Some of my favourite weddings to shoot are those which include a bespoke wedding venue. For Stephanie and Sean’s wedding they decided to hold their reception in Stephanie’s family cottage just outside Ballina in County Mayo.

We started the day with some bridal prep shots at Stephanie’s family home, followed by some shots of the groom with his family. Stephanie’s dad drove her to the church himself in his classic car. The church ceremony was held in the beautiful Muirdeach’s cathedral in Ballina, surrounded by close family and friends.

Instead of the usual family portraits in the church, Stephanie and Sean decided to use the River Moy as their backdrop. The creative shots were shot here also. With creative shots I always recommend choosing a location not too far away from your reception. Less time travelling to locations is more time with your guests which is what everyone wants on their big day. When we arrived at the cottage the drinks reception was in full flow and everyone was waiting to welcome the newlyweds to the party. Attached to the cottage was a Marquee where the wedding feast was served with music playing throughout.

I took some final creative shots of the couple in the old cottage then finished the day’s shooting with some candid shots of the after party. It was a pleasure to be a part of your day Stephanie and Sean – Congratulations!