Keeping things intimate (and perfect for a micro wedding!) Lauren knew she wanted this rustic wedding shoot to really be a love letter to her homeland of Wales and, together with the venue and her team of suppliers, she’s certainly pulled out all the stops.
When Lauren from LMJ Weddings & Events serendipitously joined forces with Caroline of Tal Y Bont Uchaf Farm, a dream team was born. Now that the farm has been lovingly restored and is ready to host gorgeous weddings, it’s also playing host to a styled shoot fit for a Welsh princess.
Hosting your wedding on a farm means you can really let your imagination and creativity take the lead. There are multiple locations for your ceremony and reception, all with views for days. And, bonus, you might catch a cameo from a passing farm animal in your photography!
In this shoot, we hear about how Lauren and co have made the most of the amazing setting, how they styled the various areas with florals and furniture, and how the delicious food and cocktails really brought everything together.
With images by Fox & Bear Photography
CONCEPT
Lauren says: We wanted to create rustic, romantic wedding inspiration for couples. There’s a bit of a story behind this shoot and it all starts when Caroline and her family bought a traditional Welsh farm, Tal Y Bont Uchaf Farm, and moved from Manchester to North Wales.
Knowing that the barn and surrounding land would make a perfect wedding venue, Caroline put out an advert asking for help with the conversion. I got in touch and we began putting together plans.
Now the majority of the renovation work has been completed, Caroline and I felt that a styled wedding shoot, showcasing the very best of local wedding suppliers, would be the perfect way to show off North Wales’ newest wedding barn.
LOCATION
I adore my homeland, from the beauty of the mountains to the stone walls and earthy tones of a traditional farmhouse wedding. I love planning shoots and weddings with couples and there’s nothing better than a relaxed wedding in a beautiful setting overlooking the sea.
We wanted to make the most of the setting. The farm has stunning views out towards Puffin Island and Penrhyn Castle, a perfect backdrop for bride and groom portraits. You’re also guaranteed to bump into a farm animal or two as they wander around, which can make for a brilliant photo opportunity!
STYLING
The idea behind the shoot was to balance the rustic, warm feel of the farm with the romance and intimacy of a wedding.
I put together a great team of wedding suppliers and we’re all set to work to create an inspirational shoot to show off the beautiful farm.
The barn is a really versatile space and can be used as an intimate indoor venue for a smaller or winter wedding. The courtyard is great for sunny days, and couples will love enjoying their drinks reception there. Plans are afoot to change the courtyard into an exciting indoor/outdoor ceremony space. I can’t wait to see it once the work is completed.
The barn and courtyard had been styled to perfection by all of the suppliers involved. This shoot shows off a smaller wedding, but of course the farm can cater for much larger numbers too!
Sarah from Scent With Love had created beautiful, wild table decorations, the green foliage and pink flowers looked amazing next to the gorgeous table settings from Whitehouse Event Crockery. I love it when styling complements the venue and the team did an amazing job. The flowers, wooden tables and chairs by Peak Marquee Hire and subtle gold of the table settings all looked incredible against the brown and green tones of the Welsh stone buildings and cobbles.
We’d been spoiled with beautiful platters of food from Marc Macauley Catering, they take real pride in how their food looks as well as how it tastes, which is a joy to photograph. With great pictures of Tomi from Mixopoly too. His cocktails go down a treat at weddings! Pippa at Cariad Cakes, had put together an incredible three tiered cake which she’d decorated using Sarah’s flowers and foliage. So simple, yet so elegant.
ATTIRE
I really wanted to keep the shoot nice and relaxed, and just let Lauryn and Ryan enjoy themselves. I also love to really show off all those little details of all aspects of the shoot, from the beautiful lace on Lauryn’s dress designed by Enzoani, to her gorgeous tiara from Cassie M Bridal Accessories.
Ryan looked extremely stylish yet relaxed in his blue suit with tweed finish waistcoat from Trefor Jones Ltd.
BEAUTY
Cassie had created the perfect look for Lauryn, natural and soft with a loose, relaxed updo. Lauryn’s makeup was a classy and elegant look that complimented her natural hair updo nicely. This look will suit those brides who would like a natural but great coverage.
RESULTS
The shoot was so much fun, bringing together a fantastic bunch of suppliers to showcase a beautiful new venue in North Wales. The highlight of the day was laughing along with Lauryn and Ryan whilst standing under the triangle arch, they are a joy to be around.
I am excited to announce that I will be working with other new and exciting venues across North Wales. I will be assisting these venues and their couples to choose their suppliers and plan and coordinate their perfect wedding day. LMJ is now offering on the day coordination as well as partial and full wedding planning packages.
