Small intimate winter pub wedding in Shrewsbury

So many people with 2020 weddings postponed to 2021/22, but Becca and Josh did the opposite. They originally got in touch with me to ask if I could shoot their 2021 wedding, but decided at the last minute to go for a small, intimate winter pub wedding in Shrewsbury in 2020 instead.

After what I think it’s safe to say had been a very long, hard year for everyone, it was a lovely way to end the year, and is great inspiration for anyone thinking of a small, intimate winter pub wedding, pandemic or no pandemic! (Looking for more small wedding inspiration? You can check that out here.)

Plus, if you like the look of this wedding, then you should check out this styled shoot I worked on – Becca, today’s bride, is the planner and stylist behind Evermore, and put the shoot together!

Intimate Shrewsbury wedding venues

Becca and Josh initially booked Camlad Barns for their bigger 2021 wedding day, but obviously needed a different vibe for their small, intimate winter pub wedding between Christmas and New Year 2020. They chose two venues in Shrewsbury, the town where they had their first date and now live together with their cat Rick and their dog Morty (A+ for those name choices, by the way…)

Shrewsbury Abbey

The ceremony took place in the magnificent Shrewsbury Abbey, a Grade I listed building that dates in part back to the 11th century! You feel this sense of history and awe as soon as you walk through the heavy oak doors into the venue, with the soaring ceiling, stunning stained glass windows and ornate altar decoration all inspiring a sense of grandeur. Despite the sheer scale of the venue, though, Becca and Josh’s ceremony still felt totally cosy and intimate. Their guests sat in the front few rows of pews, which were each lined with mistletoe, whilst beautifully decorated Christmas trees twinkled at the top of the aisle.

The Lion & Pheasant, Shrewsbury

Now it wouldn’t be much of a small, intimate winter pub wedding without a pub, would it?! For their reception, Becca and Josh chose the lion + pheasant, a Michelin-recommended pub and townhouse hotel in Shrewsbury.

Cosy, festive wedding decor

Their meal took place in The Crystal Room. With Georgian windows, high ceilings, and crystal chandeliers, it gets lots of beautiful natural light; but, again, was made to perfectly feel like a small, intimate winter pub wedding for Becca and Josh’s day.

Tall white candles in brass and gold candlesticks flickered, while a Christmas tree provided the perfect wintery backdrop for Becca and Josh at the top table. Garlands of ivy and trailing fairy lights lay across the tables, while potted plants with gorgeous red and deep pink flowers dotted them too. Becca’s bouquet featured more of these flowers, with two feature red roses at the front.

This colour scheme of red and gold but with a twist continued into their wedding cakes. The two tiers were adorned with a trail of rich magenta and white orchids, as well as a brush of gold leaf along the side.

Winter wedding weather

With a summer wedding, the weather is more unpredictable, in a way: we hope for lovely sunshine, but we know it’s not guaranteed. However, with Becca and Josh planning a small, intimate winter pub wedding, they could be pretty confident it was going to be chilly! Atop her beautiful boho halterneck dress featuring a contemporary, geometric lace, Becca wore a dark brown furry stole to keep herself warm.

It actually snowed on their wedding day, so whilst we planned to take group photos outside the Shrewsbury venues, we ended up doing them inside. To fit everyone in the space, we made use of some armchairs, which gave everything a chic editorial vibe!

In a break from the snow (/rain), we walked from Shrewsbury Abbey to the lion + pheasant to capture some relaxed photos, and maximise the time we had together. We made the most of the late afternoon sun, which cast beautiful light into the church building, before we strolled through Shrewsbury town capturing portraits as we went.

Planning your own small, intimate winter pub Shrewsbury wedding?

If you’re planning your own small, intimate winter pub wedding in Shrewsbury or beyond, I’d love to chat about being the relaxed, fun wedding photographer to capture it for you – you can get in touch here. You can also get in touch with Becca for all of your fun, creative wedding planning needs here!

Here’s what she had to say about working with me:

“Laura photographed our small wedding last week and we were blown away by what an amazing job she did. She was so supportive and flexible…the last few months have felt like a rollercoaster but Laura has been so understanding throughout, something I am so thankful for. On the wedding day she was fantastic – friendly, professional, and putting us and our guests at ease. My husband is very nervous in front of the camera but Laura helped us both relax and laugh. She got the preview photos to us the day after the wedding which was way quicker than I expected. Finally, the pictures themselves! I LOVE them. Laura couldn’t have done a better job of capturing our big day and I recommend her 10000%.”