Over the border to a wonderful wedding at Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel in Monmouthshire

I am not sure how Rachael & Nick found me on Google, but find me they did and a jaunt over the border to Usk in Monmouthshire was a welcome change for me. I absolutely LOVE Wales and I jumped at the chance to be their wedding photographer at the Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel this August. Set in in woods in the middle of nowhere, Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel is an utterly stunning location for a wedding. With picturesque, beautifully landscaped gardens and a gorgeous stream running right through it, I was not short of places to photograph them. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them. Congratulations Rachael & Nick! 🙂

Their Love Story

1) Please tell me how you first met? The what, when, where’s and how’s?
Rachael- We met in work, I was one of Nick’s managers but we had to keep the relationship a secret for almost a year. It took about 6-8 months for my manager to realise what was going on but he was happy for the two of us and asked us to carry on being discrete amongst the team.
I suffered a seizure a week before Nick started working with me and had my driving licence revoked for 9 months, in this time Nick would walk me home every day from work even though he lived the other side of the city and didn’t drive. It’s because of this kind gesture that I started to become open and friendly with Nick.
Nick- she had a great ass!
2) When was it you knew they were the one? Was is something in particular they did?, Did they grind you down? (joke) etc. etc.
Rachael- because of the situation with my job I did have some tough barriers up but Nick had a charm and character that would crumble them day by day, I don’t know when I realised he was the one but it was pretty obvious from the start.
Nick- she was a challenge and I accepted it 😀
3) Could you give us the story of the proposal? Please leave out no details…  (Was it a surprise?,  Was it elaborate?,  How did it make you feel?)
I made it a rule that Nick had to wait 3 years before he could pop the question but it did take him an extra year.
He proposed on one of our first nights in the home we bought. It was meant to be the first night but I was adamant we should move in immediately but this left him no time to sort out the ring.
The night he proposed I was in bed ready when he stood at the end of the bed and started saying lovely things……
***the rest of the story has been censored***
4) Please share what you most love about each other?
Rachael- Nick is the opposite to me in many ways, he is very outgoing and will talk to anyone in a room and find common ground, he’s funny and lovable and will do anything for his family and friends. Nick is the only person I could see myself settling down and having a family with.
Nick- her ass only joking her acceptance for who I am and what flaws I come with
5) If you don’t mind sharing, can you tell me something quirky, funny or silly about your partner? Little habits, something they do…
Rachael- Nick will happily make a complete fool out of himself to make me laugh,
Nick- where do I start?!  Has to eat her food in sections (cannot mix), bladder the size of an ant, the fact she likes to spend her birthdays cleaning her carpets or the flatulence (the sheer amount of it)
6) What is your perfect day together? (apart from the wedding day)
Our perfect day would be a cold rainy day outside with us curled on the sofa with our dogs, an assortment of snacks, watching a boxset of our favourite TV show
7) Apart from the obvious, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Rachael- I can’t wait to see Nick’s face as I walk down the isle in my dress
Nick- seeing everyone we care about in one location enjoying themselves
8) There are so many different wedding styles you can choose from. What is your favourite wedding trend at the moment?
I don’t really have a favourite but I think when it all comes together it looks amazing. As we are basing our theme on my dress I am very much loving the glamorous 20s look.
9) What was it that inspired you to go for the theme or the decor you chose for your wedding?
Our ideas changed so much up until I found my dress and suddenly I could envisage the who thing. I would have loved to gone further with the style but the cost would have been ridiculous so I had to rain myself in
10) Please tell me one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your wedding planning process?
Absolutely nothing mattered apart from me and Nick making our vows. I spent so much time and effort trying to make sure every small detail was thought of when at the end of the day we didn’t really care so much. But all the details did make the day what we wanted.

 

Vendor List

Photography |  Duncan Cox Photography
Ceremony Location | Cwrt Bleddyn hotel and spa
Reception Location | Cwrt Bleddyn hotel and spa
Florist | Lynn Elson (aunt)
Wedding DJ | Cwrt Bleddyn
Dress Designer | Sottero and Midgely – Lola
Wedding Dress Retailer | Allison Jayne
Other Details/Vendors | lighting and backdrop Bluebutterfly
Centre pieces | Wow event hire

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