The Sitwell Arms Wedding Photographer & Videographer

A historic coaching inn in Renishaw

The Sitwell Arms is at 39 Station Road, Renishaw, Derbyshire (S21 3WF), between Chesterfield and Sheffield. The venue's history page says the oldest part of the building dates to the 18th century, that it was a well-known coaching inn, and that it is named after the Sitwell family, who owned most of the land in Renishaw and still live at nearby Renishaw Hall. Its wedding page describes six acres of secluded grounds that it suggests for photographs and outdoor ceremonies.

We photographed and filmed Jess and Lee's wedding here on 3 October 2021. The photographs on this page show the day in the order it happened, and the highlight film plays further down the page.

For current venue details, explore The Sitwell Arms.

01 / October 2021 / Jess and Lee

Jess and Lee: a ceremony, confetti, a pond and a puppy

We photographed and filmed Jess and Lee's wedding at The Sitwell Arms on 3 October 2021. The photograph at the top of this page shows the two of them walking along a gravel path through a shower of confetti, Jess in a sequinned gown with a veil, a tiara and a small bouquet, and Lee in a dark suit with a pink waistcoat, with their guests lining both sides under a bright sky. The highlight film plays further down the page.

Earlier, in the ceremony, Jess holds out her hand while Lee looks down and a man in a grey jacket holds an open booklet in front of them.

Then they sit at a table in front of a white drape to sign the register, Jess smiling down at the page with a bouquet of blush and white flowers in the foreground.

Their portraits were taken by a pond with a small fountain. They stand at a wooden fence holding hands, smiling at each other, Jess with her bouquet low at her side.

Then they walk hand in hand along a wooden bridge beneath tall trees, Jess lifting her skirt and both of them smiling. In the next, in warm evening light, Jess looks up at Lee with her hand resting on his arm.

Outside, under a green parasol, Jess laughs as she holds a black and white puppy against her shoulder while Lee looks on.

Indoors, the top table is set before a white backdrop of small lights, with a low arrangement of blush and white flowers along the front.

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

Three licensed rooms and six acres of grounds

The venue's civil ceremonies page says it is fully licensed for civil weddings and civil partnerships, and that licensed outdoor civil ceremonies are now offered in its private gardens. Its venue page lists three function rooms for ceremonies and receptions, says the garden areas have photo locations, and describes the venue as suited to both intimate weddings and larger celebrations.

The venue's 2026 civil ceremony information sheet names the three ceremony rooms and their maximum numbers: the Leger Room for up to 80 guests, the Sitwell Suite for up to 75 and the Banqueting Suite for up to 150. It lists outdoor ceremonies in various areas of the grounds, and says a room indoors has to be provided for unpredictable weather, which may cost extra. The venue does not provide the registrar; the sheet and the civil ceremonies page both point couples to the register office on 01629 533110 for prices and availability, though one names it as Derbyshire and the other as Chesterfield. The pages do not give capacities for dining or the evening, so ask for current figures in writing.

03 / Staying at The Sitwell Arms / From the venue's own pages

Thirty rooms and a house on site

The venue's rooms page lists 30 en-suite rooms. Types include double, twin, single and family rooms, four poster rooms with king-size beds, a Honeymoon Suite and the Renishaw Suite, which has two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed and one with a double.

The House at The Sitwell Arms is a detached house in the grounds, over three floors, with five bedrooms with double beds, a dining room, a living room, a games room with a pool table, a kitchen, and a private enclosed garden with decked areas and a hot tub. The venue's pages disagree on how many it sleeps (10, 11, 12 or 13) and on how many of the bedrooms are en suite, so confirm both with the venue.

04 / Packages and viewings / From the venue's own pages

Three wedding packages and Tuesday viewings

The venue's packages page lists three options with prices to come: Twilight, an evening celebration built around golden hour and a feast rather than a formal sit-down meal; Sitwell Micro, a bespoke day for up to 30 guests; and Sitwell Seasons, four seasonal experiences. Its offers page adds that, as the hotel is privately owned, packages can be tailored. Wedding viewings are held every Tuesday, and a wedding coordinator will talk through your plans.

Planning your photographs at The Sitwell Arms

The venue's pages answer part of the layout. Here is how we would plan around them, and what is still worth asking:

1. Which room and where: the venue's sheet names the Leger Room (up to 80), the Sitwell Suite (up to 75) and the Banqueting Suite (up to 150), or a licensed outdoor ceremony in the gardens. Tell us which you have booked so we can plan the morning and the first photographs around it.
2. Getting ready: if the wedding party stays in The House in the grounds, tell us so we can start the morning there. The venue's pages do not say whether it can be used for getting ready, so ask.
3. Group photographs: we do as many as you like and typically recommend around 15, which usually take about 20 minutes. Ask someone who knows everyone to round people up, and ask the venue which garden area suits a large group.
4. Portraits: we usually take a portrait walk of about 15 minutes, with photo and video together. The venue says the six acres include photo locations, so ask which parts are best on your date.
5. Rain: for an outdoor ceremony the venue says it has to reserve a room indoors for the weather, which may cost extra, so agree that room and the wet-weather order of the day when you confirm the plan.
6. Autumn and winter dates: daylight is short, so we check sunset and light times for your date in advance and agree the plan with you.
7. Getting there: the venue's pages do not mention parking or a nearest station, so ask the venue about both before the day.

One team for the photographs and the film

Cam and Beth have photographed and filmed over 400 weddings together, so a coaching inn with gardens and open grounds 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 The Sitwell Arms wedding