Windy and wonderful Donegal Wedding

Windy Donegal Wedding :) 

We all know I'm a bit of a puddle jumper when it comes to wedding photography.  Getting down and dirty with quirky wedding couples is what I love to do and this is exactly what this wedding was :)

Meet Madelene and Danny.  A young and vibrant cute couple who were just very pleased to be in each others company. They had no themes or definite trend throughout their day, they didn't need it as their personality shone through with their big smiles and beautiful donegal backdrops.  The groom chose hired suits with purple cravats and the bride gave the groom a silver pocket watch for his wedding day.  Her flowers were delicate tulips my favourite flower in a very vibrant pink mixed into the calla Lilly's in maroon with a sprinkle of purple iris flowers to make a wildflower style wedding bouquet.

They had a little page boy Hunter who carried the rings on a pillow by his teeth:) thats a first for me! He wore a terrible cute tartan kilt with sporran and actually blew the cuteness factor off the richter scale.  They had one junior bridesmaid who carried a basket of flowers up the aisle and was very poised and took her duties very seriously. She wore a large furry coat outside as it was freezing as you can see from some of the bride and groom portraits below.

Their mode of transport was a volkswagen camper van from cool classics cars (https://www.facebook.com/CoolClassicsCarHire) they are based in Co Derry / Co Donegal and are very professional the van really just put the icing on the cake of the care free style that the bride and groom wanted.  Plus it fitted her enormous bridal party!

As you can see by the dramatic skyline the weather was on the turn for the worse.  The camper made it up the very narrow lane to the top of the hill where you can see three counties from the highest point.

We took a few bridal party portraits at the top of the hill and then we ran with the bride and groom to the fort where we got a few quick snaps.  You can get more dramatic shots from the inside of the fort but the weather wasn't great plus the steps are tiny and super slimy in the winter so we gave it a miss!.
This didn't dampen the spirits of the glowing bride and groom who trotted slowly up and down the hill with the cane in tow.  However the veil didn't make it, as it blew away!
There is such a dramatic backdrop to the fort that  its herd not tp be impressed with this as a location for photographs.  However its only for the brave like Madelene and Danny who don't care that their hair was blowing that the rain was falling and that the veil was halfway across a field.

I think these photographs speak for themselves and we were so delighted that they let us blog about their special day.

As Danny said in his wedding speech 'We aren't in love We are love'  and you can tell :)

Copyright www.pure-pictures.co.uk Belfast based wedding photographer but we travel all over Northern Ireland to shoot beautiful wedding photographs of creative and brave weddings.

A few links to the location :
http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/grianan.html
http://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/grianan-of-aileach/73795

WEDDING SPEECHES HELP!!!

Best Man Wedding Speeches Tips 

As you know www.pure-pictures.co.uk Belfast wedding Photographers stay for the speeches.  Its an important aspect of the day.  Not that you are going to blow it up on your wall but it captures very natural and as there have been some cracking speeches over the years and with the wedding season in full swing I am going to suggest a few pointers for anyone who is going to speak publicly at a wedding.

At this stage in the game we have been to 100's of weddings we have heard heart filled tear jerkers and laugh out loud roars from bridal party and guests.  But this little humble tips are what I think makes a good wedding speech, wether your a bride, groom, or proud mum heres my tuppence worth.....


KEEP IT CLEAN :
I have been to a few weddings recently where the Best man speech has been a tad raunchy, to even include blow up dolls and sexual positions.  Know your crowd.  If there are grannies and grandad's there looking proudly at their grandchildren getting married probably best to skip the 'lads night out' jokes.


SAY SOMETHING PERSONAL:
I'm not talking about their favourite cereal here.  Im talking about saying something really personal about the person, something that when you think about it, it makes you smile.  A story about the person and what makes them special.  For example a funny childhood story or recent encounter which will make anyone laugh.  Help the guests get a better feel for the person that you are talking about.


DONT FORGET THE OBVIOUS:
If you are proud shout it from the rooftops.  Tell the bride she looks awesome, the bridesmaids look great and thank the ushers for showing up :). Check out the official duties of your post and try not to thank everyone, do a blanket 'Thank you' to everyone who helped the bride and groom come to this special moment. Your not writing an oscar acceptance speech.

TIME YOURSELF:
People enjoy the speeches but you want to keep it 'like a mini skirt, sort enough to keep your attention but long enough to cover the essentials'.  Try not to bore people, try it out on a few HONEST friends who will tell you your speech sucks and you need to add a few things.

USE PROPS:
Its always good to share a few things that can be passed about the tables for guests to use.  People can pass around baby photos, sometimes they put the grooms head on brad pitts body anything that will get a PG rated laugh from all the guests not just the young ones.  Paddy Power have a betting slips which can be fun http://content.paddypower.com/weddingsweepstakes/index.php 


EYE CONTACT:
Write speech out in note form so that you look up at the guests.  this is important because as a photographer we wait until someone lifts their eyes to take a photograph.  Secondly it helps you gauge how well your speech is  going down.  If there is tumbleweed move on to the next point on your cards.

A WEE BIT ABOUT LOVE:
We at Pure Pictures love love :) if you end on a note about something beautiful then you can't go wrong by ending on a good note.  Here are my personal favourites that I have been collecting for a year :) I believe in every single one, pick your favourite and say.  'When I think of blank and blank together i think of the saying ....'
http://www.pinterest.com/purepicsbelfast/quotes-for-wedding-speeches/
my personal favourite are
"May your love be modern enough to survive the times and old-fashioned enough to last forever!"

“Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do.”

"Marry someone who would walk you home in the rain, and whose first kiss you will always remember".

CHECK IN WITH THE MATRON OF HONOR:
You don't want to cover the same things and also if she does this your screwed :)
http://vonweddingfilms.com/2013/09/rap-a-wedding-toast/

A FEW MORE POINTERS:
These guys have every type of speech imaginable and some really good tips too.
http://www.simplythebestman.co.uk/bestman-speech.html

Good luck and look up!
c
xx

www.pure-pictures.co.uk
Wedding Photographer Belfast and Northern Ireland

Alternative wedding venue AM:PM Cabaret Supper Club Belfast

AM:PM Cabaret Supper Club Weddings 

Pure Pictures as you know is an award winning wedding photography company based in Belfast.  And its very rare that we get a gig so close to home but we recently had the pleasure of doing a wedding in AM:PM supper club on arthur street Belfast.

Lucy and Davy were very much a subtle loving couple no great public displays of affection and most certainly not in a cheesy way.  The wedding was very understated and they let all the small details of their day do the talking for them.

The bride wore an one shoulder adapted bridesmaids gown with a separate belt made up of 1000's of swarovski .  Very elegant and suited her personality great.  The make up was by Paddy McGuigan and bridesmaids dresses were a 50's shift dress in a pink with bow detail on the back.  The  bouquet was hand made by the bride herself and was a crystal brooch bouquet.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucy-Pearl/360548250685943?fref=ts

Now AM:PM cabaret supper club is a hidden gem in Belfast City Centre.  Completely quirky and different out there and most definitely a place that has wow factor.  Not only is the interior exquisite but the treehouse roof garden with its twinkling lights and faux green walls give it a soft touch which bursts with bohemian gusto.

You can pop in any time to the treehouse even for just a drink sometimes I drag brides and grooms for a sneaky 10 mins away from their guests from other hotels in the area.  Its a special place which I have yet to see matched in Belfast.  So if you are looking quirky, bohemian, and non traditional wedding venue in Belfast City centre this is the place for you!

I have had the pleasure of shooting 2 weddings here one on the ground floor and one is the cabaret club both youtube videos here:

http://www.pure-pictures.co.uk/gallery-wedding-couples.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y65_0V-x84&feature=c4-overview&list=UUXcgsfqyNRWMIVAErZfl3-g


Our unique documentary and contemporary style of wedding photography can be found here www.pure-pictures.co.uk 
with a larger gallery on facebook https://www.facebook.com/PurePicturesWeddingSpecialists

the lovley tree house where the roof comes back on sunny days for a fab summer time vibe.

The wedding below was actually hosted at another Belfast Hotel and we sneak-ied over for a quick drink away from guests and the fuss and the madness for just a few minutes to take a breather and just to wind down.  Belfast City hall is on AM:PM's doorstep and so we walked trough the city hall and grabbed the top photo on the way.  AM:PM has this ambiance about it.  You walk in and instantly think ahh time to relax and unwind, which is exactly what we wanted.  There are only a handful of shots here which very much are documentary style of the bride and groom just having a wee drink and enjoying being Mr and Mrs Elliott :)

Why we stalk brides to go outside :)

LETS GO OUTSIDE

Today in my Blog I'm going to be talking about the lovely Emily and Anthony. They very kindly let me 'direct' their day and were very good at letting me drag them outside on one of the worst days in December for some photographs on Portaferry harbour. We are wedding photographers based in Northern Ireland so we are normally prepared for rain but it was very windy as you can see from the photographs.

Emily is from Portaferry and was keen on the idea, but living in Northern Ireland and knowing that it permanently rains we knew it was going to be a 'call it on the day' opportunity to get outside wedding photographs.   The ceremony was indoors and the bride was walked down the ailse by her beloved father who kept insisting that he was in too many photographs and kept asking 'Are we done yet?'
From her church service at Portaferry they drove to Ramada Shawsbridge for their reception and as it was christmas time there was a huge tree as the backdrop for some bridal party and family photographs and of course it was the obvious choice for the group shot.

The reason why I enjoyed this wedding so much was because the Bride and Groom really really enjoyed themselves :)
I know everyone enjoys their wedding day, but these guys really didn't mind that the wind was blowing, that the brides hair wasn't perfect and that her dress got a bit damp running in the rain from the car to the pier.  Emily had just married the love of her life she was delighted with herself and she absolutely showed it with her lovely smile.

I said to the bride and groom that I wont be able to photograph another wedding like it.  Im sure they thought I was talking nonsense.  But honestly Ive yet to meet another bride who was up for  a bit of craic and wanted to just be with her new husband didnt care that her veil was being used as a deadly weapon nearly strangling her best man or  nearly went into the lough.

She was relaxed and in love and I think it shows :)

Photography by www.pure-pictures.co.uk  Emily and Anthony got package 5 http://www.pure-pictures.co.uk/pure-photography.php?option=package5 Large Italian leather album with 2 matching parent albums.

Her flowers were by PURE FLORAL http://www.pure-pictures.co.uk/pure-floral.php who do great discounted prices if you include them with our photography.

The suits were from West End Mens Hire on the antrim road http://www.westendhire.com The bride did her own make up, and a friend did her hair.

Riverdale Gilberts Dam Wedding photographs

RIVERDALE - GILBERTS DAM 

A wedding photoshoot with some punch!

There are very few locations at this stage in my career of being a wedding photographer that I think 'WOW I would love this location for my wedding'.  Riverdale - Gilberts dam is one of them, it simply takes your breath away.

We love the light and airy feel to the barn which you can customise with your very own with banquet style seating and create a great feel for your wedding celebrations.  The good thing about this location is that it is a family run business with the lovely Oonagh at the helm.  She will make sure your day is as good as she would expect her own to be!  The beautiful surroundings mean that you do not have to travel far for your photographs as they are all on site.  The gorgeous red barn and little nooks and crannys make your images stand out from the normal 'hotel'.  Riverdale is the best kept secret in wedding venues in Northern Ireland, but not for long so get down for a look if you want to book as there are few dates left in the 2013 calendar.

We recently were invited to have a mini photoshoot at Riverdale with a few of our favourite suppliers, shout out to http://www.alison-jaynecouture.co.uk  Her range and style of custom made dresses are so fabulous please make an appointment to go and see her for your bespoke wedding requirements.  Also big up to Stephanie at http://www.bjewelledbridal.com/index.htm very friendly and bubbly lady who kindly made us a customised headpiece for our 'punk' bride.   We used forever bouquets made of flowers and paper roses from the gorgeous LUCY PEARL have a look at her facebook page she can 

Now with our thank you's over, we here at pure pictures Belfast's wedding photographer of the year! (pats self on back) would like to show you around Riverdale so that you can see what we mean by 'RIVERDALE IS AWESOME'

There are lots of features that are instantly viewable at the dam including personal use of your private lake on site.  The veranda is ideal to be used for your guests and they have a glass of bubbles and soak up the unique atmosphere of the day.  

We only shot during the sunniest day of the year in April so you can see that there are lots of shadows from the trees over the brides face but I think it worked well.  We had 3 'looks on the day on was the gorgeous caroline with a soft, romantic look in a pale pink tulle dress from Alison-Jayne couture.  Hair and make up was by Adrian@ pure hair and beauty.

The second look was 'Punk bride' Shannon she had pinks and blacks on her eyes with a side rhianna style updo.  The punk style allowed for lots of safety pins in the wedding dress and hair piece and the little petite model rocked the look!

Wedding photography in Moira by Camille @ pure pictures 

photo nicola @ pure pictures 

photo nicola @ pure pictures 

photo nicola @pure pictures 

photo nicola @ pure pictures 

photo nicola @ pure pictures 

photo nicola @ pure pictures