Llanerch Vineyard

As a wedding photographer south Wales has some of the best venues for creativity. None are as good as Llanerch Vineyard

Why Llanerch Vineyard is a Special Place to get Married

You already know this, but this hidden gem holds a magic that makes people fall in love with the setting. The light, the surroundings and spaces. Of course the killer feature is the south facing vineyard. Beyond that there are also so many other spaces that other venues would kill to have as a selling point.

Take a stroll into the woodland walk. It’s an area designated as a site of specific scientific interest. You can walk up to the lake for ultimate in Welsh countryside escapes. The buildings around the entire site are finished in beautiful welsh stone, wood or natural render. Beauty means so much here, it’s almost impossible for photographers to find a bad angle.

Then there’s the staff. No other wedding venue in south Wales has such a professional team. Perfection is everything to them. The planning team will have every minute taken care of. Every member of staff will have you at the centre of their thoughts throughout the entire day.

Everybody knows about the food. Everything from the canapes through to the wedding breakfast and evening buffet will be of the highest standard and guaranteed to blow away your guests. The food is always a hot topic of conversation at Llanerch Vineyard weddings.

Timing the day

Hour by hour the light at Llanerch Vineyard transforms the spaces. Early morning sunrise lights the vines to start your day in the brightest way. Through the summer, the evening light from the west brings the woodland marquee to life. The full wall of windows light up with the evening sunlight.

The Calon Lodge, with its south facing windows, catches the best of the light from mid morning to early afternoon. This will ignite your ceremony, although will have past it’s peak before you want to sit down for food and toasts.

Photo Opportunities

If you have your ceremony and wedding breakfast all at the Calon Lodge the staff will usually require your guests to leave the main room while the room is laid out for food. This can take 45 minutes to an hour. This gives you the perfect opportunity to get time with guests as well as the group photos. If you’re hoping to get a photo of every guest together, immediately after the ceremony is usually the best time. You can almost guarantee everyone is present and people are more compliant.

The staff will usually require your guests to leave the main room while the room is laid out for food. This can take 45 minutes to an hour. This gives you the perfect opportunity to get time with guests as well as the group photos. If you’re hoping to get a photo of every guest together, immediately after the ceremony is usually the best time. You can almost guarantee everyone is present and people are more compliant.

It usually takes 15 minutes for your guests to be seated before you will be announced into the room. This is just enough time to grab a few moments alone (with or without your photographer). The woodland walk is perfect at this time as it’s shaded from the bright midday sunshine. It’s also more private.

The Seasons

The time of year will dictate when is best to escape for photographs in some of the epic surroundings. In winter it’s maybe best before speeches as sunset can be between 4 and 5pm. In summer this can be later in the evening, before or after your first dance, as sunset can be as late as 10pm.

Photographers always talk about ‘golden hour’. It’s that time just after sunrise or just before sunset. It’s when the sunlight has to travel through more atmosphere, deflecting more blue light, and giving you more flattering and dramatic lighting. Check the sunset times and golden hour times with your photographer before deciding when would be best.

Your choice of spaces – A blank canvas for you to paint your personalities

At Llanerch Vineyard you really have a blank space and every opportunity to layout your wedding however you want.

Calon Lodge

Certified for civil ceremonies, this south facing, glass fronted space will make your guests gasp as they enter. With views over the main vineyard and across the Vale of Glamorgan beyond its simplicity is it’s main feature.

But the simple beauty of the Calon Lodge allows for you to express your personalities. It’s rare that you can do this in established venues. You can add lighting, bunting, floral displays to each room. You can also decorate the tables and chairs in a way that’s unique to you and your relationship.

The Woodland Marquee

The Woodland Marquee at Llanerch Vineyard is the ultimate space for the larger wedding. Entrance is direct from the car park through a bespoke arbour. The bar area allows for seating and a quiet space for guests to retreat. The main space is large enough that you should be able to fit in all of your favourite friends and family.

The Woodland Marquee at Llanerch Vineyard is the ultimate space for the larger wedding. Entrance is direct from the car park through a bespoke arbour. The bar area allows for seating and a quiet space for guests to retreat. The main space is large enough that you should be able to fit in all of your favourite friends and family.

As your first dance starts the curtains will be pulled up to reveal the dancefloor area – large enough to also accommodate a band, or other entertainment, and for all of your guests to celebrate your big day in style.

The Top Table

A traditional top table can become a real feature of the room, although in reality anyone can sit anywhere. Most couples who get married in the Calon Lodge or Woodland Marquee choose to continue to use the windows as the feature and sit in front of the windows. Make sure your photographer is comfortable photographing in conditions like this as you wouldn’t want to be left with a set of silhouettes for your photographs.

Photo Locations

If you’re having your wedding at Llanerch Vineyard you and your photographer will be spoilt for choice when it comes to photo locations.

Midday sunlight can often leave portraits with harsh shadows and light and too much contrast to be flattering. The woodland walk is the perfect retreat from this and will allow you to escape your family and friends for a short time.

Around an hour before sunset you’ll find the light in the vines is golden and perfect for your portraits.

If your wedding day is blessed with welsh weather and you’re also looking for somewhere to shelter from the rain you’ll have a choice of the covered walkway, around the back of the Calon Lodge as well as the many beautiful interior spaces.

Choosing a photographer with experience at this venue will guarantee you the best photos.

Am I the Best Photographer for your South Wales Wedding?

Click here to read about what couples who chose me to photograph their wedding in South Wales all had in common.