A Woodland Wedding at Markree Castle / From Miami to Sligo

First Look at Markree Castle

Shannon and Michael chose one of my favourite locations for their first look at Markree Castle: a quiet spot by the river with the castle rising behind them. Away from the guests for a few minutes, they could simply see each other, take in the moment and enjoy everything that was about to begin. As you can see from the photographs, there was no shortage of emotion.

One of the things I love about photographing weddings at Markree Castle is the variety of locations available for a first look. The riverside works beautifully when you want the castle in the background, but depending on the light, weather and the couple themselves, I also use the main castle steps, the gardens and terrace, or one of the character-filled rooms inside the castle, such as the Billiard Room.

There is no single “best” first-look location at Markree Castle. I prefer to choose it around the couple and the conditions on the day: somewhere that feels private, photographs beautifully and allows the moment to happen naturally.

Woodland Wedding Ceremony at Markree Castle

One of the most distinctive ceremony settings at Markree Castle is the woodland area, hidden among mature trees on the estate. It creates a completely different atmosphere from the indoor ceremony spaces: natural, intimate and surrounded by greenery, while still being just a short walk from the castle.

For Shannon and Michael, the woodland was where everyone finally came together. Their friend had travelled with them from the United States to lead the ceremony, making this part of their destination wedding in Ireland feel even more personal. Shannon walked through the trees with her father before joining Michael in front of their family and friends.

From a photography perspective, a woodland wedding ceremony at Markree Castle gives me a lot to work with. The trees create natural layers around the couple, while the changing light allows me to photograph both the wider setting and the smaller reactions happening between them and their guests. I can move quietly around the ceremony and document it without interrupting what is happening.

If you are considering an outdoor ceremony here, the woodland is only one of the possibilities at Markree Castle. The venue also offers other settings with a completely different look and atmosphere, so the ceremony can become a natural part of the wider story you want to create for your day.

For more ideas and real examples from across the venue, you can explore my Markree Castle Wedding Inspiration guide.

Wedding Portraits at Markree Castle

There was no rush to begin the portrait session after the ceremony. Someone disappeared for a moment and came back with a bottle of champagne, and Shannon and Michael celebrated right there in front of the castle. What started with a toast quickly turned into champagne spraying everywhere: a spontaneous, joyful moment that became part of the story before we had even started taking portraits.

From there, we simply moved through the grounds of Markree Castle. We returned to the woodland, walked among the trees and continued towards the Boathouse, the river and the gardens. One of the reasons I love photographing weddings here is that so many different locations are close together, so a couple can have variety in their wedding photographs without disappearing from their guests for a long portrait session.

For me, wedding portraits should still feel like part of the wedding day rather than a separate photoshoot. I will guide a couple when it helps, but I also leave space for walking, talking, laughing and the unexpected moments in between. Shannon and Michael’s portraits were exactly that: a relaxed walk through Markree Castle before we made our way back to their guests.

Their reception was waiting for them outside on the terrace overlooking the gardens. Instead of immediately moving the celebration indoors, everyone could stay outside and enjoy another part of the estate, giving this Markree Castle wedding a very different atmosphere from beginning to end.

Outdoor Reception & Speeches at Markree Castle

After their walk through the woodland, around the Boathouse and along the river, Shannon and Michael returned to their guests for an outdoor reception on the terrace at Markree Castle.

It was another detail that made their wedding feel a little different. With the gardens and castle grounds around them, everyone could stay outside, have a drink, talk and enjoy the evening before the celebration gradually moved indoors.

Later, everyone gathered inside Markree Castle for the speeches. Rather than having them around the dinner tables, Shannon and Michael’s speeches took place on the main staircase, creating a completely different setting for this part of the day. Guests gathered around them as stories were told, glasses were raised and the reactions unfolded naturally throughout the room.

By the time the speeches were finishing, the evening light outside had completely changed. The gardens were beginning to glow, so before the light disappeared, I took Shannon and Michael outside for a few minutes.

And that turned into one of my favourite parts of their Markree Castle wedding.

Sunset Wedding Photos at Markree Castle

That changing evening light gave us exactly the opportunity I had been hoping for.

I asked Shannon and Michael to step outside with me for a few minutes, and we walked into the gardens at Markree Castle. The sun was dropping behind the estate, creating beautiful warm light across the grounds and giving us a completely different atmosphere from the woodland portraits earlier in the day.

I never want a couple to feel as though they are leaving their wedding for another long photoshoot. A short sunset session can be enough. We walked, talked and photographed for a few minutes while the light was at its best, before Shannon and Michael returned inside to their guests.

Back in the Dining Room, the celebrations continued with the cutting of the wedding cake. But they would not stay indoors for long.

The doors from the Dining Room opened onto the terrace overlooking the gardens, where Shannon and Michael had planned another beautiful part of their day: their first dance outside at Markree Castle.

An Outdoor First Dance at Markree Castle

With their guests gathered around the terrace, Shannon and Michael began their first dance outdoors, with Markree Castle behind them and the gardens stretching out in front.

It was a beautiful setting for the evening and another example of how they made the day their own. Instead of moving straight to the traditional indoor dance floor, they used the terrace as part of the celebration and made the most of the castle grounds around them.

After their first dance, Shannon danced with her father, followed by Michael and his mother. Surrounded by family and friends, these quieter moments felt especially personal before the energy of the evening changed completely.

Once the family dances were finished, everyone moved inside and the party began.

Markree Castle Wedding Dance Floor

Inside Markree Castle, the dance floor quickly filled with family and friends. From that point on, I simply followed the energy: dancing, laughter, hugs and all the spontaneous moments that happen once the formal parts of the wedding day are over.

At one point, elf ears appeared and suddenly seemed to be everywhere, adding another wonderfully unexpected detail to the night. These are the moments I love photographing most: unplanned, completely personal and impossible to recreate.

It was a brilliant ending to a wedding day that had felt unmistakably like Shannon and Michael from beginning to end.