A Relaxed Heathy Lea Wedding in the Peak District | Derbyshire Wedding Photographer

There are some weddings that stay with you long after the day itself, and this beautiful Heathy Lea wedding in the Peak District is definitely one of them.

I’ve always loved photographing weddings in Derbyshire, and the Peak District is one of my favourite places to explore. It’s right on my doorstep, yet somehow there are always new corners, views and little hidden gems to discover. Heathy Lea, tucked away near Baslow within the Chatsworth Estate, is one of those places.

And what a place it is.

With its winding drive through the trees, countryside views, beautiful gardens, brook and the surrounding Chatsworth Estate, Heathy Lea has that wonderful feeling of being completely away from everything while still being close to some of the Peak District's most beautiful villages and landscapes.

But, of course, the venue was only part of what made this wedding so special. The couple themselves were brilliant. The whole day was relaxed, happy and full of personality, with plenty of laughter, emotional moments, great food, lawn games and a rather fabulous wedding car thrown into the mix.

This was exactly the kind of wedding I love photographing.

A beautiful Heathy Lea wedding venue near Baslow

The wedding preparations and celebrations took place at Heathy Lea, a beautiful Grade II listed property located just outside Baslow in Derbyshire and within the Chatsworth Estate.

It really is one of those venues that you need to see for yourself.

The approach to Heathy Lea takes you through a wooded landscape with a brook running alongside the property, before opening up into beautiful countryside views. There are gardens, open spaces and plenty of room for guests to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

For couples looking for a wedding venue in the Peak District with privacy and exclusive use, it really does tick a lot of boxes.

It has that lovely combination of character, countryside and somewhere that feels completely your own for the day.

And if you're anything like me, the thought of getting married somewhere surrounded by this much Derbyshire countryside is pretty hard to resist!

Morning preparations at Heathy Lea

My day started with the morning preparations at Heathy Lea.

I was photographing the preparations, the little details and all those moments that happen before the ceremony, while Rob was photographing the guys.

There was plenty of laughter, plenty of Bucks Fizz and that lovely sense of excitement that builds as everyone gets ready for the day ahead.

I always enjoy this part of a wedding. There's no pressure to create anything or make things happen. It's simply about being there, watching everything unfold and documenting the little moments as they happen.

And Laura looked absolutely amazing when she was finally ready.

Her dress was gorgeous, but one of my favourite details of the whole day had to be her choice of wedding car.

A white, soft-top convertible VW Beetle.

Flipping awesome.

I absolutely loved it!

It was such a perfect choice for this relaxed Peak District wedding and, of course, it made for some rather lovely photographs too.

A Hathersage church wedding ceremony

From Heathy Lea, we headed to St Michael’s & All Angels’ Church in Hathersage for the wedding ceremony.

Hathersage is such a beautiful Peak District village and the church itself has a fascinating connection to local history.

According to local legend, Little John, one of Robin Hood's Merry Men, is buried in the churchyard. There is a very large grave here which has long been associated with Little John and has become something of a visitor attraction for those interested in the legends of Robin Hood and the surrounding area.

So, as well as being a beautiful setting for the ceremony, there was plenty of local history thrown into the day too.

After the ceremony, we headed outside for confetti before making our way back to Heathy Lea to continue the celebrations.

Celebrating at Heathy Lea

And this is where the relaxed atmosphere of the day really came into its own.

The weather was perfect for everyone to enjoy the gardens and countryside surrounding Heathy Lea, and there were lawn games to keep everyone entertained.

There was no sense of rushing from one thing to another.

Just people enjoying themselves.

The speeches were a brilliant mixture of funny and emotional, with plenty of laughter along the way. And then there was the groom's homemade brew, which proved to be rather popular with the guests!

It was one of those weddings where there was always something happening, but at the same time the whole day felt incredibly relaxed.

There were emotional moments, lots of laughter, great food, countryside, lawn games, a beautiful old church, an amazing wedding venue and a couple who were simply wonderful to photograph.

What more could you ask for?

Peak District wedding photography at Heathy Lea

I absolutely loved photographing this wedding at Heathy Lea.

It's a fantastic venue for couples looking for something a little different from a traditional hotel or country house wedding. The exclusive use, the countryside setting and the beautiful surroundings make it feel incredibly special.

And being situated within the Chatsworth Estate, just outside Baslow, means you're surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery Derbyshire has to offer.

As a Peak District wedding photographer, I couldn't have asked for a better setting.

I photograph relaxed, natural weddings across Derbyshire, the Peak District and further afield, with a documentary approach that allows you to enjoy your wedding day rather than spending hours away from your guests having photographs taken.

If you're planning a wedding at Heathy Lea, somewhere else in the Peak District, or you're lucky enough to be planning a Chatsworth wedding, I'd absolutely love to hear from you.

I'd especially love the chance to photograph a wedding at Chatsworth House itself one day!

So, if you're looking for a Peak District wedding photographer for your wedding, get in touch. I'd love to hear what you're planning and find out a little more about you both.

And in the meantime, enjoy a few of my favourite photographs from this beautiful Heathy Lea wedding.

Thanks for reading xx

Planning a wedding in the Peak District?

If you're planning a wedding at Heathy Lea, somewhere else in the Peak District, or you're lucky enough to be getting married at Chatsworth, I'd love to hear all about it.

I photograph relaxed, natural weddings across Derbyshire, the Peak District and beyond, capturing the big moments as well as all the little bits in between, without taking you away from your guests for hours of photographs.

If you're looking for a Peak District wedding photographer, get in touch and tell me what you're planning. I'd love to hear about your wedding and see if we're a good fit.