On Sunday 13th November I attended the Welsh National Wedding awards. This awards ceremony is a prestigious awards night at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea, presented by the lovely David Emmanuel, who I was lucky to meet in 2021 while photographing a wedding at Gileston Manor.

I was a finalist for Wedding Photographer in Region 2, South Wales and Central, which includes Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff. I wasn’t lucky enough to win the photography award, though being whittled down to one of the seven finalists in my area was pretty incredible in all honesty.

However, after food David Emmanuel announced the special non-regional awards. While I sat there stirring my coffee I heard ‘Kate Richards Photography’, I was like ‘what?! that was my name?!’, my husband sat next to me is urging get up that’s you. I won the ‘My Wedding Hero’ award, so this award is given to an individual or a company that really has gone the extra mile for their couples in the last few years through Covid 19 and everything the world has thrown our way. The way we’ve supported, given advice, been a shoulder to cry on, a calming voice of reason. Through all the uncertainty and inability to work, I put others best interests at heart and tried to help where I could. I was up against all of the companies that were nominated in Wales, in fact I didn’t know I have been put forward.

After walking off stage and in the privacy of the hallway I cried, I cried my eyes out – I’ve been so strong and resilient through it all that all my emotions happened all at the same time, I was so overwhelmed. After a few minutes I popped in front of the photography backdrop for a photo to show off my award.

Thank you so much to my hubby – you support me in all that I do and and keep me grounded

Thank you to my parents – who have always enabled me to strive for whatever I dream of

Thank you to family and friends – you put up with my photography spam

Thank you to my couples – by booking me you allow me to do the job I love, and I’ve met so many lifelong friends along the way

Thank you to my supplier friends – you inspire me and cheer me on

Thank you to my followers – your support is unparallelled

Wow if this were the oscars they’d have started playing the music ages ago!