For the last four years, Anna and Gwilym have been enduring a very long distance relationship between Edinburgh and Florida, succeeding in love where many others would falter. It is quite the love story.
Having both grown up with an insatiable appetite for the outdoors and adventure, they are cut from the same cloth. The proposal, a beautiful story in itself, spanned thousands of miles too. The question was popped, rather appropriately, whilst they were up a small mountain in Scotland, and the presentation of the ring (Anna’s great grandmother’s ancestral ring) was carried out in true romantic fashion on a small key nestled deep in Florida Bay.
Anna is a dear friend of ours, knowing Jake since their undergraduate years. I got to know Gwilym a little better when we did their beloved engagement shoot in Edinburgh last year. It was the very greatest honour to document the wedding celebrations which took place close to Anna’s parents home in the stunning Lake District. Jake was part of the bridal party, so you may spot him in the visual story below!
While Gwilym was quite the dashing groom, Anna’s beauty shone as she transformed from the outdoor-ready adventurer we know and love to a vision of elegance and poise in her stunning Ian Stuart gown with a striking bouquet of Narcissi – a nod to where Gwilym grew up, in Wales.
The ceremony took place The Holy Trinity Church in Brathay, a pictoresque church on a hill top, just like they have on the postcards. The church hall, at the bottom of the same hill has recently been lovingly and stunningly renovated, and Gwilym and Anna held post-ceremony nibbles and hot drinks for their guests there. Outside the church hall was an archetypal stone bridge of such splendor and elegance. Gwilym’s father had arranged a little surprise for the couple of a game of Pooh Sticks with wooden battens baring their initials and the date, one of the most original and touching games I have ever seen played on a wedding day!
They held their reception at Merewood Country House Hotel, in keeping with elegance of the day. A quite breathtaking venue with views out over the valley to Lake Windermere, with some of the kindest staff I have ever met. The joining of two families was full of laughter and dancing, lots of beautiful food and meaningful details. The cake was made by Anna’s parents, once professional chefs – and decorated with the most beautiful pearlescent icing. The cheese was all from the Lake District or Wales, a nod to both their childhoods. The favours were handmade chocolates, made by the groom and his family, and every table bore little pearlescent snow flakes.
Thank you so much for your friendship. It is an honour and a joy to share these memories. We love you both very much and wish you every happiness.
Anna and Gwilym’s Wedding Suppliers
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Great shots Ria. This looks like such a cosy wedding. The rain has somehow made it even more beautiful. Gorgeous work. X
Beautifully captured memories. What a gorgeous wedding and location!
My favourite portrait is of the B&G from behind on the stone bridge – took my breath away! Then I absolutely adore the emotion in the b/w one of the bride on the grooms shoulder.
Truly stunning.
T x
Ria, this is a truely stunning blog, thank you so much. You have a true gift; your photography and art is able to capture and express the people and events you are shooting in such a natural way, and that is why we love your style so much.
Your photo documentary of our perfect day was just…..perfect! You have captured it beautifully and we just can’t stop looking through our photo gallery remembering how happy we were and still are. This is so special to us especially having to endure another few more months of being apart before Gwilym and I begin our new adventure together! These photos are going to be so important to us to be able to look back and remind ourselves of what we have to look forward to for the rest of our lives together.
You and Jake are dear friends and we are just so happy that you were a part of our special day. All our love Anna & Gwilym xx
Gorgeous wedding Ria, love the shots.