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/

Winter Wicklow Gaol Wedding by Aidan Oliver Photography

When you are contacted by a client and they tell you that they are getting married in a jail well, your eyes open, you ask them “what jail?” and they say “Wicklow Jail”, then you get an idea of the setting for their wedding. 

Evelyn and Chip were doing just that and Evelyn gave me a shout in November to discuss the setting and their plans for the day. I have to say that I was as excited as they were and agreed to meet them at the Gaol to go through the day just as they had planned and envisioned it. If you have ever been inside this building then you would see that the Gaol part is a long rectangular building three stories in height with an open stairs connecting the first floor to the second floor landing. The couple planned to have the wedding ceremony at the foot of this stairs just in front of the large window. The 70 odd guests would line up along the two sides (and two levels) of the walkways which were approximately a metre across in width so any photography would have been restricted. As he works in the film industry Chip mentioned that he was going to install production lights back towards the ceremony area which would allow guests to see the proceedings and I knew that this was going to be spot on (excuse the pun) as the light would be directed on on the couple, the celebrant, the proceedings and the guests would be illuminated with (for the most part) any remaining light, thus creating the perfect mood. Oh, did I mention that Wicklow Gaol is supposed to be one of the most haunted buildings in the world? - I’ll leave that up to your imagination here.

We chatted about a second photographer and agreed that it would be ideal to leave one person focus on the ceremony and a second person float around considering the width restriction on the landings. Having been the second photographer at a Kinsale wedding with my friend and wonderful photographer I knew that Leanne Keaney www.leannekeaney.ie was the right person to help me out here - thankfully she was available. I trusted Leanne to focus on the ceremony while I was able to nip around and capture other angles. It worked a treat and we both managed to get numerous same shots from different angles which threw a different perspective into the photos.

Chip was getting ready in the Bridge Tavern so I arrived there first. Evelyn was to leave from cell 30 which was located on the second floor, her two bridesmaids Kim and Fiona, would go before her and this was to surprise guests (that at this stage) had lined up all along the walkway to the entrance hall. Chip was well ready as were all the guests. There was an air of excitement and expectation building up. Everyone was mesmerised at the location.

The ceremony was simply awesome, the love that these two people have for each other was very much prevalent and you could see the pure glee in the guests faces as the ceremony proceeded. It was a lot of fun as well as part emotional, a tear was shed by Fiona (Evelyn’s sister) as she spoke a few words. Fiona lives in Australia and quite a few guests traveled from afar to be there hence the emotion. Fiona’s son Ryder looked the dapper part handing over the rings to the beaming bride. 

Post ceremony (and after the kids had shot off all their confetti cannons) I left the very capable Leanne to capture guests mingling and the general ambience of a reception and myself, the newly married duo and Adi headed over to Black Castle to the salty air to capture some couple photos.  I've interspersed a few photos of the reception amid the coastal shots to show what was happening simultaneously. To say it was windy, cold and wet was an understatement but Chip and Evelyn were ready to rock here as well and were fearless; I salute you both for your steadfast determination by the way!!!. We captured the few cracking photos at Black Castle the same scene where (if I remember correctly) Chip proposed to Evelyn.

Back to the Gaol we went for the family photos and the wedding feast and true to form the 8 hour whole roasted pig was very ready and looking a damn sight tasty. Coupled with this fine beast (and the delicious crackling) there was potato gratin and braised vegetables served in a red wine jus plus baby roasties to accompany the meat and also for the vegetarians. Many guests were back up for more and the roast more than amply served all present. A few words were said in the speeches and the DJ was ready to take the wedding party onto the floor with some seamlessly mixed vinyl tunes.

I said goodbye and thank you was presented with one of the wedding bouquets (for my fiancé) and headed back to Dublin, delighted with the days events and chuffed that I was asked to capture this rather unique wedding.

Supplier List

Main Photographer: Aidan Oliver Photography

Second Photographer: Leanne Keaney

Ceremony and Reception: Wicklow Gaol

Flowers - Austen Flowers

Pastries & sweets - The Rosie Apple Bakery

DJ - Funky Funktion