After a wonderful welcoming traditional Sikh wedding the day before, Simi and Matt had also decided to have a celebratory ceremony at the wonderful
Mill Barns in Alveley, Shropshire, where they could walk up the aisle, exchange rings and make promises, and have a great time surrounded by family and friends.
Phil and I have photographed several fabulous weddings at the Mills Barns, and we can pretty confidently say that's probably our favourite venue to photograph at. It’s always such a pleasure to shoot at a amazingly beautiful and well-thought out venue with great light, whatever the time of year.
One of the weddings we really enjoyed shooting was Simi and Matt’s, with all its style, warmth and humour. The ceremony room was beautifully and simply adorned with winter foliage, white and ivory flowers, all set off with fairy lights and candles.
The great big windows at the Mills Barns means that the rooms are flooded with light during the day, and at nighttime the venue is set off with really cool colour-shifting LED lighting both inside and out.
Simi and Matt’s special day started with them both putting some final personal touched to the decorations, after the brilliant
Love Flowers UK had finished their work, before they got ready in separate rooms. Slim made full use of the bridal preparation suite, taking the opportunity to have a mini-party with her bridesmaids. Before we knew it, it was time. Simi shared an emotional moment with her dad before making the short journey to the big doors of the ceremony room to walk up the aisle.
A personalised ceremony meant there was lots of humour and warmth, with stories about how Matt and Simi met, and some of their adventures together. After making their vows, exchanging rings, there was an enormous cheer and round of applause as Matt and Simi were announced as husband and wife. They walked back down the aisle under showers of confetti - it’s great that you can do this indoors at the Mills Barns! But that wasn’t all - as a sunrise for the happy couple it had been arranged for a drum troupe to play them out of the room. I’m telling you - it was LOUD!
It was then time for a fab reception, with the essential thing (in my view at least) - a gin selection. We made use of the big verandah for outdoor but still sheltered group formal shots, with a stunning backdrop of the lake and trees that look amazing year-round.
After some heartfelt and entertaining speeches and some great food and drink for everybody, we all hit the dance floor - photographers included! I’d set up my off-camera flash units for some real celebrity-style shots, and after a beautiful first dance from Simi and Matt everyone joined in to throw some shapes, to round off a perfect day.
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click here. If you're planning your wedding at The Mill Barns
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