Cardeeth farm - LGBTQIA+ Pembrokeshire DIY barn wedding
getting ready together at the family holiday park
This wedding was a true family affair right from the start. Paige (she/her) and Mia (she/her) decided to get ready together at Swallowtree Holiday Park owned by Mia’s Grandparents, just a twenty minute drive from Cardeeth Farm. The lodges are glorious - filled with natural light and spacious enough for Paige, Mia and their six bridesmaids to spend the morning getting their glam on. P&M kept their dresses secret from each other, so at the last minute they hid in separate rooms to get dressed and we had a first look on the deck overlooking the incredible Pembrokeshire views. Bampy (Mia’s Grandad) had the honour of driving them to their ceremony and even dressed up for the occasion! And when I found their childhood teddies packed up ready to go with them I had to have a cheeky photoshoot with them too…
Humanist ceremony in the gardens of Cardeeth Farm
Any of my clients will know how much I bang on about the joy of celebrant and humanist ceremonies, so I was over the moon when I discovered Paige’s family friend Julie aka Start from the Heart would be a part of the day. We’d all been nervously watching the weather over the previous few days - forecast for rain - when all of a sudden it looked like we may even get some sun…A unanimous decision was made to hold the ceremony in the gorgeous gardens and as the sun beamed there wasn’t a dry eye in house. Beautiful readings from family members, personal vows that destroyed all 92 guests all led by Julie’s warm expertise.
Cardeeth Farm, Pembrokeshire
Once again it’s family friends who run this breathtaking venue in the heart of West Wales. They were guests for the day and I believe for the first time at thier own venue! I can’t rave about them and their team enough. Nicki (my mentee who was shadowing me on this day) were so well looked after by all the staff and were given the run of the farm to take photos in! The dining barn is filled with natural light (very rare and so welcome from a photography point of view) and Paige & Mia filled it was lanterns, mirror-balls and flowers chosen for them but yet another family friend! It was the kind of wedding where I could point the camera in every direction and knew that something beautiful would happen. Best of all, P&M wanted documentary, candid, relaxed photos (my specialty) so as they enjoyed their day, I snapped away…
Personalised letters for every guests
As their guests took their seats they each discovered a hand written letter waiting for them on their tables. I darted about the room capturing all the tears I could - an easy job when yet again everyone was in bits! This is such a personal touch that I’ve seen at many of my weddings now and it’s so much more appreciated than any favour. To know they have taken the time to write to 92 people (a last minute decision only the week before!) means the world to everyone there.
In between the delicious family-style meal (my vegan butternut squash feast was to die for) speeches were given by friends and family until there was literally no more tears left to cry.
Impromptu smoke bombs, snail racing and kiss the fish
By the time the speeches had ended the party was in full flow. Cocktails were served from the courtyard bar and all around there was some kinda chaos happening. In one corner Granny was racing snails with her gaggle of great-grand children, in another Mia’s Dad and his mates were scaling a wall with smoke bombs and when Mia’s Mum came to ask me if I’d heard about ‘Kiss the Fish’ I simply shrugged a nonchalant ‘ya’ll are bonkers’ kinda shrug. Kiss the fish is exactly what it sounds like but with a shot of rum involved. I’ll say no more on the matter and will the photos do all the talking…
A West Wales Dream
I travel to West Wales for weddings a handful of times a year and I seriously can’t get enough of it. The people are proper lush. The beaches are some of my favourite in the world. And taking time before these weddings to spend a few days in nature, just me and my camper-van, puts in me in the best mindset to capture weddings. I am so grateful to Paige and Mia for choosing me to capture their day and really am in awe of all that they created. It’s impossible to meet these two and not fall in love with them. They beamed all day long - even when crying - and it was easy to see why. So loved by everyone around them, and so loving right back.
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