Maria Farrelly Photography

1951-2024.
On Thursday 9th May, my mum passed away aged 72. After years of ill health she’s finally at peace and in no more pain.

For those that knew her well and want to pay their respects, her funeral will be on Thursday 6th June, 11.30am at Canley Crematorium, Coventry.

It’s hard to find the right words at present but they’ll come in time x

GRAB YOUR TICKETS ❤️💍
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-wedding-show-tickets-787298179047

The Wedding Show Get ready for The Wedding Show, the ultimate in-person event where you'll find what you need to plan your dream wedding.

Trigger warning:
It’s my dads 75th birthday today.
Always a difficult day for me but important I acknowledge. He went missing when I was 18 and never been found. 😞
I’ve had plenty of therapy over the years to unpack the void along with other stuff. I’ve learnt to let the feelings wash over me now and they eventually pass. I just need to go more gentle on days like today.

The hardest thing is the not knowing, no closure.

I grieve all the things he’s missed out on, all the times I’ve really needed him, my boys missing out on another grandfather etc… but I also remain hopeful that one day I’ll get a call to say he’s been found.

I had a little cry this morning. Then my eldest son took me for a wonder around the NPT food festival, we had lunch, I then treated myself to something nice and now home for a quiet evening.

Days like this suck but I’m grateful for what I do have. Two awesome sons ❤️
(Pic: my dad & I)

Meanwhile… over on CTB… ❤️

Bore Da!
Our online shop is on its way! Something for every Welsh bride & groom ❤️

If you were at CWTCHFEST last month, you’d have seen our very first collection. We’re so proud of it! Some of you even pre-ordered and now enjoying them (we’ve even spotted a few of our hoodies at music festivals! My god does that make us smile! 😊

Here are our Priodferch & Priodfab mugs ❤️ the perfect size for tea/coffee lovers…. Great with a Welsh cake or slice of Bara brith too 😉

We recently shot our clothing range at Barry Island a few weeks ago! Featuring our Cwtch Girls’ - all real brides planning their Welsh wedding. (I know they’re itching to get their orders in!). Can’t wait to share the images with you all soon.

Eek! 3 deep breaths… LETS DO IT!

Follow our stories for the launch date! ❤️

Image by: Maria Farrelly Photography

Huge congratulations Liam & Glenn. Thanks for choosing me to shoot your big Welsh Wedding 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️

Confetti goals 🎉

Shot for Cwtch The Bride’s new clothing collection that launches soon 👌🏻

Run a cool wedding business?
Last few spaces remaining for CWTCHFEST. Get in touch asap if you’d like to join us on Sunday 2nd July ❤️

When I try to explain a CWTCH to anyone outside of Wales they always look at me funny. “Eh? What on Earth is that?” Followed by “oh, it’s just a hug?!”.

The thing is, it’s not JUST a hug. It’s way more than that.

I’ve lived in Wales for 27yrs now and can categorically tell you that a Cwtch is way better than any hug I’ve ever had.

This shot explains it perfectly. A Cwtch is full of love, joy and an embrace like you never want to let them go! It’s completely genuine and you know it is - because you can feel the energy from the person giving it ❤️

So next time anyone asks you, just show them. Then watch them go Ohhhhhhhhh! I get it now!

(Obviously I recommend reserving your cwtches for those that deserve them. They are special after all 😉).

Bride .design_ & her sister totally nailed it! ❤️

Check out the new Cwtch The Bride’s website! It’s lush: www.cwtchthebride.wales

We’ve only gone and done it! Our brand spanking new website is finally live! (Link in bio)

It’s taken a great deal of effort to get this beauty of a brand back up and running again after a royal s**t show of a pandemic and other things.

I know it’s been sorely missed and the messages I’ve been getting these last few months have really helped me push forward.

I hope you love it as much as I do. Cannot wait to share the lorry load of beautiful welsh wedding content we have coming up.

Take a look and let us know what you think so far.

www.cwtchthebride.wales

(Super nervous here) 🙈❤️

Getting married in wales? You don’t want to miss this event! ❤️

Cwtch The Bride Inspiring Welsh Weddings.
Welcome to Cwtch the Bride. A "safe place" for couples planning their welsh

Engaged? Planning your wedding?
Don’t miss this awesome event on Sunday 2nd July ❤️

Hands up who will be joining us at our summer wedding festival, on Sunday 2nd July at

If you’re sitting on the fence, stop (it might break lol). Grab your tickets today (link in comments) and use the promo code: CWTCHME for a cheeky discount 👌🏻

Come meet some lush suppliers, get inspired, save money with fab on the day offers!, enjoy delicious food & drink, listen to live music PLUS lots more!

19 yr old me was full of so much drive, joy & ambition. I had big dreams and plans to leave the UK, travel the world and work in NYC after uni. I wanted to be the best female Photographic Artist of my generation.

I remember doing a particular project in uni called ‘fears in photography’ - at that point I avoided shooting people so decided I’d face that fear.

I wanted to shoot a collection of nudes but being prudish at that age there was no way it would be a man lol. So a lovely pregnant woman agreed to pose for me. I was more nervous than she was. It was such an amazing experience. I shot parts of her body, cross-printed them in the colour darkroom then created a large scale montage (see end pic).

I went on to shoot my first wedding that year too (25yrs ago! 😳).

I never traveled the world or worked in NYC after uni. Instead, I fell in love and settled here in wales. Had kids, got married…. Got divorced.

Fast forward to right now- and I don’t think my younger self would believe I’ve shot hundreds of weddings & thousands of families.

I never gave up my fine art practice either. It continued quietly in the background in the form of paintings, photographiing inanimate objects, thousands of sunrises/sunsets, light studies, dance & movement to most recently- floral studies… some I’ve shared here () but most are hidden away, never seen.

I will honour my younger self at some point by opening up that collection of personal work. But there are times I think, maybe it’s never meant to be seen. Maybe it’s a gift, just for me.

Renewing my passport and finally making plans. Time to get out there and see more of the world.

Was such a pleasure taking this little beauty’s first portrait. Happy Mother’s Day x

Rose making her way down the beautiful Octagon staircase of Cardiff Castle to rejoin her guests.

Happy Mothers Day to all the lush mums I get to meet at weddings.

See you there x

Get your tickets today! It’s going to be such a lush event ❤️

When you randomly stop the car on the way to the wedding reception to grab some cool shots and then guests honk their horns as they drive by. It’s all fun ❤️

Was such a lush intimate wedding to shoot ❤️

Save the date and join me on Sunday 12th March at Newport Market for The Wedding Show, hosted by Cwtch The Bride
Early bird tickets available (see link in comments)

While setting up and shooting the official group shots at a wedding, I always keep a close eye on all the little things that are happening around me. The banter I have between the guests- I think is also important to capture too! Its what makes these groups shots so much fun rather than what most expect to be time consuming and boring. Not with me!

Church Organs don’t play themselves. What a legend this old lady was.

Sadly not everyone we love can be with us on our wedding day. For those special family members that have passed away, finding the best way to honour them can be difficult.

For my recent bride Sam, she chose a photograph of her dad tied to her bouquet. She wanted him with her as she walked down the aisle. A beautiful tribute. x

When brings his Banjo...prepare to dance!