Let’s start this story at the beginning. I first met these guys for a pre wedding shoot as Orla is very camera shy. Pre wedding shoots are always a good idea as it’s a chance for my clients to get used to me photographing them. From my many years as an award-winning Welsh wedding photographer, I can give my clients hints and tips on how to relax in front of the camera.
Fast forward to the wedding day, an absolute scorcher in August, and Orla was getting ready with her bridal party in one of Rosedew Farm’s beautiful cottages. She had her bridesmaids and her mum with her as well as some of the youngest wedding guests. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.
Orla looked stunning a beautifully fitted silk dress that looked like it had been made for her. It had a low back and a slight fishtail shape at the bottom. It perfectly suited Orla’s petite frame and gave her an amazing silhouette in all of my images of her.
Rustic wedding photography at Rosedew Farm
The wedding ceremony was held at St Mary’s Church in Cardiff. This handsome roman catholic church stands proudly and has a fantastically high ceilings and ornate interiors making it a truly atmospheric space for a wedding ceremony and perfect for wedding photos.
After the ceremony, there was a chance to take a few images both inside and outside the church before everybody headed to Rosedew Farm for the reception.
Now I can get back to why I love returning to be a Rosedew Farm wedding photographer. It’s because this beautifully converted barn makes the perfect location for a rustic farm wedding. Its barn has exposed beams strewn with drapes and fairy lights and ceiling to floor windows that flood the space with tons of natural light (us Welsh wedding photographers are total geeks when it comes to talking about light!) I couldn’t help taking a few images of the venue all dressed and ready to go.
On arrival everybody enjoyed a drinks and canapes reception outside in the sunshine. The canapes looked seriously delicious! There was live musical entertainment as well as games for the young and the not so young. And whilst the guests were happily mingling and drinking, I quickly whisked Orla and Endaf away for a few minutes for a mini photoshoot in a nearby wild flower meadow. It was well worth it as they resulted in some of my favourite images of the day.
Storytelling Rosedew Farm wedding photography
We then headed back to join Orla and Endaf’s guests at their wedding reception. Speeches happened before the food which is always a good idea. They were all very well received.
After a sumptuous wedding breakfast, guests started to mill about outside to soak up the last of the sunshine and I managed to persuade Orla and Endaf to have a quick couple photoshoot at sunset. Orla was a little reluctant at the time but when she saw the images she was thrilled and said they were her favourite images of the day.
We re-joined the party and I took some great candid images of guests relaxing and enjoying themselves as well as some great images of all the guests together gathered in the courtyard.
Evening celebrations started with the cutting of the wedding cake which looked amazing. Three elegant naked wedding cakes with simple flower decorations. When it comes to cakes sometimes less is definitely more, they looked delicious.
Rustic wedding photography in Wales
The first dance included a surprise confetti canon which looked amazing and created a really fun moment. Orla and Endaf weren’t alone on the dance floor for long, their guests were itching to start the party and a live band were on hand to make sure they got one. And I took my life into my own hands by braving the dancefloor to get some really fun images. It was a risk worth taking as you can see!
I love sparklers at weddings, they add a bit of fun and excitement at the point when you think the days nearly over and they make for great images. And it was the sparkler images in the courtyard that seemed like the perfect ones to close the story of Orla and Endaf’s amazing wedding day.
A rustic, fun, family friendly wedding full of love and laughter. Congratulations to Orla an Endaf for getting married and creating a beautiful wedding day for yourselves and your family and friends to remember. I hope my images will help you to relive it again and again for many years to come.
I’ll leave the last words to Orla and Endaf. Here’s what they had to say about working with me.
“Keri's class. He has the quiet confidence of a pro without being overbearing. He's really professional, passionate and fantastic value for money.
The amount of wedding guests who have come up to us after the wedding to say how much they thought the photographer was brilliant. He was able to direct us (not the most natural in front of the camera) to get some fantastic photos. He was able to catch the fun of the wedding and had loads of great shots, capturing lots of different "little moments". Also, with the "classic wedding photos" he was able to get beautiful shots without dragging us away from the party for any length of time really.
Also he's good with kids, he managed to get some fantastic photos of the little ones having a blast.
He also managed to direct group photos and worked with the wedding coordinator to make the day fantastic but he was never overbearing or demanding. He's also good fun!
A great photographer. I'm not the best writer so can't really describe how good he is, just book him and put that worry to bed.”