Just us, just here: wedding vows in the wild
Wild Vows. No scripts. No audience. Just the two of you in a place that feels right. check my availabilityWhat exactly are Wild Vows?
Wild place, quiet promise.
Imagine saying your private wedding vows in nature on your wedding day in a way that feels totally true to you – somewhere quiet, slightly wild, and far from the spotlight. No big audience, not a spectacle, just the two of you in a beautiful, quiet spot. Not creating a “wow” moment for anyone else, just the two of you slowing down, stepping into nature, and saying your vows in a way that feels grounding, real, and deeply personal.
There’s no pressure to ‘get it right’. You can cry, laugh, stumble over your words, pause to breathe, hug in the middle of a sentence – whatever feels true in the moment. This isn’t a show for everybody else. This is your moment.
Why exchanging your private wedding vows in the wild beauty of Wales could be the most meaningful and romantic start to your next chapter.
Wales just gets it. The quiet, the meaningfulness, the kind of magic that doesn’t need to shout to be felt. Wales offers a landscape that holds space for your biggest feelings. It’s not polished or perfect – it’s wild, raw, and real. Choosing to exchange your private wedding vows in nature – in the open, in the wild – means giving yourselves the freedom to speak from the heart with no distractions & no audience. It’s especially meaningful if nature is already a big part of your life – if your best memories involve just feeling alive outdoors. Here in Wales, you can carry that part of yourselves into your wedding day, and let the landscape reflect back all that quiet strength, adventure, and beauty that exists between you so that you can begin your marriage grounded, intentional, and completely yourselves.
Making time for private vows in a wild, natural spot on your wedding day is easier – and more meaningful – than you might think.
Here’s how you can do it:
Start your wedding day with your Wild Vows – because who decided you must do this in front of everybody?? Exchange your personal vows early in the morning, before anything official begins. Head out at sunrise to a nearby forest, lake, or hillside. It’s quiet, soft, and full of anticipation – a peaceful way to ground yourselves before the day kicks off. You could incorporate a First Look OR keep it super real and just meet each other in a quiet spot even before wedding preparations begin – no make-up, wear what makes you feel comfortable and make your promises
Sneak away after your ceremony – once the legal bit is done, take an hour or two for just the two of you. Walk into the woods behind your venue, drive to a favourite scenic spot, or follow a trail nearby. This built-in pause gives you time to breathe, reconnect, and speak your personal vows away from the crowd.
Do it the day before or after – if your wedding day is already full or you want to be completely relaxed, plan time out in nature the day before or after – a gentle hike, a coastal wander, or a sunrise by a mountain lake. This post-wedding moment can feel even more intentional, like starting your marriage with a deep breath and a moment of truth.
Keep it simple – you don’t need a setup. A notebook in your pocket, a blanket in your backpack, and a little time to slow down is all it takes. No script, no staging, just real words spoken in a place that feels alive and grounding.
Recent Wild Vow Exchanges
Discover the latest Wild Vow stories – find inspiration for your own wild adventure.
As an experienced Elopement Photographer based in Wales, here’s why I think private wedding vows in nature are a brilliant choice:
They create space for real emotion – without a crowd watching, you’re free to be vulnerable, honest, and completely yourselves. I see it all the time – couples who thought they’d be nervous end up totally relaxed, because it’s just the two of you, in your own little bubble. And that shows in the photos: natural, emotional, no stiffness or stage-fright smiles.
They slow the day down – weddings (even small ones) can fly by. Wild Vows build in a pause. Whether it’s at sunrise before everything kicks off or after the ceremony when you sneak away together, they give you a quiet moment to breathe and really feel what you’re doing.
They happen in places that matter – intead of standing in a decorated room or venue, you get married in a landscape that means something — a favourite hike, a place that feels grounding, somewhere that reflects who you are. It turns your vows into a memory anchored in a place, not just a photo op.
The light and landscapes are next-level – let’s be honest; the wild beauty of Wales does half the work for us. The soft light, the wind, the stillness – it all adds layers of depth and feeling to your photos that no indoor setup can replicate.
They take the pressure off the ‘main’ ceremony – if you’re having a small ceremony later in the day, reading your vows privately beforehand means you don’t have to worry about saying everything in front of people. You can keep the personal bits for yourselves, and make the public part simple and light.
They give you something truly yours – this is the big one. Wild Vows feel sacred. Personal. Quietly powerful. They’re the kind of moment couples talk about years later: ‘that’s when it all felt real’. And from a photographer’s point of view? Capturing that raw, unscripted emotion is what it’s all about.
So if you’re wondering whether carving out time for private vows somewhere quiet and wild is worth it – my answer, every single time, is absolutely yes and I’ll happily help you find the perfect spot, time it around the best light, and give you space to just be yourselves while I quietly capture the whole thing.
Plans still a bit vague? That’s okay.
My top tips for exchanging your vows in the wild in Eryri
Choose a spot that feels right for you to say your private vows in nature – it doesn’t always need to be what most consider to be the most dramatic, epic view – just somewhere that feels grounding, peaceful, and meaningful to you. Whether that’s a quiet forest path, your favourite lake at sunrise, or the view from your favourite hill – pick a place that lets you both feel present.
Go when it’s quiet to say your private vows in nature – the most magical times are often when the world is still and it feels like the have the whole place to yourself, early morning, golden hour, midweek. Not only is the light softer and the mood more peaceful, but fewer people around means you can fully relax and connect without feeling watched. It also means your special moment doesn’t take away from someone else’s – everyone deserves to enjoy these wild spaces without interruption.
Check access and weather – some places are easy to reach, others need a little hike — plan ahead and make sure it suits your energy and comfort levels. Always have a backup plan in case the weather shifts (which it often does in Wales!).
Bring only what you need – keep things simple, a small notebook, warm layers, maybe a flask of tea. The moment doesn’t need dressing up – nature brings all the beauty.
Leave no trace – this one’s really important. Stick to paths where possible, don’t bring decorations or chairs and take everything you bring with you back out. These wild spaces are incredible – and staying low-impact helps protect them for future couples, and for the wildlife and people who find peace there too.
Keep it quiet and private – Wild Vows are meant to be intimate, just the two of you and maybe only a couple of friends. Avoid turning your spot into a mini wedding venue. That way, the experience stays authentic, respectful, and truly yours. Plus, keeping things small and low-impact helps us stay on good terms with National Park authorities, who work hard to protect these incredible places.
Your Wild Vows Photography Options
Only have your Wild Vows photographed – and not your full wedding day. Because this might be the only part of the day that really feels like you. Not everyone wants (or needs) every second of their wedding documented. Maybe you’re planning a small, relaxed celebration with family on a different day (this is what I’d call a de-constructed wedding). Maybe you’re worried you’d feel really awkward in front of a camera. Or perhaps the idea of being photographed all day long makes you feel like you’re on a reality show – and that’s just not your vibe at all (and that’s totally okay!). So if what you really want is just a few hours in nature, saying the truest words you’ve ever said, and coming away with images that feel like you – this might be all you need. And that’s more than enough.
Why have your Wild Vows photographed if you’re already married? Maybe your original wedding day flew by in a blur, didn’t feel like you, you didn’t get to say everything you wanted to, or your love has deepened in ways you could never have imagined. Wild Vow Renewals give you the chance to slow it all down and honour that by saying the things you’ve learned since then. To celebrate how far you’ve come. Photographing that moment is not about posing or recreating anything. It’s about capturing who you are now – standing side by side in nature, still choosing each other. Think of it like an anniversary adventure, a vow renewal without the fuss, or a quiet love letter to your future selves. Something you’ll look back on years from now and say, this was us – right there, in that moment, still loving, still choosing, still growing – whether it’s five months or fifteen years later.
How to turn your Wild Vows into an elopement. What starts as a quiet vow exchange in the wild can also grow into something a little bigger – not in size, but in meaning. You can absolutely build your entire elopement day around that moment: start the day slowly, maybe with a morning walk, head somewhere peaceful to exchange your vows. Walk to your favourite viewpoint(s) next, enjoy a picnic, paddle in a lake, or just take in the scenery – no rush, no timeline to chase. Add in a couple of close family or friends if it feels right, or keep it just the two of you. An elopement built around Wild Vows doesn’t need a formal schedule, decorations, or a big plan, just whatever feels meaningful to you. If that sounds like your kind of day, I can help you piece it together gently – with suggestions for timings, locations, simple ways to celebrate, and of course, photographs that quietly reflect the story you’re telling.
Ready to plan your own Wild Vow experience?
Wild place, quiet promise.
If what you’ve read here feels like the right fit for you, then I’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re eloping, renewing your vows, or carving out space in your wedding day just for the two of you — Wild Vows are all about connection, intention, and doing things your way.
I’m here to help you find the perfect spot, plan a gentle timeline that works with the light (and the weather!), and photograph your moment with care and honesty — no pressure, no awkward posing, just real emotion in a place that feels like home.
Let’s start dreaming up your Wild Vow experience in Wales – I can’t wait to hear your story.
INSTAGRAM @babsboardwellphotography