A December Wedding at Mill Barns | Shropshire Wedding Photographer

A December Wedding at Mill Barns | Shropshire Wedding Photographer

My final wedding of 2018 took me to Mill Barns in Shropshire, working alongside the lovely Sam Pommells as a second photographer.

This was my first visit to Mill Barns and, although my role that day was primarily to photograph the groom preparations and capture plenty of candid moments throughout the day, it gave me a lovely introduction to this popular exclusive use wedding venue.

Groom preparations at Mill Barns

My day began with the groom preparations, which took place in the bridal suite.

And what a room it is.

The bridal suite at Mill Barns is a beautiful space, with an enormous freestanding bath positioned beside a huge window overlooking the private grounds. It's the sort of room that gives you plenty of opportunities for photographs before the wedding has even properly begun.

Once the preparations were finished, I headed through to photograph guests arriving and capture some of the little moments happening around the venue before the ceremony.

A December wedding ceremony

The ceremony took place in the main barn, a lovely space which couples can dress and personalise to suit their wedding.

One of the advantages of photographing weddings at Mill Barns is the variety of viewpoints available within the main barn. I was able to make use of the balcony for a different perspective during the ceremony, allowing me to photograph from a different angle while keeping well out of the way of the main photographer.

For me, that's an important part of being a second photographer. It's not about standing beside the main photographer and taking the same photographs. It's about looking for a different viewpoint, capturing the moments happening elsewhere and adding something extra to the final collection of images. I actually take this approach on my weddings, by simply moving around to grab alternative angles.

Confetti and candid wedding photography

After the ceremony, guests were able to throw confetti as the newly married couple made their way down the aisle. Mill Barns has restrictions around throwing confetti outside, so having this opportunity inside worked perfectly and created some lovely moments.

Then it was time for the more relaxed part of the day, photographing guests chatting, celebrating and catching up with the newlyweds. There were plenty of hugs, kisses and congratulations as everyone enjoyed some time together before the wedding breakfast.

This is one of my favourite parts of a wedding day to photograph. The formalities are over and people relax into the celebration, which is when you often get some of the most natural and genuine photographs.

December couple portraits at Mill Barns

Before the wedding breakfast, Sam and I headed outside with the couple for some portraits.

Despite it being December, we were treated to beautiful sunshine and some lovely light. It made for a gorgeous opportunity to photograph the two of them together around the Mill Barns grounds before they headed back inside to join their guests.

It was a lovely way to finish my first visit to Mill Barns and my final wedding of 2018.

Since then, Mill Barns has become a venue I've returned to, including photographing weddings there as a primary photographer. It is a venue that offers couples plenty of flexibility and has a lovely mix of character, countryside surroundings and spaces to use throughout the wedding day.

Whether you're planning a December wedding at Mill Barns or getting married somewhere completely different, my approach is always about photographing the people, the atmosphere and the moments that make your wedding yours.

Less posing. More feeling.

Getting married at Mill Barns?

If you're planning your wedding at Mill Barns and you're looking for relaxed, natural wedding photography that captures the people and moments that matter without taking over your day, I'd love to hear from you.

I've photographed weddings at Mill Barns both alongside other photographers and as a primary photographer, so I know the venue well and can help you make the most of the spaces around it while keeping your photography relaxed and enjoyable.

Tell me all about your plans and let's see if we're a good fit.