Oliver and Emilia's Wedding in Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan

The Ceremony

We were married at 1pm in the Oak Room at Hensol Castle. The boys travelled over from the Vale on a complimentary shuttle arranged by the venue (it was lightly raining at the time).Walking into the Oak Room was surreal. It’s such an intimate, romantic space, and it felt incredibly special saying our vows there. Our photographer, Nick W, captured everything beautifully, and we had Huw and Dale filming our day, alongside Elite Social Studio for content creation; something we’re so glad we chose, as it meant we had behind-the-scenes moments to look back on almost immediately.

Cocktail Hour

After the ceremony, we moved into the entrance hallway for cocktail hour. We had a live jazz band performing, which completely elevated the atmosphere. Because it was still drizzling, everything began inside the castle; which actually made it feel cosy and atmospheric. Arthur’s Cart set up lawn games in one of the side rooms, which our guests loved. Halfway through cocktail hour, the weather cleared and the most beautiful sunshine came out. Everyone spilled into the courtyard, and it honestly felt like something from a film. The jazz band outside, drinks flowing, guests playing games; it was perfect. Breaking the cocktail hour into two spaces ended up being one of the best decisions we made.

Wedding Breakfast & Details

We had group photos on the grounds before heading inside for our wedding breakfast, which was catered beautifully by Hensol Castle. Our cake was created by Bespoke Bella Cakes and decorated with fresh florals from Jas & Floral; it tied everything together perfectly. I did a lot of the personal touches myself. I created our signage using vintage mirrors, made many of the favours, and even upcycled an old dresser into a pick-and-mix stand, which became such a talking point during the evening. Seeing those DIY elements alongside the grandeur of the castle was so special.

Evening Celebrations

In the evening, we had Concept Executive DJ Hire keeping the dance floor full; and they absolutely delivered. We also surprised our guests with a magician, Jason Thomas, during the drinks reception. We kept it completely secret, and it was one of the biggest hits of the day. Watching everyone’s reactions was priceless.

What We Wore

My dress was from Winter Isabel in Barry, alterations (practically a full bodice rebuild by Angie - Dare to Be Different, and I truly felt incredible in it. The boys wore tuxedos from Slaters in Cardiff, which looked so classic and timeless. Looking back, the whole day felt seamless. From seeing our guests the night before at the Vale Resort, to sunshine breaking through during cocktail hour, to dancing the night away; every part of it felt intentional, joyful and completely “us”. If we could relive it all again, we would in a heartbeat.