Wedding Photography

Aisling and Stephen - Bayview Hotel Wedding /  by Jan

A coastal wedding in Cork: Aisling & Stephen's celebration

Recently, I had the privilege of photographing Aisling and Stephen's beautiful wedding in the charming coastal town of Ballycotton, Cork. A familiar wedding location for me, not so for the couple. They were both from Dublin but chose to celebrate their union in the picturesque surroundings of County Cork, embracing the area's beautiful sea views.

The day began at the Bayview Hotel, where Aisling and her bridesmaids prepared for the ceremony. The hotel room offered wide views of the harbour – a serene backdrop for the morning's events. The bride and her friends were in high spirits; music was playing as they got ready and it was such a relaxing atmosphere.

Aisling's wedding dress was striking: a champagne-coloured gown that really complemented her features. This dress photographed really well, especially in natural light and with the ocean backdrop.

The intimate ceremony, attended by 25 (mostly) family members, took place in the hotel. One of the day's highlights was capturing Aisling and her father walking down the corridor towards the ceremony room. I thought it was such a fresh take on the traditional ‘walk down the aisle’ shot.

(More ceremony photos down below)

Following the ceremony, we took advantage of the hotel's garden for group photographs. Despite not having an ocean backdrop, the blue sky and sunny skies created a warm glow that really made the photos pop.

For the couple's portrait session, we took an unconventional approach. Instead of visiting the nearby cliffs, we captured candid moments as Aisling and Stephen made their way from the Bayview Hotel to the reception venue the Sea Church. This spontaneous shoot resulted in these natural and fun photographs.

The reception at the Sea Church, famously a deconsecrated church turned event space, provided a unique and atmospheric setting for the evening. The couple opted for multiple cakes instead of a traditional wedding cake – a great personal touch for their celebration.

3 aspects that really stood out to me:

1. The pre-ceremony preparations were surprisingly relaxed and fun.

2. The bride's champagne-coloured gown, which didn’t just look great in person but also photographed so incredibly well.

3. The impromptu couple's portrait session that gave me the chance for candid and authentic images.

Aisling and Stephen's wedding was a blend of elegance, intimacy and coastal charm. It was a pleasure to document their special day and capture the love and happiness shared by the couple and their guests.

If you would like to book me as your wedding photographer, get in touch with me here. I’d love to get to know you and would be delighted to send you my wedding packages.

More ceremony photos:

Aileen and Jimmy - Wedding Photography at the Bayview Hotel in Ballycotton /  by Jan

A Whimsical Wonderland Wedding at the Bayview Hotel in Ballycotton, Cork

Photographing weddings has been such a tearjerker ever since I got married last year. And this wedding was just that! A couple who made their special day very unique due to their interest and hobbies. It is such a lovely tale of love, laughter – and one of the most adorable ring bearers I’ve ever seen!

I recently had the pleasure of photographing this gorgeous wedding of Aileen and Jimmy, a couple whose love story is as unique as their big day. Taking place at the picturesque Bayview Hotel in Ballycotton, it set the stage for their nuptials. It made for such a scenic backdrop, being located right next to the charming Ballycotton harbour with the iconic lighthouse standing tall. It’s really a great spot for any wedding, and the backdrop came in handy later on for the family group shots!

The ceremony took place indoors at the Bay View Hotel, and before they exchanged vows, a ring-warming ceremony took place, followed by a handfasting ceremony, sealing their commitment in a truly heartfelt manner.

The real MVP

But let me introduce you to the real MVP of the day – their furry friend, who not only stole the show but also played the vital role of the ring bearer. This dapper dog also got dressed up for the occasion with a beautiful flower collar, and boy, did he look adorable!

After the ceremony, it was cake cutting time. A lovely “cheese cake” with Lego figurines, that looked like the couple, on top of it. An actual cake made of cheese.

I couldn't resist leaving Ballycotton without a wedding couple's shoot at the famous Ballycotton cliff walk. The mix of the ocean, gorgeous sun light we had on the day, and the dramatic cliffs, always make for an amazing photo shoot experience. And Aileen and Jimmy made it look easy. We had such a blast doing the couple shoot, with strangers coming up and congratulating us here and there.

Aileen and Jimmy's passion for fitness shone through as they flexed their muscles for a fun photo that truly showcased their personalities.

Flex it!

Aileen and Jimmy's passion for fitness shone through...

And it’s not just their love for fitness that they share but also their love for the Circus Factory. They even had their friends perform a post-ceremony show, which added a unique layer of fun and excitement to their special day. It’s not everyday that you have fire performers at a wedding! And it wouldn’t have worked or made sense at any other wedding, but it was great to see a couple have a wedding that reflected their personalities.

5-star Google Review

Aileen and Jimmy were so happy with the photos they received that they wrote me this lovely 5-star Google review:

“Jan was our wedding photographer. His photographs are beautiful and he was so easy to deal with. We also loved how chilled out he was on the day, letting us enjoy our time with our guests, while still popping up at all the appropriate times to get great photos but without taking over the day. He was also a big fan of our little canine flower girl (our dog), and that was important to us! Thanks Jan for such a great experience on the day and for such gorgeous photos. We love them.”
— Aileen

Here's to a lifetime of love and adventure for the newlyweds!

If you would like to book me as your Cork Wedding Photographer, say hi to me here or click here for more Irish wedding photography.

G&N - Elopement Photography at the Hayfield Manor /  by Jan

I had the pleasure of photographing a lovely elopement at the Cork City registry office, a place that holds sentimental value for me. It's where I exchanged vows nearly two years ago. I think I’ve said this before but I am always surprised how this registry office has a knack for turning a simple affair into a heartfelt celebration. I personally, was just expecting to sign a document and that be it but it’s actually a full on ceremony! They are even more than happy to accommodate post-ceremony group photos indoors.

Gavin and Niamh are the couple of the day. Having exchanged vows and rings, making it official with the legal paperwork and signatures, it was time for the couple photo shoot!

We made our way to the elegant Hayfield Manor. This was my recommendation as we would be able to do the couple shoot even with the rain. We found refuge from the rain and wind in the charming greenhouse within the front garden, creating a picturesque setting for capturing intimate couple moments. The rain, rather than dampening the mood, added a unique charm to the photos.

With the brother/brother-in-law supplying us with his chauffeuring services, we drove to our next destination; the River Lee Hotel. Here family and friends were waiting for us, for some post-elopement celebrations. We took some lovely group photos of everyone there, and then my time came to end. And I left Gavin and Niamh, now husband and wife, to celebrate into the evening, before heading onto a plane to New York City for their honeymoon!

5-star Google Review

Gavin and Niamh were lovely enough to leave me this amazing review;

“Jannik couldn’t have been more professional or courteous, was brilliant to deal with from start to finish and made everyone feel at ease. Shooting with him was like second nature. Would highly recommend.”
— Gavin and Niamh