I loved everything about this wedding – it had all the best ingredients for great photographs – romance, anticipation, excitement, great characters, love, friendship, beautiful backdrops, quirky details and loads of real life split-second moments – all just waiting to be trapped by the eye and the camera.

Claire and Russell’s ceremony took place in the grand setting of Belfast’s City Hall. Afterwards they toured Belfast on a double decker bus before heading up to the Malone Road for their reception at the fabulous Barking Dog restaurant. I really enjoyed shooting in The Barking Dog – warm light, beautiful colours and lots of little nooks and corners to get photographs in. The table plan was fun too with all of the tables named after their friends and families dogs!

Claire’s sister Jenny sent me these lovely words after the wedding:
The photos are amazing!! Thank you so much for being such a great support and so lovely to us on Claire and Russell’s big day. You really were the perfect wedding guest!

Claire and Russ sent me this lovely email after seeing their pictures online on return from their honeymoon:
Hi Dylan,
Thank you so much for photographing our wedding day – the pics are just fabulous, and everyone has said how lovely you were!
We just got back yesterday and still a bit jetlagged! but we’re very excited to see the album put together.
You managed to capture some really fab moments of the day, so thank you again for your wonderful work!!
Claire and Russ xx

As ever, these are my personal favourites from their day:

I’m really lucky to have the best clients in the world. Last Wednesday I received this lovely hand-painted little card from Jo and Andy (the day before their big day).

When I saw the front cover of this card I started laughing and at first I thought, “hey, is that me in the past with my long hair?” Yes, folks I once had hair down to my knees, but no! – it’s a light curtain and that thing I’m holding up in my left hand is a flashgun – another piece of antiquity (for me at least!). :)

On the inside Jo had written a lovely message –
“Dear Dylan, Courtesy for your kind, beautiful wife, we reckon you’re opening this card the night before Andy and I get married. It’s finally here, and whoohoo what a ride! We got engaged just over 18 months ago and the 2 things we did quickly were find the place to do it and the person to record it. You know how much we love photos to capture memories to cherish forever. The past 18 months has given us so so many and tomorrow we are so lucky to have you doing that for us.
The day we met you and saw your work there was no doubt. You’re so talented Dylan and the odd evening when one of us has taken a peak to see what you’ve been up to on your blog it usually results in getting the other one into the room to gasp and admire what you have managed to capture!
We had so much time to get organised and it’s blessed us with this precious month of lead up to the wedding to take some time out. We had seen lots of our friends and family making this such a magical month of love and hugs. This past week I’ve never felt adrenaline like it. I catch myself watching Andy sometimes and the rushes of love overwhelm me somedays. I’ll never quite understand how I was lucky enough that he chose me. When you see me tomorrow mostly I’ll be thinking exactly that! Thank you for capturing such a huge day for us. See you tomorrow…. Love Jo & Andy

Needless to say, Jo and Andy’s wedding was just fantastic. I’ll be posting some of my favourite photographs from their fabulous wedding next Friday so, as they say – keep your eyes open (and no blinking)!

PS – the lovely card (and indeed all of the wedding stationery) was hand-painted by the lovely people at the Lighthouse Cards Drawing Rooms – highly recommended and well worth making an appointment to discuss ideas and see their full range ‘in the flesh’ so to speak!

Heather and Simon had their wedding at the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn. Their day was blessed with beautiful weather and they managed to get round to Crawfordsburn Country park for a little stroll and drive in their old Windsor car.

Heather sent me these lovely words after seeing her pictures online:
Hi Dylan
Everyone has said how lovely the pictures are! It’s funny as everytime I looked at them I found something new – the little one peeking round the corner or our neighbours little girl standing with her wee camera amongst the rest of the group of girls all camera ready for our first dance! And to see who was sitting where and their facial expessions and what was happening in the background of something else in the forefront – it builds the day for us and reminds us of little things too.
Thanks so much,
Heather

I have to admit I love photographing at this time of year – the light is usually beautiful, even if it’s overcast or sunny and I also enjoy working at the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn. All of the weddings I’ve photographed here have been very relaxed, intimate affairs (which suits the way I work) and the light inside is simply beautiful (if a little challenging – a real mixture of strong directional window light, dark corners, candlelight and overhead tungsten).

For me it’s more satisfying to make a picture when everything comes together visually for a brief moment than to step in and start arranging things. I think as soon as a photographer does that then the moment has gone forever and the fleeting movement in the picture will have disappeared. I think that’s why a lot of posed photographs or ‘camera-aware’ pictures have little appeal for me – there’s no movement or mystery within the frame.

Anyway, in addition to the light, the other reason I love autumn weddings is that 20th September is our own wedding anniversary! Caroline and I have now been married seven years! :)

Here are some of my personal favourites from Heather and Simon’s day:

Cian and Diane tied the knot at the friendly Redrock Presbyterian Church just outside Armagh. Afterwards they received a blessing at Armagh Cathedral before heading up to Parkanaur Manor House for the wedding reception.

Needless to say, both the church in Redrock and the cathedral in Armagh are beautiful buildings to work in. Parkanaur Manor was superb also – well suited to my style of documentary capture. There’s a real warmth to this wedding venue and I can’t wait to be back there in the future.

The wedding day was very relaxed with a real international flavour to the guests. During the day I spoke with guests from Chicago, British Columbia and New Jersey. Always wonderful when people travel such distances to share a special day with family and friends.

I had a great day and I’d like to thank Diane and Cian for the opportunity to capture these moments.

Here’s a few of my favourite photographs as I continue the editing.

Diane and Cian sent me a lovely message after seeing these pictures on honeymoon:
“Dylan, we have just looked at the photos, absolutely fantastic. So excited already about seeing the rest when we are back from Morocco. Thank you so much.”

“To take photographs means to recognise – simultaneously and within a fraction of a second – both the fact itself and the rigorous organisation of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one’s head, one’s eye and one’s heart on the same axis.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

I just love that – I’d say it’s the guiding principle I take in to all of my weddings. September has been a very busy month for me so I’m hoping I can keep pace on this blog with all of the weddings I’ve been shooting lately.

On the 4th of September I was back in Coleraine for Aoibheann and Neil’s wedding ceremony in the wonderful Saint Malachys before heading back up to Aoibheann’s home for a lovely marquee wedding reception where the guests could relax and enjoy the day.

Here’s just a few of the fleeting moments I saw that day.

Aoibheann sent Caroline these lovely words after seeing her pictures online:
“Very many thanks for this – they are so wonderful and everyone has been commenting on how unique and beautiful all the shots are. Dylan has really captured the happiness and love of the day.”

Marj and David married amongst friends and family in Marj’s hometown of Whitehead before heading down the road to the beautiful Larchfield Estate outside Lisburn for their wedding reception later in the day. We had a great time, even with a few heavy rain showers. No matter what, there are always great moments with great people. Here are some of my favourites.

Oh and Marj sent me these lovely words after seeing her pictures:
“Dear Dylan,
I just wanted to pop you a note saying thank you so so much for our photos! We really are so delighted with them.
I love the way you captured the energy and emotion of the day so beautifully. How you got some of those shots is beyond me….as Dave’s mum said, she didn’t even know her photo had been taken!”

It’s always a pleasure to work in Larchfield Estate outside Lisburn. The gardens are stunning and the barn has a real rich authentic feel.

Before the wedding day Rachel bought Ben a beautiful bass guitar as a surprise gift and on the morning of the wedding her brother David and I sneaked round and left it sitting on the porch, rang the doorbell and then run off to hide behind the bushes. Oh the fun!

After seeing his reaction I’m sure he couldn’t wait to see her at the church. Needless to say, Rachel looked stunning and their day was just full of lovely moments. Amongst the highlights for me was Rachel’s Father’s speech – really heartfelt and it set Ben up for a lovely follow act!

After seeing their photographs online Rachel sent me these lovely words:
“There was so much love all around us on the day of the wedding and you worked really hard at trying to include everyone in our special moments – thank you for that!
…Thank you for all those moments, some that we didn’t even notice, that you have frozen in time for us to look at often; for that we can’t thank you enough.”

Here’s just a few of my personal favourites from their day.