18 August 2026
Filming a Peak District Wedding: Laura & Daniel at Ilam and Lower Damgate Farm
As a Derbyshire wedding videographer, some enquiries feel personal before I've even picked up the camera, and this was one of them. Ilam is somewhere my own family visits often, just 15 minutes from home, so when an enquiry came in for a wedding at The Church of the Holy Cross, Ilam, followed by a reception at Lower Damgate Farm, I was overjoyed. A church set within the grounds of one of our favourite places in the Peak District felt like the perfect brief.
The Church of the Holy Cross, Ilam
The Church of the Holy Cross sits on a National Trust site, overlooked by Thorpe Cloud and the rolling Dovedale hills, a genuinely scenic first location for any Derbyshire wedding film. The drone went up to capture the setting in full, and we also used the surrounding hills for portrait shots. It rained on the day, but Laura and Daniel were happy to head out into the hills anyway, the location was simply too iconic not to use.
The ceremony itself had an extra touch that made it into the final film: the vicar had a wonderful voice, and his distinct vocal tones during the key parts of the service added something special to the soundtrack of the day. It's not something I plan for, but it's the kind of detail that makes every Derbyshire wedding film unique.
Lower Damgate Farm
From Ilam, the celebrations continued at Lower Damgate Farm, another beautiful venue tucked into the Peak District. One of the standout features here is the on-site animal sanctuary, alpacas were part of the day, giving guests something a little different to enjoy as they mingled.
Plenty of Space, Plenty of Angles
The venue offers a large, open space for speeches, which gave me plenty of room to work with for camera angles and coverage.
An Honest Note on the Dance Floor Lighting
If I'm giving an honest videographer's review, the one area for improvement is the dance floor, it's quite dark for filming. My advice to couples booking Lower Damgate Farm is to choose entertainment that brings professional lighting for the first dance and party. I bring my own spotlights to every wedding I film, and positioned them as high as I could here, ensuring I captured the shots to make a beautiful film.
A Beautiful Derbyshire Wedding, Close to Home
Laura and Daniel's wedding was another gorgeous Derbyshire celebration, filmed just around the corner from where I live. Combining a stunning National Trust church setting with the relaxed, characterful charm of a working Peak District farm.