Roisin & Ethan’s Happily Ever After at Hensol Castle

Roisin and Ethan both arrived at Cardiff University from different corners of the UK – Roisin from Northern Ireland and Ethan from Somerset – neither knowing that Cardiff would be where their paths would cross.

They met during their first year on a night out at the Students’ Union. Ethan knew one of Roisin’s friends, and with the group looking for a housemate, he happened to say yes – but she thought Ethan was much closer to her friend than he actually was…Thankfully, it turned out not to be a red flag after all and instead, it was the beginning of their story – and years later, they found themselves getting married at one of the most beautiful venues in South Wales.

Hensol Castle was actually the first venue Roisin and Ethan saw at a wedding fayre, and they immediately fell for the Oak Room and the beautiful grounds.

Of course, they wanted to make sure they’d found the one, so they went on to look around around seven other venues. But no matter what else they saw, they kept coming back to the castle.

Sometimes you can visit every venue on the list and still find yourself thinking about the very first one. For Roisin and Ethan, Hensol had that feeling – and eventually, they knew it was where they wanted to say “I do”.

Classic with plenty of personality When it came to the look and feel of the day, Roisin didn’t have a particular wedding “theme” in mind, but she knew she wanted the day to embody the word “joy”. She wanted lots of colourful flowers, particularly to bring brightness alongside the peppermint green bridesmaid dresses. With a fresh spring feel in mind, the flowers became a beautiful burst of colour throughout the celebration.

Most importantly, she wanted the day to feel like them. With two sisters who had already had their own weddings, Roisin was determined not to copy either of them – so instead, she created something colourful, happy and completely her own.

Some of the most meaningful details of Roisin and Ethan’s wedding were the ones that couldn’t be seen at first glance.

Roisin’s dad sadly passed away the October before the wedding, so finding special ways to include him was incredibly important. Her bridesmaids gave her a beautiful bouquet pin featuring a photograph of Roisin and her dad, allowing her to carry his memory with her as she walked down the aisle.

Her aunt and uncle also brought a small amount of her dad’s ashes for Roisin to carry in her pocket, along with his sword, which would later be used to cut the wedding cake.

There were other special family touches too. Roisin wore her paternal grandmother’s engagement ring, while Ethan wore Roisin’s dad’s watch and cufflinks, alongside his grandfather’s pocket watch.

Roisin and Ethan’s wedding cake was very special. It was surrounded by wildflowers, with delicate dried flowers pressed into the buttercream. It looked beautiful and – importantly – tasted just as good.

The three tiers were Victoria sponge, spiced apple and lemon – a combination that has left Roisin wishing she could have it on repeat. Her verdict? “If I could eat that cake every day, I would.”

The cake cutting itself became one of the most memorable moments of the day. Using her dad’s sword made it incredibly personal, especially knowing how much he had worried about safely transporting it from Northern Ireland.

There were so many moments throughout the day that Roisin and Ethan know they’ll remember forever, but one of Roisin’s favourites was Ethan’s speech. He had been so nervous beforehand, but you would never have known it. He had everyone laughing, sobbing and cheering, and for Roisin, it was simply perfect.

Seeing each other for the first time brought a huge sense of relief, too. “Like we made it!” she remembers. “Neither of us had run away yet.”

Some of the most emotional moments came in the ways Roisin’s dad was remembered throughout the day. When the wind caught their confetti during a group photograph and sent it flying upwards, Roisin felt as though he was joining in with the celebrations.

Later, they played “The Sweetest Thing” by U2, the song she shared with her dad, for the father-daughter dance. Roisin danced with her mum and sisters instead, making it an incredibly special family moment.

And if she could relive just one moment from the whole day, it would be the moment the registrar married them – the moment when, after everything, they finally became husband and wife.

Roisin couldn’t have been happier with the Hensol Castle team, who she says were amazing from start to finish and “could not have done enough” for her.

Her advice for future Hensol Castle couples is not to miss the LOVE letters – something she was very sad to realise they’d forgotten!

If she had to describe the wedding in a phrase, it would be “Happily ever after.” And it’s easy to see why. With a beautiful castle, spring flowers, a room full of people they love, and a day filled with laughter and happy tears, Roisin truly felt like a princess.

Now, their next chapter is beginning. The newlyweds are hoping to adopt a cat in the next few months. As self-confessed cat and dog lovers, they’re hoping their home will eventually be filled with plenty of cute, fluffy friends.

For Roisin and Ethan, the fairytale may have had its castle wedding – but their happily ever after is only just beginning.

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