredible florals…

We pretty much spent most of the day either laughing. And as the cherry on the colourful cake, it was all backdropped by one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Derbyshire.

With gorgeous styling, tons of DIY details, and an epic live band to finish the night, C&W’s wedding is a goldmine of ‘fun, colourful wedding’ inspiration.

If you’re dreaming of getting married in Oakhill, come take a little look…

Let me tell you a li’l something about Oakhill Hotel wedding venue…

Oakhill wedding venue in Cromford is a downright amazing place to get married!

You have lawns to mingle on, beautiful gardens to explore, and stunning views across the Derwent Valley. And in late spring, the wisteria blooms, and the gardens burst with colour. And the house itself? A lovingly-restored, oh-so-photogenic Georgian home.

And it’s licensed!

You can have an outdoor ceremony by the pergola, or get married in the dining room. Or- like Catherine and Will- you can say your vows elsewhere, and come to Oakhill for your reception.

I mean, it’s basically the perfect venue!

Get married in their gardens, eat tasty food, party the night away, and then stumble into one of their cloud-comfy beds! What more could you want?!

Bridal inspo for your wedding at Oakhill

We started our day in Catherine’s parents’ house.

It was a morning of sunshine, prosecco, and PJs. We looked through Cat’s parents’ wedding photos; Cat sat with her mum, laughing, and telling stories…

It was just the most wholesome way to start the day!

Cat looked stunning in her stylish off-shoulder silk gown. She completed the look with elegantly natural makeup, and a knotted bun. And as a gorgeous splash of colour- a spectacular spring bouquet of roses, peonies and African daisies.

(And can we just take a minute for those midnight-blue bridesmaids dresses?! Love love love!)

When Catherine was ready, she had emotional first looks with her dad, and her girls. There were hugs, tears, and more hugs (and the rest of the prosecco!)

And with the ceremony calling, we headed out into the sunshine, and made our way to the church.

A personal ceremony in St Edmund’s Church

Catherine and Will got married at St Edmund’s Church in Allestree. And the ceremony was beautiful.

C&W were laughing, and holding hands all the way through. And I couldn’t help but think how emotional it must’ve been for Cat’s parents…watching their daughter say her vows, in the same place they’d said theirs all those years before.

The reverend made it official (woo!) Cat and Will kissed to seal the deal, and a huge cheer filled the church.

A few minutes later, we were out in the sunny churchyard, and fresh rose petal confetti filled the air.

Drinks in the sunshine, and group-shots with a view

The afternoon drinks reception was nothing short of idyllic!

Nestled in the Oakhill gardens; guests mingled on the lawns, chatting away, and drinking on the sun-warm grass. It was wonderful- intimate, personal, unhurried…like we were in the garden of a very close (very bougie!) friend.

And can I just say? As a wedding photographer, Oakhill is such an amazing place for photos!

We had group shots in the sundrenched gardens- the wooded hills of the Derwent Valley peeking over the walls.

And as the guests made their way into dinner, we grabbed Cat and Will, and gave them a few minutes, just them. A canopy of wisteria above them, *chef’s kiss*.

Colourful reception styling for your Oakhill wedding

A little while later, W&C walked into the wedding marquee, and were met with the biggest cheer! And oh my, the reception styling was beautiful.

Colourful candles, and spectacular spring florals filled the space with colour.

They had hand-written place settings, and table names painted on wine bottles. And as a wonderfully sentimental touch- a table filled with family wedding photos.

They cut the cake at the start of the meal (which kinda makes sense when you think about it!)

We had some tasty food, and some hilarious speeches. And with the guests happily playing Hammerschlagen*, we snuck out into the sunset with Will and Cat.

*(Hammerschlagen, or “Stump”, is an awesome wedding game, by the way! You throw the hammer in the air, and then in one fluid motion, try to hit your opponent’s nail into the stump. It’s tons of fun, and wildly addictive! I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a big wedding trend in 2025).

My favourite moments as a wedding photographer

Some couples kiss, and snuggle in. Others hold hands, and chat while they stroll. Some dance, some eat, some cuddle…

Catherine and Will laugh.

Their couple photos were totally daft, so much fun, and just completely them! And for me, that’s always the point of your couples session…

To find you some space, and give you a breather. But most of all, to get photos of *you*.

Those kinda “look how happy we are!”… “I love this one”…“these are so us!” photos. Photos you’ll always love- because they’re beautiful, they’re real, and they’re yours.

A crazy party, and a live brass band

The evening party was absolute vibes!

C&W had a romantic first dance beneath the twinkling lights of the Oakhill wedding marquee. And as the guests joined them on the dancefloor, a live brass band bounced out onto the stage, the party well-and-truly kicked off!

There were confetti cannons, cocktails, and unofficial karaoke! The guests brought all kinds of crazy dance moves; Back Chat Brass brought the energy. And as darkness fell outside, a wild party filled the marquee and spilled out into the night.

Looking for a wedding photographer in Oakhill? Let’s chat!

I met Cat and Will when I was shooting their friends’ wedding a few years ago (shout out to the amazing Josh and Louise!). So when they asked me to photograph their wedding at Oakhill, I was absolutely buzzing.

And for me, that’s the best thing about being a wedding photographer. Meeting people, making friends, and getting invited to be a part of something special.

If you’re looking for someone to photograph your wedding at Oakhill, I’d be so excited to hear from you.

Get in touch today for a chat, and let’s see if we’re a good fit.