Offley Place in Hitchin, Hertfordshire is the perfect venue for... epic wedding photos!


It’s spacious whilst feeling intimate, it’s bathed in dreamy natural light and styled corners with no ugly carpets in sight. It’s the ultimate manor house experience.


But just writing a glowing review of this wedding venue isn’t really going to help you out at all. I’m going to write this so you can work out whether it’s the perfect venue for you and your celebration because everyone’s wedding is unique and not all venues are for everyone.


I’m on a mission to find the best wedding venues for you so that you don’t have to traipse around a load of venue tours and feel your heart sink out through your toes when you realise it’s just not got the right vibe. I don’t know about you but when I was scoping out a venue for my own wedding I was checking out their websites and finding a distinct lack of useful pictures and genuine reviews that weren’t all glowy and curated from the venue themselves. I also realised that my fiancé had no clue about why I was saying no to a bunch of places we saw because of ‘photographer reasons’. Because, dear reader, I can assure you that I was the fussiest when choosing where we would eventually say ‘I do’.


So I’m going to give you the lowdown on Offley Place with photos, videos and a big dose of honesty. Because when planning a wedding no one has time for smoke and mirrors.

Let’s do this in chronological order of what your wedding day can look like. 


Arrival:


Drive up that long gravel pathway and the house at the end of it doesn’t disappoint (in fact I’d argue it just keeps getting better the more you explore). It’s grand, looks impressive, it’s not overly fussy or intimidating it’s just bloody lovely. Every angle, from the tulips in the lawn to the ancient trees just adds to the ambience of the house and it really is quite magical. We’ll head straight inside for now but I promise I’ll take you back out again later…


Prep:


This honeymoon suite is divine. There is literally white chiffon blowing in the wind of the huge windows, attached to the dramatic, vintage four poster bed. I’ve seen antique looking furniture done badly but this room is spacious, filled with gorgeous light and is an absolute dream to get ready in. Also (if you’re in to a bit of romantic cheese) the wallpaper is blue. Enough said. Only criticism if you are into getting the perfect pics, the full length mirror is in the darkest corner of the room. Drag it in front of the window so you can see yourself in full natural light and you’ll literally glow (is one of those photographer magic tricks’). Generally this room is not set up for a whole lot of make up prep (I mean it’s designed for a romantic wedding night…) so I would recommend this room for a partner that doesn’t have a full glam squad rocking up.


Inconsiderately I didn’t manage to nab any photos or footage of the Rose View Suite (must try harder) but I can tell you about it. This space is built for a squad. It’s huge. Literally two levels with a functioning kitchen and a huge space with multiple mirrors set up for different glam stations. No ugly carpets, no bad decor, there’s even a secluded outdoor terrace for a breath of fresh air or a quiet couple of minutes if needed. It’s not as beautifully decked out as the honeymoon suite and the natural light is not as dreamy to shoot in. But there is tonnes of space and feels very much like a very functional event prep space.

Elegant Georgian manor house with manicured lawn features symmetrical architecture and classic stone facade.
Elegant brick building with glass conservatory and outdoor patio seating area surrounded by landscaped gardens.
Elegant Victorian sitting area with red velvet chairs, round side table, and flowing white curtains by window.
View through brick archway showing exterior of historic brick building with large windows and patterned terrace flooring.
Elegant bedroom with four-poster bed, crystal chandelier, red velvet chairs and large window overlooking garden view.
A brass business plaque reading "Offley Place" mounted on a beige stucco wall next to green foliage and a white window.
Close-up of cascading purple wisteria flowers blooming on a vine with soft bokeh background.
A luxurious brick mansion with manicured gardens and outdoor terrace overlooking a lush green lawn on a sunny day.

Ceremony:


There are multiple spaces to set up a ceremony in Offley Place from sprawling lawns to a huge naturally lit ballroom but the most exciting (and more unique to this venue) is the gorgeous conservatory attached to the manor house. I know I keep harping on about natural light but it is honestly the secret to the most natural looking, glowy photographs. This room is gorgeous before you do any sort of floristry or room styling (always a huge bonus) and there’s no dark corners that you end up saying your vows in (hello barns).


Confetti:


So staying on the theme of photography dreams, your confetti line runs down the driveway in front of the house. Yes please. Gorgeous backdrop, plenty of space and a dramatic entrance. The recipe for the ultimate confetti moment.


Drinks reception:


Picture this: mixologists providing wonderment and cocktails that will be spoken about for years to come, tinkling music on a stunning grand piano, a reception bathed in sunlight spilling out onto the terrace. Perfection right? There’s space for kids to run around on the grass, a mini golf or lawn games set up - dream big and have some fun.


Group shots:


Right next to the conservatory the manor wall is covered in beautiful ivy and makes for a glamourous backdrop for your family pictures. You can also get the full group shot from the window of the honeymoon suite so you can get a good view of all the guests together (honestly the logistics of a full group shot can sometimes involve ladders, chairs and all sorts so a conveniently placed window is a dream).


Portraits:


There are so many good spots for wedding portraits at Offley Manor. The sweeping driveway, the rose garden, the wisteria (this is late April - May that it will be in flower), amongst the tulips, in front of the house. Every corner of this venue is beautiful and has gorgeous outdoor spaces. But what Offley also has is really cool indoor spots. Honestly. Even the secret corridor that houses the toilets offers an opportunity for some really fun editorial stuff. But the lounges are where you can really have some fun with some indoor, styled portraits. Think Henry VIII standing for a regal portrait vibes, or grab a bottle of fizz and hang out, candid style, with your tribe. Whatever it is you are going for there are places in Offley that can give you that look.


Food:


Now this is one of the big draws to Offley Place. Their ballroom has SKYLIGHTS. And chandeliers. But I’m mostly excited about skylights. Because I promise you, an eating space with evenly dispersed natural light - rare. It makes the room feel so light, airy and exciting. Can you imagine it covered in fabric drapes and styled like a dream or even just kept super simple and primed for an epic party. There’s tonnes of space to sit or dance and it is just the ultimate wedding party space.

White chiavari chairs line an elegant brick-walled venue room with hardwood floors and sparkling crystal chandeliers overhead.
Elegant wedding venue with exposed brick walls, crystal chandelier, and white chairs on hardwood floors.
Sunlit event space with gold chiavari chairs, hardwood floors, and large windows overlooking a scenic outdoor view.
Elegant wedding ceremony setup with crystal chandeliers and brick walls in an indoor venue featuring white chairs and floral decor.
Wedding venue interior with exposed brick walls, elegant white chairs with mint cushions, and colorful floral arrangements.
Pink and cream floral arrangement with greenery tied to a white wooden chair with a mint green ribbon.
Elegant vintage hallway with burgundy walls, white trim and arched windows illuminated by natural sunlight.
Elegant parlor room with red damask wallpaper, vintage furniture, fireplace and large windows with golden drapes.
Elegant Victorian sitting room viewed through doorway with crystal chandelier, red armchairs and patterned drapes.
Elegant wedding reception hall with white drapes, chandeliers, and chiavari chairs set for a celebration.
Elegant ballroom with crystal chandeliers, white tablecloths, and natural light streaming through glass ceiling panels.
Elegant wedding reception venue with crystal chandeliers, white tablecloths, and colorful floral centerpieces under natural skylight.
Purple wisteria flowers bloom in delicate cascading clusters with soft bokeh background.
Ornate iron garden gates with brick pillars open to a manicured garden path with trees in the background.
A well-maintained garden path curves through dormant rose beds with a small shelter and cherry blossom tree in the background.

The really good stuff to know:


You don’t get kicked out/moved around too much during the day.


In a lot of venues you get chucked outside for a cocktail hour whilst they transform your table set up into a dance floor and set up a band/DJ etc. Not at Offley. There is so much space that everything can be set up in advance and the ceremony space can be separate too. In changeable British weather, that can be so necessary.


There is so much natural light your photos will look great.


This shouldn’t be taken for granted as in some spaces additional lighting is needed, or a flash is needed in the most intimate moments which, for me, I really hate to do and distract you from what is truly important - you getting married.


There is lots of space and different places for creativity.


I put most of my emphasis on documenting your moments and being very candid to capture not just you but also your favourite people. Offley Place gives plenty of space to be able to subtley capture all of that without getting in the way of anyone but also provides loads of spaces to play if you wanted to create more artistic portraits or moments.


It’s a great place where you can stay in one place all day.


Offley Place has everything from prep spaces to sleeping places and you don’t need to travel to multiple venues.


It’s accessible.


Every space has a ground floor access point which can be really necessary for some of your favourite people.


So what's the overall vibe?


So Offley Place is perfect if you are looking for a bit of grandeur and drama but also in an intimate way. Because of it’s multiple spaces it never feels empty so you don’t have to worry about rattling around in a large venue but also it has lots of spaces for larger guest lists too.


But the biggest win for me is the natural light. Nothing feels OTT it’s very much ‘oh hey I woke up like this’. You know, that messy, undone bun hairstyle that looks effortless but actually took 40,000 bobby pins, a whole load of hairspray and 4 hours to do.


It’s also got one of the best, non intimidating ballrooms I’ve seen. Truly a gem of Hertfordshire.


If you are looking to book Offley Place I would recommend going for the tour and seeing the space for yourself. Then once you’ve got your date secure, the next thing on the list will be photographer and videographer! clears throat Oh hey!


I offer photo and video packages and I would love to shoot your big day at Offley Place.


Just drop me an enquiry to save your date!

Elegant brick building with glass conservatory and manicured garden terrace featuring outdoor seating and landscaped grounds.