Some weddings feel polished. Jade and Matt’s felt alive. A Doc Marten wearing bride with tattoos and a groom who was in a band who were both intent on doing things their way, this was going to be my kind of wedding!
They took a 200-year-old lighthouse on the Welsh coast and turned it into a colour-bright, sea-breezy celebration with zero interest in tradition for tradition’s sake.
Two years ago I ventured out of Staffordshire for a wedding at a lighthouse in Wales. I grabbed my cameras packed up the van and went off to photograph Jade and Matts amazingly colourful wedding day.
The Vibe
Forget pastel palettes and tidy timelines. This wedding was loud, DIY, and full of personality — the kind of day that totally reflected this alternative and laid back couple.
The Venue – West Usk Lighthouse which sits on the edge of the estuary, half-hidden by the tide and Welsh weather. A unique and quirky place to hold a wedding. Bonus for sci-fi fans: the lighthouse was featured in a Jodie Whittaker Doctor Who episode, giving it instant cult status. Perfect for a couple who wanted something a little offbeat.
I joined Jade who was finishing getting ready in the light-keepers lodge, the weather was grey and drizzling but that certainly didn’t take anything away from this one of a kind wedding. The personal attention to detail at this wedding was everywhere, from the handmade buttonholes featuring trolls (90s kids will know what I’m on about here) to the guitar ‘guest book’ – where guests could leave their message to the newlyweds. I knew when I spoke with the couple before their wedding day that it wouldn’t be a run of the mill kinda day.
The Ceremony
The ceremony was held inside the marquee that was basically a blank box that they later flipped for the wedding breakfast. Mismatched chairs, pom poms and paper balls hung from the ceiling and twinkly fairy lights joined it altogether.
The colour scheme? “All of them.” They didn’t want a theme; they wanted energy. And it worked. Needless to say the colours on the photos look fantastic. Capturing photos here really was a dream, we were even allowed inside the lighthouse by the very lovely owners to take some photographs.
One of the best bits of this wedding was the bar – which seems a funny thing to pick out I know! Matt and Jade had stock-pilled lots of every drink you could imagine and left them out for guests to help themselves, I loved the informal feel this gave things. The way everyone just pitched in pouring and making drinks, I even came home with two bottles of wine myself which is always a bonus!
What Made It Theirs
- DIY everything – Jade designed the invites and table signage herself; friends and family helped set up the marquee the night before.
- Zero pretence – They ditched formality but not meaning. The focus was connection, not choreography.
- Colour explosion – No palette rules, just bold tones that made every photo pop.
- Pop culture cred – The Doctor Who connection gave the venue an extra layer of cool.
- A family run business, – so you are not just going to be another number to them. This wedding venue tends to attract couples who want something different, Jade and Matt were no exception!
Why West Usk Lighthouse Works for Alternative Weddings
- It’s weird in the best way. Round rooms, sea views, and no “wedding factory” vibe. Amazing places to take photos!
- Total creative freedom — bring your own food, drinks, decorations and playlist.
- A field for guests to camp overnight in.
- Bonus: sci-fi fans will appreciate walking in a location seen in Doctor Who.
Jade and Matt didn’t want a “perfect” wedding. They wanted a celebration that looked and felt like them — alternative, colourful, and full of heart. Getting to photograph couples who are doing it their way on their wedding day is a big part of what I love about my job as a Staffordshire wedding photographer.
If you’re planning a wedding day that is colourful, alternative or unique I’d love to photograph your day! Get in touch here.