Anne & Ciaran got ready together in The Hardiman.
Just the two of them would walk through Galway city afterwards — no wedding car, no rush, no big production.
That was the plan. And it suited them perfectly.
The Morning — The Hardiman Hotel
The morning started quietly in The Hardiman. No big bridal party, no chaos — just Anne & Ciaran getting ready, the anticipation building in a calm, steady way.
Anne and Ciaran live in Australia now, but Galway still holds meaning for them. Coming back here to get married wasn’t about putting on a show — it was about keeping things simple and personal, surrounded by the people who matter most.
Fifteen guests. Immediate family. That was it.
The Ceremony — The Dean Hotel
The ceremony at The Dean was small, intimate and completely genuine.
No rows of chairs filled with distant acquaintances. No formality for the sake of it. Just the people closest to them, gathered in one room, fully present.
Afterwards, we stepped outside into Galway city — and that’s where the day really opened up.
A Walk Through Galway City
No timeline. No pressure. Just a walk.
Anne and Ciaran moved through the city together, newly married, taking it in as it happened. Shop Street, the movement of the city around them, the quiet moments in between.
And then — one of those completely unplanned moments you couldn’t script if you tried.
A man with a donkey.
The donkey had other ideas about what was happening and took a particular interest in Anne’s bouquet — far more interested in that than the carrot that was meant for him.
It was one of those moments that lasts seconds but says everything about a day like this. Unpredictable, relaxed, completely real.
First Drink — Tigh Neachtain
They had chosen Tigh Neachtain on Quay Street for their first drink — a small table reserved in the corner, just the two of them.
No crowd. No announcement. No performance.
Just a quiet moment to sit, take a breath and let it land — they were married.
It’s something you rarely get at a larger wedding. That space. That pause.
Back to The Dean
Lunch followed back at The Dean with their families — easy, relaxed, exactly in keeping with the rest of the day.
No rigid structure. No pressure to move things along.
Just time spent properly with the people who had travelled to be there.
The Evening — Busker Brownes
Later that evening, they met their wider circle of friends and family at Busker Brownes.
No sit-down meal. No first dance.
Just people arriving, hugs at the door, drinks in hand and the kind of atmosphere that builds naturally when nothing is forced.
It felt less like a wedding reception and more like exactly what it was — a celebration.
A Note From Pamela
Anne and Ciaran’s day is exactly what a Galway city wedding can be when you let go of the traditional structure.
Getting ready in one place, walking through the city, stopping for a drink, meeting your people later — it all flows in a way that just makes sense.
If you’re planning a wedding that feels more like a day in the city than a formal event, Galway is one of the best places in Ireland to do it.
If that sounds like the kind of day you're looking for, I’d love to hear about your plans.
Want to See More Small Weddings Like This?
You can also have a look at how I approach small, relaxed weddings here.
