What can I say about Jen and Yousiff’s Holmes Mill Wedding? Fun, chilled and just one of the most lovely and love-filled couples I’ll ever meet. It was an absolute joy to photograph their wedding, it’s just a shame their cats couldn’t join in the fun as well.
Roller Derby Wedding
I’ve known Yousiff for years when we used to play Roller Derby together or more accurately when he used to send me flying onto my arse. So I was super excited when he messaged saying that he and Jen were getting married at Holmes Mill and would like me to be their wedding photographer. I’ve always wanted to photograph a roller derby wedding and with Jen still playing for Manchester Roller Derby’s Furies, there was going to be a ton of awesome ladies (and gents) at the wedding.
Making Holmes Mill Your Own
Holmes Mill is a perfect venue to get married in. The ceremony room is a blank slate, so couples can do whatever they want. Jen & Yousiff had made the whole wedding day unique with decorating out the room how they wanted with fairy lights, the flowers from Voila Florists weren’t even flowers, they were succulents, which went perfectly with their table decorations where they had mini terrariums as centrepieces. And then there was Jen’s wedding dress.
Designed by Jen herself and custom made by Orchid Bridal with a headpiece to match perfectly. I’d been playing a lot of Assassins Creed Odyssey at the time and she looked like she had just stepped out of the game, she looked stunning. Of course, Yousiff stepped up to the mark too with turning his waistcoat inside out for the evening party to reveal and very colourful alternative.
Relaxed Wedding Photography
One of my favourite parts of Holmes Mill was the boiler house, which held some of the old textile machinery. It was super quirky and was a perfect place to start photographing some relaxed portraits of the bride and groom. The wedding portraits or ‘couple time’ as I like to call it, couldn’t have been more relaxed either as every time we moved from one spot to another, Jen & Yousiff stopped to talk to their guests and that’s what I want. I don’t want to interrupt or hurry them and I don’t want them to remember being dragged away from their wedding guests for more photos. Just relax and let the wedding day flow.
Evening Photos
The evening kicked off with The Vendettas playing their first dance song and getting the party started. This is when I like to give my wedding couples a breather (if they want it) and take them off for some more fancy, artsy photos using off-camera flash and creating something unique. Using the lights in the containers outside Holmes Mill was a perfect location.
Like what you see, let me know in the comment section.
Matt x