Sant Ffraed House: A Monmouthshire Wedding Venue
A Relaxed Wedding at Sant Ffraed House
I’m always happy when I’m asked to be a Sant Ffraed House wedding photographer. As a wedding photographer in Monmouthshire, this wonderful place is definitely right up there with my favourite South Wales wedding venues!
My style and approach is mostly informal, natural and unobtrusive. I love to capture beautiful portraits of you on your day, but I won’t be taking you off for hours away from your guests. You deserve to have fun on your special day, and I’m conscious of keeping the balance so that you get plenty of time with your family and friends.
Capturing the party at Sant Ffraed is one of my favourite things to do, so I won’t rush off after your first dance and love to get those hilarious moments of your guests letting loose on the dancefloor.
The Client’s Said
“From the first meeting Becky was incredibly warm and friendly, and put us right as ease.
The day itself was brilliant and Becky was imaginative and creative in getting us some special photographs. We were not lucky with the weather but that did not stop Becky getting some incredible shots both inside and outside. She was calm and lovely to be around.
Nothing felt forced and she always checked we were happy to have more photos or if we wanted more time to mingle with the guests.
Becky highlighted the importance of capturing those special family moments and her work really did capture the love in the room throughout the day.
The Oldwalls Collection
The Oldwalls Group is a company that specializes in high-quality events and celebrations. Based in Wales, the group owns and operates several stunning properties that have been beautifully restored and repurposed as luxury venues. The group’s properties are located in some of the most picturesque areas of the Welsh countryside, each one offering its own unique charm and character.
Sant Ffraed House is one of the venues within the Oldwalls Collection. This wonderful Grade II listed venue sits just outside of Abergavenny, in the Monmouthshire countryside. This recently renovated manor house is surrounded by 14 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, providing the perfect backdrop for your special day. Sant Ffraed offers a range of indoor and outdoor spaces, the traditional drawing room for indoor weddings, the terrace, for outdoor ceremonies and the K room, a contemporary piece of architecture which can’t fail to wow your guests.
Outside Sant Ffraed are views of the pretty church from across the lake, up to Sugar Loaf Mountain and beyond, into the South Wales countryside.
The team at Sant Ffraed House pride themselves on their attention to detail and personalized service, ensuring that every aspect of your day is tailored to your specific requirements.
A day to Celebrate at Sant Ffraed House
Morning Preparations at a Monmouthshire Venue
There was snow on the Welsh hills as I headed up through the Monmouthshire countryside towards Sant Ffraed House. It was the week before Christmas and this wonderful Welsh venue was decorated with Christmas trees in golds and white, with twinkly candles an fairly lights. The drawing room was already set up with black chairs and white sashes, ready for the ceremony. There were pretty views over St Bride’s church and the lake, despite the grey December day, and it felt cost and welcoming inside.
B and her bridesmaids arrived shortly after me, and were assisted up to the magnificent bridal suite by the Sant Ffraed staff. The girls were giddy with excitement about the enormous suite, with its vast bathroom, beautifully decorated bedroom, and the mirror-lined disco room – complete with disco ball and jukebox!
I got to work capturing details whilst the girls got busy getting into their bridesmaids dresses and sipping champagne. B’s mum helped her into her beautiful lace gown before her bridesmaids and Dad got to see her in her outfit.
We took a handful of portraits before everyone dissolved into tears at the sight of B and it wasn’t long before the bridal party were ushered downstairs in preparation for the ceremony.
Wedding Ceremonies at Sant Ffraed House
Groom, M, was waiting patiently at the altar and looking relaxed while he chatted to his best man and the guests. M’s face lit up at the sight of B and her dad, walking down the aisle.
It was wonderfully happy ceremony, and everyone cheered as the couple were pronounced husband and wife. Once the rings had been exchanged and the register had been signed, the couple walked back up the aisle as husband and wife, showered in white confetti by their guests.
A Sant Ffraed House Wedding Reception
I snapped some candid shots of guests drinking mulled wine and cider whilst the couple shared a few minutes alone. Once the Sant Ffraed staff had cleared the ceremony set-up, everyone was welcomed back into the drawing room for the drinks reception. The coordinator announced the couple back in, where they were greeted with congratulations and well wishes from their friends and families.
Once we’d finished with the groups, the guests were ushered over to the K room whilst the bride, groom and I took an opportunity to take some portraits. It was raining outside but there was lots of options indoors for some beautiful stills of the newly-weds. As we were finishing off, B asked me if I’d mind heading outside in the rain for a short while. I am always happy to go outside in the rain so we grabbed an umbrella and headed out. I just love the romantic stills of these two under their umbrellas in the rain outside stunning Sant Ffraed.
Once we’d joined the guests inside the K room, I went to capture some details of the wedding breakfast set-up and impressive three-tiered cake. By this time, the sky was beginning to darken outside, and it made everything feel so cosy and Christmassy indoors.
Once speeches were over and the toasts had been made. B, M and I popped outdoors in the rain with an umbrella for some gorgeous night portraits. I lit up the umbrella with a flash just below the couple and popped an off-camera flash on a stand further behind them for a gorgeous bit of back-light glow. The rain created a gorgeous atmosphere and the couple embraced getting wet for a minute or two!
Once I’d set up my lights for the first dance, I headed back to the Sant Ffraed bar to capture some more candids of guests having fun, before the couple were called forward for their first dance. In what was a hilarious and confusing moment, the lead singer of the band got the order wrong and announced the couple for their first dance before their cake cutting! This meant the newly-weds danced around their cake before cutting it! It gave us all a good giggle!
Capturing dancefloor action is one of my favourite things to do, I love it! B and M’s Sant Ffraed dancefloor was buzzing and I great time capturing the fun!
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Similar Venues to Sant Ffraed House
You might also be interested in other nearby South Wales and Monmouthshire Venues:
– Bredenbury Court Barns
-Caer Llan
– St Tewdrics
– How Caple Court
– The Barn at Brynich
– Peterstone Court
San Ffraed House – Frequently Asked Questions
Do you photograph lots of weddings here?
Yes! I work at Sant Ffraed House and lots of other nearby venues. I am a photographer based in Herefordshire, so I frequently photograph weddings all over the Welsh Border.
What style works best?
My style is mostly documentary and informal, I’m keen for my clients to have the most relaxed and enjoyable wedding day as possible! So my style suits couples who want a more informal day at Sant Ffraed House.
When is the best time for portraits?
The best time is when your guests are being seated for their meal. It’s also great to get out for some golden hour shots at sunset, if the weather allows, and we are spoilt for choice for backdrops at Sant Ffraed House.
Do you offer packages for this venue?
Yes! I love photographing weddings at Sant Ffraed House, and I offer micro-wedding packages as well as full-day packages. I also offer mid-week discounts!
The History of Sant Ffraed House
Sant Ffraed House is a Grade II listed country house wedding venue tucked into the Monmouthshire countryside near Abergavenny. It’s surrounded by 14 acres of landscaped gardens and has gorgeous views over the Sugar Loaf mountain. The house was thoughtfully restored by The Oldwalls Collection and opened as a wedding venue in 2022. It’s thoughtfully decorated and is beautifully immersed in the Welsh countryside.
Sant Ffraed House is an exceptional wedding venue in Monmouthshire, with indoor and outdoor ceremony options for couples. The listed architecture is a pretty backdrop, and the contemporary interiors make it feel fresh and welcoming, making it practical for modern weddings. Sant Ffraed House is perfect for couples wanting a South Wales wedding venue.
Becky, Your Photographer
I’m Becky, a Herefordshire-based wedding photographer drawn to real connection, quiet moments, and the emotional undercurrent of a wedding day.
My background in nursing, and my own experiences of love and loss, mean I photograph with deep sensitivity and care — always tuned in to how a day feels, not just how it looks.
I work in a calm, unobtrusive way, giving people space to be themselves, whether that’s a big celebration or an intimate micro wedding.
My approach is natural, honest, and documentary-led, creating photographs that allow you to return to the emotion of your day for years to come.
I regularly photograph weddings across Herefordshire and South Wales, and I love to capture weddings at Sant Ffraed House.
Are you planning a Sant Ffraed House wedding?
I’d love to know more