Wedding in The G Hotel – every detail of a wedding is well thought out and meticulously planned. Each location is meaningful and every moment precious. For me, every image needs to have a purpose. The images tell a story or captures a unique moment in a meaningful way. Through my photographs I try and make the viewer feel like they were part of the day. I hope you enjoy the wedding of Gráinne and Alan as much as we did.
Planning…
Alan contacted me in January to see if I was free to shoot a wedding on the May bank holiday weekend in the beautiful Galway. Himself and Gráinne were in the early stages of wedding planning. As an easy going couple they wanted to be able to relax and enjoy their wedding day with each other and their guests. They wanted photos to capture real moments from the day and didn’t want to pose for too many pictures. I knew that my style would work well for them and I was delighted to get on board as their wedding photographer.
The Big Day…..
Gráinne and Alan planned an outdoor humanist ceremony at the rural and rustic style Three Towers Eco Lodge followed by a reception in the stylish and elegant G hotel in Galway City. For me these locations were so different but so intriguing. I hadn’t previously been to either location so I was very excited.
Getting ready
The couple chose to get ready at the stylish and elegant G Hotel, the height of modern luxury in the city with incredible views, a perfect start to their wedding day.
I had planned to start the day photographing the groom and groomsmen as they had to leave early to go to the ceremony venue however when I arrived they were very relaxed, listening to music in the room, not even showered so I headed up to the bride and her bridesmaids and family getting ready.
The bridal suite in stark contrast was a hive of activity. The living area of the suite had been transformed into a pop up salon with free lance make-up artist Orla Duffy and Hair stylist Aoife from Barry’s Hair salon.
After spending some time in the busy bridal suite I returned to room 202 to capture the groom’s preparation. They were calm and collected as they helped each other get organised.
Alan wore a three piece suit blue check jacket, navy waistcoat and trousers, whilst the groomsmen wore navy suits with blue check waistcoats matching the grooms suit jacket. They all wore matching navy ties to compliment the bridesmaids.
Once the groom and groomsmen had gone I returned to the bridal suite. The flowers had arrived and Gráinne was just about ready to go.
Gráinne wore a delicate floor length gown with a plunging neckline and front knot detail made from raw london silk. She completed her outfit with a pearl headpiece and satin trim veil and powder blue shoes (she handpainted the day before the wedding).
Gráinne was accompanied by her mum, her brother and two younger sisters as bridesmaids, looking stunning in their beautiful navy dresses. It was so special to be able to capture these emotional moments with her family just before she left for the ceremony.
The ceremony at Slieve Aughty
As you can see in the pictures the garden was beautifully decorated by the team at Slieve Aughty. White tulle was softly draped across the stone arches leading up to the pergola. Gráinne and Alan were seated inside and they were surrounded on either side by family and friends.
The ceremony was symbolic and romantic as family and friends participated in rituals, spoke about the couple and watched them literally tie the knot in a handfasting ceremony.
After the ceremony the couple and their guests made their way to the courtyard. It was time for everyone to kick back relax and chat about the dress, the ceremony and the weather. I enjoyed interacting with the guests and capturing shots in the courtyard. Pretty bunting zigzagged above our heads. Large wooden tables were dressed with tablecloths and small glass jars of wild flowers picked from the garden. Wood fired pizza served on wooden boards, ice cold beers stacked in tubs, baskets of sweet treats. The natural beauty and sensuous rustic decor made this venue a feast for the eyes.
A city break with the newlyweds
From the ceremony I went into the city centre with the happy couple for a few shots. They navigated the narrow cobblestoned streets hand in hand as they made their way to the spanish arch, a spot they have fond memories of having spent many days relaxing in the park by the water. They attracted the smiles and well wishes as they moved through the city. I was able to use a variety of techniques to catch this motion around Gráinne and Alan. These images depict a moment in time.
The return of the Newlyweds
Lighting and colour is really where a lot of great images start. The G hotel provided an abundance of both. The colour, light and features in the hotel made it possible for me to frame truly beautiful photographs. The silver textured wall at the drinks reception attracted all prospective models and budding photographers and I had a lot of fun snapping these moments. This helped me to capture the day through the eyes of the guests. Gráinne and Alan spent time with their guests before we went to the bridal suite for some candid shots before dinner.
I was able to create some beautiful intimate shots of the newlyweds as they moved around the luxurious bridal suite and posed for a couple of shots.
Before I go
I couldn’t go before photographing the wedding suite. This room was a dark atmospheric room, in complete contrast to the bright bold colours in the drinks reception. The room was styled with crisp white linen and oozed sheer elegance. The jars of wild flowers from the ceremony rested on the tables along with some games for the guests to play. The bridesmaids bouquets made a beautiful addition to the cake display.
