Shottle Hall Wedding Photographer | bride and groom walking along a path at Shottle Hall

Rosie & Roan chose the stunning Shottle Hall Wedding Venue in Derbyshire for their outdoor wedding ceremony—and thankfully, the rain held off until later in the evening. This gave everyone the chance to make the most of the beautiful gardens, rolling countryside views, and everything that makes a wedding at Shottle Hall so special. It was the perfect setting for their relaxed, candid wedding photography, and a brilliant day from start to finish.

THE BRIDE AND BRIDESMAIDS

My day started by capturing Rosie and her bridesmaids getting ready at home—a lovely way to begin a wedding day. There’s something really personal about photographing those pre-wedding moments in the couple’s own space. From family photos on the walls to meaningful little details around the house, it all helps tell the story of who they are.

With the warm August wedding weather on our side, the bridesmaids set up in the garden to do their makeup, while Rosie got ready in a quiet garden room tucked at the back of the house. The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with laughter, happy nerves, and all the anticipation of a beautiful Derbyshire wedding day ahead.

Derby wedding photographer - bride having her make-up applied on the morning of her wedding

One of my favourite moments on any wedding day is the first look reveal—when those closest to the bride see her in her wedding dress for the first time. It’s always full of real emotion, and the reactions in the photo below say it all. Whether it’s tears, laughter, or stunned silence, these unscripted moments are what make relaxed, documentary wedding photography so special.

Derby wedding photographer - the bridesmaid reacting to seeing the bride in her wedding dress on the morning of her wedding

WALKING DOWN THE AISLE AT SHOTTLE HALL

A father’s final walk with his daughter on her wedding day is always something special, and for Rosie and her dad, the long walk at Shottle Hall made it even more meaningful. It gave them both time to pause, breathe, and take it all in before the ceremony.

Rosie had given me a heads-up that Roan might get emotional—and she wasn’t wrong. As soon as Rosie and her dad appeared in the doorway of the main house, the emotions hit. It was a truly powerful moment, and one I’m so glad I could capture as part of their relaxed, documentary wedding photography coverage.

OUTDOOR WEDDING CEREMONY AT SHOTTLE HALL

The ceremony at Shottle Hall was kept short and sweet—just how Rosie and Roan wanted it. Their focus was on spending quality time with the people who mattered most, soaking up the atmosphere and celebrating their love in a relaxed, meaningful way. It’s moments like these that define my approach as a documentary wedding photographer in Nottinghamshire—capturing the genuine connections without taking over the day.

CONFETTI AT SHOTTLE HALL

Derby wedding photographer - bride and groom getting covered in confetti outside the main house at Shottle Hall

Rosie and Roan were determined to do their wedding their way, and that included their approach to the confetti photo. Instead of organizing a large group and moving everyone around, they chose to keep it simple—just their bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The best part? With fewer people, there was plenty of confetti to go around, making for some truly spectacular and joyful confetti shots!

WEDDING SPEECHES AT SHOTTLE HALL

After a relaxed afternoon spent mingling with their guests, Rosie and Roan made their way inside Shottle Hall for the wedding breakfast and the much-anticipated speeches.

The speeches began with Rosie’s dad, followed by Roan himself, before the best men took to the stage. Their stories were full of laughter and hilarious moments about Roan, delighting everyone in the room and adding a wonderfully personal touch to the celebrations.

THE FIRST DANCE AT SHOTTLE HALL

Derby Wedding Photographer - Bride and Groom dance during their wedding first dance

The evening celebrations at Shottle Hall began with Rosie and Roan’s heartfelt first dance, setting the perfect tone for the night ahead. As the live band took over, the dance floor quickly filled—making it one of my favourite party atmospheres of the year. Capturing those energetic, joyful moments is what I love most as a documentary wedding photographer.

“Andy did an amazing job at our wedding. Loved all of the photos and he really captured the essence of the day”

— Rosie & Roan