The Mowbray Sheffield Wedding
Our first wedding of 2020 was an awesome one for so many reasons. The Chimney House and The Mowbray, both in the Kelham Island district of Sheffield, are both very on-trend, and perfect for modern couples who like a bit of the laid back and casual vibe to their wedding day. The order of the day was minimal fuss and maximum fun with their family and friends, an ideal ethos when it comes to the kind of weddings I love the most. Not only all of this, but the bride was my beautiful cousin Sarah, who was marrying videographer Josh (of Sky Weddings). There’s nothing like the pressure of shooting a fellow creative’s wedding than adding family into the mix too, haha! Knowing the couple and their friends very well, I was excited for the day to unfold in front of the camera. Our non-obtrusive photography style fits perfectly with the vibe of the area, and the couple were happy for me to capture the day exactly as it played out, with minimal posing.
I started my day off with the girls as normal. Sarah got ready at her house with her mum and bridesmaids, a lovely relaxed morning with the family ready for the day ahead. Sarah booked a vintage bus and her dad splashed out on surprise champers for the journey. The bride loves a good drink! My second shooter Darren was with the boys in the morning, who got ready at the Leopold Hotel in Sheffield city centre, a short journey from the venue. Josh, his best man (and brother) Jake and groomsman Sean all looked sharp ready for the day ahead. They headed to the Kelham Island area for a drink with their close friends before it was time to head to the ceremony.
Arriving at The Chimney House, I overheard compliments from the guests as they were seated about how unique and intimate the ceremony venue was, and I had to agree. Everyone had a great vantage point to watch as the couple said their vows, and I loved the view from the back of the ceremony – with the eclectic table at the front, a soft bit of candlelight and the exposed beams – a really cosy feel. Following the ceremony, the guests were treated to a “beers and bubbly” reception and headed outside. (Yes, OUTSIDE, in January, and the weather was GLORIOUS!) The newlyweds mingled with family and friends in the sun, before we gathered everyone to shower the couple with confetti!
I always highlight the importance of a couple spending time away from their guests at several intervals in the day – not long, just 10 mins or so. It really helps to have that time dedicated to each other, having those breaks also helps to slow your day down a little. With the beautiful, low winter sunlight, we took Sarah and Josh back into The Chimney House where the rays poured through the upstairs window beautifully. Perfect for some portraits of the couple so they can remember that “just married” feeling! I then headed to The Mowbray with the couple to capture them in the venue before their guests arrived, taking full advantage of the awesome lighting and beautiful details!
The dining set up was quite unique, the long banquet tables decorated to mirror the eclectic ceremony decor with candles, wine bottles and wild flowers. Casual dining is a new idea to wedding breakfasts, where shared platters are distributed amongst guests. I LOVE this idea! It means guests can interact and chat while helping themselves to some amazing food. The speeches gave us an opportunity to capture so many reactions and natural moments. The guests had a great vantage point and meant that we could take photos without interrupting the flow of the afternoon. A personal highlight for me was the payment of a long-standing “I’ll never get married” bet between the groom and a circle of friends. With all the other friends happily married, Joe laughed as he accepted the money from groom Josh!
Once into the evening, we snapped a few more relaxed formals, and even managed to take the couple on a walk to capture some cosy night-time portraits in the area. The evening reception was amazing, being in the wedding industry Josh knew some of the best suppliers (hence booking us, haha) so he’d hired superstar DJ Pat Mulligan to do what he does best. The dancefloor was busy all night, and the music played really did suit all ages. You’ll spot Jake on the dancefloor with his camera too as he filmed the whole day, as well as being best man for his brother – you can see a clip of it here. Sarah and Josh’s first dance was then played again at closing time and it was such a lovely way to end the night with their friends and family around them clapping and cheering for two of their favourite people!
Suppliers:
Venue:
Ceremony – The Chimney House
Reception – The Mowbray
Dress:
Heidi Hudson – Wed2Be
Hair and Makeup:
Kelly Hanks Hair Design
Holly Cooper Makeup Artist
Suits:
Groom’s suit – Hugo Boss
Groomsmen suits – Skopes
Florist:
Moss & Clover Kelham
Rings:
Jessica Flinn
Film:
Sky Weddings
Singer:
Ryan Lauder – Big Sky Creative
DJ:
Pat Mulligan
Cake:
‘r Mel (brides cousin)
