Christina and Colm came over to Ireland last September from Canada to get married in magical Connemara. They held their civil ceremony in Clifden and I was asked to cover the reception side of their wedding which took place in Cashel House Hotel, just off the N59 Maam to Clifden road. September in Clifden, well you may take the weather with a pinch of salt and this day was a mixed one with that post rain smell lifting the senses and freshening things up a notch. The sun even made an appearance late in the evening which was most welcome.

Cashel House as a backdrop is absolutely beautiful, nestled against the rocks and directly across from the shores of Cashel Bay, a real retreat from the bustle of Clifden and similar townships. The wedding planner Christina and Colm chose was Samantha Harding and I've yet to see a more passionate person look after a wedding. Everything was finished to an absolute T and I really must do a separate blog about the flowers at some stage as they were the most beautiful seasonal arrangement of flowers, stems berries and leaves.

I had taken a stroll around the grounds of Cashel House earlier during the day and had noticed the wonderful herb garden along with an overgrown walkway up steps and into a canopied clearing that very much reminded me of a jungle. When the lovely couple arrived post ceremony at 17:05 we took this route for a stroll and as always I captured as unobtrusively as possible, letting the newly married chat about their day and have a bit of fun. It's funny, many couples tell me that they really value this small bit of time on their own, a chance to recap on the day and the busy weeks that have led up to this point.

A few family photos were captured, dinner was served, Colm and friends sang as a Barbershop Quartet and Christina shed a tear whilst they performed. I thanked them for being wonderful to work with, wished them the very best for their future and headed back to Dublin, and all along much reminiscing about the day that really had just flown.

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Photography: Aidan Oliver Photography

Venue: Cashel House Hotel

Wedding Planner: Samantha Harding Events

If you are getting married and would like to have a chat about your wedding day give me a call on 087 2861544 or 01 4602617. Alternatively fill in the contact form here and I'll get back to you immediately.

Jennifer and Scott's Intimate Spring Wedding at the National Gallery / July 27, 2016 by Aidan Oliver Weldon

I was contacted by Jennifer early this year (February to be exact) to see if I was interested in photographing both herself and hubby to be Scott's wedding on the 31st March. I replied sending back relevant information, including links to real weddings and the next email I received was to see if I could be booked - always a pleasure to be booked so early and on the strength of images and a brief written response. Five weeks later Jennifer, Scott, Mum and Dad and Jennifer's two daughters arrived all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah and the stage was set for an intimate wedding in the National Gallery - a first for me to have photographed there so you can just imagine, I was very excited.

As a photographer I get to see and photograph many old buildings and the National Gallery being a first, the Hone room in particular, overlooking the junction of Clare street, Lincoln Place and Leinster Street South, presented itself exactly as I would have envisaged a fashionable Georgian building of its time.

The ceremony was conducted by Rev Ann Cannon an interfaith minister based in Dublin. This involved presenting gifts, hand binding, eating bread and some words - little rituals that help us connect, help us celebrate, help us understand. There were tears of joy, tears of remembrance.

We listened to a reading from John O'Donohue's 'Benedictus'. It went like this:

"As Spring Unfolds the dream of the earth, May you bring each others hearts to birth.

As the ocean finds calm in view of land,
May you love the gaze of each other’s mind.

As the wind arises free and wild,
May nothing negative control your lives.

As kindly as moonlight might search the dark,
So gentle may you be when light grows scarce.

As surprised as the silence that music opens,
May your words for each other be touched with reverence.

As warmly as the air draws in the light,
May you welcome eah other’s every gift.

As elegant as dream absorbing the night,
May sleep find you clear of anger and hurt.

As twilight harvests all the day’s color,
May love bring you home to each other."

Once the ceremony was over we headed next door for a few photos on the modern balcony which had just been constructed. I have included a few photos of this part of the in this post - all in black and white, my favourite way to shoot.

The wedding party then headed to Peploe's restaurant for something special.

Three months later this wedding still echoes in my mind as very special, a ceremony that will remain fresh in my thoughts for a long time to come.

Minister: Rev Ann Cannon

Location: National Gallery of Ireland. Contact Sinead Leahy on: 01 6633512

Photographer: Aidan Oliver Photography

Reception: Peploe's Wine Bistro