A WINTER WEDDING AT THE WESTMILL, DERBY (DERBYSHIRE PHOTOGRAPHY)

WE ARE SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS, AND I’VE GOT AN ABSOLUTE CRACKER (SEE WHAT I DID THERE?) TO KEEP YOU IN THE FESTIVE SPIRIT. RYAN AND TONY HAD THE CLASSIEST AND MOST STYLISH WINTER WEDDING AT THE WESTMILL, DERBY. AND BEING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AT PLACES LIKE THIS, QUITE FRANKLY, IS A DREAM. SO COME JOIN ME ON WEDDING CLOUD 9 WHY DON’T YOU…

Important Note- Any unauthorised use of these images is in breach of copyright. Should any blogs or suppliers wish to share these photos, please contact the photographer directly at gemma@thewardettestudio.com

As you can imagine, I have seen my fair share of wedding venues and locations over the years. And what always strikes me, is that each of my favourites are not for their looks, but for the way they feel. I love the way a place makes me (and it’s marrying couples) feel. Yes, it helps if they look beautiful, but tbh, it’s not the most important thing.

You what Gemma? You’re posting a wedding at The Westmill, Derby, a renowned and stunning UK wedding venue, with flawless industrial and historical character. You’d be hard pushed to take a bad picture there. How can this wedding prove your point?

Valid question. Let me explain…

The beauty of a place doesn’t have nearly so much soul as it’s story. Just like people imho. And I think it’s the story of a place that you feel most deeply when you step in. And The Westmill, an historic Cotton Mill situated on the banks of the River Derwent in Derby, is the perfect example of this.

THE REAL MAGIC FOR ME THOUGH, IS HOW IT QUIETLY THIS STORY CO-EXISTS WITH THE STORY OF EVERY COUPLE THAT MARRIES THERE.

Somehow, in it’s own artful way, it’s own little historical details cradle and frame all the people that visit. I can’t quite articulate how it does this, but it really does.

As I scroll through Tony & Ryan’s wedding photos, it feels like they are the only people who could have married there. Each little setting I stood them in, or followed them through, seemed to frame them perfectly. It felt like it was theirs. And even though we know full well there are many lucky couples who get to marry there, it doesn’t matter.

BECAUSE IT’S HOW A VENUE MAKES YOU FEEL THAT MATTERS. RIGHT?

Tony & Ryan did an absolutely beautiful job of designing their wedding too, with everything from table settings to their own wedding logo (yes, and it was awesome, go look!) And perhaps it was their attention to detail and love of design that drew them to The Westmill in the first place?

Whatever the reason Tony & Ryan, I want to thank you for finding me and having me along on your wonderful wedding journey, including the couple session we captured back in the Summer.

I APPRECIATE SO MUCH, WHEN A COUPLE LIKE YOU CHOOSE A PLACE LIKE THIS, AND CHOOSE ME. IT’S A SUCH HUGE COMPLIMENT.

Whatever your chosen place guys, make sure it gives you ALL THE FEELS. It can be your back garden, a Scottish Castle, a local pub, or a Cathedral, whatever.

JUST CHOOSE IT FOR HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL.

Huge thanks also, to the staff at The Westmill, who always run a wedding like a well oiled machine- the fact that you ate Tangfastics with me and made me tea, is the cherry on the top of a very beautiful wedding day.

GWx