Château Rhianfa Wedding

A celebration of love over 3 days. Château Rhianfa Wedding videographer.

Chateau Rhianfa wedding videographer, shot of a couple out of focus hugging with snowdonia in the background

Château Rhianfa overlooks the Menai Strait boasting glorious views towards Eryri, Snowdonia. It’s no surprise that couples seek out this wedding venue for their special day and decide on a North Wales wedding videographer to capture it all. The wedding took place over three days which meant there was lots to capture for this momentous occasion.

Château Rhianfa is a multi award winning, grade II listed building on the banks of the Menai Strait. Inspired by Lady Sarah’s sketches of the Châteaus of the Loire Valley, her husband Sir John Hay-Williams set about building Château Rhianfa for his wife and daughters between 1849-1851.

North Wales Wedding Videographer, shot of a couple hugging in front of Château rhianfa

Morning Prep

The weekend started with welcome drinks on the Friday. This gave me a chance to capture the venue, become acquainted with the guests and scope the venue for potential wedding shots.  Being a North Wales wedding videographer, it’s important to give myself enough time before the wedding to get establishing shots of the location. Elle and Sam rehearsed their first dance in the location where Sam proposed to Elle. Instantly this gave me ideas on how to curate the intro to their film. Blending between the shot of the rehearsal and first dance to emphasise the importance of this moment for the couple.


Elle was getting ready in the Duchess suite. Hair and make up was professionally done by CassieM Bridal Team. Bridal prep was very calm and relaxed with soft music being played to set a sombre atmosphere before the ceremony. I find pride in searching for the best light to shoot important items such as Elle’s Jimmy Choo shoes and scenery shots. The Duchess suite had bay windows which shone light onto Elle’s face which meant for clean looking skin tones. I was very happy they chose myself, a North Wales wedding videographer to capture all of these little moments.


Sam was getting ready in the Coach House where my second shooter Ione captured natural moments of groom prep. Elle had written Sam a letter for the start of the wedding. Ione asked Sam if he’d like to read the letter in private and if he was ok with being filmed whilst reading it. To have this moment captured meant that I had a very personal moment to possibly narrate some of the film. Being taken away from his fellow groomsmen also meant that Sam could take in the letter without any boisterous interruptions.

Elle got ready and then I captured the moment her bridesmaids saw her for the first time in her dress. Lots of happy tears and a truly emotional moment for Elle. After tears had been dried, it was time for even more tears as Elle’s step dad came in. Seeing her father cry and embrace Elle was truly a moment that she’ll never forget and to capture this moment as a North Wales wedding videographer is why I truly love what I do.

North Wales Wedding Videographer, bridal prep at Château Rhianfa looking through the window at Snowdonia

Ceremony

The ceremony was at St Cwyfans, Ty Croes. Known as ‘Church in the sea’ , it is only accessible during low tide. Nestled in a bay situated between Aberffraw and the Anglesey circuit, the church began its life on a peninsula between Porth China and Porth Cwyfan. However after years of erosion, the church is now stranded in a singular bay and only to be entered during low tide.


Elle was aided by her bridesmaids and step father across the rocky terrain as she made her way to start the rest of her life with Sam. St Cwyfan is a tiny church and one that holds its own challenges for a North Wales wedding videographer. I had a camera at the back of the Church and I stood at the front to capture Elle walking down the aisle and also Sam’s reaction. Sam held in his emotions for as long as he could until Elle met him at the end of the aisle where Sam had some tears.


The ceremony started with a hymn and then some readings from Elle’s cousin Luke and her Dad. With the church being small the best place for myself was at the back of the church. This meant that Sam and Elle could truly embrace the ceremony without having a camera in their face at the front for the entirety of this special moment.


After the vows and ring exchanges it was time for the first kiss as the new Mr and Mrs Gibbs. A final reading from one of Elle’s bridesmaids really sealed a beautiful ceremony. A place where Elle and Sam visited 4 years prior and signed the guest book.

North Wales Wedding Videographer, wedding ceremony inside St Cwyfans

Cocktail Hour

After the ceremony there was a confetti run just outside the doors of St Cwyfans. Then it was time for everyone to soak up the beauty of the island with champagne and bottled beers. The wind was fierce on the island but we did manage to capture some natural moments of guests mingling and the happy couple. It was then back to Château Rhianfa for more drinks, music and canapes.


Upon arrival at Château Rhianfa we were serenaded by a string quartet. Having live music really sets the atmosphere for cocktail hour. This was a great time as a North Wales wedding videographer to capture more natural moments of guests conversing and enjoying the sunny weather we were blessed with on the day.


The portrait session was delayed until after the wedding breakfast which meant it left me and the photographer enough time to orchestrate the group shots.

North Wales Wedding Videographer, cocktail hour outside château rhianfa on a sunny day

Speeches

Speeches are very important to me since they tend to tell more of a story about Sam and Elle’s life and personalities. It also gives me an opportunity to use segments of these speeches for the final film.


Elle’s Mother started the speeches welcoming everyone in Cymraeg (Welsh) and then proceeded to explain the start of Elle and Sam's story. Elle’s mother knew of Sam and introduced the two of them knowing that Sam attained the qualities Elle was looking for.


Sam was next for his speech. He started his speech with the usual thank yous to those that have played a key role in the day and their life. He also mentioned his best man, Purdey, and how he has been a friend through thick and thin. It got emotional when Sam mentioned his late father and how he would have loved Elle if they had met. Ending his speech on a high telling some jokes but ultimately preaching that Elle is the best thing to have ever happened to him.


Purdey, the best man, was next in the firing line. A very difficult position to be in as the expectations are high. It’s safe to say his Scottish charm won the guests over from the start. He thanked Sam for the opportunity to not only be his best man but to also be a part of such a special day. Explaining their fun on the stag do and making a point to mention how clean the toilets were in Poland. Purdey was making everyone chuckle. Ending his speech with some loving words about Sam, they had a final toast to the new Mr and Mrs Gibbs.

North Wales Wedding Videographer, speech from best man inside Château Rhianfa

Golden Hour into The Evening

After the speeches we took Elle and Sam for some portraits and also just a chance to really soak in the day just the two of them. Chateau Rhianfa really has an abundance of picturesque spots for a portrait session. The way I work with a photographer is to allow them to set the composition, get what they need and when they are done with each shot I will come in and ask the couple to stay as they are but to do micro movements so that the footage has movement. This saves moving the couple too much and giving them constant changes.


Before the first dance I ensured that I had the perfect position and composition to capture the moment. This meant closing the curtains behind so that the couple weren’t back lit and ensured I could expose the shot in a way that you can see the emotions in the couples faces.


Having this footage and the footage of them practicing their first dance in private with my and my second shooter Ione during the from the welcome drinks reception the evening before meant I could blend the two into a cinematic intro for their film.


The evening was well underway with dancing from everyone. This is a really fun part of the day for me to capture, concentrating on guests who are truly in the moment. This time also allows me to be more creative in the way I shoot. Using reflections, hand movements and getting tight angles of guests singing.


The final coda to my day was to capture fireworks. Another really exciting moment to film. Framing the shot so that the couple were to the right with the fireworks being let off above them on the left. The fireworks started to the sounds of Coldplay, Sky full of stars. It really was a sky full of stars!! It was the first time as a North Wales Wedding Videographer that I got the opportunity to shoot this type of moment and it transcribes incredibly well in film.


This ended my weekend shooting Elle and Sam's wedding at Château Rhianfa. A truly remarkable weekend that was an absolute joy to be a part of.

North Wales Wedding Videographer, fireworks outside at Château rhianfa

If you are looking for a North Wales wedding videographer please be sure to check out the film below and also my website www.tonyhassallfilms.co.uk

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Picturesque Wedding at Henblas, North Wales