Deirbhile & Ryan’s Wedding at Tinakilly House | Co. Wicklow

Some couples give you a seven-page brief. Deirbhile and Ryan gave me one instruction: make it fun. As briefs go, it’s the easiest one I’ve ever received — and they absolutely delivered on their end.

Their day at Tinakilly House in Wicklow had everything: a first look that Ryan would like you to know he was completely fine during, a ceremony that ran on laughter from start to finish, and a bridal party of eight who clearly should have their own sitcom.

The First Look — Ryan Was Fine, By the Way

Before the ceremony, Deirbhile and Ryan did a first look. If you’re not familiar, it’s a private moment before proceedings begin — just the two of them, seeing each other properly for the first time that day, no audience.

Ryan cried.

Ryan would like it noted, for the record, that he did not cry. He was fine. Completely fine. Nothing to see here. The photographs tell a slightly different story, but we’ll leave that between us.

It’s one of my favourite moments to photograph — the first look strips away all the performance of a ceremony and gives you something completely unguarded. Deirbhile and Ryan’s did not disappoint.

The Ceremony — Full of Laughter

The outdoor ceremony on the lawn at Tinakilly House was everything they’d hoped for. Good weather — and in Wicklow in summer you can never take that for granted — and an atmosphere that was warm and relaxed from the first minute to the last.

The brief was fun, and the ceremony delivered on it. There was genuine laughter throughout, the kind that comes naturally when two people are surrounded by everyone who matters most to them and aren’t taking themselves too seriously. It made for a brilliant room to photograph.

Eight People, Zero Awkward Group Photos

Four bridesmaids, four groomsmen — and a group that had clearly been friends long enough to have no filter with each other whatsoever. The bridal party photoshoot after the ceremony was the kind I love: you set up the shot, and they do the rest. The craic was non-stop, the laughter was constant, and getting a natural photo was the easiest thing in the world because nobody was performing for the camera. They were just being themselves, which is always better.

Tinakilly’s grounds gave us plenty to work with too. On a sunny day the venue is genuinely stunning — the kind of backdrop that makes the job feel almost unfair.

Planning a wedding at Tinakilly House in Wicklow? I’d love to hear about your day. Get in touch here → — I photograph weddings across Wicklow, Dublin, and throughout Ireland.