Zoe and Jarrad’s Winter Wedding at Hensol Castle
A relaxed December wedding with an Oak Room ceremony, confetti outside the castle and portraits beside the lake.
A real Hensol Castle wedding
A winter celebration that still made the most of the grounds
Zoe and Jarrad celebrated their wedding at Hensol Castle in December. The castle gave them an elegant indoor setting for the ceremony and reception, while the lake, jetty and historic exterior were all close enough for quick photographs between the important parts of the day.
I photographed the preparations, ceremony, confetti, family groups, couple portraits, speeches, first dance and evening celebration. My approach was to keep everything relaxed and let them spend the wedding with their guests. It’s a wedding, not a photoshoot.
The ceremony
An atmospheric Oak Room wedding
The Oak Room works beautifully for a winter ceremony. Its character and warm interior give photographs a strong sense of place, while the layout allows the reactions of family and friends to remain part of the story.
I photographed the ceremony quietly as it happened, looking for the glances, nerves and small reactions around the room as well as the key moments at the front.
Confetti and family photographs
A proper celebration outside the castle
After the ceremony, everyone gathered outside for confetti. The castle exterior made the setting unmistakably Hensol, but the photograph worked because of the expressions, movement and excitement around Zoe and Jarrad.
We then organised the requested family photographs efficiently before guests moved on with the drinks reception. Planning the group list beforehand meant nobody was left waiting around in the December weather.
Winter portraits
The lake, jetty and castle in short sessions
Hensol gives us several distinctive locations without needing to leave the venue. Zoe and Jarrad used the lake, jetty, castle entrance and grounds for relaxed portraits, with an additional evening photograph once the daylight had gone.
Rather than disappearing for an hour, we used short sessions and worked with the available light. This created variety while keeping them close to their family and friends.
Read my complete Hensol Castle wedding photographer guide for portrait locations, timings and wet-weather options.
The reception
Speeches, first dance and the evening party
Once everyone was inside, the photography returned to the people and the atmosphere. The speeches brought plenty of reactions around the room, followed by Zoe and Jarrad’s first dance and the evening celebration.
This part of the day is photographed naturally. I watch what is happening around the dance floor and capture the moments the couple cannot see while they are in the middle of it all.
More moments from the day
Zoe and Jarrad’s Hensol Castle gallery
Planning a Hensol Castle wedding?
Enjoy the day while I photograph how it felt
I photograph weddings naturally across Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and South Wales, with quick family groups and couple portraits normally completed in around 10 to 15 minutes.
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