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A day of love, Autumn colours, and custard slices!

October was an insanely busy month for me. Weddings, pre wedding shoots, family shoots… and in a blink of an eye it came and went. One of the highlights of this super-busy month was Tesni and Gwydion’s beautiful wedding at the incredible Iscoyd Park, one of my favourite venues near North Wales and Chester. What a fabulous day it was: full of love, laughter, and some stunning Autumn colours. I can’t wait to share a sneak peek of the images with you…

Tesni and Gwydion’s wedding at Iscoyd Park, Cheshire

Iscoyd Park is a private country house wedding venue on the borders of North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. I’m a wedding photographer in North Wales and Chester so Iscoyd is ideally located for me. It’s also an absolute dream wedding venue: it’s the perfect combination of historic elegance and contemporary style.

The day began at the picturesque Iscoyd Cottage, where Tesni and her bridal party were getting ready. I joined the girls for bridal prep, where Kimberley from Bridal Hair Design and Make Up was working her magic, alongside Holl’s Dolls Make Up. Tesni’s gorgeous dress was from WED2B, and I took the opportunity to capture some lovely images of the dress in the beautiful surroundings of the bridal suite.

 


I was then privileged to capture the first photos of Tesni in her dress- doesn’t she look fabulous? It was clear that Tesni’s friends and family clearly thought she looked fabulous too: I always love capturing the photos of when the bride’s dad sees his daughter in her dress for the first time.


I then joined Gywdion and his groomsmen in suits by Peter Posh. They were waiting for the ceremony to begin (and enjoying a quick beer or two!)


Wedding Photography at Iscoyd Park

Iscoyd Park really does have the feel of a family home. Iscoyd prides itself on not being too stuffy or formal but relaxed and welcoming: a classical Georgian house with a modern attitude. The interior spaces really show off the Georgian splendour – I loved capturing the shots of Tesni walking down the grand oak staircase.


The Garden Room where the ceremony took place is also equally elegant. It’s also a really lovely light, bright room, which is ideal for me as a wedding photographer!







After the ceremony, I joined the guests outside for some group shots. Like so many wedding venues in the Chester and North Wales area, Iscoyd Park benefits from stunning grounds: manicured lawns and wild flower beds all with a backdrop of an exquisite Georgian manor house- a wedding photographer’s dream!

Then the fun began with a tower of champagne flutes: the corks popped to celebrate this lovely couple officially becoming Mr and Mrs!

 

It was then time to take a stroll in the stunning Autumn sunshine to capture some photography of Tesni and Gwydion together for the first time as a married couple. Iscoyd Park really leant itself perfectly to the Autumn light, and I love the photos from this part of the day: the colours really shine.






Laughter, tears, and custard slices

The wedding breakfast was in Iscoyd’s marquee, which was beautifully dressed with trees and flowers by Gallery Flowers.


The speeches were full of emotion, with laughter and tears in equal measure! You might also spot some photos of guests eating custard slices. This is because Tesni’s Nain worked at Gerrards bakery, so in her memory all the guests had a custard slice after the wedding breakfast. Tesni messaged me afterwards about these photos: “We just wanted to include my Nain in our day and remember her in a happy way! We love these ones, because Dylan and Stifyn loved my Nain, and they also embraced this and totally indulged. It’s great that you captured this fun moment!”








As nighttime fell, I managed to grab a little more time with the bride and groom to capture some romantic shots in the evening light.



Then it was time to enjoy the evening reception, with entertainment by The Function Hub. As you can tell from the photos, it’s clear that everyone had a brilliant time!







Wedding Photography in Chester and North Wales

I’m so pleased that I got to shoot Tesni and Gwydion’s special day at Iscoyd Park. It’s always a privilege to be asked to be someone’s wedding photographer, and it was also such a treat to shoot at Iscoyd- it’s got to be one of my favourite venues in the Chester/North Wales region. If you’re getting married in the Chester, North Wales, or Cheshire area (or further afield) and are looking for a wedding photographer, I would be delighted to chat. Please get in touch today to discuss your plans.

DIY wedding tips for couples on a budget

Your wedding day is a celebration of your love for each other, and sharing a very special day with your closest friends and family. However, planning the perfect wedding can often come with a hefty price tag. But if you’re getting married and you’re on a budget, fear not! With a touch of creativity and some DIY magic, you can create a memorable and meaningful wedding day without breaking the bank.

In this blog, I’ve suggested some DIY wedding tips to help you plan a dream wedding celebration that reflects your unique tastes and style while keeping costs in check…

Personalised Invitations

Designing and crafting your own wedding invitations not only adds a personal touch but also helps you save on printing costs. Explore various online tools and platforms that allow you to create customised invitations, or unleash your artistic side with handmade designs.


Get creative with Venue Dressing

You can transform your wedding venue into a magical space without splurging on expensive decorations. Consider creating your own DIY centrepieces using budget-friendly materials like mason jars, candles, and fresh flowers. Embrace the charm of vintage and second-hand to find unique items that can add character to your decor: Facebook Marketplace and Etsy can be great for sourcing decorative pieces that really add a bit of vintage flair. Instagram and Pinterest and ideal places to look for venue dressing inspo.


Handmade Wedding Favours

Express your gratitude to guests with thoughtful and handmade wedding favours. When it comes to favours, consider creating personalised treats such as homemade jams, cookies, or even small potted plants. You could even create little pouches of wildflower seeds: not only are they bee-friendly, but your guests will think of you every time they look at their freshly-grown wild flowers. As well as saving you money, homemade favours are a thoughtful touch that will leave a lasting impression on your guests and show how much you care.

DIY Bridal Bouquet and Buttonholes

Unleash your inner florist by creating your bridal bouquet and groom’s buttonhole. Purchase fresh flowers from a local market and follow online tutorials to arrange them into beautiful bouquets. This is an activity that you and your bridal party might enjoy doing together: a great way for the bridesmaids to help out! This not only adds a personal touch, but also ensures that your flowers are exactly as you envision them.


DIY Photo Booth

Wedding guests always love a photo booth- they’re great fun and get everyone talking, as well as creating lasting memories. This may not be something you’ve budgeted for, but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out. Instead, set up a backdrop, provide some props, and utilise a simple camera on a tripod or even a smartphone with a timer to keep it budget-friendly. Your friends can take turns acting as the ‘photographer’.


Homemade Wedding Cake

Skip the expensive bakery and opt for a homemade wedding cake. If you or a friend has baking skills, this can be a great way to save money on the wedding cake whilst also adding a personal touch that really means something. If you’re not a baker, consider creating a cheese cake instead: you can purchase large wheels of cheese and stack them up, before dressing with grapes and surrounding with delicious biscuits and chutneys.


DIY Entertainment

Compile a playlist of your favourite songs, or enlist the help of musically-talented friends to provide entertainment. You can also create DIY games or activities to keep guests engaged and entertained throughout the celebration.

 

Why wedding photography is worth budgeting for

I’m a wedding photographer, so of course I believe that professional wedding photography is something that you should try to budget for. But really and truly- if there’s something you shouldn’t cut costs on, wedding photography is it. When it comes to capturing your wedding day, there are some very good reasons why wedding photography isn’t the place to skimp. Whilst a friend or relative might have offered to take some photos to save you money, there are numerous reasons why hiring a professional wedding photographer is really important. And in the end, might save you time and a lot of disappointment. I’ve previously written a blog on why wedding photography is worth spending some of your budget on – you can take a look at that here.

Planning a budget-friendly wedding doesn’t mean sacrificing the beauty or significance of your special day. With a bit of creativity, resourcefulness, and the willingness to put in some DIY effort, you can create a wedding that is not only affordable but also uniquely yours.

I’m a wedding photographer in Cheshire, Chester, and North Wales. I also work throughout the UK. If you’d like to discuss your wedding photography requirements, I would love to hear from you.

Key Wedding Photography Trends for 2024

Well here we are at the start of another brand new year. If you’re getting married this year- how exciting! Huge congratulations to you!

As we step into 2024, I thought I would have a chat about the kind of trends we may see emerge when it comes to wedding photography this year. Here are a few of my predictions…

1. Candid moments that speak volumes

Posed wedding photographs will always have their place, but as we head into 2024, candid shots (aka documentary style photography) continue to reign supreme. Natural, unscripted moments which capture the true spirit of the day continue to be popular with couples. When it comes to immortalising the genuine emotions that make a wedding day truly special, you can’t beat spontaneous, documentary style shots.

 




2. Drone photography

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll already know I’m a big fan of drone photography, and love any opportunity to be able to use my drone! Drone photography adds a bit of cinematic grandeur to wedding photography. Aerial shots are a unique way to capture stunning views of your venue and the surrounding landscapes, and also capture a totally different perspective of your celebrations. Drone photography has been popular for the last few years, and I suspect this is a trend that will continue into 2024 and beyond.



drone wedding photography

3. Artistic silhouettes and shadows

I think that this year will see wedding photographers playing with light and shadow to create wedding photography with a little touch of romance and mystique! Light is usually important in photography, but shadows can play a huge part in crafting artful silhouettes to create stand-out images. Whether against a sunset backdrop or beneath a canopy of trees, these types of silhouettes can create visually striking images that you’re sure to want to show off!


4. Pets at weddings


As any pet owner will tell you, pets are part of the family! So, it comes as no surprise that more and more couples are keen to include their furry friend in their special day. As a wedding photographer, I have seen a huge rise in pets at weddings over recent years and I have to say that when done well, they add so much joy and make for some great photo opportunities too! If you would like to include your pet in your wedding feel free to contact me for advice on how this can work really well when it comes to your wedding photos. 


5. Wedding photography for elopements

Did you know that elopements are on the rise, with more and more couples now choosing to run away into the sunset for a small, intimate elopement wedding? These types of weddings usually require a wedding photographer to be skilled at creating beautiful, candid imagery, as well as having the ability to blend into the background and be unobtrusive during this private, intimate event.


6. Second photographers


I’ve noticed that it’s becoming more common for couples to hire a second wedding photographer, especially if they’re having a church wedding. If your ceremony is not at your venue, then the chances are you will each be getting ready in separate locations. In that case, it’s best to have a second photographer who can shoot one group while your main photographer is with the other group. Second shooters are also great for big weddings with lots of guests, or for couples who know that they want lots and lots of images.


7. Unconventional wedding backdrops

I’ve started to see this trend emerging already, and predict that it will continue to gain momentum in 2024. Breaking away from traditional settings, couples are choosing unconventional backdrops for their special day. Whether it’s an industrial-chic urban landscape, an art gallery, or a deserted seashore, these unique settings provide a canvas for extraordinary moments. I love capturing this type of creative wedding photography, so it’s a trend that I’m looking forward to seeing more of!

 

Getting married in 2024..?

Is 2024 the year of your big day? If you’re looking for a wedding photographer who will work with you to achieve your ideal wedding photography, you’ve come to the right place. I’m a professional wedding photographer in Cheshire and North Wales, and have over 20 years photography experience. I love getting to play a part in a couple’s special day, exploring new venues and constantly looking for imaginative ways to capture and immortalise unforgettable moments through my photography. If you’d like to chat about your plans, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat.