K+M: Alternative wedding at the River Mill in Derby

The River Mill wedding venue.

Wow what can I say about this intimate little wedding venue nestled in the heart of former industrial Derbyshire, apart from the fact that its absolutely perfect for a DIY wedding? I loved the whole feel of this place, it has that ex-industrial aesthetic, very similar to that of its sister venue The West Mill. It has so much gorgeous natural light, and its a beautiful blank canvas for couples choosing to get married here. Basically, the River Mill is a total dream for me as a wedding videographer!

I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of Katie and Mitch’s alternative, DIY wedding day. These two were very laid back, and their priorities were clear from the very beginning, they wanted a fantastic celebration with people they loved above all else. And they had lots of friends and familiy to help make it happen, including their celebrant, and team of ‘venue stylists’ too.

I caught up with these newlyweds to find out what they made of their non-traditional wedding planning journey and here’s what they said:

How would you describe your wedding?

Informal, non-traditional, colourful, personal and a bit chaotic! 

Did you have a theme?

No, we wanted everyone to be their unique selves and we wanted as much colour and individuality as possible. 

Why did you choose your venue?

It was the perfect size for a small wedding, and a great price too! We loved the industrial features so didn't add loads of decoration as we loved the venue in it's raw state, and the outdoor area was perfect for a summer wedding. 

Outfits - What did you choose and why did you choose them?

Mitch: I knew that I wanted to wear a pair of Dr Martens and I found a pair that I loved - so built an outfit around it. I went for all black because I look damn good in it.

Katie: although our wedding was non-traditional, I knew I'd never wear a white dress again so I went for it! I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted at first, but knew I needed a leg slit for ultimate movement on the dancefloor. My dress was from Ivory White Bridal and I would highly recommend them - they were so lovely.

What about the outfits of your ‘I do’ crew?

It was really important for us that everyone wore something they loved and felt comfortable in. Our bridesmaids wore different colours and styles, which we loved as we wanted everyone's individual personalities to shine.

What accessories and shoes did you wear?

Mitch: I wore my rings from The Great Frog, one of which Katie bought me as a gift on the day. I also wore my friend Laura's pocket watch which she wore on her wedding day, and a necklace with my late brother Jay's ring on it. My shoes were western style Dr Marten loafers 

Katie: I never knew I how much I needed a veil until I tried one on, and I'm so glad I did. When I tried it on one of my bridesmaids said I looked like I should have a residency in Vegas and I was sold. I ended up not taking it off the entire day and it was so much fun thrashing it around on the dancefloor. This was from Ivory White Bridal too. I'm a big jewellery lover so had a few of my usual rings on that I wear all the time, as well as a seaglass necklace. I went for pointy white heels and proud to say I managed (almost) all night in them.

What advice would you give to other couples planning an alternative DIY style wedding?

Be yourselves and have fun with it. We spent loads of evenings listening to music with a bottle of wine and making things for the wedding. 

Don't worry about the small stuff - your guests are there because they love you, not because you spent a ton of money on styling! 

It's amazing how much of an impact little personal touches can have, nobody wants a copy & paste wedding! 

Your photographer and videographer are SO important - do your research and find people who match your vibe. This is what we did and it was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. 

Is there anything you would have changed?

Honestly no! We had such an incredible day.

What do you remember most from your wedding day?

Mitch: I remember being really nervous at first, but when I saw Katie walking down the aisle all the nervousness went and I knew we were about to have the best day ever. 

Katie: I remember feeling so happy to see all our favourite people in the same room together and knowing how lucky I am. 

Did anything funny or unusual happen?

Katie's mind went blank during the vows and completely forgot what to say. However, we had our friend Jack as our celebrant and he was so nervous at first so it put him at ease knowing someone else had messed up rather than him! 

For years, we have both called each other 'Goose' (as in silly, not as in Top Gun), and when we were taking photos outside after the ceremony, a flock of geese flew past us along the river - it was such a heartwarming moment. 

Thoughts on your wedding film/s?

We're so impressed to see how they came out, watching it back for the first time was both emotional and hilarious. Because we were both so busy during the day, we got to see other people's perspectives and how much fun everyone around us was having, and that's one of the most important things to us. The way Laura captured our day really emphasised the joy and love that we both share for our guests and that they share for us. This isn't just a film, it's a record of the best day of our lives surrounded by our favourite people and it's something we will cherish forever.

What was your favourite part of your wedding film/s?

Where do we start!? The first voice you hear on our wedding film is laughter, and the whole thing is filled with joy. Watching the speeches back was as emotional now as it was at the time, and we're so glad we can watch it back (especially as we were a bit tipsy by that point!). Watching the day play out from a somewhat civilised manner and descend into total uncouth chaos was hilarious, and exactly the kind of day we planned, expected and delivered! 

Why would you recommend Laura Baker Productions to others?

From the moment we found Laura online, we knew we had found the perfect fit for us. On our first video call, we found out that we are from the same town (small world eh!) and we hit it off straight away. When we were discussing our ideas about the wedding, she was so genuinely happy and excited for us, and that excitement continued even after the day. 

Laura is all about inclusivity and uniqueness, which is so important to us and she really embraced who we are as individuals and as a couple.

Looking for a River Mill wedding videographer?

If you’re looking for an inclusive and eco-friendly videographer for your wedding at the River Mill or West Mill, pick me pick me! There is just something so special about these two Derby wedding venues, and they ALWAYS look incredible on film. They are both versatile spaces and are fab venues for really putting your individual stamp on like Katie and Mitch did.

Not only do I power your wedding videos with green energy, including all the editing and charging of my many many batteries, I also plant a tree for every wedding I film thorugh my partner programme One Tree Planted, and I even travel to your venue in my EV car too!

Say hello and see if I’m available on your wedding date below! I would absolutely love to hear about you and your wedding day plans.