ballintaggart house wedding dingle
It is still very hard for me to put into words how we felt on the day shooting this wedding. It was all just so surreal. We have shot weddings in Ballintaggart House many times before. Clearly we knew our friends a lot more than most of our couples. We knew Órla is beautiful looking soul and Derek is just a brazen rogue. We knew that there was going to be so much love shared and laughter had by all their wonderful friends and family. That we would have a proper giggle when the cameras went to bed. We knew our locations and plan for the day. We knew it all! Yet, on the day it was a different kettle of fish. The moment I saw Órla in her dress, which to that point I had wanted to remain a surprise, it all changed. ÓRLA AND DEREK WERE ACTUALLY GETTING MARRIED! I looked at Sean through tear filled eyes not even daring to breath in case a flood started and saw he was thinking the same. For once Órla had even managed to silence Sean, she literally took his breath away. Its a strange thing shooting a wedding for friends.
Subconsciously or not you will notice the stolen glances of couples in love, the slightest loving touch as they pass each other, hand holding, hugs, when you see your friends in a “normal” environment you think nothing of it because thats what all couples do. You do not see past it though, not really. When you are shooting a friends wedding you see their love in a whole different way. Like you really see it! There were various points in the day where I just had to look way and not intrude on these beautiful moments. Derek would look at Órla with such immense pride and love, like she was the only one in the world. In one look he would literally pick her up and wrap his arms around her shielding her from any harm. Órla like wise would look like she was reading his thoughts from the depths of his soul, relishing being swaddled in this otherworldly love. A super hero forever protecting his leading lady from whatever force the universe throws at him, a most perfect love guarded till the end of days. You think back to that soft brush of hands in the kitchen you once saw and are stuck by the magnitude of what that one simple action holds. Love, gratitude, respect, harmony, devotion, friendship.
Yes, it is very different being asked to shot a friends wedding. Its just crazy when I think back on it. I knew Órla from one school and Derek from another growing up. Many, many years later myself and Sean called over to Maria (one of our great friends) for a late afternoon BBQ. As we strolled to the end of the garden I could see two cheery faces, for a second I can’t place them. Just as Maria introduced us, I got flash backs from ten years earlier, school corridors and geography classes. In that second it made sense to me that these two hearts would have always found each other. (We were at Derek and Órla’s over Christmas and Derek said his first impression of us was a little different. Forever friends though they tell you it, as it is!) And so it was that we were reunited and have had such a ball ever since. Derek and Sean are like peas in a pod with their vast knowledge of the Simpsons, Órla and myself often comment how scarily alike they are! Órla, is the gentlest person I know. A lady with through and through with the occasional Tomboy attitude just to throw you off guard. Many dinner parties and lazy afternoons have been shared some serious laughter and sad times too. When they asked us to capture their wedding in Dingle accompanied by the adorable Homer we were so so honoured. They had said that they loved the landscape shots, the EPIC ones I had joked. What I clearly wasn’t prepared for was the totally epic day that Órla and Derek gave us.
Finally we are beyond thrilled to finally share our dear friends wedding with you.
Bride’s Dress & Headpiece: Anabel Rose Bridal. Bride’s Shoes: Serendipity Limerick. Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Coast. Make-Up: Jenny Cosgrave. Hair: Strands Dingle. Groom’s Suit: Connolly Man. Groomsmen’s Suits – Connolly Man. Groom’s Shoes: Avenue Venice. Grooms & Groomsmens’ Braces – Candied Treasure. Bridemaids’ Jewellery: Silverwood & Newbridge. Wedding Rings: Silverwood (Bride) and Topaz Jewellers (Groom). Grooms’ Cufflinks: Anfield Stadium Gift shop. Flowers: Mikhaela & Emma. Table Decor: DIY. Mass Booklets: DIY. Cake: Superquinn Castletroy. Lighting – Murt Whelan Sound. Church Music: Lisa Canny & Matt Griffin. DJ: Ted Dunne Entertainment.
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