We caught up with the newlywed couple to hear more about their journey from friendship to marriage, the inspiration behind their wedding day, and the special connection that made Hensol Castle the perfect place to celebrate their story.
Their proposal was every bit as personal as their relationship.
Sam whisked Beth away for her birthday, where he surprised her with a beautiful log cabin stay. After dinner, Beth changed straight into her pyjamas, thinking the celebrations were over – until Sam revealed one last present and proposed! She knew it would happen eventually, but had no idea when, making the surprise even more special. And, as she jokes, it was very them – although she might have kept her make-up on if she’d known!
Beth first heard about Hensol Castle when she was around 14 years old, after her dad came home from a meeting there and declared, ‘What a venue for a wedding.’ Naturally, Beth had to Google it – and she instantly fell in love with the idea.
Fast forward a few years and, when it was finally time to start planning her own wedding, Hensol Castle was top of the list. From the moment they drove through the gates, they had a feeling it was the one. The beautiful setting, timeless feel and warm welcome from the team made it easy to picture their wedding day there. They loved it so much that they cancelled their other venue viewings and booked the castle.
Beth and Sam wanted their wedding to feel classic and elegant, but above all, they wanted it to feel like them. Navy suits for Sam and his groomsmen were paired with dusty blue bridesmaid dresses, while their mums wore soft pastel shades. Vibrant, colourful flowers brought the whole look together and added a lovely sense of joy to the look.
Rather than chasing trends, they chose details they knew they would still love looking back on years from now. Most importantly, they wanted they wanted their wedding day to feel relaxed, full of personality and, of course – plenty of laughter!
Some of the most meaningful details were the most personal. Beth carried a charm belonging to her grandfather on her bouquet, while Sam kept a locket containing a photograph of his grandmother inside his jacket.
Their favours were Hensol Castle mini gins and rums – a fitting choice for two gin and rum lovers! – while a surprise from Beth’s mum provided one of the funniest moments of the day.
Knowing Beth’s love of Colin the Caterpillar, she secretly arranged for bride and groom Colin and Connie to appear alongside their elegant two-tier wedding cake. It was completely unexpected and had them both laughing.
The singing waiters were a huge highlight, getting everyone singing and laughing and kicking off the evening celebrations in style.
The couple then danced the night away to a live band, with the lead singer being a friend who already knew many of their guests. Their first dance was Hungry Eyes from Dirty Dancing, one of their favourite films and songs.
With a packed dance floor and guests telling them afterwards it was one of the best weddings they’d been to, it was exactly the atmosphere they had hoped for.
With so many special moments, choosing a favourite wasn’t easy. But the couple’s most treasured memory came immediately after the ceremony, when they were given a few quiet minutes alone together.
Away from the celebrations, they had a drink and simply took everything in. After months of planning, it was their first chance to pause and realise they were finally husband and wife.
It was a small moment, but one they say they would relive in a heartbeat.
Beth and Sam couldn’t praise the Hensol Castle team enough. From the planning stages through to the wedding day, they felt completely looked after.
By the time the big day arrived, the team felt less like staff and more like part of the celebrations. Their warmth, support and attention to detail meant the couple could relax and enjoy every moment.
If there’s one thing Beth and Sam would encourage future couples to do, it’s to make the most of the incredible photo opportunities around Hensol Castle – particularly by the lake and on the staircase.
But just as importantly, they recommend taking a few moments away from the celebrations to be together. The day goes by unbelievably quickly, and even a few quiet minutes can give you the chance to stop, look around and really take it all in.
Looking back, Beth and Sam describe their Hensol Castle wedding simply:
“The most perfect day – everything we had imagined and more.”
And perhaps that’s what makes their story so lovely. A friendship that slowly became a love story, a proposal that was completely them, and a wedding venue that Beth had dreamed about since she was 14 – all coming together in one very special day.
Contact our wedding team in South Wales today to enquire and book your exclusive wedding appointment with one of our dedicated wedding coordinators.
