Irish Eyes are Smiling

A Destination Wedding in the Sun-Drenched Heart of Ireland

How one unforgettable weekend, golden light, and ancient ruins came together to tell a love story like no other.

They say if you want sunshine in Ireland, you bring it with you. For Courtney and Todd, that turned out to be truer than anyone expected.

I arrived in Ireland knowing to pack layers, expecting the usual windswept beauty of the Emerald Isle, dramatic clouds, soft drizzle, maybe a break in the sky if we got lucky. Instead, Ireland greeted us with a gift: six full days of golden light, warm breezes, and skies so blue they made the stone of the castles glow.

Friday: The Rehearsal – Anticipation in the Air

The weekend began with a relaxed rehearsal and welcome gathering, laughter echoing through an old church side manor, families blending, stories and music being shared under a surprisingly warm evening sun. It set the tone: this wedding would be filled with heart, not just ceremony.

Saturday: The Ceremony – Old Souls, New Vows

On Saturday, the couple exchanged vows in a setting that felt like a dream, surrounded by history, love, and yes, sunshine. It’s rare to photograph an Irish wedding without having to work around rain, but this day needed no edits, no dodging clouds. Every moment glowed. Their connection, their joy, the energy of friends and family, it all unfolded effortlessly.

As a destination wedding photographer, I’ve photographed hundreds of weddings, but few have felt as timeless and cinematic as this one.

Sunday: Rock of Cashel,  Art, Wind, and Wonder

We weren’t done yet. The day after the wedding, we ventured to the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most iconic and mystical locations for a creative portrait session. Imagine an ancient cathedral ruin, bathed in sunlight, with just the wind and the sound of footsteps echoing through time. The couple walked hand in hand through stone archways, danced in the grass, and let the weight of the world fall away.

These are the moments I live to capture, not just beauty, but memory in motion.

After the Wedding: The Artist’s Eye (and Slight Panic on Irish Roads)

After the couple left to start their honeymoon, I stayed a little longer, wandering the Ring of Kerry and exploring Dublin through my lens. There’s something about traveling with a camera after witnessing a love story unfold. Every photo I took in those days felt richer, more alive, as if Ireland itself had opened up and asked me to keep telling stories.

Also… I drove.

Which, in Ireland, means you’re on the “wrong” side of the road, in a car where the steering wheel is also on the “wrong” side, navigating roads that are basically one-lane goat paths pretending to be highways. Add stone walls, oncoming tour buses, and sheep with zero respect for right-of-way, and you’ve got yourself a true test of focus.

But for every near-miss and white-knuckle turn, there was a postcard-worthy view around the bend, and I stopped at as many as I could (once I figured out how to pull over without blocking traffic for the next county).

So Why Ireland?

Because here, you don’t just have a wedding, you feel it. You become part of something ancient and beautiful, something bigger than yourself. And if you’re lucky (or just bring the right kind of love with you), the sun will shine, too.

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Thinking About Eloping Abroad?

If you’re dreaming of an intimate wedding that feels like an adventure—and want photos that are as epic as your story—I’d love to be there. Whether it’s Ireland, Iceland, the Canadian Rockies, or beyond, I help couples create and capture memories in the most beautiful corners of the world.

Reach out to start planning your destination wedding or elopement.