Oxwich Bay Hotel Wedding Photography

Daniel and Kimberley

Oxwich Bay Hotel Wedding Photography – Gower

Most of my wedding photography is centred around the beautiful Cotswolds and in my opinion it’s a hard area to beat, but a close second is the coast! So when I got a call from Dan and Kim asking if i was available for their winter wedding in the Gower I was delighted to say YES! I have been a fan of the Gower for many years and like Dan and Kim it was one of the first places I went with my now wife. I had been to Rhossilli  Bay in the past and loved it, and have now found a new place equally beautiful, of course it’s Oxwich Bay.

A day before the wedding the forecast was horrendous, so I was expecting the worst. Early start on the wedding day and my fears of the weather were apparent as I left Cheltenham 6am. The wind and rain was not playing ball and as I had to cross the Severn Bridge I was worried it would be closed due to the high winds. As I approached the bridge it was closed to high vehicles which for a moment gave me heart attack thinking it was closed to all vehicles, didn’t really fancy a huge detour back through Gloucester and along the river! Thankfully that wasn’t the case and I trundled on in the darkness, wind and rain, and as I got close to the Mumbles and in to Oxwich Bay the weather was breaking and the clouds were making way for some blue sky! Woohoo!

I met Kimberley in the Bridal Suite to be wow’d by the view from their room, just spectacular. The make-up artist was already busy with the girls so rather than get in the way I went off in search of the groom. After a brief chat with Dan I discovered the mother-in-law coming up the stairs was someone I had worked with 20 years ago, small world! Ah yes and that continued later! I continued to document the bridal prep, the all important dress, shoes, flowers and the white Hunter wellies!

As the day progressed so did the weather, blue skies and white fluffy clouds, just perfect! Dress on, bride and bridesmaid are ready to greet the family, friends and the nervous groom. The ceremony room oozed warmth with the log fires, candles and the massive oak beams not to mention the family and friends waiting for Kim to come down the aisle.

With a few giggles, laughs and tears the ceremony is sealed with the ‘I dos’ happy cheers and the first married kiss. So with a happy stroll pass the guests it was out for a glass of bubbles before rounding everyone up for the formal photographs. This was followed by the couples photographs in the amazing settings, I am truly spoilt for choice! I absolutely love the first group photograph (pictured below – black and white), everyone is doing their own thing oblivious to me taking the photo. It reminds me of the painting ‘The Last Supper’ and looking more closer and seeing all the difference things happening! When the formal shots were done it was off for a bit of quiet time, well sort of, from the Hotel grounds, out to the beach, a photo-bombing rogue (cute) dog and a stroll to the church along the coastal path we snapped away. After a few windswept minutes or two or twenty we headed back to take the places at the tables.

Kim and Dan had a few cancellations, so I was fortunate enough to sit with the guests and enjoy the amazing food, which also allowed me not to miss a thing and grab some great pictures. The table I was sat on was the next part of the ‘Small World’ comment made above. I found out I was with a lovely group of people that happened to know and had worked with my cousin and my fathers wife! Small world indeed and ‘What’s spoken on the table, stays on the table’! Actually it was all nice and very funny! As the food was washed away, the speeches were nailed with the obligatory laughs and tears and it wasn’t long before the bride and groom were warming up for the first dance, guaranteed to creates a circle of happy smiles and camera flashes! With the dance done it was only left to squeeze in a quick sparkler shot outside under the coastal stars followed by the cake cutting.

All I can say is, you can have your cake and eat it, as Dan and Kim did with their day, it was a fantastic day that all came together perfectly. I wish them all the best for the future, they are two amazing people and so very pleased to of met them as well as be part of their fabulous day. Congratulations Mr & Mrs Searle.

 

To see the pre-wedding photographs click here