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Hélène & Nathan | Belfast Elopement Photographer

Intimate Belfast wedding

After a long covid-enforced break, Hélène and Nathan’s Belfast elopement was the first wedding for me that was allowed to go ahead in 2021. It rained and rained that day, but sometimes, that can really add to a wedding*. That was definitely the case here. Hélène and Nathan’s was a joy to shoot. The rain only seemed to underline their happiness.

Hélène and Nathan started the day with breakfast at home with their two friends, who were their witnesses as well …

Belfast wedding photographer

Belfast wedding photographer

Belfast wedding photographer

Belfast wedding photographer

Belfast wedding photography

Belfast wedding photography

Belfast wedding photography

Belfast elopement photographer

Small Belfast wedding photography

Small Belfast wedding photography

Small Belfast wedding photography

Small Belfast wedding photography

So, it turned out that Belfast City Hall had a super-strict policy on numbers at this point during the pandemic. Hélène and Nathan were only allowed two other people in the room with them during the ceremony, apart from the registrar, so I had to wait outside …

Small Belfast wedding photography

Belfast City Hall wedding

Belfast City Hall wedding

Belfast City Hall wedding

Belfast City Hall wedding

Belfast Botanical Gardens wedding photos

Belfast Botanical Gardens wedding photos

Belfast Botanical Gardens wedding photos

Belfast Botanical Gardens wedding photos

Belfast Botanical Gardens wedding photos

Belfast elopement photographer

Belfast wedding portraits

Belfast wedding portraits

Belfast wedding portraits

Intimate Belfast wedding

Intimate Belfast wedding

Intimate Belfast wedding

Belfast elopement photographer

Northern Ireland wedding photographer

Northern Ireland wedding photographer

Northern Ireland wedding photographer

Northern Ireland wedding photographer

(*Rain, add to a wedding day?! I know that the archetypal perfect wedding day is all sun and blue skies, but rain can be good. It can force spontaneity during a portrait shoot, for one thing. Instead of thinking, OK, here comes the camera, perhaps you just have to take everything as it comes, and revel in the moment. So if the forecast for your own wedding turns out to be pants, don’t worry; it might just be the thing that gives your portrait photos something special. Don’t believe me? Here’s another very soggy, but beautiful, wedding: click here.)

Belfast Elopement Photographer – Supplier credits:
Coffee and cake: The Pocket
Hair/styling: Kerry Beck Hair & Blue Meadow
Flowers: The Rosehip & Berry

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    Joanne + Francisco | Wedding Photographer Small Wedding

    Alternative wedding portraits in Belfast

    – Wedding Photographer Small Wedding | Joanne + Francisco –

    Joanne got in touch about photography for her wedding to Francisco last summer. By that point, the pandemic had forced most couples I was working with to postpone to 2021. Joanne and Franciso were originally planning to bring their families to Belfast from France, Mexico and the United States. Rather than postpone, they decided to go for a small, intimate ceremony. Their families attended virtually, thanks to a Zoom link that Francisco set up in the ceremony room.

    All in all, there were just six people in the room: Joanne, Francisco, Joanne’s sister and brother in-law, their wedding celebrant and myself. It was about as small as it’s possible to go. But no less joyful or special. Quite the reverse, I would say. The room was charged from the outset and I felt immensely privileged to be there. Laura Fitzsimons conducted the ceremony beautifully and it was really emotional from start to finish. It was sunny too, so the Merchant Hotel’s Roof Garden was ideal.

    After shooting the prep (with Joanne and her sister looking after each other’s hair and make-up!), the ceremony and some group photos, I took Joanne and Francisco out into the city’s Cathedral Quarter to do some portraits. Joanne was stunning in her catsuit and danced with Francisco at every opportunity. I’ll never look at small weddings in the same way again.

    Anyway, enjoy …

    Alternative wedding photographer

    Alternative wedding photographer

    Small-wedding photographer

    Small-wedding photographer

    Small-wedding photographer

    Alternative wedding photographer

    Alternative wedding photographer

    Small-wedding photographer

    Small-wedding photographer

    Intimate wedding at the Merchant Hotel

    Intimate wedding at the Merchant Hotel

    Intimate wedding at the Merchant Hotel

    Intimate wedding at the Merchant Hotel

    Humanist wedding ceremony

    Humanist wedding ceremony

    Humanist wedding ceremony

    Humanist wedding ceremony

    Wedding Photographer Small Wedding

    Humanist wedding in Belfast

    Humanist wedding in Belfast

    Wedding Photographer Small Wedding

    Humanist wedding in Belfast

    Alternative wedding portraits in Belfast

    Alternative wedding portraits in Belfast

    Alternative wedding portraits in Belfast

    Alternative wedding portraits in Belfast

    Wedding Photographer Small Wedding

    Alternative wedding photographer Northern Ireland

    Alternative wedding photographer Northern Ireland

    Merchant Hotel wedding photographer

    Merchant Hotel wedding photographer

    Merchant Hotel wedding photographer

    Supplier links:

    Venue: The Merchant Hotel, Belfast

    Humanist wedding celebrant: Laura Fitzsimons

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      Rebecca + Paolo | Magheramorne Estate Wedding Photographer

      Glenariff wedding photography

      Rebecca and Paolo’s wedding happened against the odds. Most couples I’m working with had been forced to postpone to 2021, but Rebecca and Paolo changed venue and moved to September. It was that lull after the end of the first wave, when no-one knew what was coming. They were able to go ahead without too many restrictions, relatively speaking. After so much uncertainty for these guys, it was lovely to be there with them. I got to be a Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer too, which was really cool. It’s a beautiful spot.

      As we move into 2021 with much still up in the air, it’s great to think back to this wet and windy September day. Rebecca and Paolo were so good to work with. I hope you like my pick of the photos …

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Northern Ireland wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Documentary wedding photographer

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding ceremony photography

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Wedding photographer Northern Ireland

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Magheramorne Estate wedding photographer

      Candid wedding photography

      Candid wedding photography

      Candid wedding photography

      Candid wedding photography

      Candid wedding photography

      Candid wedding photography

      Candid wedding photography

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Alternative wedding photographer

      Wedding supplier credits:
      Venue: Magheramorne Estate
      Floral design: Victoriana Floral
      Bridal gown: The White Gallery Boutique
      Make-up artist: Carly Proctor
      Hair artist: Kelly White

      No-one knows for sure, but 2021 is going to look a lot different for many wedding couples. Personally, I’m expecting weddings to be smaller, and more intimate, with scaled-down receptions even once they are allowed again. I love shooting huge a wedding party, for sure, so it’s going to be different for me too. But I’ve shot smaller celebrations recently that have reminded me just how beautiful they can be. They’ve every bit as joyful and unique. I’m really looking forward to working with those of my 2021 couples who opt for a smaller gig.

      My next blog post will feature a really intimate humanist wedding that was a privilege to shoot, right after Rebecca and Paolo’s wedding. In the meantime, if you’d like to see more from my 2020, my previous outing in the Dingle Peninsula is right HERE.

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        Leah + Michele | County Kerry couple portrait

        My first shoot after the lockdown this year. It was such a relief to get back into it. My cameras had been out of the bag on and off, to catch shots of the kids, but it wasn’t until we all took a trip down to Kerry for a family holiday that I got to shoot with a couple again (don’t take that the wrong way, kids, you’re the biz).

        It was worth the wait anyway. I loved this. Leah and Michele came up from Cork for the shoot and I jumped in the back of the car with them for the drive to Dunquin. It’s a place of stunning beauty and getting to explore it a little with these two was something I won’t forget. They’re so good together and the shoot was over too quick.

        Thankfully, weddings start again for me THIS WEEK. I’m delighted, despite the masks, etc.

        Here are some of my favourites. I hope you like them.

        Dunquin couple portrait
        Cliff top portrait at Dunquin
        County Kerry couple portrait
        Belfast engagement photographer
        Northern Ireland engagement photographer
        County Kerry couple portrait
        Northern Ireland engagement photos
        engagement photos in county Kerry
        engagement shoot in county Kerry
        County Kerry couple portrait
        Coastal couple shoot in Kerry
        Dunquin couple shoot
        Dunquin e-shoot with Jonathan Ryder
        Dunquin e-shoot with Jonathan Ryder

         

        If you’re in the mood for another couple shoot, you could check out Lauren + Mike’s north photos from north Antrim. That’s another wild and rugged place, with more coastal beauty than you can shake a stick at. Take a look HERE.

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          North Coast Engagement Photographer | Lauren + Mike

          Northern Ireland engagement photographer
          North coast engagement photographer
          North coast engagement shoot
          Belfast engagement photographer
          Belfast engagement photographer
          Kinbane Head engagement shoot
          Kinbane Head engagement photos
          Northern Ireland engagement photographer
          North coast engagement photographer
          North coast engagement shoot
          North coast engagement photos
          Belfast engagement photographer
          Kinbane Head engagement shoot
          Kinbane Head engagement shoot
          Kinbane Head engagement photos
          Northern Ireland engagement photographer
          North coast engagement photographer
          North coast engagement shoot
          North coast engagement photos

           

          ~ North Coast Engagement Photographer | Lauren + Mike ~

          I love trips up to the north coast. There are so many places to shoot, each of which is unlike anywhere else. Lauren and Chris were over from the States and wanted to explore some of the locations they knew of through Game of Thrones. I picked Kinbane Head mainly because I love it, but I was sure they would too. (At points, I get vertigo up there, but it’s a small price to pay!)

          We timed it well and caught some beautiful light just before it dipped beneath the cliffs behind us.

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            Aidan + Cara | Merchant Hotel wedding photographer

            wedding photographer Merchant Hotel
            ~ Aidan + Cara | Merchant Hotel wedding photographer ~

            Aidan and Cara asked me about photographing their wedding after their friends Conor and Sinéad recommended me to them. Cara was also one of Sinéad’s bridesmaids. Their wedding was up in the hills of Donegal (you can see it HERE). I loved photographing it for them and I was pretty sure that I was going to love shooting with Aidan and Cara just as much.

            I wasn’t wrong. Things started at the same Church that Conor and Sinéad had got married in. This time it was the Merchant Hotel in the middle of Belfast that hosted the rest of the day. I remember the pub walk, the dancing, cigars, great speeches … but most of all that feeling of elation that everyone could feel, I think, that these two were tying the knot together.

            It was lovely to be there. I hope the photos capture some of how it felt …

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            wedding photographer Merchant Hotel
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            wedding photographer Merchant Hotel
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            wedding photographer Merchant Hotel
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            Belfast wedding photos
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            wedding photographer Merchant Hotel
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            documentary wedding photographer
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            Northern Ireland wedding photographers
            non-traditional wedding photographer
            Belfast photographer
            Belfast wedding photos
            candid wedding photography
            Merchant Hotel wedding photographer

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              Louise + Pete | Wedding photographer Lissanoure Castle

              Northern Ireland wedding photographer
              Louise and Pete’s wedding at Lissanoure Castle was pretty marvellous. It’s a gorgeous venue, where I’d shot once before, and it looks great in the autumn. Parts of the castle are in ruins and the browns and yellows of the season just seem to suit it. And then inside, it’s all open fires and chairs you can fall asleep in.

              Louise was really stunning and Pete was looking very fine too. They had a beautiful humanist ceremony in the castle, then moved over to the main function room later on, where there’s loads of space for eating and dancing. And there was a *lot* of dancing. Great music, provided by Chris from the awesome Bespoke Music Solutions, and lots crazy shapes. My favourite photobomb of the year too.

              Anyway, take a look….

              groom and best man waiting
              order of service art work
              groom waiting with guests
              bride arriving in her dad's sports car
              bride with bridesmaids and canvas art
              bride with her father at Lissanoure castle
              brides emotion as she sees her groom
              bride and groom smiling at start of ceremony
              bride laughing at groom's words about her
              bride and groom sharing a moment in ceremony
              bride reading her vows to groom
              knot-tying in humanist ceremony
              bride and groom kissing in ceremony
              little boy exploring in ceremony
              bride and groom leaving ceremony at Lissanoure castle
              bride hugging bridesmaid after ceremony
              guests laughing together during reception
              children waiting for drinks to be served
              young lad trying craft beer and not loving it
              bride's bouquet at Lissanoure Castle
              bride and groom going on photo walk at Lissanoure Castle
              wedding couple at Lissanoure Castle
              portrait of bride and groom at Lissanoure Castle
              wedding photographer Lissanoure Castle
              Lissanoure Castle wedding photographer
              Belfast wedding photographer
              geese flying over evening reception at Lissanoure Castle
              seating plan artwork
              wedding party waiting for meal to begin
              bride listening to her father's speech
              bride glancing across to groom during his father's speech
              guest taking photo of top table with cool instax camera
              bride's speech during Lissanoure Castle reception
              guests smiling during bride's speech
              bride raising her glass during her speech
              groom's father laughing at his speech
              children crowd round bride after speeches finish
              a father cuddles his young daughter after speeches
              baby's socks
              flower girls doing cartwheels on dance floor
              bride and groom's first dance with baby wandering across dance floor
              wedding photographer Lissanoure Castle
              guests on dance floor with cute baby checking out the photographer
              kids on the dance floor
              wedding photographer Northern Ireland
              Bespoke Music Solutions's Chris on the decks
              guests falling asleep after long day
              guests having a blast on dance floor
              bride and her mates on the dance floor

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                Lara + Dave | wedding photographer Glenarm Castle

                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle

                Feeling much love for these two, posting these images today. I first met them when Lara was a bridesmaid at her friends’ wedding a few years back, which I also shot (Maeve and Chris). I got a candid photo back then of Dave taking a selfie with Maeve. Dave, as it happens, takes that particular art to new heights (see below). But the two of them wanted photos that documented their own wedding naturally, so they could get on with just enjoying it. I was excited as the day approached.

                The guys headed for the freezing cold water for a dip first thing that morning. Lara, Maeve and the rest of the girls took the more sensible route and got started on the champagne. Great start, for sure.

                I loved the meeting of two different cultures at the wedding. That’s always a really cool thing to be around for. The venue was great too. And full marks to Victoriana Floral for the lush flower arrangements. So. Much. Colour.

                Anyway, dig in …

                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
                wedding photographer Northern Ireland
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                wedding photographer Antrim coast
                wedding photographer Antrim coast
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                Glenarm Castle wedding photos
                Glenarm Castle wedding photos
                Glenarm Castle wedding photos
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                wedding at Glenarm Castle
                wedding at Glenarm Castle
                wedding at Glenarm Castle
                wedding at Glenarm Castle
                wedding at Glenarm Castle
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                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle
                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle
                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle
                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle
                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle
                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle
                wedding photographer Glenarm Castle
                wedding photographer Belfast
                wedding photographer Belfast
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                wedding dancing photography
                wedding dancing photography
                wedding dancing photography
                wedding dancing photography
                wedding dancing photography

                wedding photographer Belfast

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                  Natural, documentary wedding photography in Northern Ireland and beyond.

                  Based in Belfast.

                   

                  hello@jonathanryderphotography.com

                  +44 (0) 7799 627563

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                  Personal: @_jonnyryder_

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