Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise | Lisa & Dave

Lisa & David’s wedding was on a lovely November day in the Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise. The ceremony and reception were all within the hotel on the day so we had lots of time to concentrate on the little details that Lisa and the lovely staff put so much effort into.

Dave, being a thoroughly chilled individual, was nearly as relaxed about everything as Lisa was. Although he was getting quite nervous before the ceremony as you might expect.

We had a lovely mild day for November which mean’t we had lots of time to leave the hotel and go to get some photos in Emo Court just outside of Portlaoise.

The weather gave us ample scope to get loads of photos outside. Even late that night after the meal and before the first dance we managed to get some lovely night shots.

Here is just a small sample of the photos…Hope you enjoy.

The Midlands Park Hotel | Megan & Ray's wedding day...

Megan & Ray’s wedding day began in the most relaxed way. Everyone was so chilled I worried we might be way behind getting to the church on time! Not a bit, as it turned out everything ran like clockwork.

The sun shone and Fr. Paddy’s ceremony was short and sweet. After the mass in the lovely chapel in the Heath, we had time to go to the lake for a few pics followed by a quick trip up to the epic ruin of Dunamase Castle just outside Portlaoise.

Afterwards we went to join the rest of the guests at the reception in the Midlands Park Hotel Portlaoise (https://www.midlandsparkhotel.com/) where the fun really began.

We carried on the party all evening and even managed a few lovely night shots after I got lots of pics on the dance floor as things got funny very quickly!!!

Here’s just a small selection, hope you enjoy…

Thanks for stopping by,

joe

Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny | June Byrne & Darren Strong wedding...

June & Darren’s wedding day was a joy to photograph. June is a really well known hair stylist in Portlaoise, Co. Laois and Darren is a well known footballer and business owner who plays for his County Laois, and his local club Emo. So you can imagine the large crowd in attendance.

This Autumnal wedding was really beautiful as the sun shone and the weather was nice and calm all day.

We even managed to bring their beloved Bernese mountain dog to get into some of the photos in Emo Court between the ceremony in Emo church and the reception at https://www.newparkhotelkilkenny.com/ in Kilkenny.

Here’ just a small selection of the photographs we took that day…

Barberstown Castle Wedding | Joanne & Micheal's wedding day...

Barberstown Castle Wedding | Joanne & Micheal wedding day…

What a day!! Micheal Cushen and Joanne Scott’s wonderful wedding day started in lovely sunshine at Joanne’s home place in Ballyfin, Co. Laois. Joanne’s family made me feel so welcome and at ease straight away. I knew we were in for a great day. Myself and Kevin the Videographer (https://littlebear.ie/) had a really nice relaxing working day with this beautiful couple.

After the ceremony in Mountmellick Church we made our way to the beautiful grounds of https://www.barberstowncastle.ie/. in Co. Kildare. All day the sun shone and we managed to get some cracking images in the and around the grounds of this lovely venue.

Here’s just a small selection of the photos from there lovely wedding day…

Ballintubbert House and Gardens | Eimear & Mark's wedding day...

I absolutely love this venue!! So when Mark & Eimear asked me to capture the photographs for their wedding here I was delighted.

Mark & Eimear both work in the Bloodstock industry and the horse racing community came out in force to celebrate with them in the beautiful setting of Ballintubbert House & Gardens (http://www.ballintubbert.com/).

As the sun shone down on the gleaming Bentley’s parked outside the Old house, I had to remind myself that I was still in Co. Laois.

Everything went so smoothly and when the ceremony started everyone made their way to the beautiful Fountain garden at the back of the house.

We took loads of amazing photographs all over the grounds before the happy couple took the party late into the night.

Here’s just a sample of some of the photos…

Mount Driud | Liz & Noeleen's wedding day...

April in Mount Druid.(http://alternativeweddings.ie/) Summer was on the horizon and everything is starting to blossom. This was my first wedding in these beautiful grounds and I was honestly thrilled. Delighted and excited not just because of the venue, but it was going to be the wedding of Liz Connell and Noeleen Byrne. 

I absolutely loved working with them both. Relaxed and chilled doesn't do these girls justice. They graced the place with their own charm and fun atmosphere... everyone of their friends and family seemed to be on the same page. Here are just a small selection of the photos I had the pleasure of being part of that day.

Lough Rynn Castle | Ailish & Dougies Wedding day...

Another amazing venue!! When Ailish & Dougie asked me to capture the photographs for their wedding here I was delighted.

I loved every minute going around with them in the beautiful setting of Lough Rynn (https://www.loughrynn.ie/). This place is fantastic and great for photography. Lots of interesting nooks & Cranny’s. They even supply a golf cart for the happy couple to jaunt around on and for me to follow.

Here’ just a small selection of the many photos we took…

Everything went so smoothly and when the ceremony started everyone made their way to the beautiful Fountain garden at the back of the house.

We took loads of amazing photographs all over the grounds before the happy couple took the party late into the night.

Here’s just a sample of some of the photos…

Clonard Court Hotel | Joanne & Karl's wedding day...

Photographing Karl & Joanne (Jojo) was a dream. Both of them were so calm and cool that it set the tone for the best wedding day one can imagine.

They got married in the beautiful Heath chapel, Co. Laois. Afterwards we went up to the Rock of Dunamase for some amazing photos in and around the ruins of this amazing gem at the heart of Co. Laois.

Then we went to the lovely Clonard Court Hotel (https://www.clanardcourt.ie/) to carry on the party in style.

Here’s just a small selection of the images from that great day…

The Dolmen Hotel Carlow | Bernie & Michael's wedding day...Bernie & Michael @

The Dolmen Hotel Co. Carlow (https://www.woodforddolmenhotel.ie/) was the reception venue for Bernie & MIcheal’s wedding day. This beautiful wedding was flawless for the happy couple. The weather was beautiful and calm. The ceremony in the lovely church in Rathdowney beforehand was intimate. The photographs we managed to get in the ruins of Aghaboe Abbey were amazing.

Bernie was the most amazing bride and her calm and grace set the tone for the day. Micheal was full of fun and charm, constantly injecting fun and craic in the proceedings.

Here’s a small selection of the images we made that day…

Wedding feature on Mrs2be website.

Last November I had the pleasure of shooting Eamon and Maggie's wedding in the lovely Durrow Castle. I wrote a blog here on my site at the time but I was contacted recently by the wedding experts that are Mrs2be, and I'm delighted to say they wanted to run the wedding as a feature on their website. Follow the link below to have a look if you have the time please :).

Many thanks,

joe

Eamon & Maggie-5.jpg

Mrs2be feature...

Eamon & Maggie Lennon's Durrow Castle wedding.

Castle Durrow | Eamon & Maggie's Autumn Wedding...

Castle Durrow (https://www.castledurrow.com/) is a beautiful place at any time of the year, but in Autumn it is just perfect. When Maggie and Eamon put their stamp on this wonderful wedding venue, they managed to make it even better! They prepared their wedding room by themselves in their own style. Beautiful candle jars sitting on staggered rustic logs, large weathered pine cones on old distressed books and wedding rings presented in a handmade Ashwood box on a nest of lush green moss.

My couple obviously put a lot of thought into creating a mood that set the tone for a lovely timeless wedding. The sun-gods were kind also and we managed to get some beautiful photographs in the soft evening light after the intimate ceremony. In between photos the happy couple showed their playful side and kick their way through every bunch of fallen leaves, as I struggled to keep up with them.

As the sun set I stole them away for a few final pics before they retired to the beautifully set dining room. Again, Maggie and Eamon went to great lengths to make this a meal to remember. Hopefully my photos do their style and creativity justice.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to browse.

Joe

Ballintubbert House & Gardens | Rory & Chantelle's Wedding...

This was the moment it all began..Rory proposed to Chantelle by surprise at Glenbarrow waterfall. We had planned it in such a way that Chantelle would not be suspicious. Chantelle, (being a beautiful part-time model) and I, had previously worked together on a few photoshoots so we tricked her to the location on that cold crisp December day. At just the right moment I made a retreat and Rory made his entrance to make the grand proposal. I had to use a long lens to get this pic and let them have their moment.

Fast forward to September 2016 and their lovely ceremony was in Mountmellick church followed by the reception at Ballintubbert House & Gardens (http://www.ballintubbert.com/).  

But the two soul-mates, Rory & Chantelle, were the cool stars of this wedding. I've had the pleasure of knowing both of them for a few years now. Their relationship, and they themselves, are a breath of fresh air. Happy, easy-going, fun and charming are words I'd use when describing them and the wonderful atmosphere they created in Ballintubbert. 

Ballintubbert house and gardens is such a beautiful place for a wedding. The gardens have evolved over the years and change completely with each new seasons. The gardeners (Lorraine & Tony) are a mind of information and willingly share their time and tell tales of the past characters who have previously lived in the house. Its historical owners include such famous people like Cecil Day-Lewis (poet Laureate and father of Daniel Day-Lewis) and the Actor John Hurt.

All their friends and family mingled and enjoyed the lovely surroundings in the late summer sunshine. I managed to steal them away for a walk around the many hidden gardens which also gave them a little time to take it all in..but these guys didn't need any help relaxing as they seemed to be completely at ease on the day, all day.!

Hope you get a sense of the magic day we all had.

joe

Irish Times Article

Saturday the 23rd of April 2016, the Irish Times Weekend magazine, featured an article about one of my Weddings (Noelle & Tony Burke's wedding which i have here on my blog ). 

Noelle contacted Sarah Gerathy of the Times and sent her some pics which she loved, along with a small romantic backstory. They contacted me and I sent the High res pics for printing and the next thing I know is it's in the Saturday paper!!

Click the link below if you have time to look at the full Online edition. Many thanks for stopping by.

joe

  

The Midlands Park Hotel | Noelle & Tony's Wedding Day...

The Wedding of Noelle & Tony.

A beautiful September day and the sun was shinning like it was mid-summer. Rath Church, Co.Laois was beautifully decorated in anticipation of Noelle and Tony's big day. Everything ran perfectly and the happy couple were totally at ease and relaxed all day as the Autumn sun shone in the cloudless sky. The photographs we got were just great and looked like we were in a different country.

We had arranged for a friend to chauffeur the Bride and Groom in a beautiful old Black Hillman car, and this set the theme for the photos which we took on Tony's farm after the ceremony. I hope the fun we had is conveyed in the photos from that wonderful day.

Pamela & Brian's Wedding @ Emo Court

Brian & Pamela's Wedding Day.

On a beautiful Day in Emo Chapel, Brian Flanagan & Pamela Conroy came together with all their friends and family to say 'I Do'. It was a perfect setting and everything ran so smoothly, in no small part because of the lovely relaxed mood of everyone on the day. 

One of the nice things about shooting weddings is getting to know the extended family and friends of the couple. Feeling comfortable is essential for getting great shots on the day.  If I can get to know all the extended family it means they are happy to allow me to capture intimate moments..and also they feel confident enough to trust and ignore me!! Sometimes by ignoring me, they let me get on with the job of capturing those special moments.