Can you legally get married at Gougane Barra?

Yes — ceremonies take place in the famous lakeside oratory in West Cork.

Is Gougane Barra good for winter weddings?

Yes — Gougane Barra is especially atmospheric in winter with misty forests and dramatic scenery.

Moira and Kevins wedding in Castlemartyr Resort Hotel - Looking for the Best Wedding Photographers in Cork or Kerry? Sarah Kate Photography

A Love Story with a Side of Milky Way Bars:

Moira & Kevin’s Wedding at Castlemartyr

EDITORIAL & FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

Sliding into DM's - an alternative lovers tale

So there she was, Moira, fresh-faced and fabulously efficient, walking into PwC on her first day back in 2017, not knowing her future husband was watching her.

Kevin, suave operator of Microsoft Excel and sharer of snacks, slid into her work DMs with an offer so audacious, so sugary, that it sparkled with chocolate flirtation. “Want a Milky Way?”

Dear Reader, she said yes.

Or at least she didn’t report him to HR.

Fast forward through 6.5 years of romance, a whole Australian adventure, and enough cups of tea at the office kettle to float a small yacht, and here we are.

The 18th of July 2025. Castlemartyr Resort. And love, proper love, no half measures, because this shit is real!

White jewelry ring box holding delicate gold rings on a blue and white patterned textile background.

Horse gallops across a misty morning meadow at sunrise with golden light filtering through autumn trees.

Choosing the best county in Ireland for their wedding - Cork Boi

There are wedding venues, and then there’s Castlemartyr Resort. The kind of place where even the trees look like they’ve read poetry. Where ruined castles peek dramatically through the hedges like they’re auditioning for a period drama. Sarah Kate Photography knows this landscape like the back of her hand, and she documented every laugh, tear, and swing of a bouquet with her signature blend of artistry and craic.

A Morning of Makeup, Milestones, and Moira’s Dad Seeing Her in Her Dress

Moira started her day in Room 35 of Castlemartyr, complete with soft lighting, soft laughter, and a strict timeline. Jeanette Cronin on makeup, Lynn O’Leary on hair, and a 1.25 pm departure. The bridal party? Eimear (Maid of Honour), Aoife (Queen of Getting Things Done™), and Roisin (who got a pass for being 30 weeks pregnant, fair play).

There was one emotional request: a photo of Moira’s dad seeing her in her dress for the first time. Cue tissues. Then cue more tissues for the bridesmaids’ first look. Sarah Kate Photography caught it all with the kind of gentle sensitivity that reminds you why she’s one of Ireland’s top luxury wedding photographers.

Kevin, not to be outdone, got ready with the lads in Room 208 before heading down to the Knight’s Bar at 11:30 for a pre-wedding tipple and some top-class photo ops. He wore a Remus Umo suit from @sextonformen and had the kind of chill that only comes from knowing he’d already bagged his dream girl with a chocolate bar.

5 star Castlemartyr wedding resort photos

The Ceremony: Sacred Vows in Sacred Heart

Church of the Sacred Heart in Mogeely was the setting, arched ceilings, soft organ music, and Fr. Frank O’Neill presiding over the vows. It was the kind of ceremony that makes you believe in the Big L all over again. Aoife O’Neill’s vocals floated through the air like something divine.

Afterwards, the couple did the classic Irish greeting line, smiles, handshakes, a bit of light gossip, and then dashed off for formal portraits on the Castlemartyr grounds.

And by “formal” we mean joyful, wild-haired, windswept Irish elegance. Sarah Kate Photography worked her magic again, getting those classic family shots with a time-saving 15-minute ninja-style efficiency plus those dramatic golden hour portraits out by the castle that looked like something off a Vogue Weddings cover.

The Party: Dancing, Cake, and Confetti Dreams

From 3pm the real mischief began. Dinner was called at 5.30, speeches kicked off at 6 (just 30 minutes, said everyone ever), and the dance floor came alive at 9 thanks to the fabulous @the.beat.boutique.

Brian Roche aka @bakerboycakes created a confection worthy of a Netflix baking show finale, and the florals by @tohaveandtohold_cork were the kind of creamy, blousy, romantic blooms you need in your wedding dreams Pinterest board.

Confetti was a maybe, depending on the priest’s tolerance for biodegradable chaos. But we live in hope. And as for the golden hour shots? Yes yes yes, they were up for it. Because when Sarah Kate Photography offers to take you out into that honeyed light, you say, “Where’s my shoes?”

Fun, Friends, and Taskmaster Aspirations

What made this day truly personal wasn’t the venue, or the dress (though FYI Chosen by Khya via Ivy & White was chef’s kiss), or even the stunning photography, it was the couple themselves. These two are pure joy. A mix of silly and sincere. Romantic and hilarious.

They even said they’d love a dinner party with Pedro Pascal, Peter Crouch, and the cast of Taskmaster. Honestly? Same.