003 - Anyone For Snails?
Wedding Photography Behind the Scenes at The River Mill, Derbyshire
Alright, I admit this is a weird one. But bear with me.
Weddings are always full of beautiful moments—emotional vows, heartfelt speeches, that perfect sunset glow (if you’re lucky!)… But let’s be honest: if there are kids involved, there’s also a high chance of chaos, snack-related disasters, and occasionally, some unexpected wildlife handling. Like, say, snail collecting. Mid-meal.
Hannah and Tom’s wedding at The River Mill in Derbyshire had all the ingredients of a gorgeous day - stunning venue, awesome couple, lovely guests - but it also came with a bonus cast of miniature partygoers doing what kids do best: unleashing adorable, chaotic energy at every opportunity.
Now, some wedding photographers approach a day like they’re shooting a high-fashion editorial for Vogue - carefully posed portraits, not a single hair out of place, everything bathed in golden light and just so. And hey, there’s a place for that. But personally? I’m here for the real stuff. The little unscripted moments that make a wedding day feel personal and alive.
Like the child who hit the dance floor before the DJ had even had a chance to plug in the speakers. Or the gang of mini guests who took it upon themselves to raid the doughnut wall like it was a mission from MI5—complete with sugar-fuelled stealth tactics and a total disregard for adult supervision.
But the pièce de résistance? A very proud child presenting a dinner plate - yes, an actual plate from the wedding breakfast - with a lovingly curated snail collection, freshly sourced from the riverbank. No idea what the plan was. Perhaps an avant-garde starter course? An impromptu pet adoption?
These are the moments you don’t plan for. You don’t pin them on your mood board or include them in the shot list. But when they happen, they’re the heart and soul of the day.
Sure, I’ll get the epic couple portraits, the walk-down-the-aisle shots, and the tearful reactions. But if there’s a kid in the background doing the worm during your first dance or trying to toast with a Capri-Sun during the speeches, I’m 100% getting that too.
Because when you look back at your wedding photos, I don’t just want you to see what the day looked like - I want you to remember what it felt like. The laughter, the love, the occasional muddy fingers, and yes… the snails.
So here’s to the unpredictable magic that kids bring to a wedding day.
Long live the chaos.
And long live the snails.
