Welcome to the beautiful wedding of Cushendun couple, Kathleen & Patrick at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena.

After our very first meeting when they were in their wedding planning era, it was clear how excited they were for their upcoming wedding day. Kathleen & Patrick were full of warmth, laughter, and knew the people who mattered most to them and who was to be photographed well.

Wedding Photography Northern Ireland

As mentioned, wedding photography was incredibly important to them as they wanted their day captured naturally and authentically. After a relaxed chat together, everything just clicked between the three of us.

Around a year later, it was time for their engagement shoot. The pre-wedding shoot is a great icebreaker for any couple and it’s a preview of what to expect from your wedding photographer. Not just the imagery but you can see what your wedding photographer is like on a real shoot.

After a great engagement shoot at Ballycastle, Kathleen & Patrick were even more excited for their wedding day and so was I.

Cushendun Wedding Photography

Fast forward to their big day and I began their wedding photography at Patrick’s beautiful home in Cushendun. I love doing groom preps and get to do this at most of my weddings.

Patrick’s home was a hub of activity with lots going on. I did some fun getting ready shots with Patrick with some help from his mum and his Granny. As the years disappear, it will be special to have family members like your granny and mum in your pictures.

After these, we caught up with some of the groomsmen outside who were hard at work washing & shining the wedding cars.

The wedding cars were personal to Patrick, filled with memories and meaning — a detail that made the morning feel even more special.

After lots of fun in the morning sun with the boys, I slipped away to photograph Kathleen, her bridesmaids and family at her home location.

Kathleen’s home was calm, happy and full of quiet excitement. The kind of morning where everything just feels right.

Kathleen & the cutest dog I have ever seen!

Adorable Furry Guests: Dogs at Northern Ireland Weddings

Shortly after, Kathleen had a very special visitor to send his well wishes… Finn the Labradoodle. OMG! I was and still am very jealous! What a fab dog. Finn stole the show and I wish every bride had a dog like him show up on the wedding morning. I wish I had my very own Finn.

In saying all of that, Finn wasn’t the perfect subject as he didn’t really want to play ball and pose for his picture. After a couple of failed attempts inside the house, I said I’d go outside and shoot toward the open backdoor. With Kathleen hugging (holding) Finn, we ended up with some stunning pictures of the beautiful bride and her drop dead gorgeous dog.

Because Patrick and Kathleen were so close to each other, while the girls were getting ready, I was able to scoot back across to Patrick to get a few shots before he headed to St. Mary’s Church in Cushendall.

After some nice shots of Patrick with his groomsmen and mum, it was back off to Kathleen’s for some pictures of her in her wedding dress.

Kathleen’s mum was on hand to help her get ready and we were able to do a first look with first, her dad and then her bridesmaids.

After such a beautiful morning, the heavens opened and I had a very rainy drive over to St. Mary’s Church in Cushendall.

Wedding at St. Mary’s Church Cushendall

By the time I arrived at church, the rain had subsided and I was able to stay dry but more importantly, Kathleen was soon able to arrive without the bother of the rain. If the rain had not subsided, I would have just gotten wet, not the bride. In Northern Ireland, I’ve come to work in some of the worst weather conditions so we get what we get and keep going.

After sixteen years as a professional wedding photographer, can you beleive this was my first wedding in Cushendall? I made a point of visiting ahead of time a few weeks before the big day. Knowing the light, the layout, and the flow of the space always helps the day run seamlessly.

Wedding Photographers Antrim

As soon as I arrived at St. Mary’s Church in Cushendall, I was summoned over to the priest. In the nicest possible way, I was told the rules of the church for photographers. No moving around. No noisy clicking. No flash during the ceremony etc. I nodded my head and agreed with a smile.

The priest was lovely, just gave me the impression that he’d had the displeasure of a bad photographer or two in his day. This happens sometimes. Even if I’m not pre-warned, I will always be respectful wherever I am. During the handshakes and after the ceremony, the priest came up to me and shook my hand and said well done. You’re welcome back anytime. I laughed and said thanks.

The best time with Kathleen & Patrick’s wedding party.

Dark Church Wedding Photography

We did the formal family photographs inside the church and finished with a few pictures of Kathleen & Patrick. Despite the beautifully atmospheric (and very dark!) interior, we created clean, natural group photographs using subtle lighting.

We did a few pictures of the bridal party on the church grounds in front of the entrance. We could have sent the bridal party on to the Tullyglass at this stage but they came along to a secret location that Kathleen and Patrick found. Kathleen loved having the water in the background of her photos.

I’m so glad they came along with the flower girls as everyone added to the fun photographs we had. Kathleen & Patrick’s flower girls stole the show at this section. Don’t you just love to see children at a wedding. So much craic.

We finished the photo shoot with some great pictures of the couple and it was off to the Tullyglass.

Weddings At Tullyglass Hotel Ballymena

Planning your wedding and curiously interested in the goings on? We were right on the 4pm time of arrival at the Tullyglass. You really don’t want to be any later. Sometimes the arrival is earlier but it depends on how many pictures the couple want and how much journey time to the venue.

I spend most of the first part of the wedding reception doing candids and mingling pictures of the guests. Everyone was relaxed and looking forward to the rest of the evening.

Next up was the speeches and a surprise slideshow. Always a nice touch.

After a break for dinner, it was time for the cutting of the cake and more candids of guests. I ran into a couple of soon to be brides and grooms who also have me booked for their wedding day. Small world isn’t it?

While waiting on the band to begin, we sneaked outside for some evening photos by the Tullyglass fountain.

As the evening celebrations began, the dance floor quickly filled with energy, laughter, and some brilliant moments — the perfect ending to a truly wonderful day.

Congratulations again to Kathleen & Patrick.

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