Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Katie & Declan

Katie & Declan live in sunny Sydney, so a windy, wintry Westport isn't what they're used to these days. Not that it mattered, as they have very sunny dispositions, and this was a fun-filled day from start to finish.

It's fair to say that working in the west of Ireland, you come across a few grooms who aren't all that turned on by photography and don't enjoy "working the camera" in America's Next Top Model style. Declan definitely didn't fit into that category - he was very confortable strutting his stuff in front of the lens, while the beautiful Katie is always going to look good on camera.

We had a stop at Westport House en route to the hotel. The wind whipped Katie's veil off, but Declan was quick to the rescue. It's a beautiful location to take photographs; I'd love to get back there in 2012 on a warm Summer's day. Then we had a quick whistlestop tour of the winecellar and swimming pool in Knockranny House before dinner & dancing.

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

Nicola & Graham - Kilronan Castle, 28th December

I got straight into the swing of things after Christmas back in Kilronan Castle. Nicola and Graham had been down in the studio a couple of weeks earlier where we did some pre-wedding shots. Badoo the dog was with them that day, but he didn't get to come to the wedding, other than to appear figureatively on the top of the wedding cake.

The jetty at Lough Meelagh was still underwater, but given the miserable weather, we were happy to head back to Kilronan for the welcoming glass of champagne and to use the Castle interiors for photographs. Down in the function room, Nicola & Graham's friemnds had put together a fantastic "Candy Counter" with all sorts of exotic confectionary. I even saw sherbert-filled flying saucers for the first time in twenty years, which had been specially sourced in Germany. With such an after-dinner sugar rush, I'm sure the guests quickly filled the floor once The Good Guys started playing....

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Michelle & Connell

I definitely couldn't describe Michelle as shy, but she wasn't sure about having any photos on the Blog, until Connell persuaded her it would be all right. So I've limited it to a few here, just in case!

This was a great day out, and we were lucky enough to get beautiful light down at the shore of Lough Gill. Even the swans came out to play. It was dark by the time we got to The Mill Park, but that didn't dim the welcome from Mary and the staff at the Hotel. A special mention for youung Seamus Patrick who came all the way from chicago for the big day and looked very smart in his suit and cap as you can see below as he and PJ march into the church with the big boys....

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography


John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

Caroline & Padraig

As we moved into December, my next wedding was in Kilronan Castle, where Caroline & Padraig tied the knot. There was a big exodus from Kildare for this one, with plenty of GAA representatives, given that Padraig is a Kildare County player. The disappointment at losing to Donegal had abated by the time the wedding came around, and the mood was upbeat all day, led by bridesmaid Laura who also got the chorus line going with the singing waiters later.

The ceremony itself took place just down the road in Keadue Church, and despite the cold and miserable conditions, the bridal party braved the elements at Lough Meelagh. The jetty was actually underwater after the amount of rainfall we'd had, but with the great interiors in the Castle, it didn't really matter.

The flowers came from Calla and the dancing from the always-fantastic Late Nite Radio. After the wedding, Caroline & Padraig were heading for the sunshine in the Maldives, the lucky things.

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

Marese & Mark

Marese & Mark's wedding took place in Conacool, Tubbercurry on a fairly wintry day. It was certainly wild and windy up at the Chieftain statue in the Curlews, where we stopped to take a few photographs en route to The Landmark Hotel. Our reward was a dramatic, storm-cloud filled sky as a backdrop for the shots.

Brian Duignan was alongside me on video for the third time in four weddings - we were like pair of strikers who play together regularly, knowing exactly where the other was going to be at any moment for a pass. After the excellent speeches, Gobsmacked provided the music for the night.

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography

John Reynolds Photography