Last May Bethan and Ryan tied the knot at Margam Orangery, Neath Port Talbot.
The day was absolutely stunning, with beautiful blue skies from start to finish.
The morning began with bridal preparations at Ty’n Cellar Farm, just a stone’s throw from the venue. It was a calm and relaxed start to the day, filled with thoughtful personal moments and gift-giving.
I left shortly before the bridal party to make sure I was parked and in position at the Orangery in time for their arrival — that wonderful walk along the path towards the ceremony.
Inside, the light in the Orangery was simply gorgeous, pouring in through the glass windows and falling beautifully across the floor.
Ryan was understandably a little nervous, but his groom squad were on hand to keep him calm. I was there quietly capturing those natural moments as they unfolded.
First came the flower girls, then the bridesmaids, and finally the beautiful bride, Bethan. The moment Ryan saw her, he completely melted — his eyes filled with tears, a true expression of a man seeing the love of his life.
The ceremony itself was incredibly beautiful, with stunning light and endless photo opportunities. I always aim to capture those special moments while remaining as unobtrusive as possible.
During the signing of the register, I focused on capturing guests naturally enjoying the moment, allowing the registrars the time and space they needed. Once they were ready, I took some photographs of Bethan and Ryan — including one of my all-time favourite signing images, using the shape of the window, the light, and the newlyweds themselves.
Following the ceremony and confetti, I chose to take the large group photo at the Orangery rather than on the steps (where I would usually do this). This was to ensure a few family members with accessibility needs were comfortable.
After some mingling and relaxed candid photos, we took a short drive up to the castle. It’s always best to get a lift up for photos and then walk back down, using the castle as a stunning backdrop along the way. The castle steps were decorated for another event, which wasn’t an issue, although I did remove some of the flags in editing as they were a little distracting.
Back at the Orangery, I photographed the tablescapes to give the couple a short break before starting the family group photos.
We also had a few lovely moments outside, which is when we took photos amongst the wisteria.
During the meal, I used my drone to capture aerial images of the venue and surrounding area — something I always love to do during quieter moments, where permitted.
Once Bethan and Ryan had finished dessert, we popped outside again to photograph them at the front of the Orangery, surrounded by beautiful alliums and warm sunshine.
The speeches, as always, nearly brought me to tears. I often have to remind myself to step back emotionally so I can focus on capturing the moments — it’s always a challenge!
As we’d already taken plenty of portraits earlier in the day, I chose to focus on natural, candid images (and the occasional fuuny one) during the evening, giving the couple space to relax and enjoy their celebrations.
Then came the first dance — and what a first dance it was! Indoor sparks, a light-up dance floor, plenty of time to capture Bethan and Ryan dancing together, and then everyone joining them to celebrate.
Venue: Margam Orangery, Margam Country Park.
Bridal prep: Ty’n Cellar Farm
Brides MUA: @makeupbycharlt
Bridal gown: @lauramaybridal
Suits: @mossbros
Florist: Emma Jayne Swansea Market
Venue Dresser: Hearts & Flowers
Stationery: Alice Jade Designs
Photo Booth: Ultrabooth
Content Creator: Twine and Olive
Photography and Direction: Kate Richards Photography
Cake: The Cake Cwtch
Saxophone: Vicki Watson Music
Ice Cream Cart: Tricycle Treats
