Jen and Simon's wedding at The Imperial Hotel in Cork was a gorgeous mix of glamour, fun and plenty of personality. From their ceremony in the Morgan & Plunkett Suite to cocktails and celebrations in Fitzgerald's, the whole day had a lovely relaxed feel. They were great fun to photograph, and with around 50 of their closest family and friends there, there was no shortage of laughter, emotion and little moments happening throughout the day.


Getting ready at The Imperial Hotel Cork

Upstairs at The Imperial Hotel, Jen was getting ready with her very glam girlfriends from LA. The prosecco was flowing, she was putting the finishing touches to her vows, doing her own makeup, and her friend Stefanny was on hair duty. Plenty going on, but all very relaxed and good fun.

Meanwhile, Simon was having a slightly quieter morning with his brothers and friends, getting himself ready to marry the love of his life.

Downstairs, guests were starting to arrive and gather for the ceremony, while the last of the preparations were happening upstairs.



Bridesmaids in elegant dresses help each other get ready in a bright room, with champagne bottles and glasses on a table in the background.
Six smiling women in elegant dresses raise champagne glasses in a lively toast at a bright, celebratory party.
Man in a black tuxedo with bow tie and floral boutonniere speaks on a vintage rotary telephone against a teal paneled wall.
Four men in suits raise champagne glasses in a toast inside an elegant room with ornate molding and a television.
Woman with dark hair and red lipstick works on a silver MacBook laptop at a wooden desk in a bright, modern office.
Bridesmaids in green dresses gather around a bride from behind as one adjusts her long veil while others smile and take photos.
Black and white photo of a bride in a lace wedding dress and choker having her hair styled by a bridesmaid in a satin gown.
Two women with long dark hair pose close together in an ornate gold-framed mirror, with a blonde woman in a burgundy dress behind them.
Smiling bride in a lace veil holds up an instant photo while bridesmaids laugh and celebrate behind her in a black and white wedding photo.
Four men in suits stand together holding champagne glasses in a hotel suite, smiling before a wedding celebration in black and white.

A Personal Wedding Ceremony at The Imperial Hotel Cork

Jen made quite the entrance, walking up the aisle on her own and absolutely owning it. She did stop along the way to give her dad a kiss before joining Simon.


Simon's brother led the ceremony, which made it all the more personal. Jen and Simon had both written their own vows, and there were plenty of laughs, a few tears and some very happy faces around the room. Just a really lovely ceremony, full of personality and so much joy.


Wedding Drinks and Portraits at The Imperial Hotel Cork

After the ceremony, everyone headed to Fitzgerald's for drinks and a chance to catch up. There was plenty of laughter, hugs and congratulations, with Jen and Simon right in the middle of it all.


We slipped away for a few portraits around the hotel, making good use of those gorgeous interiors and the staircase. Jen and Simon were great fun in front of the camera and definitely weren't afraid to have a bit of fun with the photos.


Then it was back to their guests to enjoy the rest of the celebrations.

Smiling bride in a white gown carries a red and white bouquet down the aisle as seated wedding guests look on in an elegant ballroom.
A bride in a lace veil embraces an older man in a dark suit during a wedding ceremony while guests look on and she holds a bouquet.
Groom in a black tuxedo with a red boutonniere holds a red book while facing a bride in a lace veil during a wedding ceremony.
Smiling wedding guests in formal attire watch the ceremony, with a bride holding a bouquet of red and white flowers in the foreground.
Bride in a short lace wedding dress and long lace veil reads vows from a red book during an indoor ceremony as guests watch.
Bride in a lace veil reads handwritten wedding vows from an open book while a groom in a dark suit stands beside her.
Bride in a lace gown and veil exchanges vows with the groom in a black suit before an officiant under a white and red floral wedding arch.
Groom in a dark suit slides a wedding ring onto the bride's finger during an elegant ceremony exchange of vows.
Bride in a lace veil and groom in a dark suit share a wedding kiss as seated guests look on in an elegant ballroom.

Cake Cutting, Laughs and Evening Celebrations

Dinner brought a few more laughs and some lovely moments, with both Jen and Simon giving speeches.


Jen and Simon certainly weren't taking themselves too seriously when it came to cutting the wedding cake. Jen had a little too much fun with the knife, giving us her own version of “till death do us part”! Simon played along, and we got some hilarious photos out of it.


The celebrations continued into the evening at Fitzgerald's, with live music and everyone enjoying themselves. A fitting end to a wedding that had been full of fun and personality from the start.

Smiling bride in a short white dress and veil walks beside a groom in a black tuxedo as wedding guests cheer with drinks.
Bride in a white gown and groom in a tuxedo smile at their wedding reception as seated guests applaud in an ornate, art-filled room.
Bride in a lace gown and veil and groom in a black tuxedo laugh while toasting champagne beside an ice bucket in an ornate room.
Bride in a short lace wedding dress and veil stands in front of an ornate tiled bar with flowers and bottles in an elegant venue.
A bride in a lace gown and veil kisses her groom in a black tuxedo while holding champagne beside a wedding cake.
A laughing bride lifts a sword to cut the cake as her groom in a tuxedo watches, holding a champagne glass at the reception.
Black and white photo of a bride in a lace mantilla veil and a groom in a tuxedo toasting with champagne beside a wedding cake and flowers.
Bride in a lace gown and veil and groom in a black tuxedo cut their wedding cake together at an elegant marble table with flowers.
Black and white photo of a laughing woman in a wedding dress with tattooed arms pouring champagne with a friend at a restaurant table.
A laughing bride in a white lace wedding gown and veil shares a joyful moment with a tattooed woman in a pink dress at an ornate reception.

Relaxed, Documentary Wedding Photography in Ireland

Weddings like Jen and Simon's are exactly why I love documentary wedding photography. A day full of personality, plenty of laughs and time spent with the people who matter most. We made time for some portraits, but most of the day was spent photographing everything happening around them.


If you're planning a relaxed wedding and want photographs that show what your day was really like, I'd love to hear from you.

Bride in a lace wedding gown and veil holding a rose bouquet gazes at her groom in a black tuxedo on a patterned carpeted staircase.
Bride in a lace wedding gown and veil kisses a groom in a black tuxedo before an ornate gold mirror and teal wall.
Black and white close-up of a bride's hand with a diamond ring resting on a groom's hand and her lace wedding dress over his tuxedo.
Black and white photo of a bride in a lace gown with bouquet kissing her groom in a tuxedo on an elegant carpeted staircase.
Bride in a lace wedding gown and veil kisses her groom in a black tuxedo beside an ornate gold mirror and chandelier.
A smiling bride in a short lace wedding dress and mantilla veil holds a red and white bouquet beside her groom in a black tuxedo.
Black and white wedding portrait of a bride in a lace dress and veil sitting on a groom's lap in a tuxedo, holding a bouquet in a library.
Bride in a white lace gown and long lace-trimmed veil kisses her groom in a black tuxedo and bow tie during a wedding portrait.
Bride in a strapless lace wedding dress with a veil holds a red and white rose bouquet while standing on an ornate carpeted staircase.

 

If you're planning your own wedding and like my relaxed, documentary approach,

you can find out more about my wedding photography here.