Bryn Meadows Caerphilly Wedding Photography | Lauren & Rhys
This mid-summer wedding in July for Lauren and Rhys provided the perfect conditions for wedding photography - mildly overcast at times but with enough respite for the sun to consistently make an appearance, warm but bearable temperatures, and best of all, a large group of wonderful people at the stunning location of Bryn Meadows Golf & Spa Hotel in Ystrad Mynach, just outside the Welsh capital city of Cardiff in South Wales. It was ideal because not only is this a visually stunning venue with breathtaking surroundings, but my lovely couple were also able to spend the entire day in this one location and gather all friends and family together with ease. Ceremony, reception, wedding day speeches, first dance, evening party, and all the magical moments that you would expect from a wedding took place under the same roof - or for some of the time, outdoors among the beautiful green surroundings.
From groom prep to bridal prep
I started the day bright and early with the groom. As soon as I arrived, Rhys had some gifts from his bride-to-be to unwrap, one of which was a smart Tommy Hilfiger watch, so the time to begin capturing moment began immediately. Surrounded by his groomsmen, I photographed the morning unfold as they each readied themselves in their attire for the special day ahead. After taking some detailed shots, a few laughs, some signs of nerves and a batch of the groomsmen all together looking dapper, I made my way over to the Bryn Meadows Hotel where Lauren was due to be getting ready herself.
When I knock the door of the bridal suite I always expect it to swing open amidst carnage and bedlam, and though that can be fairly close to the truth quite a lot of the time, as soon as I walked into the suite I could see that Lauren's wedding day preparation seemed calm, in control and well on time. There may have been some of those expected nerves floating around with such an important day ahead, but fortunately there was no concerns over a mad rush as the morning unfolded beautifully with some of the most important women in Lauren's life by her side. Not to mention a glass of champagne for each one of them regularly being topped up. Always important on the morning of the wedding!
A wedding among the beautiful surroundings of South Wales
As family and friends begin to come together at the venue while waiting for the start of the wedding ceremony, there are always plentiful opportunities to capture chatter and embraces. So, after capturing a little of that inside the ceremony room, I headed back to the main entrance and awaited the arrival of the bride. The ceremony itself was truly beautiful, and it was complimented by the venue thanks to the wide panoramic windows overlooking some of the gorgeous leafy surroundings and letting the natural daylight pour inside. There were laughs and tears with everyone enjoying these precious moments as they celebrated a new chapter of Lauren and Rhys's adventure of love.
Fortunately, we were able to make use of the grounds as I spent some time with the couple taking some shots among the sprawling green grass and high trees. We were also gifted with an incredible sunset later in the day. The party was well underway by that point, but I could miss an opportunity as the natural light outside was incredible, so I ran inside to grab the bride for some fashion-inspired shots posed on a field with nearby sun-drenched villages in the distance. Overall, it was a beautiful wedding and I thoroughly enjoyed capturing their day.
SEE LAUREN & RHYS'S BRYN MEADOWS WEDDING PHOTOS BELOW.
WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY AT BRYN MEADOWS // CREDITS
Photography: Shawn Eastman Photography, Cardiff Wedding Photographer
Venue: Bryn Meadows Golf & Spa Hotel, Ystrad Mynach, South Wales
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Shawn Eastman is a Cardiff & South Wales based wedding photographer. He takes pride in documenting two lovers at the start of their biggest adventure together. Along with his couples and families, Shawn is driven to capture something authentic, beautiful, powerful and raw. These wedding day photos captured at Bryn Meadows Golf & Spa hotel in Ystrad Mynach, a short drive from Cardiff in South Wales, encapsulate exactly that.