Wedding Photography

O&R - Garryvoe Wedding Photographer /  by Jan

A wedding at the Garryvoe Hotel. Strange, usually when I’m in east Cork for a wedding it’s in Ballycotton.

This was my first wedding of the year between Oisín and Rachel. It was still winter, in the middle of February, so too cold for cliff backgrounds or beach photos, but we did have the lovely, cozy warm ambiance of the Garryvoe Hotel.

I always like to highlight three things that stood out to me at a wedding.

1) An Indoor Couple Shoot

I have done partial couple shoots indoors or unexpected ones indoors because the weather changed suddenly but this was a couple shoot I planned from the get go to be inside. With the Garryvoe Hotel having this lovely library that I could set up as a photography studio with my lighting equipment was amazing! As always, I had to move some furniture out of the way with the help of some strong waiters but the effort was worth it and I love how these photos came out!

Before every wedding, I get in do a video call with the couple to get to know them and to understand what’s important to them on their big day. Oisín and Rachel had mentioned that as much as they wanted to have a couple shoot, it wasn’t something that was that important to them. This isn’t uncommon and those couples often find it more important to be around friends and family. And I absolutely understand that, so this couple shoot actually just took 10 minutes. They were delighted. They had some beautiful shots of them as a newly wed couple and didn’t miss a thing.

2) The ‘Friends’ Ceremony

Oisín and Rachel had such a laid back and funny ceremony, no doubt because of the celebrant who did a fantastic job on the day. But amazingly, it turned out that the celebrant was the uncle. Because of that he was able to create such a unique ceremony for them and part of that was reading out Joey’s (from Friends) best man speech:

“We are gathered here today on this joyous occasion to celebrate the special love that Oisín and Rachel share.

It is a love based on giving and receiving as well as having and sharing. And the love that they give and have is shared and received. And through this having and giving and sharing and receiving, we too can share and love and have... and receive…”

It had everyone in stitches!

3) The Entrance Song

This was just a small element of the day, but it stood out to me. When entering the dinner hall for the speeches and the dinner, couples will often have a special entrance for that moment, sometimes accompanied by music. On this day, Oisín and Rachel chose a very untypical song for a wedding; “The Next Episode” by Dr Dre featuring Snoop Dogg.

They came dancing out, absolutely loving it. They really made their big day uniquely theirs, and I love to see that!

5-star Google Review

Rachel left us a lovely review, I thought I’d share it here.

“We would highly recommend Jan and Nikki to anyone looking for a wedding photographer.
They were very professional and attentive and truly made us feel at ease. The photos are brilliant and we got them back very fast.
Thanks again Jan and Nikki”
— Rachel

If you would like to tempt me away from Ballycotton and shoot at the Garryvoe or somewhere else in east Cork, say hi to me here for wedding packages and the chance to book in for a video call with me.

See more photos from this lovely Garryvoe wedding down below!

Garryvoe Wedding Photos - Ceremony

Garryvoe Wedding Photos - Getting Ready

Garryvoe Wedding Photos - Reception

Garryvoe Wedding Photos - Speeches

Louis and Laura - Glucksman Wedding Photographer /  by Jan

5-star Google Review

I’m gonna kick off this blog in a bit of a different way and start with Laura’s 5-star Google review:

“We had the absolute pleasure of working with Jan for our wedding photography last month. From start to finish, working with Jan was seamless. He captured the essence of our day perfectly and we are just delighted with the photos. We were also so impressed by the quick turnaround time. I would absolutely recommend Jan and I hope we have the opportunity to work together again in future!”
— Laura

The Glucksman Wedding Ceremony and UCC couple shoot

As a photographer, I've had the privilege of capturing many beautiful moments, but Laura and Louis's wedding at the Glucksman Art Gallery was truly something special. Nestled on the University College Cork (UCC) campus, this wasn't your typical wedding venue – and that's what made it magical. A wedding in an art gallery? That’s very cool.

The Glucksman Gallery provided a stunning backdrop for their ceremony, with its contemporary architecture and artistic surroundings creating an unforgettable setting.

There was a ring warming, an opportunity for guests to pass around the rings and fill them with love and good wishes – a beautiful ritual that symbolises the community's support for Laura and Louis's union. They also incorporated a hand binding ceremony, another deeply symbolic tradition that literally tied them together.

Ring warming

“There was a ring warming, an opportunity for guests to pass around the rings and fill them with love…”

A playful element was brought to the ceremony: their younger guests were given bells and were under strict instructions to keep quiet until the perfect moment. As Laura and Louis shared their first kiss as a married couple, the air suddenly erupted with the sound of ringing bells.

The Glucksman Gallery's entrance proved to be the perfect spot for group photos. With the stunning UCC architecture in the background, we captured some truly memorable shots of the couple as well. Laura and Louis opted for a smaller couple shoot, if you’d like to see more couple shoots in UCC you can click here.

Emergency refreshments

A little top up of food and water for the bride and groom halfway through the couple shoot.

The celebration continued at Henchy's, one of Cork's most beloved pubs – a quintessentially Irish ending to a quintessentially Cork wedding. As a photographer, I always love the moments after the formal part of the day, when everyone relaxes and truly enjoys themselves. The traditional music – a vibrant mix of guitars, violins, and accordions – created the perfect atmosphere.

Wedding Afterparty at John Henchy & Sons

Being a local wedding, with Laura hailing from Ireland, the day felt like a true celebration of Cork and its traditions. And of course, what's a pub photo session without capturing a few shots with the celebratory drinks?

Some of my favourite photographs from the day capture the pure joy and relaxed atmosphere – especially those candid moments in Henchy's that really showcase the spirit of the celebration.

If you are looking for a wedding photographer for your special day, and you’re looking for someone fun, calm and professional? Say hi to me here for my wedding packages, I’d love to hear from you!

Emmett and Sinead - Kinsale Wedding Photographer /  by Jan

I photograph a lot of weddings by myself, but more and more so, I’m photographing them with my wife Nic. Nic studied photography at Crawford College of Art & Design, so her shots are great as well and combine well with my own. Working alongside each other means we're able to capture multiple perspectives throughout the day but also that we have a nice mix of viewpoints as we go.

Garretstown Couple Shoot

Plus, it’s always helpful having a female photographer there for the more intimate shots when the bride is getting into her dress, or to have her keep an eye out for hair bobbles around the wrists during the couple shoot (women, I have learnt your pain!), while I look out for phones and keys in the pants pockets.

Emmet and Sinead's wedding in Kinsale offered plenty of opportunities for interesting shots on this gorgeously sunny morning. Each location was carefully picked as it meant something special to the couple themselves. But more of that later.

Pre-Ceremony Wedding Photos

The day started out with the usual, going over to meet the bridal party for the shots of them getting ready, having their make up applied, last minute champagne and having fun. Emmett was a sweetheart and send his future wife a bouquet of flowers that morning with a very cute card attached. I wanted to marry Emmett now!

“Emmett was a sweetheart and send his future wife a bouquet of flowers that morning with a very cute card attached.”

This is where we threw the whole day up side down. No more tradition here! Emmet and Sinead opted for a first look and couple portraits before the ceremony, not after! This is something I would definitely do again. Getting these shots done early means pristine outfits, relaxed couples, and a better time for the rest of the day as the couple can just relax after the ceremony and enjoy the company of your friends and family. I like that.

For the first look we set up on a little cliff that juts out between Garretstown and Garrylucas beach, with Emmet looking out to the ocean waiting for Sinead. We captured this beautiful moment of her coming down, her dress blowing in the wind. Sinead just looked great!

Garylucas First Look and Couple Shoot

The couple brought their camper van to the shoot, reflecting their love of travel and outdoor life. After those shots, we then went down to Garretstown beach, which looked epic that day. So empty, the tide was out so the beach seemed huge and it just made for some amazing photos that I was very happy with. Emmet was a natural in front of the camera, enjoying the attention, though occasionally we had to remind him to tone down his enthusiasm! Haha! But nonetheless his happiness was infectious.

St. John the Baptist Church hosted the ceremony. From a photographer's perspective, it's an ideal venue - light walls and plenty of natural light make for clear, crisp shots.

St. John the Baptist Church - Wedding Ceremony

The reception at Man Friday restaurant offered excellent views over Kinsale harbour. A highlight was Sinead's mother performing "I Loved Her First" - a genuine, heartfelt moment that makes wedding photography special.

It was a beautiful day, filled with all the joy that these occasions elicit. And I know Emmet and Sinead will enjoy their new life together and look back on this day as the start of something precious.

Man Friday - Wedding Reception

If you would like to book me, or us two, for your wedding, say hi to me here! I’d love to hear from you!