The Ultimate Wedding Venue Guide

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Thinking about having your dream wedding at the Beech Hill Country House? Then you’ve chosen one of the best venues Derry/Londonderry has to offer. This venue is bursting with history, but I won’t bore you with that stuff. All you need to know is if you want secret garden vibes, forests bursting with nature, an old-timer Georgian house with a water wheel then Beech Hill has it all. View more below on more things Beech Hill Country House Weddings

BEECH HILL COUNTRY HOUSE

 

Hey, welcome to the ultimate Beech Hill Country House wedding venue guide! A dedicated webpage on my website where I share everything about the wedding venue and why I love shooting there. I’ve been shooting around the grounds of the Beech Hill Country House for the past 6 years, and even though it’s only 5 minutes away from my front door the location couldn’t be any sweeter. I know the place like the back of my hand! I teamed up with wedding coordinator and trusted guide, Lucy, to discuss why the Beech Hill Country House is the ideal location to have your wedding day. Here is what she says…

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 01.

 

What makes Beech Hill Country House such a cherished wedding venue for couples on their special day?

The attentiveness of our team – there are plenty of stunning venues in Northern Ireland, but the attention to detail and care provided by our team is second to none.

 02.

 

What sets Beech Hill Country House apart from the rest?

Our forest ceremony space – rain, hail or snow our couples choose Beech Hill mostly for this purpose. As our GM once said, ‘it never rains at Beech Hill’.

 03.

 

What types of weddings does your venue cater to?

Our venue caters from weddings of 5 people – 250 people. There is something for everyone.

 04.

 

How do you help couples create a stress-free and seamless wedding day?

Our Beech Hill package has been created to take the stress away from our couple’s wedding journey. It is an all-inclusive package meaning they have very little to do outside the venue.

 05.

 

What advice would you give to couples when choosing the perfect wedding venue? 

I would suggest viewing at least 3 venues when beginning your search. Also bear in mind a venue in a higher price bracket may save you from other costs external to this for example, cake and invitations being included.

 06.

 

What is the most epic request you have honoured to date?

During a wedding in 2022, we had a full size R2D2 model go down the aisle to surprise the groom.

R2D2 Star wars themed weddings at Beech hill country House
beech hill country house wedding photographer

Some of my favourite

Wedding Stories

Beth & Tom at the beech hill country house

A beech hill country house wedding with

Beth & tom

Beech Hill Country House Wedding

A beech hill wedding with

Catherine & kian

Free Wedding Guide

A beech hill country house wedding day with

Rebecca & rory

Since booking James last year he has been fantastic. From having pre engagement shoots to give us a taster what was in store to the big day, to the lead up grabbing a coffee and sitting down to see exactly what we wanted and making sure he captured it all. James certainly did that and more, he was amazing to work with and made everyone feel so at ease throughout the day, we enjoyed the craic! We received our sneak peak during the wedding and they speak for themselves they turned out incredible we could not of asked for better! Thank you so much for everything James you were amazing.

– CATHERINE & KIAN –

a beech hill country house wedding is a day you never want to forget so we knew how important the photography was going to be. It did not take us long to decide to contact James Aiken to request his amazing service. My wife spent a considerable amount of time looking through all the amazing photos he has available on his social media and we knew that he would not disappoint. To say we were overjoyed would be an understatement! James was helpful throughout the entire process from first contact, meeting for the first time in person to discuss the plan for the day and giving us a stress free experience.

– KELLY & DAKOTA –

We are so incredibly grateful to have had James Aiken as our wedding photographer! From the very beginning, it felt like we were working with an old friend—he made us feel completely at ease, which allowed us to be ourselves and truly enjoy every moment. His warm personality, calm presence, and genuine enthusiasm added so much fun to our day. James has an incredible eye for detail and a talent for capturing the real, candid moments that made our wedding so special. Every photo feels alive—full of emotion, laughter, and love. Looking through our gallery brought us right back to the day. We honestly can’t recommend James enough. He didn’t just take beautiful photos—he helped create memories we’ll carry forever.

– NAOMI & NIALL –

GOT QUESTIONS ? I´VE GOT ANSWERS!

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS

Me? I’ve been told from my past couples that I’m fun, passionate and an all rounded great professional third wheel.

My style of photography is documentary with a twist. I want to capture the heartfelt moments, the unscripted, the flow but also the planned. I’m abit of a wildcard, but I truly love this approach. It’s not all about taking photos, its more so the planning of your unique day and showing you that I wont miss a photograph that you require.

My go-to words are Relaxed, Romantic and Fun Loving.

WE HATE HAVING OUR PHOTO TAKEN, WE DON'T WANT LOADS OF POSED SHOTS, IS THAT OK?

Sure thing!

I know at first-hand what that feeling is like. It can be daunting standing in-front of a camera but I promise you, I can help with your anxiety on this with little actions I’ve picked up over the years – I used to model and have a camera randomly pointed at me too – yikes.  Most of the photos I take during your wedding will be natural, unposed and relaxed. Occasionally I will steal you for 10 – 20 mins to capture some intimate moments of you both, but trust me, you will look back and love them.

Camera Shy? Here’s some info that might help

Can we request specific shots?

I completely understand that every couple has specific photographs they want from their day. That’s why I include a section in my questionnaire where you can tell me exactly what’s most important to you. Whether it’s a particular moment or a set of shots, I’ll make sure to prioritize them based on your preferences, so nothing is missed and everything that matters most to you is captured beautifully.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR OUR PHOTOS TO BE READY?

During your wedding day, I’ll share a little sneak peek of the moments we’ve captured so far. After that, you can expect to receive your full gallery within 4 to 6 weeks.

How do you approach wedding day timelines?

In the first intial meeting I ask you what your wedding day looks like. Once I know all the deeds, I will be able to form a rough timeline of your day. If you decide that I’m the guy for you, then 6 weeks before your wedding day I will send you a questionaire for you to fill out, this is where you spill absolutely everything about your wedding (and you will know alot more about it then). 4 weeks before the day – We meet up for another coffee (Yay) and go over a more structured timeline so you know everything about your wedding day as it flows.

Do you require a deposit, and when is the balance due?

In order to secure your wedding date, I require a non-refundable deposit of £300. However, if you prefer, I also offer a flexible payment plan: a cost-of-living deposit of £150 per month for 2 months. After the date is secured: You can choose to pay whatever amount you’re comfortable with, whenever you’d like, and any payments you make will be deducted from your overall balance.

DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?

I sure do! I have only but the best protection for myself and for you on your wedding day! If you or your venue would like a copy to view this, I can give you a copy as proof. Safety first.

James Aiken Photography
BEECH HILL COUNTRY HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | ICED LATTE LOVER  |  CRAIC STARTER

HEY, I’M JAMES, THE GUY BEHIND THE CAMERA.

 

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A documentary-style wedding photographer based in Derry, with an eye for genuine moments and a knack for making even the camera-shy crack a smile. I picked up a camera in 2014 to document my wee girl growing up, and by 2017, I was capturing weddings—now there’s nothing I love more. I’m all for the relaxed romantic & the fun-loving couples who want their wedding photographs to bring them right back to how it all felt.