A beautiful spring wedding in Innishannon House - Be still my heart


Ah, Mairead and Brendan. Where do I even begin? If ever there was a wedding that embodied pure, unadulterated joy—with a side of festival vibes and a dash of Rasputin—this was it. From the moment I arrived at the stunning Innishannon House in West Cork, I knew this day was going to be something special.


hella Festival Vibe

Mairead and Brendan met on Tinder (ten years and two babies ago, as they cheekily put it), and their love for music festivals 'All Together Now', in particular, shone through every detail of their day. No stuffy formalities here, which I'm a bit partial too!


Instead, we had confetti cannons during the first dance, an acoustic version of N-Trance’s Set You Free to close the ceremony (yes, you read that right), and a guest list that looked more like a lineup of their favourite festival crew. Even their daughters, their adorable flower girls, were ready to party, though keeping a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old from bolting for the dance floor was its own little adventure.


The First Look & some Pre-Ceremony Shenanigans

Mairead, ever the practical one, skipped traditional bridal prep (“Not really,” she said and I absolutely love her honesty) but did sneak in a few sweet moments with her flower girls and bridesmaids in the bridal suite. Brendan, meanwhile, was chilling with his groomsmen and the guests at Inishannon House, looking sharp in his Moss suit from Kildare Village, definitely a suit you'd get another look out of. Their first look in the gardens was so cute, natural, emotional, and beautiful but also punctuated by the occasional toddler interruption, which has us all in tears!


INNISHANNON HOUSE WEDDING VENDORS


Venue: Innishannon House Hotel

Florals: Meadow Floristry

Band: The Goods Band

Celebrant: David Allman

Dress: @circbridal

Suit: Moss, Kildare Village

Makeup: @themakeupdoll

Hair: @amethysthairbyamanda

Cake: Mairead the Bride (the unsung hero!)

Innishannon House Wedding Photos by Sarah Kate Photography

A picturesque stone garden pathway leads through blooming spring flowers and greenery at an elegant outdoor venue.
A bride in a white lace dress stands on a stone balcony with ornate railings under a wooden arch surrounded by nature.
A romantic moment under a rustic wooden arbor surrounded by ornate stone railings and spring foliage.
Two small figures in burgundy jackets and floral dresses play on a stone patio while an adult watches.
Romantic wedding photography at a stone balcony overlooking a serene river with mossy balustrades and wooden pergola.
A romantic wedding couple shares a kiss under weeping willow trees with a bouquet featuring purple flowers.
A romantic wedding moment unfolds on a rustic stone bridge with an arbor over a scenic river.
A couple poses outdoors during their wedding, wearing a grey tweed suit and white dress while holding a colorful bouquet.
A couple in wedding attire embraces on a stone path under weeping willow trees in a lush green garden setting.
A black and white photo of a bride with a dramatic veil dancing outdoors with her partner during their wedding.
A bride in a white lace wedding dress holds a vibrant bouquet with purple and red flowers against a rustic backdrop.
A groom in a grey tweed suit and blue tie stands casually outside a white building with palm trees.
A person in a white wedding dress holds a blue bouquet while standing on a stone path amid lush garden greenery.
An elegant white wedding gown with lace details stands out against bright blue shutters and tropical palm trees.
Someone in a fitted gray tweed suit and brown boots poses casually by a willow tree in a lush garden setting.

The Ceremony at Innishhannon house: Short, Sweet, and Set to a Banger


Celebrant David Allman officiated their laid-back ceremony, which was gas stuff all together, he got both sides to introduce themselves and the guests took to it so well, I was a little unsure how we could break up the party!


The vibe of the ceremony itself? Pure love, zero fuss.


And then, just when guests thought it was over, boom: an acoustic rendition of Set You Free sent everyone into nostalgic euphoria. (I may or may not have seen a few friends mouthing “4am flashbacks”.)


The Reception: Toasts, Tiny Discos & The Goods Band

No long speeches here, just genuine toasts during the drinks reception, because why wait? The kids were entertained with a kiddo disco as was I during dinner (fecking genius), and by 9pm, The Goods Band, down from the Pale, with the incredible Toshin on vocals, Jaysys they had everyone on their feet. Later, friends Eoin and Paul took over DJ duties, ensuring the dance floor stayed gloriously messy.

Wedding guests gather in an elegantly decorated ballroom with striped wallpaper and white chairs during a ceremony.
Candid wedding photo shows playful moment during ceremony with pink flowers and white attire.
Couple shares an emotional moment during their wedding ceremony as officiant speaks at an elegant venue with floral arrangements.
A couple shares their first kiss as newlyweds at their wedding reception while guests applaud in the background.
A wedding guest in black glasses and bowtie watches the ceremony with a joyful expression.
A sweet embrace captured at an indoor wedding ceremony with guests watching in an elegant venue with glowing chandeliers.
A joyful wedding celebration with guests clapping and a happy couple walking down the aisle in black and white.
Wedding ceremony moment shown in black and white as couple walks down aisle while guests applaud.

Golden Hour & Confetti Chaos

When the sky turned gold, we snuck out for some dreamy sunset portraits, because if there’s one thing Mairead and Brendan agreed on, it was “Yes, absolutely, drag us outside if the light’s good.” Hvaing said that, I was too shy in the moment so when I saw them leaving their dinning table and approach me for sunset shots I jumped at the opportunity. And then, just when we thought the day couldn’t get more epic, confetti cannons exploded during their first dance. Perfection.


The Little Things That Made It Them

  • The Dress: Mairead’s stunning Kelda gown from @circbridal, paired with “nothing fancy!” ASOS shoes. Iconic.
  • The Music: From Colm Fitzpatrick’s ceremony tunes to Rasputin as their song, because it's fecking awesome.
  • The Priorities: “Relaxed, fun, great music, and letting the kids run wild.” Mission accomplished and no one fell in the river which is always a bonus!
Group of wedding guests posing together playfully outside white building with tropical plants.
Elegant white buttercream wedding cake decorated with purple roses and gold monogram topper on mirrored gold cake stand.
A joyful child wearing a white dress sits on the ground with arms outstretched in a playful pose captured in black and white.
A lively group at a party sharing laughs while lifting and carrying a participant in a playful moment at an indoor event.
Couples dance together on a carpeted ballroom floor during an evening wedding reception celebration.
Couple sharing a joyful dancing moment at their wedding reception with guests in the background.
People dancing during a celebration in a room with striped walls and scattered confetti on the floor.
Party guests dance and celebrate on a dimly lit dance floor with people laughing and enjoying themselves at a festive event.
Motion blur creates streaks of light during a nighttime wedding dance at a reception venue.
A black and white photo of a concert performance in a venue with arched windows.
Wedding guests dance barefoot on a wooden floor covered in confetti during a lively reception celebration.
Partygoers dance in a dark room with swirling orange light trails creating dynamic motion blur effects.
Black and white photo of people dancing with raised hands at a party under a low ceiling.
Atmospheric nightclub scene with dramatic lighting and streaks of light creating motion blur effects.
Wedding guests dance joyfully with raised arms during a celebration in a reception hall with striped wallpaper.

My Final Thoughts

Mairead and Brendan’s wedding wasn’t just a celebration, it was a festival of love, complete with muddy-festival-friends-turned-glam-guests, impromptu dance-offs, and a vibe so warm it could’ve powered the entire county, it's the type of wedding which reminds me why I love being a Cork Wedding Photographer. To the couple who made it “offid” after ten years: thank you for letting me capture your brilliantly youday.


Now, when’s the afterparty?


Lots of Love

SK


(P.S. Mairead, you were a natural in front of the camera, there was no need to fret my friend! And Brendan, your Rasputinface? Legendary.)

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A couple embraces during a romantic sunset with silhouetted trees and a purple-pink sky in the background.