A Rainy Spring Wedding at The Maynard, Grindleford | Peak District Wedding Photographer

Some weddings are remembered for the sunshine.

This one is remembered for the rain!

Back in April 2018, Lauren and Andy were married at The Maynard in Grindleford, right in the heart of the Peak District. This was the spring that the infamous Beast from the East had already paid us a visit, leaving behind a rather soggy Peak District and making outdoor wedding plans just a little more interesting.

But despite the weather, this was such a beautiful wedding and one I still remember fondly.

Lauren was from Connecticut in the USA, while Andy was a Derbyshire lad, so bringing everyone together for their wedding in the Peak District felt particularly special.

And what a setting they had chosen.

A Peak District wedding at The Maynard

The Maynard sits in Grindleford, surrounded by the beautiful Derbyshire countryside of the Peak District.

I remember being so impressed with the venue when I photographed Lauren and Andy's wedding. The views, the setting, the food and the whole atmosphere made it such a lovely place for a wedding.

The Maynard has since been renovated and has new owners, so I would absolutely love the opportunity to return and photograph a wedding there again. I'm always fascinated by venues I've photographed before that have been given a new lease of life, and The Maynard is somewhere I'd be very happy to revisit.

It really is a beautiful part of the Peak District.

Relaxed morning preparations

My day began with the morning preparations, and I absolutely loved this part of the wedding.

Everything was incredibly relaxed and chilled, with none of that frantic feeling you sometimes get when the clock is ticking towards the ceremony.

The details were beautiful too. The room was decorated so thoughtfully and there were gorgeous florals throughout, although sadly I don't have the florist's details from the day.

Lauren's stunning wedding dress was from Bride to Be in Reading, Berkshire, and she looked absolutely incredible when she was ready.

Meanwhile, my second photographer Rob headed off to Chesterfield to photograph Andy and the groomsmen.

It's one of the things I love about having two photographers at a wedding. We can be in two places at once, telling both sides of the story and capturing those little moments that would otherwise be missed.

A beautiful wedding ceremony

The ceremony at The Maynard was lovely, with everyone gathered together to celebrate Lauren and Andy.

There were emotional speeches later in the day too, and plenty of moments that reminded me why I love photographing weddings.

It's not just about the big moments. It's the reactions, the laughter, the little glances and all those things happening around the edges of the day.

When the Peak District has other plans

We had hoped to make the most of the Peak District and head out to Curbar Edge or Padley Gorge for some photographs.

Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas.

After all the snow and rain we'd had, everywhere was incredibly muddy, and Lauren quite sensibly decided that wandering around in a wedding dress through a very soggy Peak District probably wasn't the best idea!

So instead, we made the most of the beautiful grounds at The Maynard.

And I'm so glad we did.

Later in the evening, the weather gave us a little break and we managed to get outside for some relaxed couple portraits around the grounds.

Sometimes you don't need to go anywhere else.

The surroundings at The Maynard gave us everything we needed, and those later portraits became some of my favourite photographs from the day.

A wedding full of family, friends and happy memories

One of the lovely things about this wedding for me personally was seeing my dear friend George and finally meeting his wife Louisa, who is Andy's cousin, along with their two beautiful daughters.

It's always a privilege when your work brings you into people's lives in this way, but it's particularly lovely when a wedding also gives you the chance to catch up with people you already know.

And then there was the food.

Absolutely divine!

All in all, it was one splendid day.

Despite the rain, despite the mud and despite our plans for Curbar Edge and Padley Gorge being abandoned, Lauren and Andy had the most wonderful wedding day surrounded by their family and friends.

And that's really what weddings are about.

The Maynard wedding photography in the Peak District

I would love to return to The Maynard one day.

The venue has since been transformed and, knowing how beautiful the setting was even back in 2018, I can only imagine how lovely it is now.

If you're planning a wedding at The Maynard in Grindleford, somewhere else in the Peak District or across Derbyshire, I'd love to hear from you.

I photograph relaxed, natural weddings with a documentary approach, capturing the day as it unfolds rather than turning your wedding into a series of staged photographs.

And if the weather decides to throw a little Peak District rain at us?

We'll make the most of it.

If you're looking for a Peak District wedding photographer for your wedding at The Maynard or elsewhere in Derbyshire, get in touch. I'd love to hear what you're planning.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at Lauren and Andy's beautiful Peak District wedding.

Tracey xx

Planning your own Peak District wedding?

If you're getting married at The Maynard, somewhere else in the Peak District, or anywhere across Derbyshire, I'd love to hear what you're planning.

I photograph relaxed, natural weddings for couples who want to enjoy their day rather than spend hours away from their guests having photographs taken. Whether you're planning a big celebration or something a little more intimate, I'm all about capturing the atmosphere, the people and the moments that make your wedding yours.

If you're looking for a Peak District wedding photographer, get in touch and let's chat about your plans. I'd love to hear from you.

And if you're getting married at The Maynard, I'd be especially excited to come back and see the place again!