Upper House Barlaston Wedding Photographer | Andy Fisher photography
The Upper House Wedding Photographer in Barlaston, Staffordshire
The Upper House is one of those venues that makes a photographer quietly punch the air on arrival. Generous grounds, beautiful light, indoor and outdoor ceremony options, and a team who genuinely care about your day.
I’m Andy Fisher, an award-winning candid and creative wedding photographer covering Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire and beyond. I’ve photographed weddings at The Upper House, and one photo from this venue went on to win 3 awards. No pressure, venue, but you’ve set the bar rather high.
If you’re planning a 2027 or 2028 wedding here, I’d love to hear about it. Message for one of my helpful guides.
Why Couples love the Upper house
Why the upper house is a brilliant staffordshire wedding venue
I’ve photographed weddings in a lot of places across the Midlands and the North, and the venues that stay with me always have the same thing: a team who make couples feel looked after. The Upper House ticks that box and then some.
The grounds. There’s plenty of space to breathe, which means plenty of places for relaxed couple portraits, drinks receptions and guests to wander without a queue. The venue is set in 10 acres of woodlands which make the perfect backdrop with bluebells in the Spring, and the Chinese Garden is beautiful all year round but I particularly like the Autumnal colours in October.
The flexibility. You can choose an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony here, so your plans don’t depend entirely on the British weather (which has a sense of humour). There is the Orangery which is popular, The Woodlands Suite which is another indoor space or the for the outdoor weddings there is The Pavilion or The Woods (a proper woodland wedding scene).
The staff. Genuinely lovely, calm and helpful. When the venue team are relaxed, the couple are relaxed, and that shows in the photographs.
The food. Guests talk about it afterwards. It tastes as good as it looks, which is more than I can say for my own cooking. When I was there in the past I have been served Roast Beef with seasonal vegetables and duck-fat roast potatoes – one of the best roast dinners at a hotel venue I have tasted.
Wedding ceremony photography at the upper house
The ceremony is where the real emotion lives, so I stay quiet, stay unobtrusive and let it unfold. You’ll never catch me shouting directions mid-vows.
Indoor wedding ceremonies at The Upper House
Every wedding I have photographed at The Upper House has been held in the Orangery which can seat up to 100 guests. During the weddings in the Orangery I would usually position myself at the front of the room next to the registrar and occasionally move from left to right for key moments. Even on a grey day, careful positioning and light handling mean the atmosphere comes through but generally this is a very well lit room and I don’t need to worry about lighting.
Outdoor wedding ceremonies at The Upper House
There are 2 outdoor ceremony spaced at The Upper House – there is The Pavilion which is on the level with the pergola and has picturesque scenes of Staffordshire as the backdrop with capacity for up to approx. 90 guests or you have The Woods which is a traditional woodland wedding setting which can accommodate approx. 60 guests.
Outdoor ceremonies here give soft natural light and a lovely backdrop for those first-kiss moments.
Creative wedding portraits at The Upper House
Here’s my promise: about 90% of your day will be relaxed, candid documentary photography. Then I’ll borrow you for 2x 10 to 15 minutes. Just you two, some fun and a little creative lighting, and a few images that make people stop scrolling.
That’s my signature: dramatic, creative “wow” shots using off-camera flash. It’s what helped one of my Upper House weddings win its awards, and it’s how I make a venue look as good in the photographs as it feels in person.
Evening and Low Light Wedding Photography at The Upper House
Low light? No problem. Your evening portraits will glow like magic. At The Upper House there are plenty of spaces to get you those “Wow moments” – sunset on the patio or the upper lawn, creative moment outside the side of the house or under the pergola.
Not a fan of being in front of the camera? You’re in good company. Most of my couples say the same, then love the results. Dani and Ricki said that they find having their photo taken awkward but felt very at ease with me as their photographer.
An Award-Winning Wedding at The Upper House, Barlaston
One of the weddings I photographed at The Upper House went on to win 3 awards (insane right..). The photograph in question is the creative moment at the very top of this page. Dani and Ricki got married in October and from the outset explained that they loved dark and moody with a hint of modern. Considering this was an Autumn wedding, the temperature was very mild for the time of year. This wedding was made special by Dani and Ricki only having their closest friends and family at their wedding and they had a wedding magician in the evening which was amazing entertainment.
Moments that will last a lifetime
Absolute fantastic photographer and person, such a relaxed feeling from start to finish.
I loved not feeling ‘posed’ and getting us to make each other laugh to capture that true emotion.
Andy is just amazing at what he does, pre wedding he takes the time to find out what your vibes are and what kind of ideas you have for your special day. I personally like the dark yet slightly vintage side to life and my partner likes the dark but modern. Well Andy did us more than proud. I was extremely emotional when I received our images.
I could not recommend Andy Fisher photography enough! Fantastic prices for pure perfection.
Thank you for capturing moments that will last us a lifetime.
Tips for Photographing Your Wedding at The Upper House
Planning your wedding day timeline
Give the day room to breathe. Allowing time for the ceremony, drinks, couple portraits and the speeches means we’re never rushing. A sample timeline that I would recommend for a Summer wedding is:
13:00 – Ceremony
13:30 – Confetti straight after the ceremony finishes
14:00-15:30 – Group portraits, couples portraits (15 mins) and drinks reception
16:00 – 18:00 – Wedding breakfast
19:30 – First Dance and Cake Cutting
20:30 – 21:00 – Evening couples portraits (15 mins) around sunset / dusk
Getting ready at the venue
A great addition for weddings at The Upper House is the option to book their bridal suite on the morning of the wedding and this allows you to get ready on venue. Getting your suppliers such as hair dresser, make-up artist etc to come to you at the venue removes some stress and adds time to your day because you won’t be transitting between venues.
The bridal suite has a getting ready area for Make-up which is bright but narrow, and it has the bedroom with en-suite and a small balcony area which is great for getting your dress on and having pre-wedding drinks with your nearest and dearest.
Entertainment that photographs brilliantly
Many of my couples add entertainment, such as magicians and live bands. They bring fantastic reactions from guests, and those candid moments are some of my favourites to capture.
Why add an album?
Digital files live in folders. Albums live on coffee tables for a lifetime. I include a planning session to help you shape your Upper House story, from the quiet morning moments to the last dance. If you have a wedding album on the coffee table or the sideboard at home, it is a fantastic conversation starter when you have guests visit for dinner.
About The upper house, Barlaston
The Upper House is a wedding venue in Barlaston, Staffordshire, just outside Stoke-on-Trent. It’s convenient for couples and guests travelling from Stoke-on-Trent, Stone, Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheshire, Shropshire and across the West and East Midlands.
Getting to The Upper House is very easy by road, nicely located just a short drive from M6 Junction 15 or Junction 16 in Stoke on Trent. There is a small local railway station nearby which would have connections from Stafford.
The Upper House
The Green,
Barlaston,
Stoke on Trent
ST12 9AE
The Upper House is an exclusive use wedding venue which means there will not be any other weddings on the same day as yours. The Upper House is open to the public for their bar and restaurant, and it has hotel rooms available which is a great solution for your guests if they have travelled to your wedding. Having the hotel on site means your guests can let their hair down and enjoy your day without having to worry about leaving to go home.
Upper House Wedding Photography FAQs
Who is a good wedding photographer for The Upper House in Barlaston?
Andy Fisher Photography is an award-winning candid and creative wedding photographer who has photographed weddings at The Upper House in Barlaston, Staffordshire. One of those weddings won 3 awards. Andy is known for relaxed documentary coverage combined with dramatic off-camera flash portraits.
Is The Upper House a good venue for wedding photography?
Yes. The grounds offer plenty of space for relaxed portraits, the venue has both indoor and outdoor ceremony options, and the friendly staff help the day run smoothly, which shows in the photographs.
Does The Upper House work for evening and low light wedding photos?
Yes. With off-camera flash, the grounds and the venue itself make a striking backdrop after sunset. My favourite location is the pergola which can be used excellently for my signature image or it can be used for a champagne spray with sunset backdrop.
Can you have an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony at The Upper House?
Yes. The Upper House offers both indoor and outdoor ceremony options, which gives couples flexibility whatever the weather. I would highly recommend contacting the venue for their most up to date details on these arrangements.
How much does a wedding photographer cost at The Upper House?
Andy Fisher Photography has several packages and the prices vary depending on coverage and albums. Full day prices start at £1,600 and you can find full details on my packages page
Do you travel for weddings outside Staffordshire?
Yes. I regularly photograph weddings across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, the Peak District, the West Midlands, the East Midlands and Yorkshire.
What if we hate having our photo taken?
Perfect, you’re my kind of couple. About 90% of the day is candid, so you can enjoy it while I capture the moments from the sidelines. The creative portrait time is short and relaxed, and I’ll guide you through it. During the couples portraits time I do my absolute best to help you feel relaxed and have a laugh in the process.
Are you booking 2027 and 2028 weddings at The Upper House?
Yes. I’m taking bookings for 2027 and 2028, and dates do go quickly. Get in touch to check your date.
Planning a Wedding at The Upper House?
Let’s make your day look as brilliant as it feels. Message for one of my helpful guides, and tell me your date, your venue and one thing you’d love your photographs to capture.
