John McMahon Photography: Wedding Clayton Hotel Galway

Friday, February 20, 2015

Wedding Clayton Hotel Galway

I love Cornamona Weddings!
Genuine people who are always up for a bit of craic on weddings days.....one of the reasons why I married a Cornamona woman!
The morning of December 30th started out beautifully, and unfortunately the weather was taking a turn for the worse as the day went on. We saw the best of Cornamona when I called to Máires home in the morning, beautiful sunshine with hardly any wind and I was hoping that conditions would remain like that and the bad weather forecast would stay away!

Having enjoyed the hospitality in Máires's home (thank you Áine & Padriac), I made the short journey to the church and caught up with Kevin and his groomsmen Tomás, Mike and Dominic who were in pretty good spirits and working with the legendary John Murphy of Avalon Video when I arrived.

Thank you very much to Fr Mannion for being the gentleman that he is, really relaxed person to be around and I was a happy man when I realized that he would also be looking after the wedding that I was doing the following day in Clonbur!

(one of my favourite shots from 2014.....this is Máire's mum Aine clenching her husbands hand just as the wedding vows are starting on the altar).

After the ceremony, the wind had picked up considerably so we used the shelter of the church for the familt portraits along with some of Máire and Kevin......but before making our journey into Galway, we used the lake in Cornamona to grab a a handfull of shots.

We decided to avail of Galway Crystal for some photos ( a great arrangement they have with the Clayton Hotel) ....it had started raining cats and dogs by the time we arrived in Galway.

Our final stop was the brilliant Clayton Hotel....a place I like working and indeed it was great to see them awarded "Best Wedding Hotel in Connaught" this week and the Wedding's Online awards. This is truly a hotel that bends over backwards for it's couples and it's always a pleasure working alongside Karena, Valerie and Cathal!

Thanks Máire and Kevin for a great day! I appreciate your kind words since the wedding and I look forward to crossing paths again in the near future!

Photo slideshow from the day is below

http://video214.com/play/1jcc2wckX6JWl36HYIdLcg/s/dark

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Wedding Clayton Hotel Galway

Elaine and Peter's wedding recently took place in St Joseph's Church Galway followed by a reception in The Clayton Hotel.
Always enjoy shooting weddings when I feel I know the couple a bit more than the regular wedding and that was the case at Elaine and Peter's wedding....indeed I had met Elaine on a few occasions previously....one such case was listening to her angelic voice at Marie and Darren's wedding earlier in the year!
It's ironic that it was only when I called to Elaine's home on the morning of the wedding that I realized that I had also bumped into her dad on a few occasions previously (music encounters) so it all lent itself plenty of chats and laid back stuff on the wedding morning....factor bumping into Brian from Corporate Cars Galway meant there were a lot of good familiar faces around!
The ceremony in the beautiful St Joseph's church was beautiful, and in particular the music provided by Elaine's brothers Mark and Nicolas was something else.....indeed judging by some of the congregations reactions to it, they were pulling at a lot of heartstrings....well done lads!
We made the short journey to the Claddagh to take some bridal portraits after the ceremony.....fair play to bridesmaids Trisha, Lisa, Ollie, Susan and Clíona as well as groomsmen Terry, Cathal, Edward, Mark and Nicholas for working with me in a jovial manner and not letting the cold wind that was coming in off the bay dampen their spirits....always great to be around people that do what they can for the bride and groom on wedding days!
A quick pit stop for a "hot toddie" ensued in the Huntsman bar en route to the reception in the Clayton Hotel....a place I love working in. Karena, Valerie and Cathal are all fantastic wedding coordinators in the hotel and I always sense that their working with you when arriving there for a reception as opposed to pulling against you.....indeed Karena recently received a national award there for her fabulous efforts!
The Conquerors provided the entertainment for the night...one of the finest wedding bands that you'll come across!

Thank you Elaine and Peter for being super people to be around on your wedding day....and indeed the same applies to your bridal party!
Nothing was hard work for you and it was a pleasure to record your day at close quarters! I look forward to crossing paths with you both again in the future!

Photo slideshow available at the bottom of page