Clearwell Castle Wedding Photography - Amy and James

Weddings

7 Jul

Amy and James's wedding celebration at Clearwell Castle was filled with magical surprises and fairytale moments.

When Amy and James first got in touch, they'd originally planned to have their wedding at a Hotel near Swindon. But when their plans changed - not only to a different venue but also to a different date - I was absolutely thrilled when I checked my diary and found I was still available. And more so because Clearwell Castle, their new venue, had been on my bucket-list for ages. Sometimes the best things happen when plans change!

On the day I arrived to join Amy with her Bridesmaids, Sister, Mum and Step-Mum who were busy getting ready. Amy’s sister, Rachel, is also a wedding photographer and her offer to help organise and corral guests if needed was such a lovely gesture. An extra pair of experienced hands is always appreciated!

I was also delighted to have Steffen Milsom second shooting with me for the day. This meant I could completely relax knowing he was capturing James and their four boys during their preparations while I focused on Amy's morning. Having that additional coverage is invaluable, especially at a new venue.

During the ceremony, having two photographers really came into its own. I was able to stay up-front grabbing those intimate close-ups of Amy and James while Steffen captured the wider shots of the ceremony room and guests' reactions. It's always reassuring knowing someone is shooting a second angle and catching all those additional storytelling moments.

The wedding had a bit of a Cinderella theme. Amy looked stunning in her amazing dress and statement tiara whilst carrying a shiny, silver bouquet instead of traditional flowers. But the real surprise (for their guests at least - thankfully I had already been pre-warned!) came after the ceremony when Amy and James completely disappeared from their guests.

What happened next was pure magic - they reappeared in a carriage drawn not by horses, but by actual unicorns! The gasps and cheers from their guests as the fairytale carriage arrived along Clearwell Castle's driveway was absolutely priceless. It was definitely a wedding of firsts for me – first time at this incredible venue, and certainly my first time photographing unicorns!

Even the cake joined in the theme. Not only did it have a Castle-shaped top tier, it also had a discreet unicorn carefully embedded into the bottom tier design. Oh, and let’s not forget the favours which acted as place settings and were biscuit-shaped unicorns! Such lovely touches that tied everything together perfectly.

The weather was another beautifully warm day, and I was especially grateful for Steffen's support. While I was busy capturing Amy, James and their guests with the unicorns (followed by some formal photos), he was documenting all the candid moments and reception room details.

Amy and James's celebration perfectly showcased why this stunning location works so brilliantly for couples who aren't afraid to embrace a bit of magic and make their wedding day authentically theirs.

Below you will find a small selection of my favourite photos from their fairytale day. To view the full gallery, please contact Amy and James.