On 7th August 2022, I photographed the wedding of Beth and Owen. A lot of the bride and grooms I work with have an interest in art or photography, either as a hobby or sometimes just an appreciation of pleasing aesthetics. Though sometimes I do work for other professional photographers, which I find a great honour, albeit a honour tinted with a little bit of nerves. Nerves In the same sense as to why professional chefs never getting invited to dinner parties. At today’s wedding, the father of the bride was a familiar name. When I started my wedding photography business one of the established names was a gentleman in Monmouthshire, called Mansel Davies. Though also being a talented musician, these days it is just as likely to be a guitar in his hand than a camera. Either way I was beaming with pride when he recommended his daughter and future son-in-law to get in touch with me, when they were planning their special day. The marriage ceremony took place at the idyllic St Madoc’s Church in the village of Llandadoc, situated along the River Usk. The bridal and groom party were both getting ready nearby, so during the course of the morning I split my time between the two locations. Once the nuptials had been exchanged and the guests had showered the newlyweds with confetti as they walked the church path, the groom drove his new wife away in a classic Porsche 356. The collected friends and family then all followed to the reception venue of Sant Ffraed House. Arrival drinks were served in the shade of the grand house, which commands views of the landscaped garden as the Welsh hills roll away in the distance. Respite was from the summer heat was then provided in the modern addition, namely the air conditioned K room. Here further drinks could be sourced and in time the wedding breakfast was served, followed by the speeches and evening entertainment. The music was a bit special tonight, there was a wedding band, but with nearly everyone associated with the bride and groom being musical, there was bit of a rolling headline. The bride and groom performed a duet, then joined by Beth’s father sister and her partner for the ultimate family wedding band. The groom also plays in a band with friends and by the end of the night, the boys were back in town!
“Thank you so much for our beautiful photos and for capturing the memories of our day so flawlessly – it was such a joy to relive the moments and also see lots of wonderful new ones! We will treasure them always and leave a glowing review, would highly recommend you in the future!”