Dave & Maria’s Intimate Cork City Wedding
A Wedding That Was Never About The Fuss — Just The Love
Intimate Cork City Wedding | Dave & Maria’s Registry Office Ceremony & UCC Shoot
You know, when you’re a wedding photographer in Cork — or anywhere, really — you get a front-row seat to people’s stories. You see the nerves, the joy, the wild dancing, the quiet tears. But every once in a while, a day comes along that just feels like home — like the reason you picked up a camera in the first place.
Dave and Maria’s wedding was that day.
It wasn’t about the big hotel ballroom or hundreds of guests. No massive church, no over-the-top flowers. Just two people who knew what they wanted: to get married and celebrate the hell out of it with the people they love.
The Ceremony — Laughter in the Little Room
It all started at 11:30am in Cork’s registry office — a small room, but it felt bigger than life with the joy inside. I got to meet Dave and Maria’s two kids, Amelia and Oli. Both on the spectrum, but both full of warmth and personality. Amelia — what a name. You don’t hear it often, do you? It just fits her. Soft, beautiful, gentle — like saying it gives you a hug.
And Oli? Sharp little lad in a mini suit. His quiet confidence had me smiling from the get-go. I was told, “Get whatever photos you can of the kids” — but honestly, they stole the show themselves.
As the couple said their vows, the room filled with laughter — not polite chuckles, but belly laughs. You could feel it in your chest. When Dave and Maria had their first kiss as husband and wife, young Oli pointed and burst out laughing. Everyone cracked — including mum and dad. That moment? That was real.
The University Shoot — Magic Under the Cork Sunshine
The sun was blazing as we headed over to University College Cork. Maria’s a student there, and the place was buzzing — students on the lawn, coffee in hand, music playing somewhere in the distance. It was alive, and the couple blended right in, but in the best way. Every “Congratulations!” from strangers was a little love note to their day.
We wandered through the gardens. Flowers bloomed like they’d been rehearsing. Dave and Maria didn’t pose — they were the pose. The kind of couple that laugh with their eyes. That finish each other’s sentences. That hold hands like it’s the first time, every time.
At one stage, Maria dashed to the restroom and handed her bouquet to Dave. He stood next to his best man James, and this student walked by — pulled down her headphones and gave a look like, “Awwww.” From where I stood, it looked like she thought Dave and James had just tied the knot themselves.
I couldn’t stop laughing, told the lads, and they cracked up. We made a moment of it — the boys posed on the Pride flag painted on the ground, hugging like grooms. Pure gold.
Radisson Blu — Kids, Caricatures & First Dances
Then it was off to the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Little Island — an hour to breathe before dinner and guests arrived. And somewhere in that quiet, Oli crawled up beside me, leaned in close, and gently pulled my arm around him. I didn’t move. That moment? I’ll never forget it. Sometimes it’s not the big gestures, it’s the quiet ones — the ones that say “you’re safe, you’re my friend now.” That’s what he gave me.
Laughter & Art with James O’Donovan
In one corner, James O’Donovan Caricatures was already sketching away, turning guests into brilliant, hilarious cartoon versions of themselves in minutes. He’s a gent — calm, kind, and cracking up everyone with every reveal. If you haven’t seen his work, do yourself a favour:
👉 James O’Donovan Instagram
Music, Energy & LED Lights with DJ Bertie
On the other side of the room, DJ Bertie was setting the tone — energy, fun, and sound tech perfection. His wife was painting kids’ faces, inflating balloons, and turning the room into a joy factory. Bertie brings that magic. It’s not just the music — it’s the way he makes everyone feel seen.
👉 DJ Bertie Instagram
First Dance Feels
There was no planned first dance song, but earlier in the day Dave mentioned how much he loved Hozier’s take on “Do I Wanna Know.” When Bertie whispered the idea to Maria, she said, “That’s the one.”
The LED light sticks came out. The crowd circled up. Dave and Maria stepped into the centre — and as the song played, they didn’t dance like they were performing. They held each other and laughed. And in that moment, you could see it — the knowing. The “you’re my one.” The “this is where I belong.”
It was perfect.
Thank You
Dave and Maria — thank you for letting me be part of your beautiful day. It was a joy to witness something so real, so full of heart.
To your incredible guests, thank you for the laughter and kindness. And to the staff at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Cork — as always, you were phenomenal.
To James O’Donovan and DJ Bertie — you brought the soul and the spark. Delighted to work alongside legends like you.
👉 James O’Donovan Instagram
👉 DJ Bertie Instagram
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