14/01/2024
Congratulations Tina and Paul!!
What a most fabulous day in celebration of your nuptials and party thrown like no other I've known or seen. It seemed the intention of the day was 'keep the party flowing' as the segments of the wedding were meticulously timed and flowed seamlessly into one another.
From Tina being wheeled in by horse and carriage, to an intimate official ceremony which took place in one of the rooms upstairs, before Martin took his daughter by the arm and escorted her to Paul who was patiently waiting on his bride on the grand, sweeping staircase of the house. The nuptials narrated, watched by over 100 members of close family and friends - an exchange of rings and a gorgeous Irish tradition dating back 7000 BC of tying the knot! - the pair of smilers celebrated their joining with a big smooch and after many loud cheers and a round of applause from onlookers, we literally stepped into the next room, straight into a grab your partner, shindig of a ceili.
Platters of delicious finger food were passed around and I managed to convince the happy couple to spare me 10 minutes to grab some shots of them both. And when the ceili died down, the crowd were ushered into the marquee to the sound of a live saxophonist playing upbeat old school dance tunes, as the guests happily tucked into their supper. Lot of laughs and stories followed by way of the speeches and onto the dj set, where people who usually run away from the me at the start of the day, change their tune (might have something to do with their dancing juice!) and actually come looking for me on the dance floor.
It was so entertaining from start to finish with many of the staff, who are always so hospitable, warm and friendly, there to wish Tina and Paul well and some even helping to celebrate.
What a day.
Congratulations, you are such a fabulous couple and I wish you both many happy years together.
Mary xx
**
I met Tina about 7 years ago when I shot one of the first weddings to be hosted in the stunning Kilmore Country House. Honestly, the setting is like no other, set deep in the Glen, with the North Channel not far off on the horizon. I bumped into Tina's dad, Martin, and as we got chatting, we realised we were distant cousins, having known my father well.. and since I was of the McQuillan name too, this gave Martin the nod to divulge the history of the grand dwelling they had brought back to life. There was of course chat of Dunluce Castle and the familia links to Kilmore House and with a twinkle and mischievous smile he said, 'Your father would have enjoyed this, they took Dunluce off us, but we've got our name back on Kilmore.'
And my dad being a lover of ancestry and history, he absolutely would have loved that Martin, that as well as the sympathetic restoration you've done to bring the house back to its full glory.
https://kilmorecountryhouse.com/history/
Part 2 of the mini album tomorrow! xx
And a big shout out to Quentin and his son from QML video, who were super to work alongside.
Have a look at their trailer ❤️
📸 Watch this video on Facebook https://fb.watch/pA48Ic95G2/?
