Caroline and Jim's Trim Castle Hotel Wedding

Caroline ands Jim’s August 2015 wedding was a real treat to photograph. Caroline comes from a rural picturesque village called Donaghpatrick which is a few miles outside Navan town. We had the bridal preparations in her parents house, which is an extended red brick schoolhouse dating back to 1883. Her dad had added on to this fine property some years back and looking at it you would not think it was done as such. My assistant for the day was Eamonn and we watched and observed as the morning unfolded - a very relaxed affair. Her Dad, a hardworking farmer is very proud of his refurbished and painted farm machinery which he proudly exhibits in the side garden of the house; we could not resist a shot of of him alongside this restored equipment. Caroline’s uncle runs the grocery shop next door so I dropped in and grabbed a photo of the good man himself with his wares was a backdrop. It all added to the day. Eamonn brought along his instamatic camera and handed over some wonderfully candid shots to guests as we went about documenting the day. 

Caroline was soon ready, appearing in her beautiful designer dress and I caught a couple of photos of both mother and daughter as they chatted both delighted and excited. We observed, capturing peoples interaction and snapping shots of family and friends as they went about preparing for the day ahead, from loading their cars, to ticking off their lists, some light conversation, everyone anticipating looking forward to this wedding celebration..  

The ceremony took place in Kilberry Church, a few miles away. On the way back to her parents house (for a drink and a few photos in the garden) we had to stop to let the cows cross the road - this provided an ample opportunity for a rural shot, something different and another photo to add to the wedding story. 

On we went to Trim Castle Hotel for the reception and a walk around the castle. Jim is big into Elvis so I suggested he bring a few albums along and we feature these in a couple of shots. The craic was mighty here. We let the bridal party head off and headed across the river Boyne to St Mary’s Abbey & the Yellow Steeple backdrops for a few shots that the couple had envisaged prior to their wedding day. You could smell the late summer air and the reeds along the hill provided a wonderful texture to the shots. 

Back we went for the meal, for Tropical Storm’s wonderful renditions of Elvis’s songs as they serenaded each table of smiling guests. Instead of a first dance, the couple sang a tune, then danced late into the night. 

I wish Caroline and Jim the very best for their future together and thank them for taking me on to capture their unique wedding.

WEDDING FAIR WITH A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE

Delighted to be part of a very special Wedding Fair this Saturday/Sunday 20th & 21st February 2016 @ the Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street. See Press release below for more details...

WE DO @ THE DEAN

Wedding Showcase!

Saturday, 20th  & Sunday, 21st February 2016 12:00 – 4:00pm

Appassionata Flowers / Patrick Sheary / Grafton Barbers / Caiomhe Keane of Que-Va / Claire Barry / Trudy Hayes / Grace Flood of Cherry On Top / EF Creative Studios / Judy Wong / Aidan Oliver / Leanne Keaney / The Cake Cuppery / Designyard / DJs

The engagement ring is on. The wedding is ON! What next? If the idea of traditional Wedding Fair sends you into a spiral of dread then fear not. We’re on hand to help you out. We’re putting together our first ever Wedding Showcase at The Dean Dublin. Happening on Saturday, 20 February and Sunday, 21 February, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite friends to showcase their extraordinary talents so you can see how your big day could be.

We’ll have wine tastings. We’ll have some gorgeous canapes, a DJ spinning some tunes. We’ll have beautiful cocktails, and our expert mixologist will be on hand to chat to you about drinks options. Plus, our team will be there and happy to talk to you about all the possibilities.

So, banish thoughts of cocktail sausages and satin bridesmaid outfits. Come to The Blue Room at The Dean Dublin. Grab a cocktail and come and talk to the experts who will be on hand to answer any of your queries and show you their wares. We’ve handpicked some fabulous folk and we know you’ll love what they do.

We’ll have the amazing award winning Appassionata Flowers there, showing off some of their incredible displays. They’ve created a flower set for Barack Obama, dressed the CCD for Queen Elizabeth, made Christmas magic for Brown Thomas, put together tropical jungles, winter landscapes and worked with the likes of Christian Louboutin, Tiffany and Tom Ford to name a few. If you dream it, they can do it. They’ll be on hand to talk to you about all the possibilities for the big day in order to create flowers tailored to suit your tastes and personality.

For the gents, we are delighted to say we have one of Dublin’s most exclusive menswear specialists, Patrick Sheary’s Menswear, displaying some of their finery to check out. Patrick Sheary is renowned for his personal service, which has earned him legions of loyal fans. We’ll also be welcoming Bonagrew, a unique and sophisticated Irish accessories label, who craft simple and beautiful products inspired by the glorious colours of the garden. Their goal is to create well-made products that can endure beyond trends and be worn by any generation in any setting. These guys are the first and only Irish label with a signature white and black self-tie bow tie designed and made in Ireland using premium Irish linen.  Plus, the wonderful Grafton Barber will be displaying all their bespoke wares and packages for the groom/s and his party.

One of the leading names in bridal couture design, Caiomhe Keane of Que-Va, will also be with us on the weekend. She provides a bespoke designer service creating exquisite bridal wear and complimentary accessories her whimsical and romantic timeless creations with chic cutting edge style. Caiomhe incorporates her commitment to social and environmental responsibility into her creations collaborating with top master craftspeople and often using organic materials such as hemp, cashmere, silks, reincarnated materials such as recycled cashmere, vintage trims and hand dyed silks with ribbons, lace, crystals and hand painted embellishments in her bespoke couture inspired bridal designs.

For tresses, we have the incredible Claire Barry on Saturday. Claire also styles hair for fashion photoshoots, magazines and TV. She’s skilled in creating classic up-styles like the Chignon, the Audrey Hepburn, the Ballerina Bun as well as many red carpet looks and is a dab hand at creating vintage styles too, such as glamorous Hollywood Waves, 1920's Finger Waves and 1940's Victory Rolls. On Sunday, we’ll be welcoming the uber talented Trudy Hayes. She has worked on many publications such as Style, Image, Tatler, Noise, Vox, U, Stellar, Kiss, Totally Dublin, Life, Vouge.com, Irish Brides to name but a few. She has also worked with many leading designers and celebrities over the years and regularly works in film and TV and we’re only thrilled she’ll be with us!

Nail technician Grace Flood, owner of Cherry On Top, prides herself not only on beautiful, pretty and simple nail work, but also on keeping on top of the latest nail trends. She’s been recognised for her work across the globe, with shout outs from UK New Look Magazine, ASOS, Beyoncè's personal stylist Ty Hunter. She’s worked with brands like Rimmel, Sally Hanson,  Butter London, NYC,  and Isa Dora and looked after Beyoncè and Nicki Minaj’s dancers! Grace will be on hand (!) to talk to you about all your nail requirements

All about the face? On Saturday, we’ll have a leading make-up artist from EF Creative Studios on hand to discuss different looks for the wedding. EF Studio make-up artists have years of experience in fashion, TV and media. They make sure that you get the look that you want! The lovely Judy Wongwill be with us on Sunday. As one of Ireland's most recognisable faces in the make-up industry, Judy is seriously in demand! Working for everyone from Kanye West to Alexander McQueen, Judy will be showing you some tips and tricks, and will be happy to talk through what would suit for your wedding. 

What about capturing the moment? Fear not, we have 2 amazing photographers! Professional photographer and artist Aidan Oliver is all about telling a story. Specialising in capturing the excitement and happiness of your wedding day, as well as the intimate moments and little details that can really tell the true story of each couples celebration. Aidan will be with us on both Saturday and Sunday to talk to you about possibilities. Photographer Leanne Keaney mixes her background in photojournalism and Fine Art to create the perfect memories for your wedding day. Over the last 10 years she has become an expert at predicting when a bunch of guests are about to erupt with laughter or a groom is about to wink at his bride. At the end of the day you will have a collection of magical images to tell the story of your day. Leanne will be with us on Sunday only.

It’s all about the cake, too! Domestic Diva Cat Lawlor of The Cake Cuppery and her expert team, create bespoke cakes to suit all tastes. From traditional tiered masterpieces to mouth-watering miniatures, every creation is distinctive in design and truly delicious in taste. All her cakes are made with the finest fair trade and free range ingredients and decorated with handmade edible decorations. They want to bake your dreams come true! Cat will be around to talk ideas and show you some of her work.

Last but certainly not least, we’ll have Designyard, who have a well-deserved reputation for stocking the most beautiful contemporary jewellery in Ireland. Each designer is handpicked by Designyard and is a master designer – they work with more than 60 Jewellery Designers from both Ireland and abroad. They develop a special collection of rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings in precious metals and gemstones. These pieces are exclusive to Designyard and you cannot find them anywhere else on the high street.  Some pieces are even one-offs. They will be showing you some of their gorgeous pieces and can talk to you about jewellery options

Come and check out our first Wedding Showcase!

The Dean Dublin |  33 Harcourt St | Dublin 2 | Ireland

For more information contact Jenny Headen /  Jenny@pressup.ie / 0879815585

@thedeandublin

Margaret and John's BELLINGHAM CASTLE WEDDING

It was Jenny Phelan who initially recommended me as a photographer to Margaret and John (M & J) last year. I had photographed Jenny's wedding the year before - thank you Jenny!. Time sure does fly as a wedding photographer particularly when you relate weddings to years. 

I headed to Balbriggan for the morning bridal preparation photos and it was a fresh November morning with a promise of some sun in the late afternoon - fingers were crossed and batteries were charged. The morning flew as it always does not before Margaret received a beautiful gift of a watch from John. I captured the essence of this busy but calm morning before heading to St Peter and Paul's Church for the ceremony.. The 'congratulations' took place in the hallway of the Church as it was lashing rain and people hugged, shook hands then headed straight for their cars. Margaret was glad of her winter stole I can tell you, and I caught a tearful moment when she hugged a familiar person she knew - there is a story there alone. 

We headed on to Bellingham Castle for the afters, a nice spin up the M1 then take junction 15 off for Castlebellingham. Bellingham is a sister Castle of Cabra Castle and is owned by the Corscadden Family. If you are familiar with both castles then you will know that each castle has an Irish Wolfhound with a name synonymous to each, Bellingham's being Ferdia, Cabra is Oscar. Those dogs have the life indeed. M & J were greeted with champagne, an open fire to warm the bones and I did smell the perfume of mulled wine in the air. I left them there to say hello, thaw out and headed around the castle for a look, so see what was prepared and to capture the little things accordingly. I remember speaking to Patrick Corscadden later telling him that I had my debs in this very place in 1988 and I'll say it again, it looks every part a fantastic place to host the ideal wedding reception. So much space, character, nooks and crannies and the very best service which is key. Both Ciara and Patrick are at the coal face when it comes to setting good standards. I always judge a venue on how they look after the photographer, wouldn't I?. 

We did go outside for a few shots around the grounds, M & J did not mind the cold, and the nearby river Glyde set the stage nicely for some shots around the gardens. Johns uncle provided a great focal point for the bridal party to enjoy a laugh while on the bridge. The fire escape was also used for some off the beat photos - something different as they say. Back inside and I moved around capturing guests, their expressions, animation and the general happiness that encapsulates the archetype wedding. 

Two of my favourite photos of the day were 1) The portrait of Margaret under the arch, and 2) the photo of John with the lads surrounding him, just like a 21st Century (Anno Domino) Don Corleone. I captured the  speeches, left them all to it and headed back to Dublin with a big smile on my face. On the way out I noticed that the signing frame I had created for the couple had been filled out nicely - you just never know what a colourful comment might appear on such a frame, particularly by a character guest, a good few of whom were now sitting down enjoying the banter. 

I was delighted to send M & J the images of their wedding while they were away on honeymoon in Cape Town - they were very much thrilled. Margaret and John, I wish you the very best for your future together. 

Suppliers:

Photography: Aidan Oliver

Videography: Edithouse films

Reception: Bellingham Castle

Anita and Conor's August Wedding in Castle Durrow

Anita and Conor were married in Durrow this August just gone. Anybody who is familiar with Durrow knows that not just is it a quaint little village with a wonderful castle right smack in the middle of its centre - but that it hosts equally wonderful creative Scarecrow Festival every year. I though it fitting to start and finish with a shot from this festivals entries as a tribute to what you see when you enter and leave. I also made a little trip to the Church as I normal like to get the lie of the land if it has been a while since I've been there last. 

Photographing the bridal preparations is made much easier when you have a large room with plenty of light and the natural backdrop of the castle gardens always provide great scenery to muse over, loose a minute or two. It was a very relaxed affair, and I even managed to nip over to Conor's room to grab a few photos of himself to tie all it in nicely. 

The lovely couple were married locally in Cullahill Church by the wonderful father Tom McGree who by all accounts was a lively priest for his 75 years of age. The ceremony was celebrated with smiles and genial laughter. A quick greet post ceremony and we all headed back to Durrow for an outside reception in the blistering sun. I love watching people, having a laugh, a joke and just generally interacting. We took some informal photos of the families and bridal party then headed in when called for the meal, through the garden pavilion and to the banqueting hall. 

Speaking of food, much of the castles organically grown produce is used for their weddings fare and the very same gardens are a joy to see in seasonal bloom, August being no different. Food is their speciality here so it is important to see everyone sat in time as it can be a long day. 

Grace was said and my day was done. I had a tasty bite to eat in the main bar and back off to Dublin I went, delighted and honoured to be able to have captured Anita and Conor's wedding. I wish them the very best for their future together.