All weddings are special and exciting, that goes without saying (I still get butterflies driving to the venue on a wedding day). This one held a special place in my heart though, as the wonderful ceremony venue, Castell Coch, holds great sentimental value to me. As a little girl, I used to visit the fairytale castle with my grandfather, then several years later my husband chose the drawbridge as the location in which he would propose to me. Of course, I didn't tell the couple this, as it was their big day and their venue to create these special memories of their own. Nonetheless I was thrilled to be asked to photograph their wedding there.
I first met the couple at the Welsh National Wedding Fayre, held at Cardiff City Stadium and we hit it off straight away. We met several times more before their big day and I was delighted to hear all about the little details the bride and her best friend had created.
As a wedding photographer, I am always cautious to respect everyone's right to privacy, especially as not every couple realise that they don't have to allow photographer's to use their images (you're paying for them, so it's only fair you get a say in how they are used!). Even if you are just not 100% sure of them being out there, I will not use them on my website or social media.
In the case of this wedding, due to the couple's jobs, we agreed that I wouldn't use photos of them online. However, as it was such a beautiful wedding, I'm very excited to be able to share with you some of their details.
The bride wore the most divine gold shoes made by Jenny Packham. Elegant and not too high, they were simply gorgeous!
The Castell Coch Wedding ceremony took place in a perfectly ornate room. With just 20 guests I really was privileged to be part of this one. After they were pronounced husband and wife, we wandered around the castle where we took lots of photos of the couple and their family and friends before heading off to the reception venue - The Ty Mawr Inn.
The wedding had a strong welsh identity (despite the groom's english heritage) and this was reflected in lots of the little details. The welsh harpist played Sosban Fach as the couple signed the register and continued to play a variety of music at the reception venue. The love spoons were another nod to the bride's passion for her country.
Together with her best friend, the bride lovingly handcrafted a family of mice that represented the entire bridal party! The pair had put so much effort into ensuring that this was a truly unique and personal celebration. It was an honour to be part of their special day!
