West Mill Wedding Photography | Amy & Louis
A Derbyshire Wedding
Like many other wedding venues The West Mill has existed on my “to shoot” list for far too long so when Amy & Louis approached me about shooting their October half term wedding here I was absolutely elated and could not wait! Amy has been a folower of my work since I photographed her graduation ball way back when so it was great to see her again.
I adored being at the West Mill and I hope it’s not long before I get to return. The layout with the several different floors and different lighting was a joy to play with and I could create so much more if I got the oppurtunity to shoot there again.
An Autumn Wedding at West Mill
I loved being a part of Amy & Louis’s wedding day at West Mill and would relish the chance to do it again.
My style of wedding photography is strongly built on my incredible extraverted personality and using this to build an incredible relationship with every single one of my couples. All of my couples are different and unique so in turn, so are their weddings and the photographs always lean on their personalities to make them completely different. This is even the case if I was to shoot again at West Mill again. For me and my couples time is everything on their wedding day, you want to spend it with your friends and family and not on a massive photo shoot in a field. So if I can help it I don’t really want you to miss a thing and would love you to remember as much as possible. This caring and relaxed approach to my wedding photography is the reason why so many couples recommend me. They always say it feels like a friend is taking their photographs and not a photographer.
A Little History From This Derbyshire Venue
Located in Darley Abbey Mills along Haslams Lane just shy of Derby City Centre this imposing industrial wedding venue is anything but normal.
In 1792 the Evans family, locals from Darley Abbey, established a large cotton factory complex in a horseshoe bend of the Derwent River. Over the years it experienced vast remodelling and repurposing right up to the late 20th century. It traded under the name of Boars Head Mills and was one of the front runners in textile manufacturing in Derwent Valley. The Evans family worked alongside Richard Arkwright of Cromford and the Strutt Family to run mills throughout Belper, Derby and Milford.
Now it’s home to the spectacular West Mill wedding venue as well as many other small businesses including The River Mill and The Cottonworks cafe as well as Darley Abbey Wines and Fluid Ideas marketing consultants.
Due to its historic past, the building is now Grade I listed meaning so many of its original features still exist to this day including Georgian windows, cast iron lintels, barrel-arches and beautiful exposed red brickwork.
A West Mill Wedding Day
The entire wedding venue is split over 4 different floors of just one section of the original Mill and can cater to up to 160 of your nearest and dearest wedding day guests. Although inside space is aplenty the outdoor space is smaller in its size but provides more quality of space with a walkway along the River Derwent and views back on to the beautiful brick mill buildings and additional annexe all leading off of the outdoor south-facing terrace space which is perfect for a wedding drinks reception.
The top floor of The West Mill, The Cotton Quarter, is the on-site licensed ceremony space where you can tie the knot but if you choose to marry within a religious setting then this space can still be used for couple portraits to show off the cast iron ceiling, Georgian windows, exposed brick walls and pendant lighting which gives that great industrial look.
The Dressing Room is your pre-wedding space to enjoy the build-up to the big moment. Featuring full-length mirrors, a phone dock to play music and champagne flutes they really have considered everything to make your wedding morning super special.
The Breakfast Room is just that, it’s where your wedding day breakfast can unwind and just like The Cotton Quarter, it’s got its own showpieces including original barrel-vaulted arches. With the space being so vast and airy you’re really able to enjoy any manner of table layouts for your big meal.
Finally, The Spinning Room offers a great evening space for you and all your guests to dance the night away. Plenty of space and great natural acoustics mean you can enjoy a huge rave or a more sombre evening celebrating the big moment.
The venue like many others offers a no corkage charge meaning you’re allowed to bring your own alcohol and either pop it behind the bar to sell or provide it to your guests for no charge.
Parking can be a little tight on wedding days and the venue uses the local Derby Rugby Football Club overflow car park and guests enjoy a small wander down the winding Haslams Lane to the wedding venue.
With accommodation right on site your immediate family and/or friends and relax in lovely style and wake up the next day to the sounds of the River Derwent passing you by. Sleeping 16 adults and 5 children the Mill House really is a great space. Additional guests would have to take advantage of the hotels in the immediate vicinity including The Coach House, Jurys Inn Derby and the Premier Inn within Derby City Centre.
The whole of The West Mill is yours for the day. No one else wandering the floors, just you and your wedding party giving this venue the exclusivity feature from 11:00 am right through till midnight.
With catering partners built into the experience, The West Mill offer the best of food packages to appease any appetite. Starting at £39.50 per person and usually settling around £45.00 the catering partners really do put together an unforgettable meal.
Photographing During Autumn
It really was an incredible joy to shoot at The West Mill finally and I can honestly say the atmosphere, natural light and gorgeous decor only add to how incredible my photographs can become.
Because of the industrial raw look to all of its surroundings the colours within my photographs really have a chance to explode and be shown in all of their glory. I loved being a West Mill wedding photographer and would love to return soon.
West Mill Wedding Photography
