BrookLodge Wedding Photography | Lucy & Tiarnán
There’ll be days like this! Lucy and Tiarnán hoped for a summer feel for their outdoor wedding at Brooklodge. They just wanted to share their happiness with the people they love and hopefully have a little sun for their summer wedding too (fingers crossed for that outdoor ceremony in the forest). They got the most glorious day of the summer on a June bank holiday weekend in the Wicklow countryside. Blue skies over the Wicklow mountains and ice cream carts at the ceremony followed by golden skies and champagne and a balmy outdoor evening. The kind of day where the light is a dream, the people are excited to be there, everyone is grateful for the magic unfolding and we’re all fully present for it. By the time Lucy and Tiarnán had their first dance outside BrookHall, lit by sparklers and the last of the golden hour sun, I felt like this day must have been everything they dreamed of and more. And it couldn’t have happened for a nice couple.
It’s safe to say I love Brooklodge every day anyway. It earned its place in my heart long ago when Kevin and I chose to get married there ourselves. Nestled in the Wicklow hills, far from the noise, with a babbling brook running through the grounds, it felt like home the minute I set foot on the grounds. On a day like this one, with blue skies, open space, that lovely quiet all around (you could literally only hear the sound of laughter and bird song!) and warm summer air, it’s dreamy. As a wedding photographer I get to go to Wicklow a lot, because it has so many beautiful wedding venues. Days like this remind me how lucky I am to live to so near a place like this
Getting Ready at Brooklodge
Both Lucy and Tiarnán got ready at Brooklodge (after staying the night before) which meant the whole morning had a very relaxed holiday feel. When I arrived, the energy in Lucy's room was pure excitement - everyone laughing and chatting together and with Joanne and Mandi, two of the best in the business pampering the girls while they drank bubbly from pretty vintage glasses, excited by every bit of it. Lucy got ready with her mum and sister and close friend bridesmaids (one of whom would also be the celebrant!). Lucy was also keen to include close friends from home and invited “the girls” to pop into the room before the ceremony. It turned into a bit of the first look with screams of excitement when the girls saw Lucy. Laughter and groups hugs to start the day the right way!
Snooker Room
Tiarnán and his groomsmen hung out in the snooker room at BrookLodge that morning, sharing a nice whiskey gifted for the wedding day and playing a few games of snooker to settle the nerves.
The Ceremony
Living the dream Lucy and Tiarnán got their outdoor ceremony! In BrookLodge the outdoor ceremony space is particularly magical, a clearing in the forest by the babbling brook. Katie is one of Lucy's closest friends, and the decision to have her officiate the ceremony (as well as being a bridesmaid!) turned out to be one of the loveliest choices of the day. She brought a warmth and a wit to the ceremony that only someone who truly knows and loves the couple could. The guests were with her completely. The harp played beside the brook as guests took their seats. Aisling Lyons played beautifully and the sound of it, soft and gentle against the sound of the water running past, set a tone that stayed with the ceremony throughout. Lucy and Tiarnán weren’t the only ones to get emotional during the ceremony. Everyone felt it. This was a happy celebration of love on a beautiful day in a forest. What a privilege to be a part of that. And also, there was not just confetti at the end, there was ice cream!
The “Formal” Photographs
Straight after the ceremony, as the guests queued for ice cream from the BrookLodge ice cream cart, we gathered up their immediate families, bridesmaids and groomsmen and got the formal photographs done. BrookLodge is great for quick formals! The backdrops are beautiful and, no matter the weather, there’s open shade for flattering light on everyone. Quick, easy and beautiful and back to the party in no time!
For couple photos BrookLodge is a dream, forests and brooks, bridges, ivy covered buildings, dreamy backlight, forest dappled light, open shade for soft light - it’s all here and it takes about 15 minutes to get around to all of the spots! Gorgeous wedding photos (I love a classical, beautifully lit wedding portrait as much as anyone!) and no party time lost. Win win for everyone. As a documentary style wedding photographer I want to get back to the action as much as you do!
Reception
After the ceremony, guests grabbed an ice cream and wandered across the lawn to BrookHall for prosecco and canapes. Naturally on a day like this everyone ended up outside in the garden of BrookHall, giving the whole day a summer garden party feel. A garden party that matched the theme of the wedding so perfectly it all felt effortless. Lucy had chosen a summer meadow theme for her florals, created by the talented Lennie Wall at Wallflower. It was my favorite styling at BrookHall.
What struck me most though was that nobody was on their phone. Not one person scrolling or half-present. Everyone was just there, in it, talking and laughing and enjoying the warmth of the afternoon. That kind of presence is a gift for a documentary wedding photographer. It means the real moments are happening everywhere and all I have to do notice.
Speeches & Dining
The speeches were funny and heartfelt and you could fell how much affection among and between these families. I think Lucy and Tiarnán must have felt very loved, ideally how every wedding speech should make you feel!
If you’ve eaten at BrookLodge you know! The food!! If the place wasn’t so beautiful, you’d still conider eating here for the food alone. And that gorgeous dining room all decorated in wildflowers. Organic food and wildflowers, what more do you need?!
Golden Hour
Can you beat a balmy summer’s evening in Ireland? What’s better than having a drink outside at 9pm in Ireland with no coat on? That’s the evening they got. While the band set up for the first dance, there was time to party outside with pals and also slip away for 10 minutes for golden hour portraits. (Side note - You can do it all without turning your day into a photoshoot. Documentary wedding photography works with the natural flow and real story of the day not against it!)
Lucy and Tiarnán even got to slip away to Actons pub for a few quiet moments together. They sat outside at a simple wooden keg table in the warm evening air, just happy to be there. I took a few quick photos and left them to it to enjoy their alone time.
The First Dance
Lucy and Tiarnán arrived back from the pub to their happy excited guests outside BrookHall waving sparklers. First dance time. A magical ending to a magical day. Outside BrookHall, as the last of the summer sun lit up the Wicklow countryside and happy guests held sparklers around them, Lucy and Tiarnán danced together arms thrown up in the air in pure joy. I didn’t need to ask them to know that this day was everything they hoped for and more. There’ll be days like this!
Thank You Lucy and Tiarnán
Vendors who helped make this day so beautiful:
Celebrant: Katie St John
Hair: Joanne Kelly O'Hara
Makeup: Mandi Jay
Ceremony music: Aisling Lyons, Harp
Florist: Lennie Wall at Wallflower
Cake: Caroline Goulding
Videographers: Daga and Rafal
Band: Shuffle and Pop
Dress: Jesus Peiro
Groomswear: Best Menswear