Hafod Farm Wedding Photos - Gareth and Kayleigh

Dec 9, 2016
5 min read

This Is What Happens When One of Your Closest Friends Asks You to Capture Their Hafod Farm Wedding Photos

There are some weddings that feel special because of the venue.

There are some weddings that feel special because of the people.

And then there are weddings like Gareth and Kayleigh’s at Hafod Farm, where it’s a bit of both, and you spend half the day reminding yourself that you’re actually there to work.

Because photographing a wedding for one of your closest friends is a strange one, in the nicest possible way.

You know the people. You know the faces. You know the laughs before they properly happen. You know when someone is about to get emotional, or when someone is trying really hard not to. And that makes the whole thing feel different.

It’s still a wedding day, obviously. There’s still the pressure of getting it right. Probably more pressure, if I’m being honest. But there’s also this lovely feeling of being trusted with something that really matters.

And that’s exactly what Gareth and Kayleigh gave me.

They trusted me to photograph their day properly, honestly, and without turning it into a big awkward performance. Which, if you know how I work, is pretty much the whole point.

Hafod Farm Wedding Photos in Llanrwst

Hafod Farm is one of those venues that just works really well for relaxed wedding photography.

It’s got that proper North Wales countryside feel, without feeling like everything has been overly polished or made too perfect. There’s character everywhere. Stone buildings, barns, open space, fields, little corners to disappear into for photos, and enough texture that you’re not constantly having to search for somewhere that looks good.

For Gareth and Kayleigh’s wedding, that suited them perfectly.

It wasn’t about creating some huge styled shoot version of the day. It was about photographing it as it actually felt. The people, the setting, the little in-between bits, the daft moments, the quiet moments, and all the stuff that makes a wedding feel like theirs rather than just another wedding at a lovely venue.

And that’s why Hafod Farm wedding photos can be so good. You don’t need to overcomplicate it.

You’ve already got the barns. You’ve got the countryside. You’ve got the natural backdrop. You’ve got the kind of setting where people can relax a bit, wander around, chat, have a drink, and actually enjoy themselves.

That makes a massive difference.

Photographing Friends Is Lovely, But It’s Also Terrifying

I’ll be honest, photographing a close friend’s wedding is a proper honour, but it does come with a bit of extra pressure.

When it’s someone you don’t know as well, you still care massively, of course you do. But when it’s someone close to you, there’s that extra little voice in your head going, “Right, don’t mess this up, you absolute idiot.”

Because these photos aren’t just for a client.

They’re for people you care about.

They’re photos you know they’ll look back on for years. Photos their families will look through. Photos that might end up framed, printed, stuck in albums, sent around in group chats, and brought out years down the line when everyone looks slightly older and someone says, “God, look how young we all were.”

That’s the stuff that matters.

So yes, it’s a job. But days like this remind me that wedding photography is never just a job.

A Proper Farm Wedding Feel

What I loved about Gareth and Kayleigh’s day was that it felt like them.

That sounds simple, but it’s not always as easy as it should be. Weddings can sometimes get pulled in all sorts of directions. Timelines, traditions, opinions, expectations, and everyone trying to make sure everything happens exactly when it’s supposed to.

But the best weddings always have a bit of breathing room in them.

And Hafod Farm is brilliant for that kind of day.

It gives you enough structure so everything works, but it still has that relaxed farm wedding feel. People aren’t stuck in one room all day. There’s space to move around. Space for guests to catch up. Space for the two of you to sneak away for a few minutes and actually take it all in.

From a photography point of view, that’s where a lot of the good stuff happens.

Not always in the big obvious moments, although those matter too. But in the tiny moments around them.

Someone laughing at the back of the room. A hand on a shoulder. Guests chatting outside. That moment when the couple finally get five minutes together and you can almost see them realise, “Oh yeah, we’re actually married now.”

That’s the kind of thing I’m always watching for.

Couple Photos Without Making It Weird

For couple photos at Hafod Farm, you really don’t need to disappear for hours.

That’s one of the things I always try to make clear to couples. You can get lovely photos without turning half the day into a photoshoot.

With Gareth and Kayleigh, the aim was the same as always: keep it relaxed, give them a bit of space, and let the venue do a lot of the work.

I’m not interested in making people feel like they’ve suddenly got to become models just because they’re in wedding clothes. Most people feel a bit awkward in front of the camera, and that’s completely normal.

So instead of forcing loads of stiff poses, I’ll usually just get couples moving a bit. Walk together. Hold hands. Have a chat. Bump into each other. Take the mick out of each other if that’s what gets you laughing.

It doesn’t need to be complicated.

And when you’ve got somewhere like Hafod Farm, with barns, fields, stonework and countryside all around you, you really don’t need to do too much. The setting already gives the photos that lovely North Wales wedding feel.

The Best Photos Are Usually the Ones That Feel Like You

That’s always the goal for me.

Not photos that look like they could belong to anyone.

Not photos that feel like they’ve been copied from a Pinterest board.

Photos that actually feel like the couple.

And because I know Gareth and Kayleigh, that felt even more important. I didn’t want to make their photos feel overly polished or forced. I wanted them to feel honest. Like the day actually felt when you were there.

That’s the bit I love most about wedding photography.

Yes, the portraits matter. The details matter. The venue matters. But the real value is in the feeling of the day. The people. The atmosphere. The stuff you might not even notice at the time because you’re too busy living it.

That’s what I want the photos to bring back.

Thinking About Hafod Farm Wedding Photos?

If you’re planning a wedding at Hafod Farm in Llanrwst and you’re looking for relaxed, natural wedding photos, it’s a venue that gives you a hell of a lot to work with.

It’s got character without feeling too formal. It’s rural without feeling awkward to use. And it’s the kind of place where you can have a wedding that feels personal, relaxed and properly yours.

Gareth and Kayleigh’s wedding was exactly that.

A brilliant day, in a brilliant setting, with people I’m very lucky to know.

And being asked to photograph it?

That was pretty bloody special.

Venue: Hafod Farm (Hafod Farm Facebook Page)

Flowers: Lili Wen (Lili Wen Website)

Castle Hair Studio Harlech: (Facebook Page)

Caterers: MM Catering (Website)

Dress by Maria Senvo: Bride to be Manchester (website and Facebook Page)

Makeup: Beautique Porthmadog (website and Facebook Page)

Band: Soul Revolver (Facebook Page and Website)