THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING
A Fantasy-Inspired Engagement Session at Markree Castle
Melissa and Greg arrived at
Markree Castle
on Sunday and spent the days leading up to their wedding enjoying exclusive use of the estate. Their celebration is a wonderful example of how a multi-day destination wedding can give couples more time with the people they love without trying to fit every experience into a single day.
Their engagement session took place around 1:00 PM on the day before the ceremony. We explored the castle grounds, riverside woodland and the boathouse, even taking a few photographs on the castle’s little boat.
For couples travelling to Ireland, a session like this can be a relaxed way to settle into the venue and become comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding begins. It is also one of the reasons I enjoy photographing
destination weddings in Ireland
across more than just the wedding day itself.
THE REHEARSAL
From Engagement Session to Wedding Rehearsal
Later that afternoon, the wedding party came together for the ceremony rehearsal, guided by the Markree team. With the formal plans for the following day taken care of, the atmosphere gradually shifted from preparation into celebration.
Having exclusive use of
Markree Castle for a multi-day wedding
allowed Melissa and Greg to create an experience for their guests that extended far beyond the ceremony and reception.
THE REHEARSAL DINNER
When Markree Castle Became a Fantasy World
From 6:00 PM, the atmosphere changed completely. Guests arrived dressed as elves and fantasy characters for a rehearsal dinner in the Dining Room, turning the evening into something personal, playful and completely unexpected.
It was exactly the kind of celebration that shows why a rehearsal dinner does not have to feel like a smaller version of the wedding. It can have its own personality, atmosphere and story.
IRISH MUSIC & DANCE
Entertainment for the Evening
As dinner came to an end, the evening moved into live Irish entertainment and an interactive céilí that brought everyone onto the dance floor.
The Reel Girls
Trad Dispute
The Reel Girls opened the entertainment with a high-energy Irish dance performance before Trad Dispute took over for an interactive céilí. Guests joined in for reels, jigs and group dancing, turning the rehearsal evening into one of the most memorable parts of the entire wedding celebration.
