Introduction

As a professional wedding photographer with over 12 years of experience in the Irish wedding industry, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing hundreds of beautiful celebrations. While every wedding I’ve photographed has been a success in its own right, I often reflect on certain days and feel that, with just a few small changes, couples could have enjoyed even more of what makes their day truly special.

This guide is designed to help you do just that — make the absolute most of every aspect of your wedding day. In my experience, three key elements play an equal role in shaping a smooth, joyful, and memorable day:

1. Location
   This includes where you're getting ready, the ceremony location, any scenic spots you’d like to visit for photos, and of course, the reception location. Each place should be chosen with care and considered as part of the overall flow of your day.

2. Timings
   The ceremony start time is absolutely crucial as your entire day is centered around this decision, but it’s not the only timing to get right. When you start getting ready, travel time between locations, the dinner call, speech duration and the decision of when to have the speeches — these all have a knock-on effect on your experience and how much of your day you, as the couple, actually get to experience.

3. Trust
   The trust you place in your family, bridal party, and your team of trusted suppliers will make a world of difference. Surrounding yourself with a reliable, experienced team allows you to relax and truly soak in every moment.

My hope is that this guide gives you some simple, thoughtful insights that will help you get the most joy, ease, and beautiful memories from your wedding day.

Location: Making the Most of Where You Get Ready

Whether you’re getting ready at home before travelling to the church, or preparing on-site at your civil ceremony venue, there are a few important factors to consider.

Bridal preparations at home are always a popular choice — it’s a familiar, comfortable environment surrounded by family and friends and never an issue unless there is a considerable distance to the ceremony location.

If you're having a civil ceremony at a venue, it can be incredibly beneficial to get ready there with your entire bridal party. If the venue doesn’t offer preparation facilities, staying nearby in an Airbnb or similar accommodation is a fantastic alternative.

There are several reasons for this :

• You wake up at (or very close to) the venue, which means there’s no time lost travelling on the morning of your wedding, no risk of traffic delays, road closures, or transport mishaps.

• Being near the ceremony location creates a sense of calm — you're not racing the clock or dealing with external stress. You can truly settle in to the moment, rather than feeling like the day doesn’t really begin until you arrive at the venue.

• All the packing, organising, and transporting of bags and dresses is done the day before — not in a rush on the morning itself.

• Elderly family members (e.g., grandparents) don’t have to travel between multiple places.

• You start your day surrounded by your bridesmaids, parents, and other family in a relaxed atmosphere.

• There’s also the option to enjoy a quiet drink and some food the night before, which sets the tone beautifully for the day to come.

• There’s more control over the space - you can choose accommodation with plenty of natural light (ideal for makeup artists and photographers), and enough room for everyone to move around comfortably.

• You’ll have space to hang dresses, lay out accessories and allow your hair and makeup team to set up properly in a designated room / area — all of which helps everything run smoothly and makes for beautiful preparation photos.

• If the groom is also getting ready at the venue or nearby, it's possible to photography and video his preparations too. Capturing both the bride and groom getting ready makes for a fantastic start to the story told through your photographs and video.

• Less travel means more time for meaningful moments — with family, your bridal party, or simply to pause and take in the day.

• The photographer and videographer can stay longer during preparations, as they don’t need to travel to another location and set up again.

• The makeup artist can stay with you right up until a few minutes before the ceremony for any last-minute touch-ups.

• If you are getting ready in the bridal suite that you are staying in on your wedding night you won’t have to get anyone to move bags or other items, they are all there waiting for you - one less thing to organize.

Location: Making the most of a Church Ceremony (skip to next section for civil ceremony)

Choosing to have a church ceremony is a beautiful and traditional way to begin your wedding day — and Irish churches, often rich in history, tradition and charm, provide a truly meaningful backdrop. That said, there are a few important considerations to help you make the most of this setting, both practically and photographically.

Be Clear on Timings - Church ceremonies often have fixed times (usually between 12:00–2:30pm), which can affect the rest of your day. It’s important to build your timeline around this and be realistic about travel, prep, and photo opportunities before and after the ceremony. Try to avoid arriving late — not only does it add stress, but it cuts into time you'd otherwise spend enjoying your day later on. It also puts pressure on venue staff, chefs, photographers & videographers. I highly reccommend a 1pm (at the latest) ceremony time if gettng married in a church with a religious / traditional ceremony, even earlier if there is a considerable travel time to the reception afterwards. Remember - it was normal to have 11:30am ceremonies until very recent times! (We’ll deep dive into timings in a following section).

Consider the Travel Between Locations - If you're getting ready at home and the church is in a different town or county, allow more time than you think you’ll need — especially if you're relying on multiple cars, vintage transport, or buses. Remember: every journey eats into the precious time you have to celebrate with your guests later in the day and always take about 30% longer than planned (packing items into vehicles, ensuring not to forget anything, elderly family members that need assistance, traffic). It is a regular occurrence for me to see couples lose an hour of their drinks reception time due to longer travel than planned. The photoshoot with family, bridal party and you both on your own has to be done during the reception time. And remember, the dinner bell will ring at the agreed time no matter what. I strongy urge precise planning here.

Photo Opportunities at the Church - Many churches in Ireland are surrounded by scenic grounds, gardens, or stonework that make for beautiful post-ceremony photos. If you’d like family photos at the church, it’s best to plan for that in advance — ideally letting your family know they’ll be needed for 15–20 minutes after the ceremony ends. (If you get photos with parents and elderly relatives done straight after the ceremony it will save time at the reception and allow them to relax knowing that they are not needed for any more photographs)

Check with the Priest or Celebrant - Every church — and every priest — has slightly different preferences. Some are very relaxed about photography and video, while others prefer minimal movement or flash. It's always worth asking the priest early on what they're comfortable with, so you and your vendors know what to expect. (Tip: let your photographer or videographer handle these conversations directly if you're unsure!)

Have a Weather Plan - Irish weather is famously unpredictable, and not all churches have covered areas for guests to gather or for portraits. If it’s raining, it’s useful to have umbrellas ready and a backup plan for where group or couple photos can be taken afterward (either at the reception venue or a nearby indoor location).

Allow Time to Take It All In - One lovely tradition that sometimes gets skipped over in the rush is simply having a few quiet minutes in the church once the ceremony ends — just the two of you, or with close family. It can be a really grounding, emotional moment before stepping into the celebration part of the day.

Location: Making the Most of a Civil Ceremony in Ireland

Civil ceremonies in Ireland have become incredibly popular — and for good reason. They offer flexibility in both setting and structure, allowing couples to craft a day that feels personal, relaxed, and entirely their own. Whether you're saying your vows in a dedicated ceremony room, a garden space, or a private estate, here’s how to make the most of a civil ceremony setting:

Get Ready On-Site or Nearby - If you're having a civil ceremony at a venue, it’s often possible to get ready there too — and this can be a huge stress reliever. It cuts out travel time, allows your hair and makeup team to work without time pressure, and ensures that everyone (including the photographer and videographer) is already on location. If the venue doesn’t have prep facilities, booking a nearby Airbnb is a great alternative. (See previous section on making the most of where you get ready)

The Ceremony Time - As mentioned, I will write more on timings in the next section. With a civil ceremony you have great flexibility, just be wary as some venues don’t allow you have a ceremony earlier than 3pm. A 3pm ceremony can put huge pressure on your photographer to capture the family and bridal party photos before dinner call, it also steals time away from your drinks reception that you have paid a lot of money for! In my experience a 2pm civil ceremony in the same location as the reception combined with a 5:30pm dinner call is the best combination.

Choose the Right Ceremony Space - Look for a location that offers good natural light and enough space for guests to sit comfortably, as well as room for your photographer and videographer to move around discreetly if needed - this is very important as your photographer and videographer will be restricted if they are stuck in one corner or to one side. Chat to the venue and celebrant about this - sometimes it’s just as simple as moving the ceremony table and bride and groom chairs 3 feet backwards to allow for a seamless workflow!

Think about where you are going to sit - if you sit slightly to one side and facing the crowd you will feel more of a connection with your guests, it’s also easier for the photographer and videographer to capture you both and the crowds reactions too.

Plan which way you will face when you light candles, do hand fasting, etc - if you do these parts of the ceremony facing the crowd instead of facing the alter / celebrant, the photographer & videographer won’t have to keep moving back and forward, and your guests will have a clear view of you both during this vital part of the ceremony.

Think about the ceremony backdrop — whether it's a fireplace, large windows, or a floral arch — and how that will look in photos. Remember that in most cases you can control the lighting too, if there are any spotlights overhead that cast harsh shadows on faces or lights with heavy orange or green hues you can request that these be turned off in favor of more pleasant lighting - Remember, you will have your photographs and video forever, don’t let a few lightbulbs ruin your ceremony lighting.

Personalise the Atmosphere - With a civil ceremony, you can choose your own music, readings, and tone — formal, casual, spiritual, or humorous. It’s worth working closely with your celebrant to make the ceremony feel truly yours, and to allow time for meaningful moments, not just the legalities.

Design the Space Like a Feature of the Day - Unlike a church (where decorations are often limited), you can really make a civil ceremony space your own. Florals, candles, seating arrangements, and personal touches all help set the tone. Treat the ceremony room or outdoor area as a key visual feature of the day — because it is.

Use the Venue’s Surroundings for Photos - Many civil ceremony venues have beautiful grounds, courtyards, or nearby spots for couple portraits. Talk with your photographer in advance to plan when and where you’ll take some time together for photos. Doing this immediately after the ceremony (Couple photos, bridal party photos and family photos) can give you a lovely pause before rejoining the party, and once you’ve rejoined the party you are more relaxed as you know all of the photoshoot is done.

Smooth Transition Into Celebrations - One of the best parts of a civil ceremony is how seamlessly it flows into the rest of the day. There’s no travel between church and venue, no waiting around for guests to arrive — you say your vows, step out for a glass of prosecco, and the celebration begins right away.

Location: The Wedding Reception

The reception is where your wedding day really comes alive — laughter, speeches, dancing, and quality time with everyone you love. Choosing the right venue and making the most of its layout, timing, and atmosphere can make a huge difference to the flow and enjoyment of the day.

Minimise Travel Between Ceremony and Reception - If your reception is in a different location from the ceremony, try to keep the travel time between them short — ideally no more than 30 minutes. Longer gaps can wear guests out, cause delays, and limit your time to relax and enjoy the drinks reception. The less time on the road, the more time celebrating.

Arrive With Enough Time for the Reception Itself - Couples often underestimate how quickly time disappears after the ceremony. Ideally, aim to arrive at your reception venue at least 2 hours before the dinner bell. This allows you to enjoy the drinks reception, mingle with guests, grab a bite to eat, and still have time for photos — all without rushing. As a wedding photographer, we need at least 1 hour to do the photoshoot with your Family + Bridal Party and you both on your own, this leave you with 1 hour at your drinks receprion uninterrupted.

Know the Best Spots for Photos - Every venue has its hidden gems — from quiet courtyards to sweeping gardens. Ask your photographer in advance if they’ve shot at your venue before, or if you can walk around together to plan some key portrait spots. Some couples also choose to take a short 15–20 minute detour en route to the reception for portraits at a scenic location nearby — just be sure it’s factored into the schedule.

Think About the Flow of the Day - The best receptions feel seamless — one part of the day flowing into the next without long waits or awkward gaps. Make sure your venue has:

• A welcoming space for the drinks reception - ideally one open space to keep the wedding guests together, not spaced between many small rooms which can separate guests and lead to the reception feeling disjointed.

• An easy transition into the dinner room

• Clear direction for guests (especially if multiple rooms or floors are involved)

• Comfortable areas for older guests to sit and chat, especially during the dancing later on

Work With Your Venue Coordinator - A good venue coordinator is worth their weight in gold. They’ll help keep the schedule on track, coordinate with your suppliers, and make sure transitions happen smoothly. Share your timeline with them ahead of time, and let them know if there are any specific traditions, surprises, or priorities (like sunset photos) you’d like time protected for.

Let the Venue Reflect Your Style - Your reception space sets the mood for the evening. Whether you're going for elegant and romantic or relaxed and rustic, the décor, lighting, and music all contribute. The best venues act as a canvas for your personality — so make the most of it.

Golden Hour and Night Shots - If time allows and the light is right, your photographer might suggest slipping away for 10–15 minutes during the golden hour (shortly before sunset) for some beautifully soft, romantic portraits. Later in the evening, a quick night-time photo outside — with fairy lights, candles, or even sparklers — can also be a stunning addition to your gallery.

Set Up the Evening for Success - Your band or DJ will set the tone for the night — and how things are set up beforehand can make or break the energy on the dance floor.

• Coordinate Setup Times: If the band needs time to set up after dinner in the same room, ask your venue or planner how long that will take and whether it can be done discreetly during dessert or speeches.

• Create a Natural Flow to the Dance Floor: Try to avoid moving guests too far from where they were already gathered. Ideally, the dance floor is within the same space or easily accessible from the dinner room so that the momentum isn’t lost after the meal.

• Lighting Matters: Ask your band or DJ if they provide lighting — or check with your venue if soft lighting, uplights, or candles can be used to create a more inviting atmosphere. Bright, overhead lighting tends to kill the mood for dancing.

• Evening Snacks or Late-Night Bites: Offering a little food later in the evening can help keep energy up and encourage guests to stay and dance. Some venues offer food trucks, pizzas, sliders, or traditional Irish options — always a hit!

• Photographic Moments: Consider planning something visual for the evening — a sparkler exit, confetti cannon during the first dance, or even just a quiet moment outside for a night portrait. These can be incredible photo opportunities and round out your wedding album beautifully.

Timing: Creating a Smooth & Enjoyable Day

If there’s one factor that can make or break the overall feel of your wedding day, it’s timing. A well-planned schedule doesn’t just help the day run smoothly — it allows you to relax, be present, and fully enjoy the experience you’ve spent months planning.

After 12 years photographing weddings across Ireland, one thing is crystal clear: the couples who feel most present and joyful on their wedding day are the ones who build in breathing space. Time to slow down. Time to soak it in. Time to laugh, cry, hug, eat, and celebrate.

Here’s how to make that happen.

Start With the Ceremony Time — Then Work Backwards

Before I begin I would like to say that I may come accross very direct in this section but I am very passionate about the topic of ceremony times specifically. I wan’t couples to get the most out of their Wedding Day!

Up until recent times, only 10 -15 years ago, ceremonies in churches started at 11:30am or 12pm. When civil ceremonies first became a thing they started at 1pm! However, there has been a huge shift in recent years towards later ceremonies. Whilst I totally understand it gives more time for preparations in the morning, you are short changing yourself (or maybe venues are short changing you) by having a later ceremony. To understand where I am coming from please see my example below of a real wedding I photographed last year.

It was a civil ceremony at 3pm. Preparations, ceremony and reception were all in the one venue. Slight delays led to the bride / bridesmaids being 20 minutes late (totally normal, totally acceptable). The civil ceremony due to take place at 3pm now started at 3:25pm (it takes 5 minutes for the bride, brides father and bridesmaids to gather themselves before walking down the aisle and then walk down). The civil ceremony that was supposed to be 30 minutes long was 40 minutes long (again totally normal and totally acceptable but you can see this adding up). The ceremony ended at 4:05pm, now on to the greeting of the guests after the cermony - this took 20 minutes (this is the average time for a wedding party of 120 guests, so now imagine if you have 180 guests). It’s now 4:25pm leaving only approximately 1 hour before the dinner bell at 5:30pm. With an hour to go, the photoshoot had to be done and the bridal party have to get back in time to have a drink at the reception that the couple had paid a fortune for. We arrive with the family & bridal party on the lawns to commence the photoshoot at 4:30pm. The bridal party photos and the family photos are done by 5:05pm. We then commence the photoshoot with the bride and groom on their own, at the same time the coordinator is mentioning in our ear on multiple occasions that we need to hurry (we, the photographer are now seen as the problem, when in fact the ceremony time was the problem). We finish the bride and groom photoshoot by 5:25pm. The bride and groom then only had 5 minutes in their drinks reception that they paid a lot of money for. Most (not all, but most) venues will not delay the dinner call as the chefs will not tolerate the food sitting under heaters or going cold. We still had to capture more group photos, after the dinner, of the bride and grooms work colleagues, school and college friends, godparents, etc. This ideally should have been done before dinner but there simply was not enough time. If you have an average size family, bridal party and number of guests it is literally impossible to get the required photos done in less than 50 minutes.

From a photographer’s perspective we are made to feel like we are delaying things, or keeping the couple and guests away from their drinks reception when in fact we just need the correct amount of time which is 1 hour to get all of the photos done in a professional manner that is relaxed and not rushed. The shift towards later ceremonies in recent years has led to it being down to the last few minutes before dinner call when the bride and groom get to their own drinks reception. At the end of the day you are also paying us a lot of money to capture your wedding day, we just need the time to do so. Remember - professional photographers always get the job done and produce amazing photos no matter the time constraints, because we simply have to, the day can’t be recreated and the photos cannot be taken again. This is critical. The bulk of photographs / main photoshoot must be done after the ceremony, before the dinner. It is up to you to allocate enough time here for the photoshoot and the drinks reception. The point I am hammering home is that it doesn’t have to be rushed and you don’t have to miss your drinks reception. Picture this - put yourself in the brides shoes in the example I explained above, even if you moved your ceremony 1 hour earlier to 2pm you would still only have approximately 1 hour at the drinks reception. Is 1 hour at the drinks reception even enough considering you have paid all of that money and want to enjoy all that the venue has to offer? Probably not. In this scenario I would reccomend having the ceremony at 1:30pm, even though this is a civil ceremony with the reception all in the one location you must remember that this is your day, you must get the most out of it.

One concern I hear about having the ceremony earlier is that “it’s a very long day for guests” My opinion on this is that 1:30pm is the perfect time for a civil ceremony, remember, up until a few years ago weddings used to be a lot earlier!

Whether you’re having a church or civil ceremony, the time it begins will determine the structure of your entire day. Once that’s set, work backwards to plan your morning:

• Church Ceremonies often begin around 1:00–2:00pm. I suggest this be 1pm, or 12pm if travelling a distance of more than 45 minutes to the reception. Remember - church ceremonies are twice as long, sometimes three times as long as civil ceremonies. I have a wedding booked for this October where the ceremony is at 11:30am - I literally praised and thanked the groom on the phone when he told me this. I know this seems ultra early but if I was getting married in a church it would be at 11:30am too.

• Civil Ceremonies tend to start a little later, often around 2:30–3:00pm. I suggest this be 1pm - 2pm at the latest if the dinner call is earlier than the standard 5:30pm call time. If your venue states that the ceremony time must be 3pm then the best option you have here is to have your dinner call at 6pm.

  I have come accross a venue recently that will not allow the ceremony be any earlier than 3:30pm and the dinner call must be 5:30pm at the latest, I think that this is extremely unfair on the Bride & Groom that are paying a lot of money. From a photographer’s point of view this means that we will barely have the 1 hour of time required to do the photoshoot and the couple will not have time to attend their drinks reception. Also take into consideration the time of year you’re getting married. A timeline like above can leave very little daylight time to capture your photos.

  Solution: How do you fix this situation if there you are set on a venue that enforces these timeframes? - The only option would be that the bride and groom have a first look before the ceremony and get their part of the photoshoot done at this time, I suggest that parents, family and bridal party get ready early too and have all of these photographs done before the ceremony also. This will free up a lot of time after the ceremony to enjoy your drinks reception. I do this with couples on occasion and it works very well. Obviously you must be ok with your partner and families seeing you before the ceremony.

Once the ceremony time is confirmed, factor in:

• Time to get dressed (with a buffer! I have seen it take 30 minutes to do up the back of a wedding dress if there is ribbons to be laced and tied)

• Hair and makeup

• Travel time to the ceremony - add 15 minutes to the estimated time between every location as there may be traffic, breakdowns, or bad weather.

• Time for the photographer to capture details, prep, and natural moments - It is part of my terms & conditions that the bride, bridesmaids & parents be fully dressed and ready for photographs 45 minutes before you plan on leaving the preparations, this allows for a relaxed atmosphere. When the photos are done I leave ahead of the bride to get set up at the ceremony. This leaves the bride with about 30 minutes to get final touchups, take a moment for herslef and make her way to the ceremony. This leaves a short window of calm before leaving — no one likes rushing out the door!

Give Hair & Makeup Enough Time (and Then Add 30 Minutes)

In almost every wedding where things ran late, the culprit was either underestimating the time for hair and makeup, or starting it too late. Be clear with your stylists about:

• How many people they’re doing

• What time you need to be ready by (not just finished!)

• Building in time for touch-ups and getting dressed after makeup is done

It’s always better to have 30 minutes extra at the end than to be rushing out the door and skipping special moments — like a quiet chat with your parents or a bridal party toast.

Travel Time Between Locations

Add 10–15 minutes more than you think you’ll need — especially if:

• You’re using vintage cars or buses (which often travel slower)

• The ceremony is in a town or village with narrow roads or Saturday traffic

• You plan to stop off for photos en route to the reception

Unexpected delays in travel can compress the rest of your day, so it’s best to plan conservatively.

The Importance of the Drinks Reception

This is the one part of the day when you’re actually with your guests, mingling freely — not sitting at a top table or rushing between events. Yet it’s often the part that gets squeezed due to delays earlier in the day.

To truly enjoy your drinks reception:

• Aim to arrive at your venue at least 2 hours before the dinner bell. This allows an hour for photography and an hour to be spent enjoying the reception.

• This allows time for group photos, portraits, a bite to eat, and some relaxed mingling

• From a photography perspective, this is gold — it’s when we capture real, candid moments, laughter, hugs, love, and joy

Schedule Speeches Thoughtfully

• If doing speeches before the meal, ensure they start on time and don’t delay dinner

• If doing them after, be mindful that long speeches can eat into dance floor time

• Do not split speeches up — between courses, or even half before and half after dinner. The photographer and videographer have to set up tripods, audio, and angles multiple times which can be awkward during the dinner, meaning we don’t get a break at all in our 14 hour day. Also, one of the courses could be left under a heater, or start to go cold if one of the speeches is longer than expected.

• Keep in mind: emotional, well-paced speeches make for some of the most powerful photographs

• Solution: Do your speeches during your drinks reception! People are more focussed on what you are saying rather than the food, it feels more relaxed, like you are having a drink with friends and family and you are just telling a story. It also means that when everyone enters the room for dinner, they get their dinner right away, and when dinner is over you don’t have to do a speech on a full belly. You also enjoy your dinner more when you’re not worrying about a speech afterwards.

Have a Trusted Timekeeper

Whether it’s a wedding coordinator, your photographer, a trusted bridesmaid or groomsman — make sure someone is gently keeping things on track. You shouldn’t have to check your watch or chase people around. A quiet word from someone behind the scenes can make all the difference.

Bonus Tip: Sunset Photos

Check the sunset time on your wedding day — especially in Ireland, where the light can change fast. If you can sneak out for 10–15 minutes just before sunset, the light is absolutely stunning and creates some of the most romantic images of the entire day.