Sue & Paul’s Welsh Winter Wedding - Chateau Rhianfa, Anglesey

At the end of January 2020 I had the pleasure of photographing Sue & Paul’s wedding at Chateau Rhianfa on Anglesey.

Chateau Rhianfa (previously Plas Rhianfa) is a cracking wedding venue on the south coast of Anglesey, overlooking the Menai Strait towards Bangor and the Carneddau mountains of Snowdonia - on a clear day you can see right across to Llandudno’s Great Orme! Fun fact - I actually used to work at Chateau Rhianfa as a Pastry Chef back in a past life, so I know the place inside out!

Bangor Pier from Chateau Rhianfa’s main entrance.

Today’s happy couple had booked their wedding at Chateau Rhianfa having understandably fallen in love with both the building and the surrounding area. They’d travelled up from Essex for the big day and brought along the whole family to celebrate, four generations in all!

This was an intimate wedding with only 25-30 in attendance. Spirits were high from the moment I walked in, greeted by Paul and his best man, Matt, who were busy greeting everyone and enjoying a drink with friends and family. I made my way down to the Duchess Suite to greet Sue and her bridal party, who were all enjoying a glass of champagne while getting the finishing touches ready.

The Duchess Suite is a lovely room with a luxury bathing area tacking centre stage in the big, bright bay window. It was slightly overcast outside so we had some lovely even light streaming through - this was a dream to work with, I love natural light like this when working indoors! The flower girls stole the show here taking on an almost angelic aura in the heavy backlighting.

By the time I headed back up to the ceremony room everyone was waiting with bated breath. Paul & Matt were eagerly waiting at the front of the aisle, again set in within huge floor-to-ceiling bay window. There was plenty of laughter both in the ceremony room as well as the hallway where Sue was waiting to be walked down the aisle by her son, Alex.

The ceremony was short & sweet with many laughs and cheers as Sue & Paul exchanged vows, rings & a kiss. After a celebratory champagne in the hallway I lead everyone outside for some couple and family portraits on the terrace. It was a little breezy but the light was fantastic, and after half an hour I had all the family and couple shots ticked off - this was my queue to step back again and let the day unfold naturally.

This is where I’m in my prime. I don’t like to be dragging my couples away from the party they’re paying for, instead insisting they enjoy their time with those they’ve invited while I document without intrusion. Check out the gallery below for a small selection of shots from Sue & Paul’s special day!