66 Weddings, 10 Years and a Place That Feels Like Home: My Tyn Dŵr Hall Story

Celebrating ten wonderful years of Tyn Dŵr Hall, Llangollen — and looking back at the weddings, friendships and memories that have made this beautiful North Wales wedding venue such a special part of my life.

Above; Tyn Dŵr Hall sits nestled in the Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Landscape, just on the edge of Llangollen in North Wales.

There are certain places that become more than just somewhere you work. Places where you know the people, the little routines, the best spots to watch the sunset and, perhaps most importantly, where to find the tea and biscuits.

For me, Tyn Dŵr Hall is one of those places.

As the hall celebrates its tenth anniversary this October, I've been reflecting on just how much this beautiful wedding venue, nestled in the Dee Valley near Llangollen, has become part of my own story.

66 weddings. Almost a decade of photographs. Hundreds of wonderful people. And more memories than I could possibly count.

But it's the friendships, the laughter and the feeling of coming home that have made Tyn Dŵr Hall so special to me.

Where it all began — October 2017

My first wedding at Tyn Dŵr Hall was on 12th October 2017, just a year after the venue opened.

Kay and Keiron were a wonderful couple. We'd already enjoyed a pre-wedding shoot up on the Horseshoe Pass, and I remember arriving at the hall feeling excited to photograph somewhere relatively new to the North Wales wedding scene.

One of my clearest memories is Kay's beautiful veil flowing down the staircase, framed by the hall's elegant interior.

Little did I know that this would become something of a signature photograph for me over the years.

Another favourite image from their wedding was taken on the swing in the grounds, with Kay's veil flowing beautifully around her and the rich reds of their wedding styling adding to the atmosphere.

That photograph went on to feature on the front cover of a national bridal magazine.

Not a bad introduction to Tyn Dŵr Hall!

Above; my first wedding at Tyn Dŵr Hall made the cover of the winter 2017 National Weddings Magazine!

Over the following couple of years, I was fortunate to return regularly. By 2019, I was photographing around eight to ten weddings there in a single year, and something lovely was beginning to happen.

I wasn't just learning the venue photographically. I was getting to know the people who made it tick.

And those relationships would become every bit as important as the photographs.

The feeling of coming home

These days, when a couple enquires about my photography and tells me they've booked Tyn Dŵr Hall, I already know we're going to have a wonderful day.

It's home turf for me, in many ways.

I know the drive through those beautiful iron gates, with the hall gradually appearing through the trees. I know that when I arrive, there's a good chance Andrew will be somewhere nearby, ready to stop for a chat and catch up on life.

I know that as I walk around from the car park, I'll probably glance up towards the bridal dressing room and see the excitement already building.

And when I step through the front door, perhaps with the fire crackling in the entrance hall, there'll invariably be someone from the team ready with a smile and a warm welcome.

It's a little like visiting old friends.

Actually, that's exactly what it is.

Over the years, the team at Tyn Dŵr have become genuine friends, and I think that familiarity makes such a difference to the way we all work together on a wedding day.

There's also a very important little tradition involving the pantry.

The team have always encouraged us to make ourselves at home, and there's usually tea and a biscuit tin waiting for suppliers.

If that tin happens to be empty, I can't pretend I'm not a little disappointed.

It's become something of a running joke over the years!

But it's those little things that tell you so much about a place. The hospitality isn't just reserved for the couples and their guests. It's part of the culture of Tyn Dŵr Hall.

Above; attending the 2022 Tyn Dŵr Hall staff Christmas party and right, my new Tyn Dŵr Hall coffee mug for when I arrive (thanks Rachael & Ste!)!

66 weddings, and never the same wedding twice

One of the great joys of photographing so many weddings at Tyn Dŵr is that no two have ever felt the same.

I've photographed the hall beneath glorious summer sunshine, surrounded by autumn colours, illuminated against dark winter skies and even blanketed in snow.

And looking back through my galleries, there are so many wonderful memories.

In March 2018, Thea and Neil married during a particularly snowy spell. The grounds were transformed into a winter wonderland, the waterfall appeared to have frozen, and Thea embraced the conditions with a warm shrug over her wedding dress.

We ventured outside into the snow, and those photographs remain some of my favourites.

That wedding was also one of the first times I worked with makeup artist Lizzie Griffiths, who would become a lovely friend and eventually do the makeup for my own wedding in 2022.

Then there was Elin and William's wedding, complete with wonderful traditional haulage vehicles, and Lauren and Sean's wedding in June 2019, which gave me one of my most recognisable photographs.

It was a rainy evening, and rather than avoiding the weather, we decided to embrace it.

With some carefully placed lighting, the rain became part of the photograph, creating an incredibly atmospheric nighttime portrait.

Even now, couples occasionally tell me they've seen that particular image and remember it when thinking about Tyn Dŵr Hall.

There was Laura and Craig's beautiful military wedding in August 2021, complete with Craig's full Army dress uniform and a guard of honour.

Sion and Paul's wedding in December 2021 was another unforgettable celebration. My first same-sex wedding at the hall, it was a day absolutely overflowing with joy.

Just a week later, Kate and Andrew transformed the woodland with spectacular lighting, showing just how magical the grounds can look during a winter wedding.

In July 2022, I photographed Rhys and Kate's wedding alongside my good friend and videographer Matthew Lloyd.

I remember the photographs being lovely, but what really stays with me is the laughter.

The four of us wandered around the gardens in the evening, chatting and joking as though we'd known each other for years. Sometimes you just click with a couple, and photographing their wedding feels more like spending the day with friends.

Katie and Nick's wedding in April 2023 was another brilliantly fun day. Katie rocked a leather jacket, and we even ended up photographing the two of them sitting in the bridal suite bathtub — fully clothed, I hasten to add!

It was somewhere I'd never really considered for portraits before, but it worked perfectly because it suited their personalities.

Then there was Demi and Simon's wedding that summer. Both huge Jurassic Park fans, we found ourselves in the woodland during the most extraordinary golden-hour light. It almost felt as though a dinosaur might come wandering around the corner.

Kirsten and Scott's wedding in June 2024 gave me another opportunity to experiment creatively, with smoke flares, sunlight filtering through the trees and beautiful evening lighting.

And in August 2025, Connor and Ffion embraced a new idea Matthew and I had, heading into a neighbouring field of long golden grass and using the garden room architecture from outside after dark!

With Ffion's veil catching the breeze and the sun dropping towards the horizon, we created some of my favourite Tyn Dŵr photographs to date.

More recently, Rachael and Steven brought a wonderfully rock-and-roll feel to their wedding, with leather jackets, bold black styling and a spectacular atmosphere in the Garden Room.

I could go on.

In fact, choosing just a handful of memories from 66 weddings feels almost unfair, because every couple has brought something different to the hall.

That's what makes wedding photography so special.

Knowing the light, embracing the weather

After photographing so many weddings at one venue, you develop an almost instinctive understanding of how it works.

And Tyn Dŵr certainly keeps you on your toes.

The Dee Valley has its own changeable weather patterns. You can have the most glorious golden sunshine one minute and dramatic clouds rolling across the hills half an hour later.

But that's part of its beauty.

I've learned when the sun will filter through the trees behind the cottage, how beautiful the autumn light can be around the swing, and where to find the best opportunities for portraits as the evening approaches.

I know how atmospheric the hall can look illuminated after dark, and that rain doesn't have to mean abandoning outdoor photographs.

Sometimes, rain creates the most memorable images of all.

There's a balance, though, between knowing the classic Tyn Dŵr photographs couples have fallen in love with and making sure every wedding feels individual.

The staircase, the swing, the stream and those beautiful views of the hall are all iconic for a reason.

But I never want a couple to feel as though we're simply recreating somebody else's wedding album.

The grounds are constantly evolving, with new planting, changing seasons and fresh opportunities to discover.

Even after 66 weddings, I'm still finding new places and new ways to photograph them.

And occasionally, we have some unexpected guests.

A few years ago, a family of ducks made themselves at home around the stream. One of the wedding team decided to name one of them Joe.

So naturally, I now make a point of looking out for Joe the duck whenever I'm there.

And if he and his family happen to wander into a wedding photograph, all the better!

Above; Joe the Tyn Dŵr Hall duck...

Elegance without pretension

If someone asked me to describe what makes a Tyn Dŵr Hall wedding special, I'd probably say it's the perfect balance of elegance and genuinely warm hospitality.

It's a beautiful, grand building, and there's a real sense of occasion when you arrive.

But it never feels intimidating or overly formal.

The warmth of the team immediately puts people at ease, and I think that's one of the venue's greatest strengths.

Tyn Dŵr is family-run, and the consistency of its hospitality over the past decade has been remarkable.

Tracy, who leads the wedding team, is affectionately known as 'Mother Hen' by some of the staff, and it's easy to understand why.

She's someone who genuinely cares about the people around her and will go above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Her husband Andrew is equally wonderful — one of the most down-to-earth people you could wish to meet, and always ready for a friendly chat.

And then there's Phil, the chef.

His food is exceptional. So much so that when Helena and I got married in April 2022, we actually asked Phil to provide some of the catering for our own wedding, even though we weren't getting married at Tyn Dŵr.

I can't think of a better endorsement than that!

From the wedding coordinators and sales team to the bar staff and everyone welcoming guests, there's a genuine pride in what they do.

And that consistency has been there throughout the decade.

More than colleagues — a wedding family

One of the things I've come to appreciate most is the wonderful community of wedding professionals who've grown alongside Tyn Dŵr Hall.

People like Nick and Felicity from Uplit Events, who've been transforming the venue with beautiful styling and flowers for years.

DJ Paul Griffiths, another familiar face who's provided the soundtrack to countless celebrations.

Matthew Lloyd, Lizzie Griffiths, Julie at Red Rose Cakes and so many other talented suppliers from across Wrexham, Llangollen, North East Wales and Cheshire.

I've even become good friends with other wedding photographers through the venue, including Livy Edwards and Sally Joanne.

We're technically competitors, I suppose, but it never feels that way. There's a lovely sense of mutual respect and friendship within our local wedding industry.

Over the years, I've also watched members of the Tyn Dŵr team develop their careers, pursue new opportunities and establish their own businesses.

People like Lissy, who moved from event coordination into videography, Emily who's gone on to launch Elevent ice cream and Becca, who went on to create her own successful coffee business in Wrexham, "Meet Me in the Morning".

Yet many retain their connections with the hall.

That says something about the loyalty and friendships the venue inspires.

We've even been invited along to the staff Christmas celebrations over the years, which really does make you feel part of the family.

And during the difficult COVID years, those relationships became particularly important.

Like everyone in the wedding industry, we faced uncertainty and disruption. But when weddings gradually returned, we adapted, supported one another and found reasons to laugh, even behind our face masks.

I'll never forget the relief and happiness when weddings finally returned properly.

We'd come through something incredibly difficult together, and the hall was still there, ready to welcome couples and create new memories.

How Tyn Dŵr helped me grow as a photographer

Looking back at my photographs from 2017, I can see how much my own approach has evolved.

During the pandemic, I had time to revisit previous weddings, reflect on my editing and think about what I wanted my photography to represent.

I realised that rather than chasing every new photographic trend, what mattered most to me was creating timeless, natural images that couples would love for decades.

True-to-life colours, beautiful light, genuine emotion and photographs that really reflect the atmosphere of the day.

But perhaps the biggest change has been in how I look after my couples.

Having photographed hundreds of weddings, and particularly after becoming a groom myself in 2022, I understand just how quickly a wedding day passes.

The last thing I want is for couples to feel as though they're spending their entire afternoon being directed around by a photographer.

I want them to enjoy their wedding.

At Tyn Dŵr, that might mean slipping away for ten minutes to sit on the swing, taking a gentle walk through the grounds at sunset or simply enjoying a little time together beside the waterfall.

Often, the best portraits happen when couples forget they're having their photographs taken.

And knowing the venue so well means I can quietly anticipate things, keep an eye on the weather, work closely with the wedding team and help everything flow naturally.

There's something incredibly rewarding about saying goodbye at the end of the evening and receiving a hug from a couple who tell me how relaxed and comfortable they've felt.

For me, that's every bit as important as the photographs themselves.

A place that's become part of my own family's story

Some of my most treasured Tyn Dŵr memories have nothing to do with wedding photography.

When Helena and I got married in 2022, the team sent us the most beautiful wedding gift.

It was completely unexpected and incredibly thoughtful.

Then, when our little boy Teddy arrived in 2025, another wonderful package appeared, filled with little gifts and mementos to welcome him into the world.

Neither gesture was something the team needed to do.

But both meant an enormous amount to us.

They reminded me that the friendships I'd made at Tyn Dŵr had become part of my life well beyond the wedding industry.

And there's another memory that will stay with me forever.

Through my work in tourism, I was once helping to organise a special event for Wrexham Football Club, welcoming American guests connected with the club.

I immediately thought of Tyn Dŵr Hall.

Tracy and the team went above and beyond to create an exceptional evening, with Phil preparing a wonderful meal.

We also arranged for the Fron Male Voice Choir to perform before dinner.

I'll never forget standing quietly at the back of the room as 52 choristers sang the Welsh National Anthem.

The sound filling that beautiful hall was absolutely breathtaking.

I remember wishing I could have stepped outside for a moment, just to hear how that incredible music might have echoed across the grounds.

What stays with me most, though, is the pride I felt watching the Tyn Dŵr team deliver such a memorable experience.

I was proud to have recommended them, proud of the welcome they'd given our visitors and proud to call them friends.

My advice to couples getting married at Tyn Dŵr Hall

If you've recently booked your wedding at Tyn Dŵr, firstly, congratulations. You've chosen somewhere really special.

My biggest piece of advice would be to make the most of the whole experience.

Don't think of your wedding as just one day.

Stay in the beautiful cottage, enjoy the grounds, let your guests experience the yurts and individually styled rooms in the Coach House, and give yourselves time to appreciate where you are.

Because you're not simply choosing a wedding venue.

You're choosing a landscape.

The Dee Valley is one of the most beautiful parts of Wales, with the River Dee winding through Llangollen and Castell Dinas Brân watching over the town from the hillside.

Perhaps arrive a day early, enjoy a walk along the river or spend some time exploring the valley.

And if you can, stay a little longer afterwards.

Take a peaceful walk together the morning after your wedding, reflect on everything that's happened and enjoy the fact that this beautiful corner of North Wales will now always hold a special place in your story.

It's somewhere you can return to for anniversaries, weekends away and future adventures.

And when it comes to your wedding photographs, please don't worry about having to pose for hours.

Enjoy yourselves, trust the people around you and allow the day to unfold.

The photographs will follow.

Ten years of Tyn Dŵr Hall — and here's to the next ten

As Tyn Dŵr Hall celebrates its tenth anniversary, I want to finish with a very personal thank you.

To Matt, Tracy, Andrew and every member of the team, past and present — huge congratulations.

What you've achieved since 2016 is remarkable.

You've taken a beautiful historic building, invested in it, believed in its potential and created one of the most respected wedding venues in North Wales.

And you've done it while maintaining something that can be incredibly difficult in hospitality: consistency.

The same warmth, the same attention to detail and the same genuine desire to give every couple an unforgettable experience.

Through my tourism work, I also appreciate the wider contribution you've made to Llangollen and the surrounding area.

You've welcomed visitors, supported local businesses, created opportunities for suppliers and helped young people develop skills and confidence in hospitality.

Some of those people have gone on to create businesses of their own, taking a little of what they've learned at Tyn Dŵr into the wider world.

That's a legacy worth celebrating.

But on a personal level, I simply want to say thank you.

Wedding photography can sometimes be a surprisingly solitary profession. We work long days, often independently, and spend countless hours behind our computers editing photographs.

Tyn Dŵr Hall has given me something beyond a wonderful place to work.

It's given me friendships, confidence, encouragement and a sense of belonging.

It's been part of my professional journey, but also part of my family's story.

And after 66 weddings, I still get excited when another Tyn Dŵr booking lands in my diary.

I still love driving through those iron gates.

I still look forward to seeing the familiar faces.

I still love finding a new little pocket of evening light somewhere in the grounds.

And yes, I'll still be checking whether there are any biscuits left in the tin.

Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for the friendship. And thank you for making Tyn Dŵr Hall feel like home.

Here's to the next ten years, and hopefully many more wonderful weddings together.

Happy 10th anniversary, Tyn Dŵr Hall.

Joe x

Joe Bickerton is an award-winning wedding photographer based in Shropshire, photographing weddings across North Wales, Cheshire and beyond. Since his first Tyn Dŵr Hall wedding in October 2017, he has photographed 66 celebrations at the venue, capturing everything from intimate moments and spectacular sunsets to snowy landscapes and unforgettable dancefloors.