Makeney Hall Natural Wedding Photography Derbyshire Venue
Beautiful Relaxed Makeney Hall Hotel Wedding Photographs
Makeney Hall Hotel Wedding Photography
Amazing Derby Wedding Venue - Relaxed Photography
I have put this page together to give you lots of information and photographs of Makeney Hall as well as some of my thoughts on how to get stunning wedding pictures when I have photographed at this amazing location!
All about Makeney Hall Hotel in Derbyshire
Makeney Hall is an absolutely gorgeous Derbyshire Victorian era house set in the very heart of the Belper countryside.
Whatever the weather the stunning grounds that have adorned the Makeney Hall Hotel for centuries provide the perfect backdrop for natural and relaxed pictures of just the two of you on your perfect day.
If you are staying over the night before or getting ready at the venue Makeney Hall offers elegant rooms with scrumptious furnishing which are a photographers dream, sumptuous fixtures and fitting and big tall windows for lots of natural flattering light while still staying true to the Victorian feel that has illuminated the manor and its grounds timelessly.
Wedding Photography Ideas at Makeney Hall
Outdoor Ceremony Photography
I love the Woodland Gardens wedding area at Makeney Hall, its just perfect for a simple but beautiful wedding ceremony and makes for gorgeous wedding photographs with natural light flooding in from all sides.
Walk Down the aisle in front of your guests and take your vows in a stunning rustic style wooden ceremony area and give your commitment to each other overlooking the sprawling valley countryside. Perfect for a wedding everyone will remember for the rest of their lives.
During the ceremony the lighting in the outdoor ceremony shelter at Makeney Hall can be very challenging for photographers as you will be backlit from most angles. It’s important to choose a wedding photographer who is experienced and has the right equipment to deliver beautifully lit pictures of the most important part of your day.
Wedding Photography in the Lavinias Ceremony Room
The Lavinias ceremony takes place in a gorgeously oak panelled room illuminated by an amazingly large bay window, featuring a view of the conservatory. I know I go on about the natural light at Makeney Hall but it really does make for stunning photographs and this room is just perfect.
Guests can talk and relax near the wooden fireplace which creates a lovely romantic ambiance and makes for great candid shots of everyone enjoying themselves.
During indoor ceremonies the camera lighting I use is discreet and flattering, my aim is for your family and friends to remain focussed on you… no one wants to have camera flashes in their face throughout the ceremony as it’s distracting and creates harsh unflattering images.
The Milford Suite Ceremony
There are endless possibilities for the Milford suite, its size and the space make for a host of decorative options. It really does provide the perfect blank canvas for you to add your personal touch from strong striking colour themes to more muted pastel tones. I bring along some discreet off camera flash kit for weddings in this area of the hotel to deliver perfectly lit photographs every-time whilst still creating flattering natural light to perfectly capture the ambiance of this truly sumptuous venue.
After your ceremony and whilst everyone is out in the gardens or the conservatory catching up with a drink its great to spend ten minutes taking some lovely relaxed couple portraits around the house, it such a cosy romantic setting with the so many gorgeous backdrops and with my natural relaxed style the pictures really convey the connection between you both, no awkward posing just lots of laughs and lovely photographs.
The Epic View of Makeney Hall Hotel
The first thing you see as walk into the stunning gardens is the front face of the beautifully maintained victorian building. Towers, conservatory, enormous bay windows and that distinctive aqua coloured roof flanked by woodland walks either side it makes for the perfect backdrop for epic wedding photographs day or night.
Exploring the Woodland
When you get married at Makeney Hall you get the whole site for your use and after your ceremony. Once the ‘‘I do’s’’ are done, the confetti thrown and the Prosecco drunk its the perfect place to go for a little woodland wander, let it all sink in and take some natural relaxed gorgeous photographs of just the two of you.
You can then relax, enjoy the food and catchup with all your guests. The whole team at Makeney Hall go out of their way to ensure everything goes perfectly, from your wedding co-ordinator to the bar staff and kitchen team nothing is ever too much trouble.
Food and drink at Makeney Hall Hotel
The food at Makeney Hall, and I speak from experience haha, is just absolutely incredible, all prepared on site and served piping hot.
Canapés food and drink at Makeney Hall
Even the canapés are five star, it’s so difficult when photographing everyone relaxing after the ceremony to not hide the cameras in a bush and pretend to be a guest to sneak a sausage or two!
What if it rains on my Hazel Gap Wedding Day!
If you hire a great wedding photographer for your Makeney Hall Hotel wedding then there’s absolutely no need to worry. If you are planning to have a late autumn or winter wedding the chances increase a little but a rainy windy wedding day becomes an opportunity to get out the weather sealed camera kit and create some truly beautiful and unique wedding photographs.
So, if you do pull back the curtains on your big day to find it’s throwing it down don’t stress!
The creative off camera flash comes out along with the strobes and an umbrella or two and between us we will create beautiful and dramatic ‘wow’ shots of the two of you both inside and outside of the venue.
To keep you dry and warm I set up all the required lighting without you and then fire some test shots of myself to check everything looks as I hope. That way you are outdoors for as little time as possible, I just walk you into the shot, take it and then you can get back to the party!
Rain forecast on wedding day
Makeney Hall Night Time Photography
Romantic relaxed photography on wedding day
Importantly I also bring along lots of additional lighting for indoor group shots when the forecast looks wet. The great thing about Makeney Hall is there are so many options indoors for gorgeous candid photographs and using my professional lighting setup its possible to take beautiful flattering indoor formal group photographs.
Beautiful rain winter wedding photography at night
First Dance and Party into the Night!
As the light fades away the Makeney Hall transforms into an amazing party venue for your first dance together followed by the evening celebrations!
Finding your way to Makeney Hall
Makeney Hall,
Makeney Rd,
Milford, Belper
DE56 0RS, UK
Previous Makeney Hall Weddings
Michelle & Rob
Makeney Hall Wedding Gallery
Want to know more?
If you are looking for a relaxed, professional wedding photographer to capture your incredible Makeney Hall Hotel wedding I would absolutely love to hear all about your plans.
You can find my full wedding gallery here with lots of examples of my work from recent real weddings
If you like what you see an want to know more, get in touch for a no obligation chat!