Roman Lakes Wedding Photographer

A vintage green VW camper van parked outside The Roman Lakes stone building in Marple with a Private Function sign on a barrel at the entrance

The Roman Lakes is one of those venues that feels like a proper secret — tucked away down a quiet country lane in Marple, surrounded by woodland, a lake, and enough greenery to make you forget you’re a short drive from Stockport town centre. It’s the kind of place locals walk past on a Sunday and couples fall in love with the moment they visit.

I’ve photographed weddings here more than a few times now, and it never gets old. Every time I arrive down that bumpy road, camera in hand, I know the day is going to be full of genuine moments — because the venue attracts the kind of couples who want a relaxed, outdoor celebration that feels like them, not like a wedding from a glossy magazine.

If you’re planning a wedding at The Roman Lakes and looking for a photographer who actually knows the venue inside out, you’re in the right place.

The Grounds

This is where most of the magic happens at The Roman Lakes. With exclusive use of the grounds for the day, guests spread across the lawn, explore the gardens, and generally have the kind of afternoon that can’t be scripted. The venue is run by Rachel and her family, who genuinely care about every wedding that comes through — something you notice in the details and in how smoothly the day tends to run. Over the years I’ve built a good working relationship with them, which makes a real difference when you’re trying to be in the right place at the right time.

From a photography point of view, the grounds are a dream. There’s always something happening — a guest mid-lawn game, a child at the duck food stall, a group of friends in fits of laughter — and it all unfolds naturally without any direction from me.

Wedding guests laughing as ducks waddle past their feet on the lawn at The Roman Lakes in Marple

The duck food stall at The Roman Lakes decorated with giant rubber ducks and a hessian bunting sign

Activities and Entertainment

One of the things that sets The Roman Lakes apart is how much there is to keep guests entertained without anyone having to organise a thing. The venue provides a range of outdoor activities that guests dive into naturally — giant Jenga and giant Lego blocks on the lawn, a table tennis table set up by the lake, a photo booth with props to raid, and bags of duck food for the resident ducks (and the occasional swan). It all adds up to an afternoon where guests are genuinely having fun rather than standing around making small talk, which is exactly the kind of energy that makes for great photographs.

Wedding guest playing table tennis outdoors at The Roman Lakes with the lake and woodland visible behind him

Young wedding guest in a waistcoat building a tower with giant colourful Lego bricks on the lawn at The Roman Lakes

Wildlife at The Roman Lakes

The ducks, geese, chickens, and swans that roam the grounds are very much part of the Roman Lakes experience — and they make for some of the best unplanned photographs of the day. Kids and adults alike gravitate toward the duck food stall, and the results are never dull. I’ve had guests genuinely mobbed by ducks mid-conversation, children completely absorbed in feeding swans from the lakeside, and more than one moment where the birds clearly had no interest in staying out of the shot. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Wedding guests feeding a flock of ducks under the trees at The Roman Lakes during the drinks reception

Two young girls in party dresses feeding a white fluffy chicken through a wire pen at The Roman Lakes

The Viaduct

The large stone railway viaduct that runs alongside the venue is one of the most iconic portrait backdrops of any wedding venue I shoot at. The stone arches frame the couple naturally, the surrounding greenery fills in the background, and it photographs brilliantly in every season. I always make sure we spend a few minutes here during the drinks reception — it’s consistently one of the highlights of the gallery.

Bride and groom walking hand-in-hand and laughing together in front of the stone railway viaduct arches at The Roman Lakes in Marple

The Tea Rooms

The Tea Rooms are a cosy, characterful space with exposed beams, bunting, pendant lights, and an eclectic mix of artwork and vintage pieces on the walls — including the venue’s own Roman Lakes sign, which makes for a great backdrop during speeches. It’s not a grand ballroom, and that’s exactly the point. With long tables, simple dressings, and an atmosphere that feels warm and personal, it works perfectly for smaller, more intimate weddings where the focus is on the people in the room rather than the room itself.

Inside, the tea rooms have hosted everything from a ceilidh band to a rhythm and blues act to a DJ. The dancefloor fills quickly at Roman Lakes weddings — probably because guests have already had a great afternoon together outside and the energy carries through naturally into the evening.

The Roman Lakes tea rooms set up for a wedding with hessian bunting, fairy lights and pink flowers on white-clothed tables

Wide view of The Roman Lakes tea rooms laid for a wedding breakfast with hessian bunting, pendant lights and the Roman Lakes sign on the wall

The Roman Lakes tea rooms decorated with colourful rainbow bunting for a wedding reception with long wooden tables and mismatched chairs

Table detail at The Roman Lakes showing coloured glass bud vases with wildflowers, a cat illustration place card and a large white dresser behind

Close-up of a wedding table place setting at The Roman Lakes with a chalkboard Bride sign, hessian runner and wildflower centrepiece

Long table set for a wedding at The Roman Lakes with a hessian runner, white plates and glassware lit by warm fairy lights

Ceremonies at The Roman Lakes

The Roman Lakes is not licensed for civil wedding ceremonies, so your legal ceremony needs to take place elsewhere. What you can do is hold a blessing or a celebrant-led ceremony at the venue — either outside on the grounds or inside the tea rooms — which many couples choose to do alongside a legal ceremony beforehand.

Most couples I’ve worked with pair The Roman Lakes with a nearby ceremony venue. The most popular choice by far is Chadkirk Chapel, a Grade II listed building in the heart of the Goyt Valley woodland, run by Stockport Events — the same team behind The Roman Lakes. With stone floors, timber beams, stained glass, and a capacity of up to 80 guests, it’s an intimate, characterful setting that fits the Roman Lakes vibe perfectly. Other couples have married at local churches in Marple Bridge or the surrounding area before heading to the Lakes for the rest of the day.

Get in touch

Wedding photography at The Roman Lakes from £1,500. If you have any questions or want to check your date, I’d love to hear from you.

View packages

Get in touch

Latest weddings at The Roman Lakes

Check out my latest real weddings at The Roman Lakes and keep an eye on my blog for updates.

Fun Authentic Wedding at Roman Lakes
Sophie and Paddy’s wedding day was all about celebrating local connections and staying true to themselves. Paddy proposed to Sophie while on a beach in Donegal, Ireland—a spot close to Sophie’s family roots. When it came time to plan the […]
Rustic Autumnal Wedding at the Roman Lakes
Wanted: Local Venues with Character Laura and Andrew are a couple with great pride in where they live and what’s local to them around Stockport. For their big day, they wanted to book and share a couple of the Borough’s […]
Outdoor Summer Wedding at The Roman Lakes
The Roman Lakes is a venue I know VERY well. For those of you who don’t, it’s a heritage site hidden away in the Goyt Valley and has small country roads leading to Mellor and the centre of Marple. Not […]

Quick look at…The Roman Lakes

Venue type: Outdoor heritage venue with tea rooms

Location: Lakes Road, Marple, Stockport, SK6 7HB

Exclusive use — the grounds and tea rooms are yours for the day
Not licensed for civil ceremonies — blessings and celebrant ceremonies welcome, outdoors or inside the tea rooms
Pairs naturally with Chadkirk Chapel for the ceremony
Iconic stone railway viaduct — one of the best natural portrait backdrops in the area
Spacious lawn with lake views, woodland surroundings, and resident wildlife including ducks, geese, chickens, and swans
Outdoor activities provided: duck food, photo booth with props, giant Jenga, giant Lego blocks, and table tennis
Outside catering welcome — pizza vans, hog roasts, and street food all work well
Cosy tea rooms with bunting, pendant lights, and a warm, personal atmosphere for the wedding breakfast and evening
Run by Rachel and her family — a small, hands-on team who genuinely care about getting it right
Accessible by train — around 25–30 minutes on foot from Marple or Strines stations

A perfect wedding venue for… Couples who want a relaxed, outdoor celebration with a genuine sense of place — surrounded by nature, away from the noise, and close enough to Stockport and Manchester to be easy for guests to reach.

Frequently asked questions about wedding photography at The Roman Lakes

How many weddings have you photographed at The Roman Lakes?

Several — and it’s a venue I return to happily. I’ve shot here across different seasons, with different couples, and every time the day has a slightly different character. A few of those weddings are on the blog, linked below. It’s a venue I know well and feel very at home at.

What’s your favourite spot for portraits at The Roman Lakes?

The viaduct, without question. It photographs brilliantly at almost any time of year and the stone arches give you a natural frame that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. Beyond that, the woodland paths offer lovely dappled light, and in summer the wildflowers and daisies across the grounds can be extraordinary — I’ve had shots there that look like they were planned months in advance, but were entirely unscripted.

Does The Roman Lakes work for smaller weddings?

It’s genuinely one of the best venues in the area for a smaller, more intimate celebration. The tea rooms aren’t a large ballroom — and that’s a feature, not a drawback. Guests feel closer together, conversations happen more freely, and the atmosphere builds quickly. If you’re planning a more personal day rather than a large-scale event, it suits that really well.

Which of your packages works best for a wedding at The Roman Lakes?

Most couples at The Roman Lakes use an outside ceremony venue first — usually Chadkirk Chapel — before heading to the Lakes for the reception. The All Day package (from £1,500) covers you from preparations through to the first dance, which takes in both locations comfortably. If you’re planning a lively evening and want coverage beyond the first dance, the All Day + Evening package (£1,700) carries that through. You can see the full breakdown on my prices page.