#milgi

Back in September we were asked to do our first ever bit of wedding decor for Matt & Gaby’s Autumn Equinox celebration, and we were well chuffed to be involved. 

The location was the beautiful Coed Hills commune near St Hilary, and couldn’t have been more perfect.

M & G wanted an almost cosmic theme running throughout, as the wedding fell on the weekend of the equinox, using as much recycled and natural material as we could. 

We took to dyeing string with beetroot and turmeric, and visiting our favourite scrap store; Recreate, for reels of crepe paper and shiny things. 

Ourselves and Gaby spent many evenings tying the dyed string into knots and cascading it above the dance floor for an organic looking centre piece, and hanging strips of coloured crepe paper as the backdrop for the ceremony. 

The invites were also in keeping with the theme and the menu, and the logo we created with sugar paper and a sewing machine, was used on the complimentary bottles of Kombucha made by Gaby.

The Bar featured quite simply cut out moons and stars suspended on fishing wire, and glowing cardboard boxes with cut out shapes. 

Its always extremely satisfying to create something visually effective using found materials and simple ideas. Its what we live for!

The overall day was beautiful and the sun shone without a grey cloud in sight! We all feasted on the most delicious food from Milgi and elderflower cocktails and danced under the stars.

Two years ago I did a valentine-themed piece for a student newspaper that never saw the light of day. I was pretty pleased with it, so I'm going to stick it up here. I hope you like.

Some lovely places in and around Cardiff

Seeing as it’s the month of love and Valentines Day has just swept us off our feet, I decided to take a love-themed photographic tour of some of my favourite places around Cardiff.

(In no particular order…)

Castell Coch

Just a stones throw away from Trefforest, this beautiful Gothic masterpiece peaks through the woodlands overlooking the busy A470. I’ve visited most of the castles of South Wales and this striking revival is certainly one of my favourites. It’s packed full of history and, because of it’s reconstruction in the late 19th century, you can walk through each of the rooms and learn a little about what went on there. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re into Gothic architecture; it’s structure is absolutely stunning to behold.

Bute Park

Back garden to Cardiff’s medieval centerpiece, Bute Park sits behind Cardiff Castle right in the centre of the city. It follows the River Taff, stretching for 130 acres all the way up through Cardiff. Because of it’s central position within the city, it’s a popular scenic route into town by many residents, as well as a popular tourist destination for those visiting the castle. Walking through the park now sparks pleasant memories of summers past; sitting on the grass enjoying a small barbecue and drinking cider with some friends in the musky evening heat.

The Pear Tree

The first thing we did when we moved into our house in Roath was explore all of the local pubs and bars. The Pear Tree is the closest drinking-hole to our house and just so happens to be our favourite. It’s got a very inviting, warm and friendly atmosphere that really draws people in, an absolutely delicious menu and an ample range of booze. My housemates and I used to pop over every other Sunday to have some dinner whilst taking part in the Top of the Tree quiz, with a rather tasty £70 as first prize. We even won once, too!

The Bay

Anyone who knows Cardiff knows of ol’ Tiger Bay. If it’s a nice day, it’ll be completely crammed with people enjoying the beautiful view, copious restaurants and bars and visiting the Millennium Centre, Techniquest or maybe even the Doctor Who Experience. There really is something for everyone. I love to stroll along the waters edge with a camera (or two…), just taking in the simplistic beauty of the place.

Milgi

This quirky little restaurant sits at the top end of City Road, right in the heart of Roath. Although perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, due to it’s entirely organic vegetarian menu, it rocks a funky, offbeat atmosphere (there’s even a Yurt out the back…) and attracts a lot of attention from the students and young artists of Cardiff. My crowd are a big fan of the kind of food Milgi serve and are always up for a fresh, alternative evening out. What could be better than sitting on a comfy sofa in a Yurt with some fresh, organic food, good drinks and good company? Bliss.

Penarth Pier

Poking out into the sea, the pier at the bottom of the little, slopey town of Penarth makes for a great day out in the spring/summer months. Everything there is so wonderfully photogenic, whether it’s the quaint little huts on the pier selling ice creams and sandwiches, or the pebbly beach stretching out for the length of the town. It’s a favourite destination of mine for any kind of photography; I’ve taken a lot of portraits here making use of the wonderful scenery, as well as documenting the beautiful landscape.

I hope you've enjoyed my tour through a snippet of what Cardiff has to offer and I hope you take the time to visit some of these places, one day.