The Grand Lodge at Oaklands

The Grand Lodge at Oaklands Wedding Photographer

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I absolutely love photographing weddings at Oaklands. I've been shooting here since before the Grand Lodge was built, back when it was simply the grounds and teepee hire. It's come a long way since then, and it's been wonderful watching the venue evolve into what it is today.

I have updated this blog post for 2024 to include lots of photos from previous weddings I have photographed at The Grand Lodge Oaklands, hand-picked to help provide inspiration when planning a wedding at this stunning venue.

Highlighted throughout are some amazing wedding suppliers I've worked with at The Grand Lodge Oaklands, all of whom I admire and would highly recommend for any event. So, if you are looking for a florist, stylist, entertainment, or food, you may find someone who matches perfectly with the vibe of your day.

I hope you find this guide helpful when planning your Grand Lodge Oaklands wedding.

planning your oaklands wedding

Bride and groom walking down the aisle in the pavilion at Oaklands Brandesburton. Bride is carrying a wedding bouquet made of autumnal flowers.

Outdoor Ceremony

The outdoor ceremony area offers the most stunning view of the lake, creating a unique experience for you and your wedding guests. During your ceremony, the atmosphere is incredibly tranquil and serene.

Styling The Pavilion

Bride and groom dancing in the woods surrounded by fairylights and trees.

wedding venue driffield

Hempholme Lane, Driffield YO25 9ET

As someone who appreciates the outdoors, I love the location of the grand lodge. Nestled within acres of woodlands in Hempholme near Driffield, you may feel like you have arrived in the middle of nowhere. But don't worry, I don't mean in a “cabin in the woods” level of isolation here. It's more like a peaceful hideaway, a hidden gem away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. I keep saying all they need to add in now is a spa retreat next door, how lush would that be!

Bride and groom sharing a kiss outside the lakeside lodge at the grand lodge Oaklands

Mid week weddings

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Getting married at Oaklands Driffield?

If you are planning your wedding at Oaklands and looking for relaxed and emotive wedding photography we could be a great fit. Not only is Oaklands one of my favourite wedding venues, but it's also conveniently close to my home in East Yorkshire too.

Check our availability

Oaklands Wedding Venue Photos

Luxury Lodges at Oaklands

In 2023, Oaklands completed the Luxury Lodges, on-site accommodation available for couples getting married at the Grand Lodge. They have 14 lodges all within short distance of the wedding venue, so you can feel cool, calm and collected knowing you dont have far to travel.

They are super cosy, warm and inviting, its like having your own little woodland village filled with your friends and family. For larger wedding parties, it's advisable to split up the morning preparations between lodges. Designate one lodge for getting ready to ensure the space remains clean, clear, and stress-free, with separate lodges for hair and makeup.

The large windows provide plenty of natural light for your makeup artists, but since this is the only available light source, consider avoiding blocking this area with vehicles.

Featured Suppliers

Rachel Key MUA | Enzoani | Lisa Holmes Hair

Bride having her make up done the morning of her wedding at Oaklands grand Lodge.

Bride looking in the mirror at her wedding makeup on the morning of her wedding at Oaklands.

Natural photo of mother and daughter laughing on the morning of her wedding at Oaklands Grand Lodge. Both are wearing pink silk dressing gowns.

Bridal preparations and details at the luxury lodges at Oaklands Driffield. Photo one shows a brides wedding dress hung up. Photo two shows a hairdresser fixing the brides hair which is styled in a ponytail.

Groom walking with his groomsmen to the wedding ceremony. The grand lodge at Oaklands can be seen in the background.

Wedding guests waiting outside the Lakeside Lodge before a wedding ceremony at Oaklands. The sun is shining and the trees surrounded the area are green.

Young wedding guest wearing sunglasses stood outside waiting for the wedding ceremony to start. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a bright pink dress.

Natural photograph of a wedding guest in a navy blue hat smiling.

Two female wedding guests walking into the pavilion at the grand lodge oaklands.

Exterior photograph of the pavilion at Oaklands Driffield. The ceremony area is located over the large lake and surrounded by trees.

Wedding styling at the pavilion outdoor ceremony at Oaklands. The ceremony area is made of light wood and overlooks a large lake. The area has been styled with white roses and gypsophila flowers.

The Pavilion Ceremony

The Pavilion Ceremony space looks amazing styled heavily with florals around the beams. This can add real impact to your wedding photos. My super talented sister, Becky from Ivy Lane Florist created this gorgeous set-up of white roses and gypsophila. It suited L & L's Minimal black tie wedding perfectly.

If you are planning to style this area with a lot of flowers or other decorative elements I would strongly suggest considering a second photographer for your day. This will make sure you will have lots of photographs from the back of the ceremony space showing off all of those beautiful touches as you are saying your vows.

Read my blog post: Do we need a second photographer?

We can always return to this space in the afternoon to capture plenty of natural couple photos too!

Featured Suppliers

Ivy Lane Florist | Belle Bijoux

Two wedding guests smiling at each other whilst another guest take their photograph. All the guests are sat in the outdoor ceremony area at Oaklands.

Young wedding guests laughing and smiling whilst sat in the pavilion at Oaklands.

Two photographs of brides arriving for their wedding at Oaklands Grand Lodge. The first photo shows a bride exiting the car holding a bouquet over her held to shelter from the rain. The second photograph shows a bride throwing her dress over her arm.

Rain on your wedding day

I've photographed weddings at the Pavilion in various weather conditions, with one of the most memorable being during a thunderstorm in August. Despite the unexpected weather the couple were still able to have their ceremony outdoors as The Pavilion offers complete shelter for you and your guests. The sound of the rain on the lake was incredibly calming too, giving ASMR vibes for sure!

Groom waiting for his bride at the pavilion outdoor ceremony area at Oaklands. He is smiling and wearing a navy blue suit with blush pink buttonhole.

Bride walking down the aisle with her dad at the pavilion at Oaklands.

Lakeside Lodge Wedding

The Lakeside Lodge provides an indoor ceremony space option, ideal for the colder months of the year. Crafted from locally sourced timber, the lodge brings a cosy vibe that blends right in with the natural surroundings of the venue.

During the winter months, the lodge doesn’t offer much in terms of natural light resulting in photographs that carry a more dark, intimate vibe compared to those taken in the pavilion.

If you're looking to fill the room to its fullest capacity, keep in mind that the front area can get a bit snug, especially if you've hired a videographer too. To ensure I capture the most beautiful photographs of your ceremony, I prioritise taking photos from the back of the room after everyone has walked down the aisle.

This way, you also get to fully appreciate the beautiful decor and focal points of the lodge.

Featured Suppliers

Stephanie Harpist | Flowerstyle

Confetti and sparklers

Who doesn’t love a confetti moment? No matter your age, it’s hard not to be swept up in the excitement when throwing a handful of paper discs into the air. Woo!

When it comes to confetti, you've got to plan strategically. Gathering a big crowd for these moments does have the potential to disrupt your schedule and flow if not timed right.

Because of this I suggest planning your confetti line in for straight after your ceremony. This works a treat at Oaklands; the wedding coordinators have perfected the flow to ensure you get the entrance you envisioned.

The bridge provides the perfect space for this as well, it connects the two areas of the venue and directs guests to the grand lodge. It's a great way to signal the end of the ceremony and the start of the party.

Food & Drink

As a wedding photographer, I've had the chance to sneak a few canapés now and then; it's definitely one of the many perks of the job!

I've also sampled quite a few meals, and to be honest, narrowing down my recommendations here was tough. Being a vegetarian, my reviews are somewhat limited to meat-free options, but the suppliers I've suggested all provide fantastic alternatives to please your veggie guests.

Annika and Mark from Annika’s Apron are simply the best team to have around on a wedding day. Annika's passion for food is truly inspiring; I've watched her whip up a variety of dishes tailored to fit various wedding themes, ranging from Thai to Greek. She is a culinary whizz!

If you're big meat lovers, Embers York is for you. They cater to various tastes but are renowned for their live fire cooking. Just look at the BBQ feast they made for Alice and Ian's wedding here. Similar to Annika, Simon and his team are incredibly passionate about cooking; you won't find any bland roast dinners with soggy veggies with either of these recommendations.

Featured Wedding Caterers

Annikas Apron | Embers York

Entertainment at Oaklands

Featured Wedding Entertainment

Rich Reynolds Magician |

relaxed couples session

On your wedding day, I usually schedule in a dedicated time in the day reserved for capturing photos of just the two of you. It's totally relaxed and provides a nice break from the wedding whirlwind to spend some time together alone.

Typically, I recommend two brief sessions, about 15 minutes each, before and after your wedding breakfast. This ensures you're not away from your guests (or those delicious canapés!) for too long.

At Oaklands, I suggest taking a walk around the lake. There are some stunning spots along the way to capture relaxed portraits that also showcase the beauty of the venue.

If you have somewhere in mind where you would like to venture beyond the venue for photos, I'm happy to factor this in too. Just make sure you've planned some extra time in your day for this.

To learn more about my approach to a wedding day, click here.