Alison & Pratheek’s Springfort Hall Wedding

The morning

A Wedding Morning Full of Laughter at Springfort Hall

There’s something about arriving at Springfort Hall that I always enjoy. It’s a beautiful country house, surrounded by lovely grounds, with plenty of places for wedding photographs without having to take the couple away from their guests for half the day.

And the team there really know weddings. They’re welcoming, experienced and brilliant at what they do.

I headed upstairs to find Alison and the girls already well into hair and makeup.

There was laughter, chatting and cheese plates everywhere. Not a bad way to start a wedding morning!

Alison gave me a big smile from the makeup chair, and I knew straight away we were in for a great day.

Her bridesmaids included her two sisters and her new sister-in-law. They were all having a brilliant time together, keeping the laughs coming as everyone got ready.

We captured the little details of the morning, the dress, the flowers and those moments between the girls that make the preparations so enjoyable to photograph.

Then it was time to find Pratheek and the lads.

The groom

Pratheek and His Merry Men

Downstairs, Pratheek and his groomsmen were waiting outside.

What a crew.

These lads were full of laughter from the minute I met them. You could see the bond between them, and they weren’t exactly shy when the camera came out.

We wandered around the grounds of Springfort Hall, turning each of them into a model for a few minutes.

Some took the job more seriously than others!

There was plenty of messing, plenty of laughing and some great photographs along the way.

And through it all, we were keeping one eye on the sky.

The first look

An Unexpected First Look on the Staircase

Before long, Alison was ready.

I headed back upstairs to photograph her in her wedding dress, and then we had an opportunity for something a little special.

Pratheek was waiting downstairs, and with Alison about to make her way down the staircase, I suggested we turn it into a first look.

Nothing overly planned. Just a lovely opportunity that presented itself.

As Alison started coming down the stairs, Pratheek turned to see her.

His eyes grew bigger, and that smile just took over his whole face.

Alison was smiling too.

The two of them were giggling away, delighted with one another.

Weddings have a funny way of turning grown adults into excited children for a few minutes. All the smiles, the little laughs, the excitement. It’s brilliant to watch.

And even better to photograph.

The grounds

Making the Most of Springfort Hall’s Beautiful Grounds

With the storm getting closer, we headed straight outside.

One of the things I love about photographing weddings at Springfort Hall is that everything is so close together.

You’ve got the house, the gardens, the lovely green spaces and quiet little spots for photographs, all within the grounds.

There’s no need to spend ages travelling somewhere else.

We got the family photographs done, followed by some fun photographs with the bridal party.

Then I took Alison and Pratheek for a short walk together.

These are always some of my favourite minutes of a wedding day. A little time away from the crowd, a chance for the couple to relax, chat and enjoy being together.

And these two made my job very easy.

They were constantly smiling at one another.

We had just about finished when the first drops of rain started falling.

Talk about timing!

The ceremony

A Civil Wedding Ceremony at Springfort Hall

By the time everyone was ready for the ceremony, the weather had properly turned.

Outside, the rain was coming down heavily. Inside, Springfort Hall’s large ceremony room was ready for Alison and Pratheek to get married.

Pratheek made his way up the aisle with his parents, a lovely part of the day’s traditions.

He took his place at the front with the lads, who were still managing to have a laugh together.

Then the doors at the back opened.

And there was Alison, walking in with her father.

The room settled as everyone turned to look.

Pratheek had already seen her in her dress that morning, but you wouldn’t have known it from his face.

That huge smile appeared all over again.

He watched her make her way towards him, looking so happy and proud.

And Alison was smiling right back.

Their civil ceremony brought two families and two traditions together, and throughout it all, the two of them kept looking at one another with those same enormous smiles.

Outside, the storm was doing its worst.

Inside, nobody seemed particularly bothered.

Husband and wife

A Few Quiet Minutes as Husband and Wife

Once the ceremony finished, it was time for the celebrations.

Family and friends gathered around Alison and Pratheek, congratulating them and enjoying the afternoon.

Later, we invited the two of them up to the bridal suite for a few photographs.

It’s a lovely room for wedding portraits, and we made the most of it.

But there’s another reason I like bringing couples away for a few minutes.

After the photographs, I suggested they stay there together for a little while.

No cameras. No guests. Nobody looking for them.

Just the two of them.

A wedding day can fly past, and sometimes couples barely get a minute to themselves.

I think it’s lovely to give them a chance to sit together, gather their thoughts and enjoy the simple fact that they’re now husband and wife.

The film

A Little Look at Alison and Pratheek’s Day

Before we get to that final photograph in the rain, here’s a little look at Alison and Pratheek’s brilliant day.

After dinner

One Last Photograph in the Rain

The rain had continued for most of the day, but after dinner it finally eased a little.

Not stopped, mind you. This was still October in Ireland!

I had an idea.

Would Alison and Pratheek be up for going outside for one last photograph in the rain?

Of course they would.

No hesitation.

We stepped outside into the darkness, with the rain falling around us, and started with an umbrella.

They stood close together, smiling at one another beneath it.

It was already a lovely photograph.

Then I suggested something else.

What if we dropped the umbrella?

I wasn’t entirely sure what they’d say. They’d spent the whole day looking fantastic, and here I was asking them to stand in the rain.

But they just laughed and agreed.

So down went the umbrella.

And there they were, kissing in the rain, completely caught up in their own little moment.

That’s the photograph I’ll always remember from this wedding.

Not because everything went perfectly.

Because Alison and Pratheek were happy to enjoy the day exactly as it happened.

Rain and all.

The evening

A Brilliant Evening at Springfort Hall

Back inside, the celebrations continued.

The Stars Band got the evening going with Alison and Pratheek’s first dance, and from there it was music, dancing and plenty more laughter.

What a day.

Two wonderful people, two families coming together, a brilliant crowd of friends and one very determined Irish storm.

And the weather didn’t spoil a thing.

Thank you

A Birthday I’ll Remember

There’s one final little detail from this wedding that I have to mention.

Alison and Pratheek knew it was my birthday.

And they had gone out of their way to get me a beautiful birthday card, thanking me for spending my birthday photographing their wedding.

I genuinely wasn’t expecting it.

It was such a thoughtful thing to do, especially when they had a thousand other things to think about.

That little gesture said a lot about the kind of people they are.

Alison and Pratheek, thank you both for trusting me to capture your wedding. Thank you for the laughs, for being such great company and for making my birthday one I’ll remember for a long time.

And thank you for being brave enough to drop that umbrella!

A huge thank you to the wonderful team at Springfort Hall. It’s always a pleasure to return, and your beautiful venue, welcoming staff and experience with weddings make it a fantastic place to photograph.

And to both families, the bridal party and every guest who joined in the celebrations, thank you for making it such a brilliant day.

Wishing Alison and Pratheek a lifetime of happiness, laughter and wonderful memories together.