If you want to get married in Ireland, you have to be prepared for anything weather-wise. This was the case for Isabelle and Dragomir, who travelled all the way from Lower Franconia to experience a mystical wedding in a stone circle in Ireland. In October. I had practically persuaded them to go, as the month had always been pretty favourable to us on previous trips. They spent the week before the wedding in a cosy cottage on the rugged coast of the Ring of Kerry. But the weather showed its merciless side - dark clouds, rain and icy winds made the couple doubt whether their ceremony could take place as planned.
When I picked them up at the cottage on the morning of their big day, the mood was still subdued. Through gloomy clouds, we followed the Wild Atlantic Way towards Beara. And lo and behold, as soon as we passed Kenmare, the sky opened up: The sun came out shyly and a rainbow stretched across the horizon. We took the opportunity for a spontaneous photo session. After all, who knew what the day would bring.
Magic at Lough Inchiquin
It was drizzling again as we approached the wedding venue, the Uragh North Stone Circle on Lough Inchiquin in the north of the Beara Peninsula. There we met Dara, the couple's wedding officiant. Some say Dara has a bit of Obiwan Kenobi about him. And there really is something to that.
Together we walked up a small hill, behind which the stone circle was supposed to be located. Once we reached the top, our eyes opened wide. The panorama of the lake, a waterfall in the mountains in the background. And then the sun came out, making its way through the clouds and bathing the ancient stones of the Uragh Stone Circle in a golden light, and the air was filled with a special energy.
The ceremony itself was a deeply spiritual experience. With the ritual blessing of the goddess Eriú, water from a sacred spring and an oak branch, Isabelle and Dragomir were integrated into nature. The blessing of the four elements - earth, fire, water and wind - and the traditional Celtic handfasting made their union a moving moment, which also included tears.
A road trip full of emotions
When we accompany an elopement, the photography is never just about the ceremony. It's also about the surroundings, the country and its people, the experiences and always a little adventure. So we took some time after the ceremony and explored the surroundings of Lough Inchiquin for some intimate portraits. A light drizzle set in and we made our way to a new location. And just around the next bend, at another corner of the lake, the sun was shining through the clouds again - a perfect symbol of Ireland's unpredictable beauty.
As we continued along the narrow roads, the scenery was always breathtaking: wide meadows, green valleys with curious sheep, rugged cliffs and mountains. And there was no shortage of fun either.
After the exciting trip through the mountains, we first had to warm up. Fortunately, we received a warm welcome at McCarthy's Bar in Castletownbere - not only from the locals, but also from the bar's very sociable pug and a warm open fire. Delicious bar food and hot tea were of course also on offer. And of course the whole bar had to congratulate us first. Weddings are always a big deal in Ireland.
Well fortified, our journey then took us further along the Ring of Beara, through grey rain clouds to the colourful houses of Eyeries.
No sheep, a cow and the last rays of sunshine
We actually wanted to take a wedding photo with sheep. But finding photogenic and, above all, photowilling sheep turned out to be more difficult than expected. Instead, we came across a curious cow. That's nice too.
At the end of October, the days are also quite short in Ireland. As the day drew to a close, we set off in search of the perfect spot for sunset. We would have found it, but with the last light the rain returned. We didn't mind, but Isabelle's dress had to be wrung out before we made our way home.
Slightly exhausted but happy, the couple drove through the Irish night back to the cottage where they began their honeymoon high above Derrynane Beach - with memories of a day full of magic, adventure and love.
Links & Facts
Eine mystische Hochzeit und ein Roadtrip über die Beara Halbinsel - vom Süden des Ring of Kerry aus ging es über Kenmare nach Beara zur Trauung am Uragh North Stone Circle. Von dort ging es über den Healy Pass in den Süden der Halbinsel und dann an der Küste entlang über Castletownbeere und Eyeries wieder zurück nach Kerry. Zu großen Teilen ging es dabei über den Wild Atlantic Way auf dem sich die ganze Westküste Irlands entdecken lässt.
Wenn Ihr mehr über das Thema erfahren wollt haben wir für Euch eine Landingpage zu unserer Hochzeitsfotografie in Irland. Und in unserem Hochzeitswissen im Brautrausch Magazin findet Ihr einen Artikel über Elopements - was das eigentlich ist und ob es sich lohnt.
Den Trauredner Dara, den Wild Atlantic Way und die Seite mit allen Tipps rund ums Heiraten in Irland haben wir Euch im folgenden verlinkt:
