We don’t need to be reminded how bad it was for couples who were planning to get married any time after the middle of March in 2020.
We could see the virus making it’s way across the globe, but we had no idea of the devastating impact it would have on our lives.
January and February are normally quiet months in the wedding industry, with things starting to get going in March and hitting its stride from April onwards.
I had photographed some civil ceremonies in the first couple of months of the year, including a really stylish wedding at the Triskel Arts Centre, but I was just warming up for another busy season.
I was photographing a renewal of wedding vows with an American couple on the 15th of March at Castlemartyr Resort. We had just finished the photography around 4.30 when the word came from the hotel that they had to shut everything down, lockdown had begun.
The couple decided to drive to Dublin airport straight away and fly back to Arizona that night to avoid being stranded here in Ireland!
The next week was a blur of phone calls and emails as couples scrambled to rearrange their dates with the hotels and their other suppliers. Some couples rearranged for later in the summer, only to have to move their dates again.
There were some windows of opportunity, when the restrictions were relaxed and couples could have 25 or even 50 guests, and some couples decided to go for it, despite their guests having to wear masks, there being no dancing and the bar closing at 11pm.
So, thank you to all the couples to trusted me with their wedding photography this year.
I’m looking forward to weddings getting back to normal as soon as possible and joining all my future couples on the dance floor for a non-socially distanced boogie.
Early in 2020, I was contacted by professional model Sandra McKenzie Vass Keogh, who asked me if I would be interested in doing a wedding dress photo shoot with her.
I was delighted with the idea as it meant that I could try out some new ideas and techniques that I wouldn’t have time to experiment with on a real wedding day.
Diamond Bridal, the award winning wedding dress shop in Cork city would supply the dress and veil, Sandra would get her hair done by boziuke83, make up done by Amanda Tattan and I would be able to suggest some great photographic locations around Clonakilty.
Then Covid 19 struck Ireland in mid March and all our plans had to be put on hold. Finally, after a lot of rearranging, we agreed to go ahead on Sunday the 2nd of August.
At this stage, I hadn’t shot a wedding in over 6 months, and I was starting to worry that I had forgotten how to do it!! Luckily, as soon as I had the camera in my hands and a bride in front of me, everything came flooding back.
From the very beginning, I had the gardens of Fernhill House Hotel in mind for the main part of the shoot, and depending on the weather, I planned to go to one of our fantastic local beaches for some seascape shots.
I contacted Michael O’Neill, 3rd generation proprietor at Fernhill with the idea, and he very generously gave us access to the gardens and a room for Sandra to get changed into her wedding dress.
On the day, the weather was perfect. No wind, no rain, cloudy skies with the sun breaking through. As it was the height of Summer, the gardens were perfect too, with everything neatly clipped and flowers blooming everywhere.
We made our was around the gardens, from the formal summer house and the outdoor ceremony building to the pergola and the bamboo avenue. I shot with my beloved 16-35mm for the landscape shots and the mighty 70-200mm for the portraits. I used on and off camera flash, and I made poor Sandra climb through the forest of wild flowers in her heels. But it was worth it!
After a couple of hours at Fernhill, we packed up and went to a field of barley I had spotted in Ardfield, about 15 minutes drive away, for some dramatic and moody black and white images. I was worried that the field would be cut when we got there, but thankfully, we beat the farmer by a couple of days.
Our last stop was Sandscove, a small stony beach near where I live and where I have photographed many times before. Sandra’s dress had a long ornate train and I wanted to create an image that looked a bit like a mermaid sitting on a rock, you will have to decide if I captured it or not, but I love it!!.
The whole afternoon was an education, being able to take the time to set up unusual shots and to play around with ideas. I’m really happy with the results and I hope that you like them too.
Please allow a few moments for the Inchydoney Hotel Wedding Photographs to load
I live just outside Clonakilty, across the bay from the Inchydoney Hotel and I have been photographing weddings at the hotel and on Inchydoney Beach since 2008.
The Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa one of the most popular West Cork wedding venues and is a fantastic location for your wedding.
If you want to have a church ceremony in one of the beautiful local churches like Darrara or Clonakilty Church, or if you want to have a Civil Ceremony, like a Humanist or a Spiritualist Wedding, in the hotel, or an outdoor wedding at their stunning amphitheater overlooking the ocean, you have everything you need on your doorstep.
Outdoor Wedding Venue Beside The Sea
The interior of the hotel is perfect for wedding photography, and the sea views from the bridal suite and the function room are incredible,and the light reflecting off the sea is beautiful, but most couples choose to have their wedding at Inchydoney because of the access to the amazing beach’s.
There has been a hotel on Inchydoney Island, 3km outside Clonakilty, since the 1930’s. The original hotel was the height of modernity in its day and was advertised as ‘The All-Electric Hotel”, which is pretty impressive considering that some parts of West Cork didn’t get electricity until the 1960’s. The Inchydoney Hotel held weddings and dinner dances and was really popular with tourists from all over Ireland.
The original Inchydoney Hotel was demolished in 1977 and The Inchydoney Lodge and Spa that we know today was built in it’s place.
West Cork Wedding Photographer
As a wedding photographer, I am spoiled for choice when it comes to great photo locations there. There is a viewing platform that overlooks the Virgin Mary Headland that divides the two huge beaches, the Headland itself, the steps down to the beach on the right and the slipway to the beach on the left.
Perfect Wedding Photos
My preferred spot for wedding photographs is on the left hand side of the Headland as you are looking out to sea. The wind normally blows from left to right and you have lots of shelter when you are on the jetty.
I have photographed weddings there in the middle of summer and on New Years Eves and the hotel and its surroundings always provide a thrilling background for the bride and groom who are looking for a beach wedding.
If you are looking for a Cork based wedding photographer or would like some advice and information from experienced professional, please get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.
Hello!! If you are searching for the very best wedding venues in Kerry, maybe you will be looking for a wedding photographer once you have made your choice. I can’t claim to have photographed in all the wedding venues in Kerry, but in the past 10 years I have worked in most of them and here are my Top 5 Kerry Wedding Venues
I have photographed over 500 weddings and I have more than 90 five-star reviews on Google, so I’m a good source of useful information.
Drop me a line through my contact form and I’ll send you my recommended wedding suppliers guide, with the best hair and make-up artists, videographers, florists, wedding cars and cake makers that I have worked with, and my guide to having a stress-free wedding day.
1. Ballyseede Castle in Tralee is a superb location for your wedding ceremony and reception. It is a stately home, set in beautiful gardens, with battlements around the roof, which give it the appearance of a castle, even though it is very cosy and comfortable inside.
The hotel has been tastefully extended to include a beautiful orangery for your drinks reception before you go through to the medieval banqueting hall for dinner.
My favourite locations here are the gardens with the manicured pathways and the beautiful roman temple. The stone steps at the front of the hotel are also excellent for photographs.
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Ballygarry House Hotel Weddings
2. The other hotel I like in Tralee is Ballygarry House Hotel. It is more modern than Ballyseede Castle, but it also has wonderful gardens and a huge foyer where your guests can enjoy their drinks reception. My favourite location here is the small bridge in the garden, which makes a great backdrop for a creative night shoot before the first dance.
3. The Sneem Hotel on the shores of Kenmare Bay is a modern hotel set in unspoilt parkland that runs down to the sea.
There is a separate house on the grounds overlooking the water that can be used for bridal preparations on the morning of the wedding.
My favourite features in this hotel is the terrace overlooking the bay, the pier and the rugged landscape of the grounds.
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Killarney Wedding Venues
Killarney must have at least 20 wedding venues, but I have chosen two that I particularly enjoy working in. Killarney also have some of the best scenery in Ireland and I have picked two locations that are easily accessible and that are great for wedding photography.
All hotels are set up now to hold civil ceremonies, but if you want to have a church wedding in Kerry, Killarney Catherdal is a beautiful and impressive venue for your ceremony. It’s open stone gothic interior and it’s huge altar make it a memorable location to get married in.
Killarney Cathedral Weddings
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Great Southern Hotel Killarney Weddings
4. The Great Southern Hotel in the centre of Killarney town first opened in 1845 and even had a visit from Queen Victoria in 1861.
There are several banqueting rooms in the hotel, and they can cater for parties from 40 to 600. The features that I love about this hotel are the amazing tiled entrance and reception area, the glass corridor, the gardens and the bridal suite.
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Muckross Park Hotel Weddings
5. Muckross Park Hotel is located about 10 minutes outside Killarney Town, opposite the gates into Muckross Abbey and Killarney National Park.
The hotel has two banqueting suites and can hold up to 270 in either room. The key features for me here are the gardens and the ground floor room for the drinks receptions, the spa, which is great for photographs, the huge stone entrance and the bridal suite.
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The Kenmare Bay Hotel and Resort Weddings
Say ‘I do’ Where Romance meets the Mountains – The Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort
Tucked away on the edge of the Wild Atlantic Way and embraced by the rolling hills of Kerry, the Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and modern comfort. Just a short stroll from the colourful, bustling town of Kenmare, the hotel enjoys an enviable location: a gateway to both the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula, yet peaceful enough to feel like your own private escape. Guests are surrounded by stunning mountain views, fresh sea air, and the charm of Ireland’s southwest at every turn.
At the heart of the hotel’s wedding offering is our dedicated wedding team. With many years of experience and an unrivalled passion for creating seamless celebrations, the wedding co-ordinator and the team work closely with each couple to ensure their day is as unique as their love story. The hotel’s elegant banqueting suite can accommodate up to 350 guests, yet is versatile enough to suit smaller, more intimate gatherings.
The banqueting suite itself is a show-stopper — with spectacular views overlooking the Kerry mountains. It is bright and spacious, with chic décor that provides the perfect canvas for couples to personalise. From fairy-lit ceilings to glamorous table settings, every detail is carefully considered to create a magical setting. Enjoy our beautiful wedding garden, perfect for civil ceremonies or your pre-reception.
The resort offers a wide range of accommodation to suit everyone. Spacious, light-filled rooms provide a cosy retreat, while the luxurious self-catering lodges offer extra flexibility and privacy for longer stays. Beyond the bedrooms, guests enjoy full access to the hotel’s leisure centre, complete with a heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and fully equipped gym, as well as a rejuvenation suite offering beauty and wellness treatments — the ideal way to refresh after a long day and the probability of a late night!
Thoughtful Extras
What truly sets the Kenmare Bay apart are the little touches that make your wedding unforgettable. From champagne on arrival to your 1-year anniversary dinner. Our Team goes above and beyond to make your day special. The Kenmare Bay also provides a chauffeur-driven wedding car for the bride on her big day. From the moment she steps in, the journey becomes part of the celebration — whisking her to the ceremony in style, before escorting the happy couple together to their reception. Along the way, the chauffeur allows time for photographs at some of Kerry’s most scenic spots, turning the journey itself into a cherished memory. There are also a few extra special touches on the day, but we can’t give it all away!
The team’s warmth and genuine care shine through in these details, creating lasting memories.
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Killarney Wedding Photo Locations
There are two locations in Killarney that I love to take wedding parties to, for a 30 minute shoot on the way to their drinks reception.
Ross Castle
The first is Ross Castle, which is located on the edge of Killarney town. It is a well maintained castle and grounds on a lake, which works well as a backdrop for wedding photographs. The only issue I have with it is that it can be very busy with tourists, so I tend to avoid it during the summer months.
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Killarney Golf and Fishing Club Wedding Photographs
My all time favourite Killarney wedding photography location is the Golf and Fishing Club about 10 minutes from the centre of town, on the N72 towards Killorglin.
There are lakes and mountains, there are windswept trees and a humpback bridge and there is a picture perfect pier that runs out into the lake with a huge sky behind it.
It is fantastic in the summer and it is also fantastic at Christmas. It is a one stop 30 minute photo opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
Ballymaloe House, the East Cork restaurant and wedding venue is arguably the birthplace of modern Irish cooking.
There are other country houses in Ireland that host weddings, for me, Ballymaloe House, with it’s range of authentic historic buildings, it’s formal and wild landscapes, it’s super professional staff, not to mention it’s award winning food, is probably the best venue of it’s kind in the country
I was lucky to have the opportunity to photograph two weddings there this year, one in July and one in September. On both occasions, the house, the walled gardens and the Grainstore dining room provided an upmarket and classic backdrop for our photographs.
For Siobhan and Jamie’s wedding in July, Siobhan and her family got ready at Ballymaloe House, which made the morning very relaxed for everybody.
The light coming through the trees into the little private courtyard outside Siobhan’s room was magical and I did all the details shots and the morning family shots there.
We went to the Honan Chapel in UCC for Siobhan’s and Jamie’s ceremony and afterwards they whizzed back to Ballymaloe in an yellow open top MG. We used the impressive main driveway for photos and there was a beautiful field of barley for some shots in the bright summer sunshine.
They drove up to the front of the house in great style to be greeted by their guests for the drinks reception We did our formal family photographs on the front lawn and when the bell was rung for dinner we went to the walled garden for some romantic photographs.
After dinner, we went down to the ponds just as the light was falling, for some low light and off camera flash photographs. Then, just before their first dance, we used the front of the house for some creative backlit photographs.
Pamela and Ed also had a church ceremony for their wedding in September. Afterwards, we went to Pamela’s parents garden to do our formal family photographs and then on to Ballymaloe House.
Pamela and Ed travelled in a vintage Rolls Royce and once again, the driveway provided a timeless location for their photographs.
During the drinks reception, we took a walk across to the Ballymaloe Grainstore, where the wedding dinner would be served. I always recommend that couples take a look at their dining room before their guests come in and sit down, and this dining room was well worth seeing.
As you can see from the photographs, the team at Ballymaloe had done a beautiful job on the layout, which four long dining tables stretching the length of the room and the top table at right angles to everyone. This layout would be perfect for the surprise entertainment that was lined up for after the main course…
Before we knew it, it was time for the dinner bell, so while the guests were being seated, I did some shots with the wedding party in the front room of the main house and then it was speeches and dinner and “Mario” the fake waiter who is actually a fantastic opera singer. He got the crowd singing and waving their napkins like crazy!!
I feel that I have only scratched the surface of the photographic potential of Ballymaloe House and I can’t wait to come back to shoot more weddings here.
I have been a wedding photographer for so long that the Kinsale Hotel and Spa has had three different names since I started shooting weddings there. I knew it first as The Carlton, then it changed to The MacDonald, a name that never really caught on with the public and was the cause of lots of jokes about drive thru wedding and happy meals!
Finally, it became The Kinsale Hotel and Spa, which is the perfect name really. I’m just surprised that none of the older hotels in the area decided to name themselves after their historic town first.
I shoot a lot of weddings at the Kinsale Hotel, and I’m flattered that they use several of my wedding photographs in their advertising. It has everything in place that you need for your ceremony, your reception and your guests.
There are holiday houses tucked away in the grounds where the grooms party can get ready if necessary. The Bridal Suite is huge and light filled, which is perfect for bridal preparations and pre-ceremony photographs.
There are options for Civil / Humanist / Spiritualist wedding ceremonies inside and on the grounds of the hotel. There are also lots of great wedding photography locations in and around the hotel too, with tree lined pathways, futuristic overhead walkways and a traditional bridge and waterfall. There are extensive views over the countryside and out into the bay from the terrace at the back of the hotel and a huge glass atrium in the centre of the hotel where you can hold your drinks reception.
If you have a church ceremony and are travelling to the Kinsale Hotel afterwards, there are some fantastic photography locations around the town that you can stop at for a location shoot with your wedding party.
There is a beach, two piers with views of yachts in the harbour, extensive sea views from viewing points, fantastic atmospheric pubs and Charles Fort, which is an impressive and very photogenic military fort, dating from 1680, which is about 5 minutes drive from the hotel.
All in all, if you are planning a church ceremony within a 45 minute drive of Kinsale or a civil ceremony at a venue with multiple options for your day, take a look at The Kinsale Hotel and Spa.
My favourite Cork and Kerry Wedding Photographs of 2019 – January to June
I’m posting this in early January 2020, and, as I haven’t got to the end of 2019’s edits yet, so I decided to split this year into two halves. I’ll post the second half of Best of 2019 in the summer.
Once again, I want to thank all the brides and grooms who trusted me to capture their most important day, and to all the bridesmaids and groomsmen who help me keep the day moving along smoothly.
I got to shoot in some of my favourite venues again, like Fernhill House and Dunmore House in Clonakilty and Ballinacurra and The Kinsale Hotel in Kinsale, not forgetting Maryborough House in Douglas, and Ballymaloe House in East Cork.
I also got to shoot in some venues around the country that I hadn’t worked in before, like Blackwater Castle in East Cork, The Trident Hotel in Kinsale and Rathsallagh House in Waterford. I’m really looking forward to checking out some more new venues this year.
Couples get married right through the year now, so I can shoot in a venue in each season and get completely different photographs depending on the time of year and the weather conditions. I recently shot a wedding location shoot in thick fog in Ballincollig Regional Park. It looked really atmospheric and Victorian, totally different to a bright summers day.
Civil, Humanist and Spiritualist ceremonies are becoming more popular year on year, so hotels are creating amazing outdoor and indoor spaces for weddings to take place. Many hotels are also upgrading and redecorating their bridal suites, which gives couples another photographic backdrop, especially if the weather is bad.
Thank you to everyone that made 2018 another fantastic year of wedding photography for me. That obviously includes the couples that trusted me to photograph their wedding day but also the bridesmaids and groomsmen that helped me to keep the day moving along and the families that supported the couples before during and after their wedding. Here are my best of 2018 wedding photographs, it was a difficult job choosing these photographs from the 135,000 + shots I took in 2018, but I feel these reflect my style of photography best and show the amazing scenery as well as the amazing people we have in Cork and Kerry.
Laura and Gary had their Fantastic Monkstown and Kinsale Cork Wedding wedding ceremony in the Sacred Heart Church in Monkstown (Laura’s uncle Fr. Edward Murphy conducted the ceremony) and their reception in Actons Hotel on the waterfront in Kinsale.
Laura had wanted a garden for the location shoot in the afternoon, between the church and the hotel. We couldn’t think of anywhere that really worked on the way to Kinsale, so Laura contacted several golf clubs on the route who couldn’t let us in as they had golf tournaments on, and I drove between Kinsale and the city before the wedding looking for likely locations but without much success.
Finally, Laura had the brilliant idea of looking around Monkstown itself for locations. We didn’t get a garden, but the pier opposite The Bosun Bar and the roads above the village worked out perfectly. The fact that it was a stunning day weather wise didn’t hurt either.
After the shoot we made our way over to Kinsale for the drinks reception in Actons garden and then on to dinner and the speeches. After dinner we had arranged a night shoot, firstly at the mast across the road and then some backlit shots outside the hotel itself.
Then, it was time for the first dance and Laura and Gary wowed their guests with a tightly choreographed dance routine before everyone at the wedding hit the dancefloor.
I sent a sneak peek selection of the photographs the day after the wedding and here is what Laura and Gary wrote back…
Hi Dermot , Wow We just had a look , I’m speechless . The photographs you took are admirable . We are absolutely in love with them. They are so tasteful and classic the photos near the Golf club and on the pier are handsome. And I love all the arty shots with flowers and rings etc. Thank you so much for everything , especially all your help in the morning getting us out the door. My dad reckons we would have been lost without you. I’m so glad we booked you. Can’t wait to get get the usb/ album. Regards Laura and Gary x
Aoife and Cian's Maryborough Hotel and Spa Wedding
Stunning Civil Wedding At The Maryborough Hotel Cork
I originally met Aoife and Cian at The Southern Brides Wedding Fair in January 2017, and I was delighted when the asked me to be the photographer for their wedding at the Maryborough Hotel and Spa in Cork in April 2018. We met up in West Cork in February to have our planning meeting and to do a pre-wedding photo shoot in Castlefreke Woods, near Clonakilty. The shoot went really well and Aoife and Cian chose one of the images for their guests to sign at their reception.
On their wedding day, I went to see Cian and his five groomsmen for a quick hello and a few photographs first. I then went over to Aoife’s house where the pre wedding hair and make up preparations were in full swing. With Aoife, her five bridesmaids, her mother and 3 flower girls to get ready, the two hairdressers and two make up artists were slightly under pressure but everything went to schedule and we got all the photographs we needed. From there it was a short drive to the magnificent Maryborough Hotel and Spa for the ceremony.
As arranged, I met Cian and his parents and groomsmen at the hotel for some photos before the ceremony and I had a quick chat with the celebrant and the videographers to plan out the ceremony coverage. The venue for the ceremony was The Orangery at the Maryborough, which is a fantastic light filled room with wisteria trailing all along the ceiling. Aoife arrived with her dad in a vintage VW camper van and we got the wedding party ready for the procession.
The room was tightly packed with Aoife and Cian’s many friends and relations and there were gasps of ooh’s and aah’s as Aoife and her dad made their way down the aisle. Their ceremony included poetry and prose readings and some brilliant ukulele playing from one of Cian’s young nieces. After the ceremony and the greeting line we went out to the camper van for some photographs with the entire wedding party and then back to the drinks reception.
The Maryborough has some fantastic rooms in the original part of the hotel and we used one of these as a backdrop for our formal family photographs. I think that it is important for the couple to have lots of time to mix with their guests on their wedding day so I went off to the function room to shoot the layout and the wedding cake to give then some time to mingle. Shortly before the dinner bell, Aoife and Cian came to see the function room for themselves. It is really nice for a couple to see their room all laid out waiting for their guests, and we took the opportunity to do some cool romantic photos in the room at the same time.
Often on a wedding day the best photographs happen in the quiet time just before dinner, while the guests were being seated. We had time to do some more shots with the wedding party in The Orangery and with Aoife and Cian up in the beautiful bridal suite. Then, at around 6pm, the hotel manager announced the wedding party into the room and the guests cheered them to the top table. The speeches were held before the meal and this is another favourite part of the day for me. I just stand back with the long lens and catch the reactions of the wedding party. There is usually lots of laughter and emotion and the occasional teardrop as friends and relations are remembered and celebrated.
I sent Aoife and Cian a sneak peek selection of their photographs the morning after their wedding, here is what Aoife messaged me back…
Hi Dermot, I got your email and have looked at the pictures omg I absolutely adore them. Thank you so much you were absolutely amazing and you were such a special part of the day I can’t thank you enough. I would be delighted for you to share the photos and tag me. Thanks again Aoife and Cian
Sian and Eoin's Muckross Park Hotel Killarney Wedding.
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Sian is Welsh and Eoin is Irish, they met in Wales, they live in New Zealand but they came to Kerry to have their wedding. They chose Fossa Church for their ceremony and Muckross Park Hotel for their reception, and we took advantage of the fantastic scenery in Kerry for our location shoot in the afternoon.
Sian and Eoin both stayed in Muckross the night before their wedding and on the morning Sian travelled to Fossa Church in a fantastic gold 1982 Mercedes saloon. Fossa Church is unique in that it has a huge picture window behind the altar and a water pool outside which reflects light into the church. It can make the photography a bit tricky because of the bright backlight, if you don’t know what you are doing!
For the 24 hours before their wedding, the heavens opened and it rained cats and dogs down on Southern Ireland. Driving from Clonakilty that morning was like spending a couple of hours in a water park, but the god of wedding photography smiled on us and at 3pm, when we needed some dry weather for our photographs at The Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, the rain stopped, the sky cleared and we got our window of opportunity.
After the photography at the Golf and Fishing Club, we headed back to Muckross Park for the drinks reception and some photographs with their amazing themed wedding cake. At 5.30, when the bell rang for dinner, the wedding party had around 30 minutes before they had to go into dinner and this is a really handy time for some fun photographs as it doesn’t impact on the bride and groom’s time with their guests. We went into the bar first and then out into the garden with all the bridesmaids and groomsmen and finished up with some great portraits of Sian and Eoin, top hat and all.
After dinner we had the speeches and when the band was setting up we went outside again for some off camera flash night shots. By then it was raining again but at night the rain looks great in the photographs.
I send Sian and Eoin a sneak peek of about 15o photographs a couple of days after their wedding, here is what Sian messaged me when she say them…
Dermot thank you so so so much for everything you did for us on our wedding day! We’re blown away by the pictures you’ve sent already, we had the best day
Lisa and Anthony's Wedding at The Holy Rosary Church, Midleton, Cork, Ireland.
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Lisa and Anthony were married at the end of March in the Holy Rosary Church in Midleton. A few weeks before their wedding we met in Youghal to have our planning meeting and we did a quick engagement photoshoot on the beach. It is a great way to practice for the wedding day shoot and I made a print of the photograph they chose for their guests to sign at their reception.
Lisa had 4 bridesmaids and 2 flower girls, and the preparations were at Lisa’s parents house, about 10 minutes drive from the church. We had worked out a tight schedule to get everybody ready for photography in the morning but the hair dresser and make up artist were fantastic and everything ran like clockwork. I left Lisa’s house in good time to meet Anthony and his mother and the four groomsmen at the church for photographs before the ceremony.
The church in Midleton is beautiful, a perfect setting for a wedding and the ceremony was conducted with style and humour by Fr. Jim Kileen. After the mass and the greeting line we did a group photo on the steps of the church and then went on to our location in the gardens of Fota house. We didn’t have a huge amount of time for the location shots as we wanted to get back to Vienna Woods and the guests as quickly as possible, so we stopped at the scenic bridge on the driveway to Fota House with Lisa and Anthony and the wedding party.
The light at the location was perfect!! Diffused sunshine filtered through the treetops, what more could a photographer ask for? We spent no more than 20 minutes there and then headed on to Vienna Woods where the families and guests were waiting for us. We had lots of time to take photographs of Lisa and Anthony with their friends and relations and I got to try some of my reportage photographer moves while the wedding party were waiting to be announced into the function room for dinner.
I sent Lisa and Anthony a sneak peek selection of around 120 photographs 2 days after their wedding, here are some of my favourites from their day…