Weddings in charming Welsh Churches

October  6th 2012

St Crallo's, a lovely Welsh wedding in February

A wedding at St David's beautiful church in Abercrave in 2013

A nice wet Sunday morning and time to have a look at the interior of a church where I shall be covering a wedding in February. No point in going on a sunny summer’s day when I’m trying to reassure myself that I shan’t need to use flash during the service.

     What a joy, the church looks stunning from the outside and has a large area around it, where if it is not pouring I can perhaps grab some formal shots before the guests set off across the Brecon Beacons to the reception. Despite the large number of soldiers amongst the guests presumably they are driving rather than yomping.

     The interior stained glass windows are an attractive mix of ancient and modern style and the walls are a charming light cream colour with none of the dark nooks and crannies that older churches have. (Photographer chortling with glee as no need to fight with the vicar about how and when a flash gun may be used!) And if, with permission, I do use one at all, lots of light walls to bounce it off.

Light and bright, the church of St David in Abercrave, a photographers delight

   

    The main thing to note is that many of the parishioners park their cars on the asphalt entrance.  Hopefully the bride and groom can discourage this or they will  lose the picturesque background this handsome building makes and our chance of getting some formal groups in the can before everyone gets into the chocolate fountain waiting at the reception venue!

As yet no details on their choice of vehicle?!

For more beautiful brides in picturesque churchyards click this link

    

Wonderful Welsh Wedding Venues

   October 4th 2012

        The idea for this blog was to dig out some of the loveliest places to get married in this great country of Wales. However once you start searching your archives for pictures it is so easy to get sidetracked. Maybe this time I’ll stick to my brief!

The Brecon Beacons softened by distance

Last weekend I visited Brecon’s Castle Hotel where I shall be covering a wedding early next year. It’s a most delightful spot with views over the Brecon Beacons making them look pretty and tame, which they definitely, are not. Every time I set off to visit a picturesque castle within their remit the mist comes down and the road simply disappears in front of me!
      Being a natural wuss and not keen to join the sheep grazing goodness knows how many hundreds of feet below me, I always find myself scrambling petrified through a perilous three point turn, above an invisible precipice and creeping back home.

Brecon Castle attached to the Castle Hotel

         Hopefully the February weather will be more clement than the deluge that was this past August (not difficult) and the couple's driver won't lose me on the mountain road from the church to the hotel (or should that be hell)! 

         Once we get there this floodlit ruin and its comfortable adjacent lodgings should provide a welcoming retreat from the wild welsh countryside and a romantic backdrop for a most attractive couple's photographs.

Margam Park still my favourite Welsh wedding venue

Not everybody can hold their wedding ceremony in a Castle or stately home with ruins. Some because  religion or budget will not allow it, but even if the ceremony takes place elsewhere, in Wales you are never far from a dramatic castle, and often, time allows after the ceremony, for the couple to visit a place that is special to their relationship.

Coity Castle near Bridgend is a very special place to newly wed Ali and Darren Wyatt

For beautiful bride Christina 'La Torre Redonda' in Nerja is as romantic inside as out

   The wedding ceremony solemnised in the stunning catholic church in Nerja on the Costa del Sol, lovely Christina also appreciates the informal romance of the Round Tower in her reception venue.

For more Castle venues and happy couples see my website 

     The next place on my visiting agenda must be St Donat's Castle near Cowbridge back home in Wales, which looks to have it all, drama on the exterior, scenic views including beaches, a romantic interior and a wonderful banqueting hall. All that's missing seems to be a clanking knight in armour ? Surely that can be arranged?