Claire & Nikki’s Love Story at Hensol Castle

Claire and Nikki’s love story began in the most unexpected way, at a close friend’s house through mutual friends. As Claire and Nikki put it, “From the moment we met, it truly was love at first sight. Nine years later, we are still choosing each other every day and couldn’t be more grateful for the journey we have shared.”

Their journey to marriage included a beautiful engagement at Carbis Bay in Cornwall. Surrounded by the stunning Cornish coastline, the couple described it as “the perfect setting to begin planning our forever.”

When it came to finding the perfect venue for their wedding, Claire and Nikki knew exactly what they were looking for, and Hensol Castle stole their hearts. They told us that it’s “timeless charm and vintage elegance matched the vision we had always dreamed of for our special day.”

Their wedding day perfectly reflected that timeless vision. Claire and Nikki chose to have a beautiful outdoor ceremony overlooking the serpentine lake, creating a truly romantic setting as they said “I do”. Their elegant styling continued throughout the day, with the bridal party dressed in gorgeous deep red and green tones. The rich colours complemented the timeless setting of Hensol Castle beautifully, creating a wedding that felt both classic and effortlessly elegant.

From the very beginning, our team was there to help bring that vision to life. Claire and Nikki particularly wanted to mention Laura, who supported them throughout their planning journey and, in their words, “patiently put up with us changing our minds more times than we’d like to admit!” They went on to say that “the team at Hensol Castle made us feel so supported. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they ensured every detail ran seamlessly.”

Photography: photosbyshan

While the day was filled with beautiful details, it was the personal touches that made Claire and Nikki’s wedding truly their own. Their beautiful son, Jesse, who they sadly lost in 2023, was at the heart of their day.

“We wanted him to be part of our day in every way possible,”.

From Claire’s beautiful, embroidered veil, created by Emily Kate Bridal and featuring Jesse’s name, to one of the most memorable details of the evening, a Tequila Rose fountain dedicated to Jesse, as it was his favourite shot — his memory was woven throughout their celebration.

For Claire and Nikki, these details meant everything. “He was with us in our hearts every step of the way.”

Their chosen suppliers also played a huge part in bringing their vision together. Nathan Palmer tailored their suits to perfection, while their floral arrangements were “beautifully created by the amazing Jess from Roots, who completely understood our vision and brought it to life more beautifully than we could ever have imagined.”

The atmosphere continued throughout the day with an incredible line-up of entertainment, from beautiful cello music during the ceremony and saxophone during the drinks reception, to magical entertainment in the evening, creating unforgettable moments for the couple and their guests.

One of the highlights of the evening for Claire and Nikki was their first dance to ‘Other Side’, the acoustic version by Jason Derulo, accompanied by dry sparks. The song was particularly meaningful to the couple, as Jason Derulo was the very first concert they attended together. As they explained, it therefore became “the perfect soundtrack to the beginning of our married life.”

They also wanted their guests to have an unforgettable experience, with fun touches including mini pancake stand, glow stick station for the dance floor and of course, that memorable Tequila Rose fountain

Looking back on their wedding day, Claire and Nikki summed it up beautifully. Their wedding was “everything we had dreamed of and more”, filled with “love, laughter, happy tears, unforgettable music, and the people who mean the most to us.” Every detail reflected them as a couple and celebrated the incredible journey they had shared over the past nine years.

When we asked what advice, they would give to other couples planning their wedding, their answer was simple, “Choose your suppliers carefully.” They explained that these are the people who help bring your vision to life and ensure your day runs smoothly.

We are so pleased to be part of Claire and Nikki’s beautiful wedding day and incredibly grateful that they chose to share their story with us.

And while their day was filled with so many wonderful memories, perhaps the most touching words they shared were for Jesse: “To our precious Jesse, you were with us in every smile, every tear, and every moment. We carried you with us throughout our day and always will. We love you today, tomorrow, and forever”.

Contact our wedding team in South Wales today to enquire and book your exclusive wedding appointment with one of our dedicated wedding coordinators. 

Emily Kate Bridal

Nathan Palmer – Tailoring

Jess from Roots – Florals

Preened Bridal – Makeup

Nerys Clark – Cello

Andy Jackson – Saxophone

Adam Reeves – Magic Entertainment

Mini Pancake Co – Pancake Stand

photosbyshan – Photpgraphy 

No Such Thing – Music