Tag: Castlemartyr Resort

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A Wedding Photographer’s Best of 2020

Post author By dermotsullivan
Post date 18 January 2021

A Wedding Photographer’s Best Photographs of 2020

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 15^th 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.

See my best of 2019 wedding photographs here

Visit my headshot and branding website here

A Wedding Photographer’s Best of 2020

Tags Actons Hotel Kinsale, Ballyseede Castle, Blackrock castle, Castlemartyr Resort, Choktaw Monument, Cork Wedding Photographer, Fernhill House Hotel, Garryvoe Hotel, Triskel Arts Centre

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Castlemartyr Resort Wedding Photographs

Post author By dermotsullivan
Post date 28 September 2017

Castlemartyr Resort Wedding Photographs…

In my opinion, Castlemartyr Spa and Golf Resort in East Cork is one of the finest hotels in Ireland for wedding photography. The huge bedrooms and suites are beautifully furnished and decorated, which makes the bridal preparation photography really easy and the interior public areas and the bar make great backdrops for elegant shots. You never know who you will bump into there, one of my photographs colleagues was photographing his couple outside the hotel when President Bill Clinton wandered by! Naturally, he stepped in for a photo with the delighted bride and groom.

The main gardens are laid out in a formal Italian style with a classical fountain in the middle, but there are lots of other fantastic outdoor areas such as a wild garden, a ruined castle, a lake and some friendly horses in the field beside the riverside walk. The entrance to the hotel is impressive in daylight, but at night, with the lights twinkling in the windows, it is a magical backdrop. They even have a cool golf buggy for whizzing you around.

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There are some nice churches located nearby for wedding ceremonies, the best of which, in photography terms, is Mogeely. It is beautiful church, the interior is a true gem dropped into the Irish countryside and it is only 10 minutes drive from Castlemartyr.

The main function room is also huge, which is handy, as the band can set easily after the wedding dinner and speeches are finished and the dancing can begin without too much of a delay.

Here is a selection of photographs I took at various weddings at Castlemartyr Spa and Golf Resort at different times of the year. If you are planning on having your wedding there I would love to have a chat with you about your photography and explain the various options and photo opportunities. I can recommend some excellent videographers as well.

Castlemartyr Resort Wedding Photographs

Click Here To See My Best Of 2019 Wedding Photographs

Tags Autumn Wedding, Award Winning Wedding Photography, Best Wedding Photos, Bride and Groom, Castlemartyr Resort, Civil Ceremony, Clonakilty Wedding Photographer, Cork Wedding Photographer, Dermot Sullivan, Humanist Wedding Ceremony, Indian Wedding Dress, Indoor Wedding, Persian Wedding, Spring Wedding, Wedding Cake, wedding dress, Wedding Photography Cork, Wedding Shoes, Wedding Veil

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Castlemartyr Resort Wedding. Zainab and Mahfar.

Post author By dermotsullivan
Post date 22 July 2015

I was delighted when Zainab and Mahfar asked me to photograph their wedding at the Castlemartyr Resort, not only are they a fantastic couple to work with, but Castlemartyr is one of the best wedding venues in Ireland.

Here is what Zainab posted on my Facebook page the day after their wedding…

Myself, my husband and Castlemartyr resort’s staff thought you are one of the best photographer we have ever seen ! You were a wedding planner and a photographer. You are very creative and you put so much time and energy into your work ! You made us feel we were a special bride and groom. Thank you so so much.

We started off the photography in the presidential suite and worked our way through the hotel and grounds before the guests arrived for the drinks reception at 4pm.

Omg !!!

Those pics are unreal ! I’m so so happy with them.

Thank you so much for all the hard work.

I am absolutely delighted that I had u in my wedding. We felt very comfortable with you. You were our photographer, wedding planner and someone who kept us going with his encouragement.

Thank you so much again for all the hard work

Zainab.

Zainab and Mahfar made a grand entrance down the main staircase and we took the family portraits and a group shot in the formal gardens behind the hotel.

At 6pm the guests gathered in the dining room for the traditional Persian Wedding Ceremony, which included the exchange of gifts and food as well as rings.

When the ceremony was completed we had dinner, which was followed by one of the many highlights of the day, a traditional Persian Wedding Knife Dance. The Irish guests danced just as enthusiastically as Zainab and Mahfar’s relatives and much hilarity ensued.

Finally, Zainab changed into a beautiful Indian wedding dress for the cutting of the cake.

Hi Dermot,

We are delighted that we had you as our photographer yesterday, you were absolutely brilliant. These pics are amazing and we are really looking forward to seeing the rest. Our friends and family were also amazed at how you handled everything. Will talk to you again soon! Take care!

Mahfar