Usk Castle Wedding Photography – A Multi-Coloured Extravaganza in Wales
I recently ventured beyond the Yorkshire border to photograph this lovely couple’s wedding day in the small town of Usk in Monmouthshire, South Wales.
Usk Castle really is a hidden gem. A privately owned family home since 1908, Usk Castle was built by a Frenchman and has been in ruin since 1536. It has stunning views of the town of Usk and lots of areas to explore.
The castle is open to the public on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays during the summer months, but the Castle House and gardens, along with the Tithe Barn, are private. This area can be hired for weddings along with the rest of the castle!
Usk Castle Wedding Photographer
This couple were specifically looking for a wedding photographer with a colourful, vibrant style to best reflect the vision for their quirky festival wedding celebrations, so I was over the moon when they found me and asked me to travel to Wales to capture the joy for them.
When I asked what made them choose me over other wedding photographers, they said: ‘Candid, fun, good composition, not your usual ‘wedding’ photos, ones that make you laugh with joy or cry with emotion.’
I love that they were drawn not only to the colour in my images, but also to the creative compositions. I had so much fun photographing their wedding, and I hope you enjoy looking through this blog.
Humanist Ceremony at Usk Castle
Their ceremony took place in the Tithe Barn, which is a gorgeous stone barn with a cosy atmosphere.
Family and friends of the couple watched as their best friend and honourary celebrant led their ceremony with a handfasting.
Guests were encouraged to stir their ribbons together in a handmade bowl, and this made for great photos later on as they attempted to untangle them!
I always love photographing celebrant and humanist ceremonies as they are much more personal to the couple and often evoke more emotion from them. Also, the couple usually get to face their guests and that means I can move around and photograph the ceremony from different angles to make the most of the space.
Outdoor Wedding Reception in the Castle Grounds
A long confetti line led guests up the hill to the grounds of Usk Castle, where the wedding reception took place. Drinks were available in the Banqueting Hall, which, with its built-in marquee, is the perfect shelter in case of rain.
On this sunny day, everyone was exploring the castle ruins, which gave me plenty of opportunity to capture lots of fun, candid moments.
The couple hired a Samba band to play on the walls of Usk Castle, before leading everyone over the fields on the bridal path to their camping field. I loved photographing the walk as transitional shots really help to tell the full story and keep the gallery flowing nicely from one part of the day to another.
Fesvital Wedding Celebrations in Usk
The celebrations continued in a nearby field in Usk, where guests had set up camp for the full weekend to make the most of the celebrations.
The barn on site had been decorated with handmade felt flags, streamers and drapes, and all guests had been encouraged to bring and make their own sharing food platters for the main meal.
The party took place in a funky yurt with a DJ and a band that got everyone up and dancing. This was the most colourful and gloriously chaotic wedding I’ve ever had the pleasure to photograph, and I hope to see many more just like it in the future!
Here’s some advice if you’re planning a fun, colourful wedding: Let your guests know that they can have fun and experiment with colour in their outfits and don’t be afraid to go big on the entertainment factor. Live music is a surefire way to keep the party going throughout the day and keep everyone’s spirits high!
I hope you enjoy looking through the photos of this incredible Usk Castle wedding.
If you’re looking for a photographer for your Usk Castle wedding, please get in touch as I’d love to hear from you!
Venue // Usk Castle, Monmouthshire, South Wales
