Martin & Chris's Wedding @ Cardiff City Hall & Park Plaza Hotel →

Wow Martin & Chris's wedding - such a lovely intimate affair with only 12 guests and done in a way which reflected their personalities and challenged the 'norm' by doing it differently. I loved it. and feel really honoured to have been part of their special day. 

This was my first same sex wedding to cover but hopefully not my last. I'd known Martin for many years as he manages my favourite place to have coffee in Caerphilly. Only 2 weeks ago I was there and we started chatting and that's when he told me he was getting married. I joked and asked if he wanted to book me to take photos and before I knew it we were sitting over a coffee planning all the amazing shots we could take around Cardiff City Hall. I insisted he checked with Chris first and a week later the 3 of us were discussing weddings, photo preferences, how they met and some stuff I can't repeat here ;-) 

The wedding was a Monday, which is getting more popular but their reason wasn't price or anything like that. It happened to be the anniversary date of when they met over a decade ago. They also got ready together in the Park Plaza Hotel, arriving later than they should have with not even time for a whisky to calm the nerves. Martin left a bit earlier to meet his parents at City Hall whilst Chris stayed behind to help his parents. Perhaps the only traditional part of this wedding was Chris arriving fashionably late with less than a minute to spare.. but he made it and it was lovely. A quick and simple ceremony after they walked down the aisle hand in hand together.

After confetti, group shots and mingling Chris, Martin and I went for a stroll to the gardens behind City Hall, to the museum and then into town. They were so happy for me to try new things so I got to use a smoke bomb for the first time and Martin clambered all over the buildings like he was in the Next catalogue ;-). We tried some slow shutter speed shots in the middle of town and finally some coloured gels back in Park Plaza.

I stayed long enough to capture some images of the table which Chris's mother had prepared with lots of thought and love. She'd made a wedding cake and it all looked so pretty. Then a glass of prosecco to celebrate with the grooms and I left them to the amazing food at Park Plaza.

Congratulations Chris & Martin, thank you so much for inviting me to take your wedding photos. Here's a photo summary of your special day... 

Cerys & Gavin's wedding at the New House County Hotel

As soon as I met Cerys to discuss her wedding I knew we'd be a great fit for each other. Sat in her kitchen chewing the fat about everything from her dreams for her wedding day to the red gingham curtains her mum had made, I knew this was going to be a great wedding. The first time I met Gav was on their pre wedding shoot and he was so laid back and happy. Their daughter's Lilly and Poppy were there too and I could just tell how excited Lilly was about the wedding, she told me how pretty her dress was and it didn't disappoint.

The wedding day itself was a sunny day in early August. On arriving at Cery's parent's house for bridal prep I was struck by how this wedding was all about family and friends. The house was packed with close family, it was lovely and being from a very small family myself I could see how special this was. Thankyou to Cerys's mum and dad for making me feel so welcome at their home.

I was fortunate to have a second shooter on this wedding, Tunde who met the boys at the church. Good job too because bridal prep ran a little late so there's no way I could have covered people arriving at the church and Cerys getting dressed if I had been on my own. I love St Martin's Church in Caerphilly and have been using it myself for years as it was associated with my old school and only had my son christened there 2 years ago. Father Mark took the service and he really is a fantastic vicar to work with. A second shooter for St Martins is a good idea because you can make sure you get those immense images from the back of the church and the stain glass windows, something I couldn't have done as I was positioned at the front in the pews. 

Click here for my blog on why a second shooter is a good option for your wedding

The reception was at the New House Country Hotel in Thornhill, with stunning views over Cardiff. The staff there are so helpful, it's a lovely place to work (and to eat in too - the food is great and I highly recommend their afternoon tea). I've already mentioned that this wedding was all about celebrating with family and friends and the reception really brought this to life. Children were included in the day and had so much fun free playing around the fountain and using the swing seat. Cerys's girl friends looked after her well and I couldn't help but envy their outfits, they looked amazing. Gav's brothers were ushers and Stan the Man, his best man made the most hilarious speech I've ever heard. I almost had to stop shooting when he brought out a life size cardboard cutout of Gavin dressed in suspenders because I was laughing so much. Before the first dance the bridesmaids and the children lit up the dance floor, everyone mixed with each other so easily.

However the my best moment of the whole wedding was just after the first dance whereby Cerys had asked the DJ to play songs from Frozen. The 4 of them, Cerys, Gav, Lilly and Pops owned the dance floor rocking it out to 'Let it Go'. Arms in the air, singing their hearts out together. It was one of the most magical moments I've ever witnessed at a wedding and I'm not ashamed to admit that I actually shed a few tears watching them. It was beautiful and summed up what this wedding was all about. Family. Love. Togetherness. Fun. 

My I wish you a life time of happiness. Thank you again for choosing me to be your wedding photographer. I really do have the best job in the world. Here's a little gallery of your wonderful day...