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Captivating wedding photography at The Mill Barns in Shropshire
19th July 2023
Wedding Photography at The Mill Barns in Shropshire
This marked my inaugural foray into the realm of wedding photography at The Mill Barns, nestled in the scenic landscapes of Shropshire. The Mill Barns is like a well-oiled machine. I must confess, I do love going into a venue and everything just runs as it should. On-time with no dramas!
While the day did witness a splash of rain, it was confined to manageable intervals, allowing us to navigate it with ease. Apart from that isolated instance, the weather was idyllic.
Shropshire Wedding Photography
Upon my arrival, the wedding guests were chipper. They exuded a palpable enthusiasm and were ready to party. I was photographing happy faces all day long. It was wonderful!!
I cannot overstate the warmth and graciousness displayed to me by the wedding guests. There was loads of fun and plenty of laughter. So I think I would go as far as to say Ellie & Sam’s wedding was perfect! Perfect for me and perfect for wedding photography!
Congratulations to you both and I wish you a long happy life together.
Their Story
1) How did you first meet?
We were just kids really, I was 15 and Sam was 16. We were at one of my friend’s house parties and my awful dancing and loud singing along to Holiday by Dizzee Rascal must have been attractive for Sam as he just couldn’t keep his eyes off me (I didn’t find him to be too offensive to look at either).
In Sam’s eager attempts to impress me, I remember him doing to worm on the floor in our friend’s conservatory and was blown away. And it went from there really, although, it took him a year to buck up his ideas and ask me to be his girlfriend.
2) When was it you knew they were the one?
For me, I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint one individual thing that made me know Sam was the one. He has so many lovely traits and is so talented in everything he does. But I suppose if I were to say one thing, that’d be that he grounds me.
He makes me the best version of myself and has always been my rock in rain or shine.
Now for Sam, I have had a tough time of it getting him to give me an answer, he says “This is all a bit cringy for me.” But I know it’s because he knows I would do anything for him, and I make a house a home that he can come into and feel loved no matter how bad of a day he has had.
3) Could you give us the story of the proposal?
The proposal REALLY caught me off guard, it deffo was a HUGE surprise and to this day, I am shocked at how he managed to keep a secret from me. Usually, I catch him out with anything he is trying to hide!
It was a gorgeous sunny day in July 2021 and we had planned a trip to the beach with our dog, Otis, for his first beach day since we got him as a puppy.
Now, it had taken Sam months and months to plan and re-plan his proposal as we had had multiple trips abroad cancelled due to COVID and his plans to do it away on a beach had slipped through his fingers.
I then got a job once leaving uni, but working nightshifts so was SO tired on a weekend and kept turning down a UK beach trip. I then got a different job but ended up always working weekends.
So, after months of him trying to get a date in his diary, the day finally came. We travelled down to Norfolk to Wells Next The Sea and walked so far from the car to the beach with a dog in tow and multiple cool bags and beach towels.
So, the whole day on the beach had come to an end, I was quickly freshening myself up with some Deodorant while we were packing up and the next thing I know, I turn around to find Sam down on one knee with the biggest grin on his face and there it was the MOST gorgeous ring.
I was in so much shock and actually didn’t say anything for a few seconds until Sam was like “Well then, is it a yes?!”. Otis at this point could have been a million miles down the beach as we weren’t paying any attention and I just burst into tears and cried YES!!
4) If you don’t mind sharing, can you tell me something quirky, funny or silly about your partner?
Sam has absolutely NO rhythm, he can’t tap along to any song and has a real habit of unknowingly confidently signing the wrong lyrics to songs.
Ellie always must have a bowl of cereal in the morning, even if we plan to have a bacon sandwich or pancakes or something.
5) What is your perfect day together?
Lazy morning in bed with breakfast, followed by a day binge-watching a TV series or film and a picky night dinner.
6) Apart from the obvious, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Sam – I am really looking forward to the first initial moment of seeing Ells walk down the aisle
Ellie – I am so excited to put the ring on Sam’s hand and walk back down the aisle after being announced ‘ Mrs Dickins’
7) What was it that inspired you to go for the theme or the decor you chose for your wedding?
We wanted it to feel like us. I wanted it to be simple and relatively stress-free and relaxed.
8) Please tell me one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your wedding planning process, that you could pass on to future brides reading this blog.
How early you must look at getting your wedding dress!! I didn’t realise you need to go start looking way before the 6 months to go mark!
9) When searching, what were you looking for in a wedding venue?
We wanted to go for a barn-style wedding, somewhere that we could do 2 birds in 2 stone situation. We wanted it also to feel intimate and not overwhelmingly big, so The Mill Barns was just perfect and gave us goosebumps on our first visit.
10) Could you tell me the process you went through when you were looking for a wedding photographer?
When we were looking for a photographer, we wanted to find someone who took beautiful in-the-moment shots. We aren’t big on taking photos of ourselves, so were really after someone who could capture us in the moment while also getting some lovely relaxed ‘posed’ shots too. The photographer was a big thing for me as I cherish photos and love printing them off to keep.
We found Duncan through Instagram and fell in love with his photos of his beautiful dogs, although Otis our dog isn’t going to be there on our special day we absolutely LOVE dogs so this really sold us in to have a fellow photographer who loves his dogs too.
He seemed so down to earth and also felt right that he had also been married himself so would have a direct connection to what brides and grooms are after and what works well.
Vendor List
Photography | Duncan Cox Photography
Ceremony Location | The Mill Barns Ceremony Barn
Reception Location | The Mill Barns Wedding Breakfast Barn
Video | Skies are Blue
Make-up Artist |Makeup by Harper
Hair | Emmie Victoria Hair
Florist | Love Flowers – Steff
Wedding Planner | Brogan
Wedding DJ | The MP3’s
Wedding Dress Retailer | YES Bridal Studio
Other Details/Vendors | Lilberts event hire – floral circle and light up letters, Planet Booths – photobooth