Wedding photography in stunning North Wales

Get married in the magical landscape of North Wales

Hollie and Sam being announced as husband and wife at Erw Glas

Why Choose a North Wales Wedding Photographer?

• The beauty of North Wales landscapes for wedding photos

• I may be biased, but to me, North Wales is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the UK and a perfect place to have your wedding day. Yes I was born there, but I have also spent most of my life exploring and finding the hidden gems in Eryri/Snowdonia and can attest to the shear magic and wonder it holds.

• Local knowledge of the best wedding venues and hidden gems

• Whether you are planning a big wedding or an elopement, North Wales hosts a number of perfect venues and locations for your special day. In this article, I’ll talk about some of my favourite venues to photograph and how they might suit your special day, as well as photography styles, questions and budgets you will want to consider before you book your wedding photographer.

The Best North Wales Wedding Venues for Stunning Photography

• Historic castles and manor houses

• North Wales has a number of iconic venues, but one of my favourite venues in North Wales to photograph is Château Rhianfa on Anglesey: a picturesque and fairytale-like former mansion with panoramic views of the Menai Straight. You will be amazed by the beautiful Victorian-style landscaping with a spectacular view that looks back on the Welsh mainland. You can see more photos of Gwen and Thomas’ Anglesey wedding at Château Rhianfa here.

• Rustic barns and countryside escapes

  As well as big and beautiful venues, North Wales also hosts a number of unique venues that perfectly reflect the personality of the mountainous landscape.

• For those looking for a predominantly outdoor / marquee venue, Erw Glas is a lovely and unique venue, perfect for those spring and summer days, playing games on the lawn and enjoying the swinging tree seat. What makes this venue stand out is their stunning shepherd’s hut which is used for the ceremony. As a guest, with a view of the shepherd’s hut and Welsh hills behind, it is impossible to not contemplate how romantic this setting is. Read about Hollie and Sam’s picturesque summer wedding here.

• If you’re looking for a venue with more indoor space but still with mountainous views, no one can deny that Llyn Gwynant Barns offers a perfect mix of both. Along with Erw Glas, is also a great option for those wanting to organise private catering with a well equipped kitchen; whether that be a simple afternoon tea buffet or a hog roast, Llyn Gwynant allows couples to really personalise their wedding day. Go to more photos of Zoe and Dan’s Eryri/Snowdonia wedding here.

Gwen and Thomas and their son standing in the gardens of Château Rhianfa

Bride Hollie walks down the aisle at Erw Glas with her Dad.

Bride and Groom, Zoe and Dan, walking through the confetti at Llyn Gwynant Barns.

Wedding Photography Styles in North Wales

• Natural and documentary-style photography

• Documentary style, or photojournalistic, photography is an approach that truthfully captures your wedding as it naturally happens: candid and unscripted. This style of photography perfectly suits weddings in North Wales because it reflects its natural landscape. This style also suits couples that want to fully immerse themselves in the events of the day, creating memories with loved ones, rather than spending a significant portion away from them having posed photos which can feel awkward for some couples. Instead, a documentary wedding photographer would be like a fly on the wall, documenting the raw emotion and memories you are creating in real time.

• Classic and editorial photography

• Each of these alternative photography styles offer a unique way of capturing the area’s breathtaking scenery and big celebrations. Traditional wedding photography focuses on classic shots documenting the ceremony, family portraits and formal group photos. Similarly, editorial wedding photography, inspired by fashion photography, combines creative lighting and composition to give a cinematic and elegant feel to your wedding photos. Both of these styles can really suit the backdrop of North Wales’ historic castles and manor houses.

Bride Gwen getting ready for her wedding with her bridesmaids at Château Rhianfa.

Wedding Photographer Cost in North Wales – What to Expect

• Factors that influence the price

• There are a number of things that affect the cost of wedding photography in North Wales, including time required, whether you want film photography included, the experience or popularity of the photographer and so on.

• For my services, I base my prices on the time you require from me, whether that be from the Ceremony or from Bridal Prep, through to Speeches or the First Dance. But no matter what time you require from me, all the following is included:

  • ·      300-500 high resolution retouched files in a private, password-protected online gallery, with all photographs in both colour and black and white. These images can be downloaded, shared with your friend and family and printed.

    ·      Password-protected cloud storage of your files for 12 months

    ·      An online photofilm, set to music for you and your guests to enjoy, which you can download and keep forever. 

    ·      All travel and associated expenses within England and Wales are included in the fee. 

• Tips for choosing the right package for your budget

• I personally think that choosing the right photographer for you and your budget is the one of the hardest decisions to make as a bride and groom. So I would suggest starting with the style of photography you most connect with - what do you want your photos to look and feel like? Do you want to be directed during the day? If you do, you might prefer posed, traditional or editorial photography. Or would you rather not worry about looking stiff or awkward in your photos? If the answer is yes, a documentary photographer capturing the special candid moments might be perfect for you.

• Once you’ve decided on your style, I suggest thinking about your budget and what percentage of it you’d be willing to spend on your wedding photography. It’s important at this point to also think about the most important moments of your day that you want to be captured. If you only want the ceremony to speeches to be captured, this could be more a more affordable option. Equally, if you think the evening reception will provide great photo opportunities that you don’t want to be missed, you need to make sure any package you choose includes coverage to later in the evening.

  After answering these questions, it’s time to start looking at wedding photographer’s websites and portfolios! Remember that it’s OK to contact and have conversations with photographers before you book them - you need to make the right decision for you!

How to Choose the Right North Wales Wedding Photographer

• Questions to ask before booking

• As I said above, it’s important that you make the right decision for you in terms of your wedding photography, and that should involve contacting the photographer before you book to ask any questions you might have.

• Key questions for a potential wedding photographer might include:

• - How would you describe your style?

• - Do you prefer to blend in and capture candid moments, or give more direction and poses?

• - Can we see a full gallery of a recent wedding you’ve photographed?

• - What is included in your packages?

• - If the package is not based on time required, when would you expect to arrive and leave on the day?

• - Do you take group photos?

• - Are you familiar with North Wales wedding venues, or outdoor settings?

• - Is travel within North Wales included in your packages?

• - What makes you stand out from other photographers in North Wales?

• Why connection and trust with your photographer matter

• Building a trusting relationship with your wedding photographer is vital. There’s no getting around it - organising a wedding will be one of the most stressful times in your life, you don’t need the added stress of worrying about your wedding photographer. You want to have faith that your photos will reflect your special day in the way you dreamed. In fact, you don’t want to have any speck of doubt in your mind.

• That’s why asking those pre-booking questions, viewing previous galleries and keeping in contact can help alleviate any worries or fear.

• Additionally, by having this connection and trust, your photographer will understand and get to know you better, which will ultimately come through in your wedding photos.
  

Book Your North Wales Wedding Photographer Today

• Secure your date in advance

• Wedding photographers can get booked up quite quickly, so it’s key to secure your date as early as possible! If you wish to book me as your wedding photographer and I am available on your wedding date, I only require a small retainer to secure your date, with the remainder due a month before the wedding itself.

• How to get in touch and check availability

• If you’d like to book me as your wedding photographer, please get in touch with me below so I can check my availability. I would be honoured to photograph your wedding and look forward to chatting more about your special day.

Bride and Groom, Zoe and Dan, have their first dance as Zoe’s Dad plays the guitar at Llyn Gwynant Barns.

Are you looking for a documentary wedding photographer?

Take a look at my documentary photography style and get in touch to check my availability - I would love to hear from you about your big day.