Grand Marquee Wedding, Brechfa | Alys + Aled

If there is one thing about wedding photography that I’ll never get tired of, it's capturing the energy that radiates from the day of true celebration! All weddings are special. They all have amazing moments and energy surrounding them, and I’m honoured to have the opportunity to capture each one. However, every year, there tends to be one wedding that sticks out with a little extra spark of oomph! One of those weddings was Alys & Aled’s day of celebration. Their wedding was an absolute blast to capture, literally from the moment I arrived to the moment I left. Endless moments of love, joy and laughter. The way every wedding should be!

Their ceremony took place at Tabernacle Chapel in Whitland and then moved to a magnificent marquee set up in the grounds of a stunning location just outside Brechfa, Carmarthenshire. I titled this post “Grand Marquee Wedding” because as you scroll down the page it should become apparent that this was far from your average garden marquee wedding set-up. I won’t waste time trying to describe their day in words because that kind of defeats the purpose of documentary photography.

So here’s the story of Alys & Aled’s wedding, presented in a collection of natural and emotive images. These are just a few of the many favourites from the hundreds of images that were delivered and enjoyed.

Thank you both for having me and for hosting a day that was an absolute pleasure to capture! Your wedding will always be one I will never forget for all its positive energy, amazing people and incredible memories!

Kind words from the happy couple…..

“Thank you so much for capturing our day so beautifully. We are so pleased with all our photos and will treasure them forever. Thank you also for keeping us both so calm and guiding us through the day - Thank you SO much for our photos, they are absolutely amazing. We are so pleased with them. You’ve captured our day exactly how we’d hoped, and we love every single one of them. We can’t thank you enough, and we will certainly recommend you to everyone we know! ” Alys & Aled

Ceridwen Centre Wedding | Lucy + Tom

Wedding photography at the Ceridwen Centre - Welsh Green Weddings.

Lucy and Tom’s wedding at Ceridwen Centre honestly had everything I could have hoped for at a wedding. Their day was full of the most beautiful moments shared between family and friends, all set at one of our favourite wedding venues! The Ceridwen Centre, or Welsh Green Weddings, is also known as the wedding venue, offering so much diversity for wedding couples looking for something a little different at their wedding. Set in the gorgeous countryside of Carmarthenshire, near the village of Drefach Felindre, it offers the perfect get-away location for a relaxed wedding with a difference.

The Ceridwen Centre is one of the few venues that provides a purpose-built outdoor wedding ceremony area and a sheltered area if the Welsh weather doesn’t cooperate. Lucy and Tom’s day had a mixture of weather conditions: bright summer sunshine for one minute and heavy summer downpours for the next. Unfortunately, the heavy downpours happened right when the ceremony was meant to be, and we were forced to move everything undercover, but that didn’t affect things too much. If anything, it added some very unique and memorable moments, which you’ll see in the images below.

Upon meeting Lucy and Tom a year or so before their wedding, they mentioned how much they wanted their day to be a relaxed celebration and as enjoyable as possible. They had friends attending from all over the country, and they wanted the day to be just as much about family and friends as it was about them. On the day, it was easy to see what they meant, and that relaxed vibe they wanted was set from the minute we started documenting.

Lucy began her day with preparations over in the main house, surrounded by family and the cutest collection of page boys and flower girls - who stole the spotlight on several occasions! Tom got ready with his groomsmen over on the other side of the venue near the beautifully restored gipsy caravan. Feeling instantly welcomed by everyone made documenting the moments so easy. I don’t think there is any need to write more about how this beautiful day unfolded because the images and moments you see below say much more than we could ever communicate in words. So please take a few moments to scroll through the pictures and enjoy this loveable wedding story of Lucy & Tom!

Brechfa, Carmarthenshire Wedding | Heledd + Wyn

Wedding Photography from Brechfa, Carmarthenshire.

Set deep in the beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside is the picturesque village of Brechfa. It’s only twenty minutes away from me and is somewhere I love to visit to enjoy the fantastic mountain biking in Brechfa Forest. Brechfa is also the place where Heledd was lucky enough to grow up and where she decided to have her fantastic wedding day! There are many things to love about this wedding, but most of all, the people made it so special with everything close to each other. The church is just across the road from the Forest Arms. The entire day had a cosy village feel, making everyone relaxed and up for a good time!

Here is the story of their special day—a day full of beautiful moments surrounded by amazing people. Thank you, Heledd and Wyn, for hosting such a beautifully relaxed wedding day! Your wedding will always be one of my all-time favourites.

Kind words from Heledd and Wyn:

'Thank you for your hard work and patience on Saturday. We had the best day, and we're so glad we went to take some photos in the evening. We felt so comfortable in your company and could be completely ourselves!'

'Thank you so much for the photos!! They are absolutely beautiful! We are so pleased with them! Thank you, Wyn & Heledd'

Venue: Forest Arms, Brechfa

Wedding Car: Top Class Cars

Incredible Vocal Performances from: Only Men Aloud (Wyn is also a First Tenor of this superb choir)

Rhosygilwen Wedding | Holly + Chris

Another visit to the beautiful venue of Rhosygilwen Mansion in Pembrokeshire meant the opportunity to capture Holly and Chris’s day of celebration. The day began by capturing the morning preparations conveniently inside Rhosygilwen Mansion. Holly and Chris chose to have their wedding ceremony at the Church of the Holy Cross at Mwnt, Ceredigion. Although the church wasn’t quite large enough to accommodate all their guests, it allowed those who couldn’t make it inside to enjoy some of the stunning coastline of Cardigan Bay.

After the ceremony, we took a short hike up to the highest point of Mwnt, which overlooks the church on one side and the cliffs surrounding the bay on the other. Holly came equipped with suitable shoes, and off we went! After experiencing some rather blustery onshore winds, we returned to the cars and headed to Rhosygilwen to continue the day of celebration!

The one thing I always remembered about past weddings at Rhosygilwen (with Rhi and Tom; you can see their wedding here) was how relaxed everyone was. The same was true with Holly and Chris's wedding. Rhosygilwen seems to have a comfortable and carefree vibe that everyone enjoys. If there was one thing to love about the venue from a photographer’s perspective, it provides endless beautiful locations for bride and groom photos. Scrolling through the images below, you'll see beautiful images during the couple’s photo session. I am truly grateful for the fantastic light we were gifted that evening! I hope you enjoy the following photos :)

Rosedew Farm Wedding | Sorelle + Lewis

Wedding Photography from Rosedew Farm, Llantwit Major.

Sorelle & Lewis's beautiful wedding at Rosedew Farm in Llantwit Major. A stunning venue which made a perfect setting for this rustic-styled wedding. When I did a pre-wedding visit to Rosedew Farm a few days before the wedding, I was taken aback by how perfect this venue was for the relaxed style of weddings I most enjoy capturing. With a rural feel and just a few minutes away from the stunning Llantwit Major beach, it has so much to offer that other venues don’t. Not only that but at the time of year I visited, it was surrounded by acres of bright yellow rapeseed fields, all in full bloom. After seeing that, it didn't take a genius to figure out where we would go for the Bride and Groom photos once their wedding day arrived.

Sorelle happens to be an accomplished and successful photographer herself (you can see her work here), so when we took the booking, we were excited to find someone who understood what photographing a wedding is all about. At the same time, it also meant I had to deliver work that exceeded the expectations of someone who knows her stuff. No pressure, then!

Judging from the amazing feedback Sorelle and Lewis provided after the wedding, I’m happy to say we achieved our goal. Thinking back to their wedding brings back so many beautiful memories of love, happiness, and real emotion. You only have to scroll through the images below to see what I mean.

Hope you enjoy the story of Sorelle and Lewis's magical day at Rosedew Farm!

Kind words from Sorelle and Lewis.

"I cannot tell you how happy Lewis and I are with the images. They are incredible, and they have everything I wanted. You have captured so many moments! Some we forgot about, and some we didn't know had happened! It has made us want to do it all over again. I cannot wait to share with friends and family and, most importantly, get them all printed so I can see them on my walls daily. We cannot thank you enough; you are seriously talented. Thank you for capturing memories that will last our lifetime xxx."

Carreg Cennen Castle Wedding | Sarah + Chris

Wedding photography from Carreg Cennen Castle, Carmarthenshire.

Sarah and Chris had their wedding at the spectacular venue of Carreg Cennen Castle. It’s a totally unique and fascinating venue with history dating back to the 13th-century. It’s one place that has been high on my wedding wish list for quite some time. Rural and rustic, with incredible views stretching across the beautiful Welsh countryside, it’s easy to see why I adore this place.

I don't always post entire weddings simply because we want visitors to our website to enjoy a few favourite images without wading through hundreds. This post, however, is a bit different. Different because we have so many favourites that it might seem we’ve featured everything I shot. The truth is, there are hundreds of more beautiful images that haven't been featured here.

As you scroll through the images, you’ll quickly see why there are so many favourites. Sarah, Chris, and their little boy Cian all played their part in making this day what it was—AMAZING! Their love and happiness for one another radiated through everyone who attended their wedding, creating an atmosphere that was fun and relaxed for everyone. All in all, it was a day brimming with true love, happy emotions, and a lot of laughs!

I cannot express just how grateful I am to have the pleasure of capturing such a perfect day with these three special people, their families, and their friends. Here's the story of their wedding day in pictures, not words………

Kind words from Sarah and Chris…..

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for the beautiful pictures. Honestly, you captured the day perfectly. We love every single one of them. I started putting them in an album of favourites on the online gallery until I realised I was putting them all in! Thank you once again for everything. Sarah xx"

Fonmon Castle Wedding | Olivia + Chris

Wedding photography from Fonmon Castle, Vale of Glamorgan.

Olivia and Chris chose the beautiful venue of Fonmon Castle near Barry to celebrate their wedding. Situated on a rural estate in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan, just twenty-five minutes from Cardiff, Fonmon Castle is often considered a “hidden gem”. The day started with morning preparations before going to St. Mary’s Church in Penmark for the wedding ceremony. After a beautiful and relaxed ceremony with one of the nicest and most laid-back vicars I have ever encountered, it was time to make our way to Fonmon Castle. A short drive from the church marked the beginning of the day’s celebrations. Their day was full of some really beautiful moments. This involved not only Olivia and Chris but also their families and friends. Their amazing pageboys and flower girls also had their fair share of photo fame, making the day a real family affair.

Scrolling through the images below, you may notice a familiar face if you’re into Welsh rugby. Chris’s best man happened to be Welsh rugby union player Rhys Webb. Rhys managed to play a game of rugby on the actual day of the wedding, joining us for the morning preparations before heading off to play and winning the match. Then, he rejoined the wedding again to give his best man’s speech and celebrate in the evening.

Here are some of my favourite images from Olivia and Chris’s incredible day at Fonmon Castle.

Oxwich Bay Hotel Wedding | Jenny + Adam

Wedding photography at Oxwich Bay Hotel, Gower Peninsula

To my knowledge, very few wedding venues in Wales have the advantage of being located a stone's throw away from the beach, like the Oxwich Bay Hotel. It’s one of the reasons why Jenny and Adam chose the location for their dream wedding venue. The other reason was that they both have fond memories of Oxwich Bay from previous adventures in the Gower area. It once gave them some much-needed shelter during one of those Gower adventures some years ago. While hiking, they got caught up in a nasty and unexpected storm. Instead of continuing, they snuggled up in front of an open fire inside the hotel, letting the storm pass and enjoying a drink or two. That’s when they truly discovered the beauty of Oxwich Bay Hotel. Luckily for me, they eventually decided it was the perfect place to celebrate their wedding!

Apart from the amazing couple, there was so much to love about this winter wedding. Jenny wore a beautiful wedding dress that perfectly complimented Adam's dapper tweed suit. Their family and friends brought along so much love and laughter throughout. Zach and Madison, who were dressed in the same tweed suits as the groomsmen (just a cuter version), stole the attention of my cameras on many occasions and a few hearts throughout the day.

I could go on, but I would much rather you enjoy the story of their day in pictures, not words. So here are a few of my favourite images from their magical day! Thank you, Jenny and Adam, for entrusting me to capture your amazing day!

Kind words from Jenny & Adam

Adam and I just wanted to send you a quick email to thank you so much for everything you did for us on Friday. You were amazing! We're excited to see the pictures, but aside from that, of all the weddings we've been to and photographers I've been directed by when I've been a bridesmaid, you are by far the best, and it was such a pleasure to have you around.

Thank you so much!

De Courceys Manor Wedding | Laura + Michael

Wedding Photography at De Courceys Manor, Pentyrch.

The honour of capturing another amazing day of celebration with Laura and Michael at De Courceys Manor in Cardiff. I met Laura & Michael at a wedding fayre, and they decided to use me as their wedding photographer because they wanted wedding images that captured the essence of their day. They wanted natural storytelling images rather than what they had experienced at previous friends’ weddings. And they did not want their day to turn into some ‘production’ with a never-ending list of staged photos. They knew that wasn’t them or what they were looking for in terms of photography. Fortunately, they found me and loved my more relaxed style of photography.

What I particularly enjoyed about this wedding was how Laura and Michael, their families and friends, were so willing to accept me into their day and let us do our thing without being overly aware that they were being photographed. This meant I could get close to the action and catch everything as it happened naturally. This makes their wedding images authentic and is why I enjoyed spending the day with them and their wonderful families and friends. Here are a few of my favourite images from this amazing De Courceys Manor wedding. Thank you both for such an awesome day!

Kind words from Laura and Michael.

Thank you so much! The photos are fantastic! We can't stop looking through them! Thanks for all your hard work in documenting our special day so beautifully! 

Laura & Mike

Mansion House Llansteffan Wedding | Georgia + Ellis

Wedding photography from the Mansion House Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire.

Georgia & Ellis chose the beautiful venue of the Mansion House Llansteffan for their wedding day. It’s a local venue and somewhere I’m always excited to return to. With stunning views across the Tywi estuary, it’s easy to see why this is such a popular venue and why couples fall in love with this place. Just look at the opening image below!

First met Georgia and Ellis over Skype after they found us online. Luckily, I also had an opportunity to meet them in person before the wedding. Meeting before the wedding day makes things easier for both parties when the big day finally arrives. I highly recommend that couples try to meet with us at least once before the wedding day. After all, nobody wants stranger photographing their dream wedding day, so building a rapport is a great way to gain trust.

Looking through the images, you will see what a lovely couple Georgia and Ellis make. These two have so much affection and understanding for each other, which made photographing their wedding a breeze of enjoyment! It wasn’t just the connection between themselves that made the day special, but also their connection with their families and friends. Everyone from their close family played an important role in the success of their day. Whether it was making speeches, performing readings or simply walking Georgia down the aisle. It all added to the closeness and intimacy of the day.

Here are some of my favourite images from their magical day. Hope you enjoy this beautiful wedding story.