Set beneath the mountains of the Brecon Beacons, Peterstone Court is one of those wedding venues that feels properly tucked away in the Welsh countryside. Beautiful grounds, incredible views and a country house that has a really relaxed feel to it. As a Peterstone Court wedding photographer, I had the pleasure of photographing Abi & Rares here, and we were treated to some of the most incredible evening light I’ve had at a wedding.
Abi & Rares are so naturally affectionate with each other that there really wasn’t much I needed to do. Give them a little bit of direction, put them somewhere with good light and then just let them be themselves. You can see immediately in the photographs how comfortable they are together.
That’s always what I’m looking for with couple portraits. I want them to look amazing, but I never want it to feel like we’ve stopped the wedding for an hour-long photoshoot.
Wedding Ceremony at St Peter & St Illtyd Church
One of the lovely things about getting married at Peterstone Court is having St Peter & St Illtyd Church just a short walk away.
The church sits close to the end of Peterstone Court’s drive and looks out towards the surrounding countryside and mountains. It was rebuilt in 1887, although parts of the building are considerably older, including its 15th-century porch and tower. Brecon and Epynt Ministry Area
Abi & Rares chose to have their ceremony there before everyone made their way back to Peterstone Court for the rest of the celebrations.
I really like weddings where everything is this close together. Nobody has a long journey between the ceremony and reception, and from a photography point of view the day just flows really naturally.
Wedding Photography at Peterstone Court
Peterstone Court is a Grade II-listed country house surrounded by gardens, meadows and views of the Brecon Beacons, so there’s no shortage of places to photograph around the venue. Peterstone Court
But rather than taking Abi & Rares away for ages during the drinks reception, I knew there was a particular area I wanted to save for later. I’m always watching the light throughout a wedding day.
You start to get a feel for where the sun is going to disappear, where it’ll come through the trees and which parts of a venue are going to completely change once the sun gets lower.
And that evening, everything lined up perfectly.
Golden Hour Wedding Photos at Peterstone Court
All I have to say is the light was absolutely incredible!
I knew exactly where it was going to hit nicely later in the day, so when it reached the right point I grabbed Abi & Rares and we headed out for a really quick set of portraits.
This is exactly why I love taking couples out more than once during a wedding.
You don’t need 45 mins away from your guests. Sometimes 10-20 in the right place, at the right time, is all you need.
The low sun was coming through beautifully and gave us this gorgeous warm, hazy light. With Abi & Rares being so naturally close anyway, everything just fell into place.
A little direction here and there, while keeping things easy and relaxed.
And the resulting photographs are some absolute bangers! 🙂
They have that dreamy, sun-drenched quality that you simply can’t manufacture at midday. You have to notice the light, know where it’s going to work and be ready when it happens.
It was one of those moments where I knew while I was taking the photographs that we had something really special.
A Relaxed Peterstone Court Wedding
The whole wedding had such a lovely feel to it.
Peterstone Court works really well for that kind of day because despite being an impressive country house, it doesn’t feel overly formal. The venue describes its approach as combining a laid-back atmosphere with the feeling of having the house to yourselves, which fitted this wedding perfectly. Peterstone Court
I also got to work alongside Sam from Laura Beth Wedding Planning, which was lush. I’ve always got a lot of appreciation for somebody who helps everything run smoothly while still keeping the day feeling relaxed. Laura Beth’s team specialise in wedding planning and on-the-day coordination, with Sam Louise working alongside Laura Beth. Laura Beth Wedding Planner & Coordinator
For me, that’s the sweet spot with weddings.
Everything happens when it needs to happen, but Abi & Rares still get to spend the day actually enjoying themselves rather than constantly feeling like they’re being moved onto the next thing.
And ultimately that’s what I want the photographs to show too.
Not just what the wedding looked like, but two people properly enjoying one of the best days of their lives.
Peterstone Court Wedding Photographer
If you’re planning a wedding at Peterstone Court and you’re looking for relaxed, natural photography mixed with some beautiful portraits, I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned.
My approach is to photograph the real moments, people and atmosphere throughout the day, while also knowing when to step in and give a little direction to create something special.
Abi & Rares’ evening portraits are a perfect example of that.
They were away from their guests for hardly any time at all, but by waiting for the right light and knowing exactly where to take them, we came away with some of my favourite photographs from the wedding.
If you’re looking for a Peterstone Court wedding photographer, get in touch and tell me a little about your plans.
Suppliers:
Photographer: Imagine Photography
Wedding Planner: Laura Beth Events
Venue: Peterstone Court
Videographer: Inspire Weddings
Florist: Queens Florist – Julia Jenkins
Dress Designer: Milla Nova
Bridal Boutique: Timeless Elegance Bridal
Make Up Artist: Amy Louise MUA
Hair Stylist: Ypdws Elin Wyn Bridal Hair
Live Music: Summer Sons
Wedding Cake: Katie’s Wildflower Cakes
