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…
The Maryborough Hotel and Spa in Douglas is a fantastic indoor and outdoor wedding venue on the edge of Cork city. The original house dates back to 1786, when it was the home of the Newenham’s, a family of Cork merchants. There has been a few updates and improvements since those days and now it is one busiest business and wedding hotels in the city.
Experienced Cork Wedding Photographer
I have been the photographer for many Cork weddings here over the years and I always manage to find something different and new, depending on the time of year or the type of ceremony the couple are having. It has the old world elegance of the amazing interior staircase and the beautiful bridal suite plus the wow factor of the wisteria filled orangery.
On days when the rain has prevented us from doing the formal family photographs outside, we have been able to use a room at the front of the building with Georgian floor to ceiling windows and stunning drapes. The stone steps leading to the front doors of the hotel make a great background for creative wedding photography, especially after dark, when the hotel is all lit up inside.
Cork City Wedding Ceremony Photography
If you are having your wedding ceremony anywhere in the city, like The Honan Chapel in UCC or The North Cathedral, or in Douglas, Glanmire or Glounthaune, or even Monkstown or Passage West, The Maryborough Hotel and Spa is a short spin away. It allows you to have your wedding ceremony, time for a stop with your wedding party for photographs, and still arrive in plenty of time for champagne and a mingle with your wedding guests.
Humanist Wedding Ceremony Photographs
Alternatively, you can have a civil marriage or a humanist wedding ceremony at the hotel. The orangery wedding venue is a beautiful light filled room for your ceremony. You can do all your bridal preparations in the enormous bridal suite upstairs and hold your drinks reception on the lawn outside. The grounds around the hotel are perfect for wedding party and bride and groom photos.
If you are looking for a modern city hotel with lashings of old world charm to provide you with a wedding album full of photographs to treasure, take a look at The Maryborough.
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Maria and Alan were married in the North Cathedral in Cork and had their wedding reception at Fernhill House Hotel in Clonakilty. Even though it was the 1st of December, we had fantastic weather. Bright and chilly but dry and not windy, perfect for wedding photography as long as the bride and bridesmaids had something to keep their shoulders warm, which they did!
Top tip for photographers and wedding guests, get to the North Cathedral early, parking can be difficult there, especially if the bridesmaids are arriving in a stretch limo.
We managed to beat the Cork city traffic and get to Fernhill House in Clonakilty by 4.30, which left lots of time for mingling with guests before the dinner bell was rung. We took 10 minutes in the gardens before dinner to get some nighttime shots, and then it was straight into the function room for speeches, dinner and dancing. What a brilliant day!!
“The more time you have, the less stressed you are, the better the photographs”
How to manage time on a wedding day…
Wedding day mornings can be stressful for everyone, but especially if you are the bride!
There is the early start with the hair dresser and make-up artist for yourself and your wedding party. Then getting fitted into your wedding dress, attaching your veil and making sure that you have everything essential packed before you leave for your ceremony, as well as finding time to have something to eat. (Most Important!)
To make sure all the important moments in this special day are fully captured, you will need to set some time aside for photography.
Picture it… your hair is perfect, your make-up is perfect, your dress is perfect, everybody is looking great and ceremony ready. That is the perfect time for bridal portraits, photographs with your parents and bridesmaids, and any family members that are at the house.
In my experience, most people underestimate how long everything takes and that can make the last 30 minutes at home before you leave a bit of a panic.
The last thing you need in the build up to your wedding ceremony is to feel flustered and stressed out.
I have been shooting weddings for more than 10 years and over this time I have developed a wedding day timeline that can be applied to any wedding and which allows plenty of time for the preparations, for the photography and, most importantly, time for a bit of a breather with your bridesmaids and a glass of Prosecco before you leave.
All photographers have different priorities and ways of working, but I have found that this system ensures that all the photographs that a bride would want get taken in a relaxed way, and my past couples really appreciate having an organised schedule for their day.
Let’s look at The Morning first…
Bridal hair can take anything up to an hour and make-up usually takes around 45 minutes. You should request that your hairdresser to give you a realistic time estimate, based on how many bridesmaids you have. Don’t forget to include your mum in the timing as well. I recommend that the bride goes second or third for hair and make-up and we fit everyone else around her.
Allow yourself 30 to 40 minutes, after hair and make-up, to get into your wedding dress and veil. It may seem like a long time, but trust me, wedding dresses are fiddley to button or lace up, and veils can be tricky to fit properly. Ensure that your mum and one bridesmaid dressed and ready ahead of you, so that they can help you into your dress and look good in the photographs you being buttoned up.
By the time that the bride is ready for the Photographer, her parents, bridesmaids and any flower girls / pageboys who are at the house should be ready as well. If the bride wants any other family members in the photos at this point, they should also be ready.
I set aside 30 minutes for photographs in the house when everyone is ready and then I go to the church or ceremony location.
The Ceremony…
I like to arrive at the church 30 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin. I will have arranged for the groom, the grooms parents and groomsmen to be at the church waiting for me.
I will spend 10 to 15 minutes photographing the grooms party before the guests start arriving and then I will photograph the flowers and details in the church and introduce myself to the celebrant.
I recommend that brides arrive at the church or ceremony venue at the time that their ceremony is due to begin, if you arrive any earlier, nobody is ready for you!
By the time we have taken some photographs in the wedding car, got the bridesmaids lined up, started the music and had the procession down the aisle, it is usually 10 or 15 minutes after the official start time, which is perfect for everybody.
Try not to stress about walking up the aisle. Nearly every bride I have worked with has felt nervious about that part of the day, but in reality, you will be at up the altar, kissing your husband to be, about 30 seconds after you start. The whole thing will be a wonderful, exciting blur!
If you have an Irish catholic church wedding with 150 guests and you decide to have your formal family photographs at the church before you go to the hotel, it will take two and a quarter hours altogether.
If you have a one o’clock wedding, you will be leaving the church in your car at about 3.15. If you have more guests it will take a bit longer and if you have a civil ceremony, knock about 30 minutes off the time.
The location shoot…
This is my favourite part of the wedding day. All the stressful bits are over and now all you have to do is enjoy yourself.
We would decide in advance where and how long we want to stop for photographs on the way to the drinks reception. Beaches, forests, castles and gardens all work well and we would need around 30 minutes to get what we need.
Ideally, I want to get you to your hotel for around 4.30 so that you can have a good hour with your guests before they ring the bell for dinner.
When we arrive back at the hotel, it’s nice for the couple to take a look at their dining room all laid out and ready for their guests. We usually take a shot with the wedding cake at this time as well.
When the venue rings the bell for dinner, the couple have around 20 -30 minutes before they are announced into the room, and that is a good time for a few relaxed photos in the bridal suite and it gives the couple the chance for a few minutes alone before they head down to dinner, the speeches and the dancing.
