Ashridge House Wedding Photographer & Videographer

A historic house with 700 years of history

Ashridge House is at Ashridge, Berkhamsted, in Hertfordshire (HP4 1NS). The venue calls itself a former Royal residence, says it is a Grade I listed building with 700 years of regal history, and describes acres of gardens. It is close to the Buckinghamshire border, and its address is in Hertfordshire.

We photographed and filmed Phil and Natasha's wedding here on 21 June 2024. It is the day in this guide, and it moves from a bright fan-vaulted corridor to a grand staircase, a library, a Gothic wall and fireworks over the lawn.

For current venue details, explore Ashridge House.

01 / June 2024 / Phil and Natasha

Phil and Natasha: a blossom-hung staircase, a library dog and fireworks

Phil and Natasha married on 21 June 2024. The photograph at the top of this page is the two of them with their foreheads together in the gardens, Natasha in a long veil with a bouquet of white flowers and the big stone house behind. The morning starts with a bright fan-vaulted corridor with the wedding dress hanging at its far end, and the grand staircase set with white blossom trees, fairy lights and rows of white chairs.

Phil and Natasha marry at the foot of the staircase, in front of a heart-shaped arch of white flowers, with their guests seated in front of them and portraits and a statue on the wall behind.

In a deep orange room lined with tall bookcases, Phil crouches and Natasha leans down to a small dog on a lead. The two of them also pause in a tall marble-framed doorway under a gold chandelier, Natasha with one arm raised, holding hands.

At the wedding breakfast the two of them laugh at their table beside a tall window, a man in a white shirt standing in the foreground. A tall Gothic wall rises in arches and balconies, with the two of them tiny in a window at the bottom.

The day ends on the lawn at dusk, with Phil and Natasha kissing as fireworks burst behind them.

02 / The spaces / From the venue's own pages

The Main Hall, the Chapel and the Italian Gardens

The venue's spaces page says the cantilevered staircase in the Main Hall is frequently chosen for ceremonies, with room for up to 180. It lists the Chapel, which it describes as one of James Wyatt's architectural masterpieces, for ceremonies of up to 100 and offers an Anglican blessing and an organist. It also lists the South Terrace for outdoor ceremonies of up to 180, and the Lady Marian Alford room for ceremonies of up to 130 and dining for up to 100.

The Repton dining room seats 170 for dining, the Wyatt room is a favourite for evening music and dancing, and the Old Library and the Loggia are suggested for reception drinks. The Italian Gardens, designed by Lady Marian Alford in the late 19th century, are described as a favourite for drinks receptions and photographs in the gardens. The venue also says that it can host two weddings at once, one in Ashridge House and one in Monks Barn.

03 / Staying at Ashridge House / From the venue's own pages

Bedrooms on site

The venue lists 189 bedrooms in five accommodation blocks within walking distance of the main house, ranging from standard to deluxe, including a Honeymoon Suite. It says it is not a hotel. Ask which rooms come with your booking and when you can have them on the morning of the wedding.

Planning your photographs at Ashridge House

A few things worth asking the venue, and how we would plan around the answers:

1. Suppliers: the venue's FAQ says couples choose key suppliers, including photography and videography, from its preferred supplier list. Ask the venue about this before you book anyone.
2. Ceremony and rain: the Main Hall staircase, the Chapel or the South Terrace. Tell us your plan so we can arrange the morning around it, and agree an indoor option when you confirm the order of the day.
3. Dogs: the venue allows dogs at the ceremony and drinks reception with a chaperone and on a lead, but not in the Chapel. Tell us if a dog will be part of your day.
4. Group photographs: we do as many as you like and typically recommend around 15, which usually take about 20 minutes. The terrace and the Italian Gardens give you room. Ask someone who knows everyone to round people up.
5. Portraits and fireworks: we usually take a portrait walk of about 15 minutes, with photo and video together. The venue says fireworks are held on the South Lawn, viewed from the terrace, and can run only until 22:00, with none from late November to early January. In June we check sunset and light times for your date in advance and agree the plan with you.

One team for the photographs and the film

Cam and Beth have photographed and filmed over 400 weddings together, so a grand historic house with a staircase, a chapel and formal gardens is familiar territory. You get one conversation about the timetable, one set of questions for the venue and one plan for the portrait walk.

The photo and video team package carries a £120 deposit and a £400 saving over booking photography and videography separately. We are based near Cardiff, and travel across England and Wales is included in standard full-day packages. When the drive is over two hours we always stay in a hotel the night before and cover it.

Questions about a Ashridge House wedding