It was so good to be back at Cloughjordan House for this very special wedding. This was my first time photographing a wedding at Cloughjordan House since the addition of their new beautiful conservatory dining room; The Baker Room, and wow – it looks and feels amazing! From the colour and glass to the planting outside, I’m absolutely wild about it.

In a lot of venues I would be hoping to avoid having the buildings in the background, but Cloughjordan House is one of the few wedding venues where the buildings themselves make for a stunning backdrop.

The groom; John, and I grew up together… well I grew up several years ahead of him, but when you go to a TINY rural school the whole school grows together. And Johns mammy Mary used to look after myself and my brother after school for years. So for me this was a very special wedding indeed.

John and Eleanor managed to plan a day of pure perfection and somehow made it all feel totally casual, effortless and great fun!

Eleanor got hair and makeup done in the morning and arrived to Cloughjordan and just had to get dressed. To maximise the time for socialising with guests after the ceremony we decided to do couple portraits before the ceremony. Im a fan of this approach. There are so many advantages. It settles the nerves to see each other in advance of “the big walking up the aisle moment”. There are fewer distractions before the guests arrive. If either of you feel at all awkward about the whole posing for photos thing. It’s much less cringe when I am the only one looking at you! And it frees up precious time later in the day when you want to be hanging out enjoying your own drinks reception. If you are getting married and have small children I really recommend pre ceremony photographs. Its so much easier to get great portraits with them before the excitement and overwhelm of guests kicks in.

The wedding ceremony was held in the woodshed at Cloughjordan House, with a close friend acting as master of ceremonies. It followed a familiar format but felt all the more meaningful because of how personal it was. Friends and family said some readings and gave us a bit of the story of John and Eleanor so far.

The weather was fine so for the reception guest were able to mingle on the lawn and play some of the games. We kept family photos relaxed and simple – 2 family groups, his and hers, followed by one big group photograph before everyone sat for dinner.

I stayed late for speeches and dancing – and I’m very glad I did. It was so much fun. I hope you think that comes across in the photographs. Thank you John and Eleanor for having me there and for allowing me to share here too.

 

Here’s a selection of photographs from this joyful Cloughjordan House wedding in Co. Tipperary — from relaxed portraits to heartfelt ceremony, fun on the lawn and a mad party dancefloor.

the exterior of Cloughjordan House with red ivy

exterior of Cloughjordan House

Bride sitting in window of the wedding suite at Cloughjordan HousePortrait of groom outside Cloughjordan Housefirst look at wedding in Cloughjordan HouseCouple at the front door of Cloughjordan Houseportraits of bride and groom with red ivy of Cloughjordan house in the backgroundBride and groom pose in front of the beautiful ivy covered Cloughjordan Housewedding couple with The Baker Room at Clougjordan House in the backgroundWedding couple laughing portraits or wedding couple in the beautiful grounds of Cloughjordan Housebride and groom walk towards Cloughjordan Housebride and her dad enter the woodshed wedding venuecandid shots of guest at wedding ceremony in the woodshed at Cloughjordanjust married kiss in the woodshed at Cloughjordan Housewalking down the isle in the woodshed Cloughjordancandid shots of guest congratulating the newly married couplecandid shots of wedding guests enjoying the drinks reception at Cloughjordan housedetail shots of the baker room the new dining room at Cloughjordan Housewedding speechesgrooms speechbusy fun dance floor at Clougjordan housebride and groom on the dance floor having fun

 

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer for your Cloughjordan House wedding in Co. Tipperary, please get in touch. I’d absolutely love to go back and do it all again.