Gemma & Ben - Plas Maenan | North Wales Wedding Photographer
September saw me back at one of my favourite local wedding venues, the stunning Plas Maenan in the Conwy Valley, for the wedding of Gemma and Ben.
Plas Maenan is one of those venues that really does have it all. Sitting above the Conwy Valley near Llanrwst, the country house is surrounded by some of the best scenery North Wales has to offer, with views across the valley towards the mountains. Add in the historic house, the grounds, sweeping staircase and plenty of character throughout the venue and you've got a brilliant place for a wedding.
It's also a venue I really enjoy working at. There are loads of different options for photographs without having to spend the day moving people from one location to another, and the backdrop of the Conwy Valley is pretty hard to beat.
Gemma and Ben's wedding was an amazing one to be part of. There was loads going on throughout the day, plenty of interaction between family and friends, and lots of little moments that made the day their own.
Wedding Prep at Plas Maenan
The day started in the getting-ready room at Plas Maenan, with the usual mixture of excitement, nerves and plenty of interaction between Gemma, her mum, the bridesmaids and flower girls.
Hair and makeup were well underway with Jess Harris from Make Up by Jess and Heather from Harmony Wedding Hair, while I worked through some of the dress and detail photographs. The dress from Wed2b was getting its final checks, including some last-minute alterations with Mum.
Once Gemma was ready, we had the dress reveal with the bridesmaids and flower girls, which produced plenty of reactions and some great photographs.
Then came the reveal to Dad. We made use of the large mirror in the room so I could photograph Gemma in the reflection, so that both of their reactions appeared in the photograph. It's a simple little setup but one that works really well.
From there, Gemma made her way down the main staircase at Plas Maenan, which is another one of those spots at the venue that is just made for photographs.
The Gents
Over with Ben and the lads, things were a little more straightforward.
The suits from Trefor Jones Ltd were looking sharp, so we grabbed some photographs of the buttonholes and jacket details before moving onto a few solo and group photographs.
As with most gents' preparations, we didn't spend too long on this. A few good photographs, a bit of messing around and then everyone was ready for the ceremony.
The Ceremony
The ceremony took place inside Plas Maenan, with family and friends filling the room.
Gemma's entrance was followed by plenty of emotion from Ben, the groom, as well as smiles and reactions from the guests as she made her way towards Ben. The vows and rings went smoothly, followed by the first kiss, which is always one of those moments where everyone suddenly relaxes a little.
After signing the register, Gemma and Ben made their way back down the aisle as newlyweds.
Confetti & The Main Group Photo
Straight outside for the confetti.
We managed to get everyone lined up and ready before sending Gemma and Ben through the middle. There's always a bit of chaos involved with confetti, but that's usually what makes the photographs work.
Afterwards, we gathered everyone together on the steps of Plas Maenan for the main group photograph. With the house as the backdrop, it's one of my favourite places at the venue for a big group shot.
Drinks Reception
The drinks reception gave everyone the chance to relax, catch up and enjoy a drink while I worked my way around the guests capturing the natural stuff happening around me.
I also spent some time photographing the venue décor and the details from Natalya Home Story, which looked great throughout the venue.
Once Gemma and Ben had spent some time with their guests, we headed outside for a 10-15 minute couples shoot. The grounds around Plas Maenan give you plenty of options, so we could keep moving without making the session feel like a formal photoshoot.
The group photographs followed, with everyone being brought together in smaller groups to keep things moving.
There was also a bit of entertainment during the drinks reception, with Stuart from Bangor Tyres, who was there as the magician, performing a trick for Gemma and Ben. Always worth keeping the camera ready for something like that!
Wedding Breakfast & Speeches
Before the meal and speeches got underway, I grabbed some photographs of the flowers and rings, including a broach incorporated into the flowers, along with some of the smaller details around the room.
The speeches took place after the main course and before dessert, giving everyone plenty of time to settle into the meal before the talking started.
As always, there was a good mixture of laughs, stories and reactions from the guests, which makes speeches such a good part of the day to photograph.
Free Time & Evening Shoot
This is one of my favourite parts of a wedding day. The couple have usually relaxed by this point, the formalities are pretty much finished and we can just head outside and grab some more natural photographs without worrying too much about the schedule. Typically at this time of night, and given the opportunity I would take advantage of the low, diminishing sunlight, but as it was already dark, I took advantage of the ambient light in and around Plas Maenan.
Evening Do
The evening celebrations got underway with the cake cutting, with the cake supplied by Rebecca Hurd.
Then came the first dance, with Gemma and Ben taking to the floor together before Gemma had another special dance, this time with her dad.
The evening entertainment was provided by Event Lounge, who also supplied the 360 camera photo booth. That gave the guests plenty to keep them occupied once the dancefloor started filling up.
By this point everyone was well and truly into party mode, which is exactly how you want to finish a wedding day.
Gemma and Ben's wedding was a brilliant day from start to finish. There was a great mix of family, friends, entertainment and plenty of genuine moments to photograph, all within one of my favourite North Wales wedding venues.
Plas Maenan really is a fantastic place to get married. The combination of the historic house, grounds and views across the Conwy Valley gives you so many options for wedding photography, while keeping everything conveniently in one place.
It was an amazing wedding to be part of and a real pleasure to photograph for Gemma and Ben.
If you're planning a wedding at Plas Maenan or elsewhere in the Conwy Valley and are looking for a North Wales wedding photographer, I'd love to hear from you. My approach is relaxed and informal, concentrating on the genuine moments, reactions and atmosphere of the day while still making sure you get some great photographs of the two of you along the way.
Another brilliant Plas Maenan wedding in the bag! Suppliers
Venue: Plas Maenan
Content Creator: Content Era
Stationery: Bride
Makeup: Make Up by Jess – Jess Harris
Flowers & Décor: Natalya Home Story
Dress: Wed2b
Suits: Trefor Jones Ltd
Cake: Rebecca Hurd
DJ/Band: Event Lounge
360 Camera Photo Booth: Event Lounge
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