Belleek Castle Summer Wedding by Aidan Oliver Photography

The wonderful Belleek Castle was the choice for Katelyn and Michael to get married in June just gone and what a month of joyous Summer sun it was. The couple both live in Canada and many emails crossed the pond before we met. Michael hails from Belfast so the three of them (including  their little guy Killian) arrived over to visit Michaels family prior to their wedding. When you have a kid and live in Alberta and have organised a wedding remotely you have to be saluted for the sheer effort in pulling it all together.

As a photographer my aim is always to help where and when I can by communicating as clearly as possible, putting peoples mind at ease then pulling out the stops to deliver the very best I can. We started our conversations a year prior to the 8th, the day they got married. 

I asked Katelyn where they met and she told me this "Michael and I met st. Patrick's day at a small pub in Brandon Manitoba. I was a student trying to avoid studying and he was fresh to Canada and not looking for a girlfriend", brilliant, and very real of course. I am fascinated by stories of how folks initially meet. Katelyn continued with the story "We instantly had chemistry and started talking. The relationship was on and off the first year as we both weren't too sure what we wanted in life but life kept drawing us together. The cheesy line "absence makes the heart grow founder" is very true to us as once we started distancing from each other we knew we only wanted each other".  What a lovely few words said just there. 

I arrived for the bridal preparations and not before I took a walk around the castle to capture the esscence of the grounds and also wanted to check out the 19th century Knox-Gores stables where the civil ceremony was to take place. They also have a café in the same courtyard where guests can have a coffee outside, and prior to being called to sit. I headed up to say hello to Katelyn and the day oficially began for me. It was very relaxed and I moved between the bridal suite and outside as Michael and Killian were around, the hurl's were taken out and some frendly pucks were made between the lads on the green, a great way to ease them all into the exciting day ahead. As usual  watching it all unfold and capturing all that goes into making each day unique, the lads getting ready the restrained excitement in the bridal suite, Killian being dressed each day unfolding in its unique way. I could not resist getting a His 'n' Hers shot of the couples favourite tipple, his being Jack Daniels and hers, being Fireball. Bridesmaids pressies were handed over and Mum shed a tear which I manage to capture. There was also a giddy moment on the stairs with Katelyn and her dad Michael right before they made their way over to the stables.  

The photo of Katelyns Dad Michael just after greeting her hubby to be Michael Gough while hubby to be catches a coy smile from Katelyn is one of my favourite of the day. The stables is such a rustic place to get married and the ceremony was full of life and laughter and thoughtfulness it was a sheer pleasure to have captured. McGarry's florists did a wonderful job at arranging the flowers with Daragh Gillen entertaining the guests with his mystical harp playing. 

After the ceremony the couple greeted their guests in the grand entrance hall of the castle while siping on a glass of bubbly, Killian was also in on the action and it was such a pleasure to see him so involved in the day, celebrating as a trio. 

We headed off for some couple photos on the grounds of Belleek and as a large estate you get to see something different each time, each season, each week in fact. I had photographed a smaller wedding in Belleek a few weeks prior and was delighted that the weather had kept - surely the best Summer we have had since 1976, well it felt like it. We walked through the small forest adjacent to the castle and right up to the shore of River Moy, the couple sat and watched the moored boats bob in the sparkling water, chatting about the fab day it was. There is something magical about forests and the estate surrounding Belleek is a wonder to walk around with its approximately 1000 acres of woodland to traipse around in. 

 Katelyn also wrote me a line that said "We have a amazing son together and so glad he was there to celebrate our day with us. We had the most dreamy day for our wedding and can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together". I do wish Katelyn and Michael the very best for their future together.

Suppliers list: 

1. Venue: Belleek Castle 

2. Photographer: Aidan Oliver Photography

3. Cake: Mayo Wedding Cakes

4.  Florists: McGarry Flowers

5. DJ: Midland Djs

6. Harpist: Daragh Gillen

7. Hair and makeup: Bella beauty

If you would love to chat about your wedding I would be delighted to sahy hello. You can contact me on 00 353 87 2861544, aidanoliverphoto@gmail.com or send me your details here: http://www.aidanoliver.ie/contact/

Colm and Silke's Borris House Wedding by Aidan Oliver Photography

Borris House in October is a rather wonderful setting and I have been meaning to blog about about Colm and Silke's wedding for a while now and here we are. As usual (and as I normally and happily expect) there was a good deal of emailing and conversation before we decided on a package to best suit the couple. After contacts were signed the time flew by and pretty soon the 7th October and the sumptious Autumn colours were upon us. Driving under the gate lodge I pulled in to take some photos and noticed some conkers (horse chestnut seeds) on the wall which brought me back to my childhood and the competitive games we used to play. The drive up to Borris House revealed itself gradually - I was heading for the saw mill where I knew Colm was staying close by, having driven up in his wonderfully refurbished Volkswagon Transporter camper van, it beaming out in royal blue. I noticed an ancient tree leaning toward a gate and immediately thought of a scene from LOTR (Lord of the Rings). There is so much to see around the estate, plenty of woodland walks which hold much character. The ice house itself looks almost like a mini Newgrange. 

Silke hails from Germany and Colm is from the capital and they both enjoy potholing or caving as it is known internationally. If I remember correctly this is where they initially met. I introduced myself to Colm and Silke then set about watching the day unfold moving back and forth between the couple, keeping my eyes peeled for interesting conversations, ongoing preparations and wedding day detail that would tell their story. The chapel on the grounds was being prepared for the ceremony so this provided for another focal point between bridal prep and other ancillary stuff Colm and the lads were looking after. The coffee van also arrived, we were ready to go.

After guests were refreshed and had been seated Silke appeared and greeted her dad at the end of the stairs. It was a rather touching moment, Silke wiping a tear from her dads eye. She was then driven with her bridal party and mum in the Transporter around the corner to the church. The ceremony was stunning, friends sang and played music, kind and light hearted words were spoken, there was a traditional hand binding and a tree planted, all symbols of the love this couple have for each other and the gestures made to celebrate it. The newly married couple were then driven back to the house in the Transporter (of course) for refreshments and to begin the celebrations.

Colm being a keen brewer had a couple of kegs lined up for guests to sample as the chatted around the Transporter. The weather was beautiful for early October, a warm sun lifted spirits higher as a selection of canapés and traditional teas were provided. There were kids of all ages at the wedding, some very young and it was lovely to see such inclusivity. We took some family family photos over near the couples favourite tree then and I took the couple for a brief walk as they wanted to spend as much time with their guests as possible prior to the meal. Colm and Silke said a few words outside when we arrived back and then everybody was called to sit for the meal. The remaining speeches were undertaken during the meal. 

I left the wedding party and headed back to dublin not before grabbing a photo of the imfamous camper van against the majestic Borris House. I wish Colm and Silke the very best for their future together. 

Supplier list

Photographer: Aidan Oliver Photography www.aidanoliver.ie

Wedding Venue: Borris House, borrishouse.com

Catering: Blackstairs Catering https://www.facebook.com/blackstairscatering/

Flowers: Tina from the thewildbunch.ie/

Hair and Make up: Christine http://snipsandlips.com/contact.aspx

Silke's Cape: Roisin Cross Silks http://silks.ie

Jennifer and Scott's Intimate Spring Wedding at the National Gallery

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

Faith and Keith's Winter Wedding in the Heritage, Killenard

It was a showy wintry day, the 19th of December 2015 when Faith and Keith were married last Christmas. Their chosen venue was the Heritage in Killenard, about an hours drive from my home in West Dublin and a fairly straight run out the M7. 

I had met the lovely couple for the first time at the start of 2015 when we discussed their wants, wishes and wedding day. I was also in the middle of a house extension/renovation so that is how I remember this meeting well. There were looking for a photographer to capture the day as it unfolded with minimum intrusion, they wanted someone dependable, somebody who knows their art, more importantly, they wanted to spend precious time with their guests. Faith and Keith were impressed and I was booked shortly after. We met again in November 2015 for a wee chat and to go through the day as it was planned. Along with the wedding day discussions we discussed sending over my public liability insurance to Valerie in the OPW (Office of Public Works) as it was decided to grab a few shots in the grounds of EMO Court, post ceremony. 

The 19th, December arrived and while it was blustery and wet nothing mattered behind the doors of Killenard. Bridal preparations were ongoing and the spirit was high. A Child of Prague statue sat on the balcony table outside, in the hope that the weather might break for some shots outside. A few shots were captured here and the ladies were very relaxed. I left them enjoy a glass of bubbly before heading over to St Pauls Church in EMO, a short jaunt up the road. I caught some umbrella rain shots as guests arrived, heads down and bee-lines made for the comfort of the pews. Faith arrived shortly after her bridesmaids and it was not long before I witnessed her very proud dad John hand his beautiful daughter over to a beaming Keith. A fitting tribute was made to Faith's mum who passed away some years back. The ceremony ran short of an hour and (from the balcony) I snapped a lovely shot of Faith walking down the isle while a familiar guest touches her shoulder in very moving and comforting gesture. 

The lads had just finished writing 'just married' on the Rover coupe before we headed over to EMO Court, tin cans and all. We grabbed a few shots on the steps of this neo-classic mansion but unfortunately it was too windy to do much else. The same wind literally took the umbrella from Keith's grasp numerous times and this brought peals of laughter from the bridal party. Few shots captured and back to the hotel we went, bridal party in the Bentley Continental and Faith/Keith in the Rover. 

Back in the hotel the celebrations started, the cinema was setup just next to to the bar area and people wandered in and out to catch a running slideshow of the couples lifestyle over the years. I headed into the function room to capture some photos of the tables and the detail. I loved the Readers Digest books that formed part of the overall theme, and which stood on each table -  Archers 'As The Crow Flies' being one of my favourite novels.

There was one shot that I had suggested earlier that morning to the couple and they were well up for it. As Star Wars 'The Force Awakens' had just been released a couple of days earlier, and having managed to borrow my fiancé's illuminated Star Wars umbrella, it was proposed that this would make a great photo opportunity. Well it did and you can see the results in the last few shots of the collection below.

It was not long before the dinner bell rang out and you could tell by the quick step into the function room that people were hungry. Faith and Keith appeared shortly, Grace was said and it was my cue to leave, well satisfied that I had covered the day as best I could. What a day, what a fabulous couple. I wish them the very best for their future together. On the way out I passed by the signing frame that was well filled in, filled in with the best wishes for them both. I smiled and headed home.