A French Chateau – Just Like at Home!
This was my second visit as a wedding photographer to the stunning wedding venue, Chateau Rhianfa in Anglesey. This time it was for Fran and Andy’s wedding day. I met the couple a few months ago in a pub in Cheshire where they lived to discuss their wedding plans and we immediately clicked. They booked me for their wedding photography pretty quickly and, for them, there could only be one place to get married: Chateau Rhianfa in North Wales. It was the perfect venue because they loved the area so much that they were also planning to move permanently to the Isle of Anglesey before the wedding!
Chateau Rhianfa is also where Andy popped the question, and the weekend after their engagement, they were already making an appointment to book the wedding venue.
An Outdoor Ceremony on the Patio
The weather was on our side, so the couple had their wedding ceremony on the chateau’s patio. Fran walked down the aisle with her grown-up son to the music of Angharad Wyn Jones, a local harpist. They met before at Angharad’s studio and chose Christina Perri’s, ‘A Thousand Years’ for her entrance and ‘The Arrival of Queen of Sheba’ to accompany them down the aisle as newlyweds.
The drink reception that followed was a super relaxed affair and the perfect time to catch up with some long-lost relatives while being drawn by a caricaturist and enjoying an ice cream or two.
Meanwhile, Fran and Andy headed down the garden for some wedding photographs to the exact spot where Andy proposed. Luckily, the tide was low, which meant we could make our way onto the Menai Strait’s shore for some truly breathtaking natural photos.
Roasting the Bride and Groom
Dinner and speeches took place in the Banqueting Suite. Andy’s son, the best man, delivered a hilarious roast that had everyone in tears (of laughter, of course!). He even managed to dig up some embarrassing childhood stories that left Fran and Andy blushing (and probably plotting revenge for the next family gathering!).
Moon Shot
As the sun began to set, Fran told me that she would love a sunset photo as part of her Chateau Rhianfa wedding photography. Unfortunately, the chateau’s geography wasn’t quite on board with that plan. But hey, we photographers are resourceful! With a clear sky and a full moon, I whisked Fran and Andy away for a few “moonlit magic” shots instead. The results were nothing short of enchanting.
Impromptu First Dance
Fran and Andy had not planned a first dance before the wedding, as they didn’t want to be the centre of attention. Instead, they just wanted the party to kick off as soon as possible. They booked The Kingsman, a rock band they came across before and fell in love with. The couple asked the band to play ‘Let’s Stick Together’ by Brian Ferry because the lyrics are very appropriate for a wedding day:
And now the marriage vow is very sacred
The man has put us together now
You ought to make it stick together
Come on, come on, let’s stick together
You know we made a vow not to leave one another never
Not only were the lyrics spot on but the couple and their guests could have a good dance to it. The band were outstanding and had come all the way from Bournemouth! When they played ‘Dakota’ by Stereophonics everyone sang it to the bride and groom so now they have claimed it as their song. Lyrics like “take a look at me now” and “summer time in June” were so suited to the amazing wedding day. Fran has told me since that she can’t listen to it without crying now!
I love to be booked as a Chateau Rhianfa wedding photographer, especially as Anglesey is one of my favourite places in the UK too. Like Fran and Andy, I find the natural beauty of it stunning. This visit was also made special by this fabulous couple who, through their choice of music and venue, made an incredibly memorable wedding for everyone.
Here is what Fran and Andy say about me:
“Choose this photographer. Go no further ! Thomas is super professional, none intrusive, friendly and funny. He knows how to get the best out of people and to capture the moment whether it be emotional or hilarious. We will treasure our photos forever as we will our memories. We are so glad he was part of our special day. I’m a bit sad i might not see him again !”
