Shannon & Cian’s Rathsallagh House Walled Garden Ceremony | Co. Wicklow

There are venues you travel to, and then there are venues that feel like home. For me, Rathsallagh House is firmly in the second category. Based just down the road in Co. Kildare, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve turned into that driveway — and it still gets me every time. The gardens, the light, the whole atmosphere of the place. It’s genuinely one of the finest wedding venues in Ireland and I feel incredibly lucky to have it on my doorstep.

Shannon and Cian’s June wedding reminded me exactly why.

Everyone Getting Ready at Rathsallagh House

One of the great advantages of Rathsallagh House as a wedding venue is the space it gives you. Shannon, Cian, and the entire wedding party all got ready on-site, which meant the morning was relaxed, unhurried and full of the kind of genuine excitement that makes for brilliant photographs. No rushing between locations. No convoy of cars. Just everyone together under the one roof, getting ready for the best day of their lives.

Shannon and Cian came with a brilliant crowd of friends — the kind of group where the energy is infectious from the moment you walk in the door. You could feel it building all morning.

The First Look — In the Walled Garden

With the ceremony scheduled for 3:30pm in the walled garden, we arranged the first look for 2:30pm. And here’s what makes this particular first look so special — we did it in the walled garden itself. The same space where they would exchange their vows just an hour later.

When Cian turned around and saw Shannon for the first time, he was completely overwhelmed. Genuinely, beautifully emotional in a way that stopped everyone in their tracks. It was one of those moments that reminds you why a first look is worth doing — not just for the photographs, but for the couple themselves. They got to have that private moment together, just the two of them, before the world joined in.

I’ve photographed a lot of first looks. This one was special.

The Walled Garden Ceremony at Rathsallagh House

The walled garden at Rathsallagh House is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful outdoor ceremony spaces in Ireland. The high stone walls, the lush greenery, the sense of being completely enclosed in something intimate and magical — it’s a setting that does a lot of the heavy lifting for you as a photographer. In June light, with the garden in full bloom, it’s simply stunning.

Shannon and Cian’s ceremony at 3:30pm was everything the morning had promised. Their crowd of friends filled every seat and the atmosphere was electric. Warm, joyful, and full of the kind of laughter and tears that make a ceremony feel genuinely alive rather than just a formality.

A June Evening at Rathsallagh House

June evenings at Rathsallagh are long and golden and absolutely made for wedding photography. After the ceremony, the celebrations moved through the grounds and into the house, and Shannon and Cian’s friends made sure every moment counted. These are two people who know how to have a good time, and they surrounded themselves with people who feel exactly the same way.

Shannon and Cian — thank you for having me along for such a brilliant day.

Considering the walled garden ceremony at Rathsallagh House? I’d love to hear about your plans. Get in touch here → — I’m based minutes from Rathsallagh and photograph weddings across Co. Wicklow, Kildare, and throughout Ireland.