Wow. What a wedding. It was a soggy start to the day, but the weather forecast promised it would brighten up. After a lovely warm welcome when I arrived at Nia’s parents house and and a quick chat, I got to work. Most mornings are full of hustle and bustle as everyone prepares for the day ahead, but as a lot of the evening food was homemade this morning was particularly active – just the way I like it. Everything went exactly to plan and Nia was even ready a little early.
Once we’d arrived at Gregynog Hall, near Newtown, the weather had indeed brightened up, which was handy as there was a little bit of a walk from the carpark to the hall. As the path went past the ceremony room we had to shield Nia a little bit to make sure Joby didn’t get a sneaky peak through a window. The ceremony room is absolutely stunning, large windows with gorgeous views and massive high ceilings. After a beautiful reading by Joby’s sister, his newphew delivered the wedding rings – there were audible “aaahhs” from all around the room!
Gregynog Hall provided delicious canapés & reception drinks while Nia & Joby talked and laughed with their friends and family. We snuck off for a couple of tongue-in-cheek posed shots at the iconic hand sculpture, then it was time to head up to Camp Newson!
Camp Newson was in Joby’s parents garden. Space had been cleared for a Tipi, Mama Singhs tent, toilets plus enough room for their guests to camp overnight! People swapped their high heels & brogues for wellies, converse and walking boots. Inside the tipi it was all hands on deck to get everything out on the tables. They’d prepared a truly amazing spread, from dips to cheese boards, to pasta salads to quiche and sandwiches. It wasn’t until the speeches (when it was actually mentioned) that I realised everything was vegetarian and considering my motto is “if it doesn’t contain meat, then it’s a side-dish” that’s really saying something!
During the wedding breakfast I watched a tipi full of people passing bottles of wine, plates of cheese and bowls of salad from one end of the table to the other, finding just enough room for their wine glass or bottle of craft ale on the table in front of them. Everyone was smiling, laughing or retelling a story – which ended in more laughter. I can’t describe it eloquently enough to do it justice – but the warm fuzzy feeling I had at that moment sums up Nia & Joby’s wedding for me. I know the wedding breakfast is a odd highlight for a Wedding Photographer to have, but it was definitely one of my favourite moments of the day.
It was then time for the speeches, an emotional Joby went first (using his sunglasses to hide the tears) followed by an awesome Best Man’s speech and then by the Father of The Bride who also made a lovely speech. It was then all hands on deck again to make space for the dance floor! I think it tells you a lot about a bride when she dons an apron to help clear the tables! Meanwhile, children played on the swings and ran between grown-ups legs. The weather was just beginning to turn, so we took a rather blustery walk up the hill for a family photo (including the dog) before it got any worse, a little later a gazebo blew over and the vent at the top of the tipi got twisted – fortunately Joby’s dad was on hand with ladders to fix it.
Nia & Joby had decided they weren’t going to have a first dance, but their friends forced them into it. So, after an impromptu first dance the Avengers got the party started with an awesome first set. During the break I was lucky enough to taste some of Mama Singhs delicious curries before the band came back on to rock it some more! And that was Nia & Joby’s wedding. Here are a few of my favourite photos…
