The Quay Hotel & Spa - Beth & Ben

"Meticulously designed throughout, the Quay Hotel & Spa in Deganwy, epitomises cool sophistication on the North Wales Coast. The moment you enter the 4 star hotel in Deganwy Quay you are welcomed into a world of comfort and a sense of belonging.

Set on the idyllic Conwy Estuary, the 4 star Quay Hotel and Spa commands awe-inspiring views of the most magical scenery in North Wales". (www.quayhotel.co.uk)

The views are stunning at The Quay Hotel, with Conwy Castle up-river; Conwy Marina, across the estuary and Deganwy, toward the point where the river meets the sea. Unfortunately, I had a challenge capturing these epic views, due to the dense rain clouds present, pretty much all day. Although a nuisance, we remained positive and took advantage of the stunning grounds to capture an absolutely incredible day for Beth & Ben.

Arriving earlier than planned allowed me to capture the intricate details a little more thorough. I love the results, balancing the rings between the brides shoes. Although, it did take me about 30 takes. It was a good job that I did arrive early as, soon enough, chaos ensued.

There's usually a panic 30-45 minutes before the ceremony where everything happens all at once. Hair & Make-up is completed. The registrar arrives to talk with the bride. The Groom & Groomsmen arrive. Other guests start to appear. The flowers arrive. The ceremony room is near completion. Bridesmaids and the kids disappear to get changed. These are the exciting challenges for a photographer - to bring them all together and capture the emotion of this 'chaos'.

Can't beat a big balcony window combined with a break in the clouds for some nice natural light. I took this opportunity to capture the moment of tranquillity before the main event.........

Congratulations to Beth & Ben!

Now to take advantage of these beautiful grounds for some couples shots of the bride and groom, followed by group shots of the main entourage.

Even the rain wouldn't scupper this shoot - we utilised the shelter in the beautiful courtyard and took advantage of the vibrant flora and manicured shrubbery in the foreground, for some fun group shots.

Meanwhile the Wedding Breakfast room was being prepared whilst I captured one big group shot.

Now their party could commence - food, wine, champagne and for some, the dreaded speeches. On this occasion however, the fathers of the bride & groom, the groom and the best men seemed un-phased... creating a load of laughter. This is why I love Weddings - the celebration!

Notice the stunning backdrop as well as the beautiful flowers, arranged by www.tulipaflowers.co.uk - another incredible local wedding supplier. Incidentally, throughout Beth & Ben's wedding, I worked alongside Dewi Fon Evans Videography who was a joy to work alongside. The evenings entertainment was provided by The Event Lounge, which leads me to the next segment - the evening reception.