Shropshire Intimate Micro Wedding || Madi & Chris

Madi & Chris - Shropshire intimate wedding photography and filmmaking.

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but in 2020 there was a global pandemic. I promise not to mention it again, but it’s quite useful to the context of both this post and this story, and context is always important to consider.

Madi and Chris planned this micro wedding way before it was their only option. They were always planning on getting married in 2020 with their grandparents locally, then following up with a big party in 2021 with all their family and friends. They live down south and their grandparents wouldn’t be able to travel all that way for their 2021 nuptials, so they decided on a super intimate church ceremony planned entirely by Madi’s lovely mum. I feel this is a necessary detail, because it pretty much sums up why we loved Madi and Chris from the moment we met them. They care so much about their family and friends that they were willing to have two weddings just to make everyone feel included. I can’t think of a better way of introducing them in this blog post than with those few details.

Another necessary introduction at the outset of this post is Gizmo the cockapoo. I know that Madi and Chris won’t mind me saying that she was just as much a main character of the day as they were. If we wanted to know where a guest had disappeared off to at any given point, a sure way to find them was to first track down gizmo, as, sure enough, any one of the guests could be found crouched in a corner sneaking gizmo a treat or giving her the attention she was constantly vying for. We always say that we LOVE dogs at weddings, and the truth is that they just bring so much personality to the day. If you are getting married and wondering whether to invite your four legged family member, we highly suggest that you do. Muddy paws are a small sacrifice for having your best friend at your feet on one of the most important days of your life.

The day started with us arriving at Madi’s parents house, a beautiful town house in the historic market town of ludlow. The high ceilings and deep green walls and original flooring welcomed us in as I saw Madi, an absolute vision in her Asos gown and tousled waves. One thing I love most about intimate weddings, is the way the morning preparation feels. Sometimes, this part of the day can feel quite busy and overwhelming, but there were so many sweet, slow moments between Madi and her Dad and it never felt like we were rushing.

As expected, Gizmo was Madi's shadow the entire morning, and she had apparently stayed with her 'grandparents’ in this home during lockdown (gizmo, that is). She was clearly very at home and perched herself on the particular step that Madi informed me had been the most beloved spot of her beloved retriever growing up.

The church ceremony was a quaint and lovely affair, Chris Donned his military blues and looked like a real life prince charming. Due to restrictions, a single vocalist sang, finishing the ceremony with Madi’s Grandma’s favourite song, amazing grace. After the ceremony, the guests were greeted by a great British downpour for the short walk back to the Garden. Meanwhile, the brief spate of rain disappeared just in time for me to capture some beautiful portraits of Madi & Chris in the fields overlooking the historic ludlow and its beautiful castle.

All in all, this day was truly beautiful and magical. Seeing these little glimpses of happiness in what was such a difficult year was truly what ket us going.