Larchfield Estate Wedding Planning

June 22, 2020

Updated 7 October 2022

You’re planning your wedding, and you’ve chosen (or maybe thinking of choosing) Larchfield Estate. First of all, good choice! I absolutely adore being a Larchfield Estate wedding photographer. Not only is it a stunning exclusive wedding venue with the perfect space for an outdoor wedding in Northern Ireland; but the team are incredible. If you’ve checked out my Northern Ireland Wedding Venue blog, you’ll have seen that my biggest tip for finding your wedding venue, is making sure the service is top notch. And at Larchfield it really is!

When it comes to planning your Larchfield wedding, the team there have you covered. I was proud to be asked to exhibit at their recent open day because the team know their stuff when it comes to weddings. From caterers to florists to celebrants, they recommend the best in the business; so it was an honour to be on that list.

But just incase you need a bit more inspiration, I thought I’d put together a blog from a wedding I shot at Larchfield last Autumn. This wedding has been shared by Love My Dress, where Éimear shared more about her wedding planning journey and what she and Ryan put into their stylish Autumn wedding. But for all the style, there was even more banter, love and laughter. They showed how to do a wedding your own way. No first dance. No cutting cake. No traditional vows. Just the things that mattered most to them with the people they love. Check it out below.

Wedding Morning Photographs

Éimear and Ryan’s wedding morning was so chilled out. No rushing around. No drama. Just the most lovely morning enjoying the whole process. They included a second photographer in their package so Christin from The Martins headed to Ryan and I stayed with Éimear. We hung out, chatted about all things wedding and really enjoyed the morning. There was plenty of time for that precious dad’s first look and a glass of bubbly before we hit the road to Larchfield.

Top tips for the morning of your wedding:

Think about timings well in advance. Make sure your hair and makeup artist know that you need to be finished 45/60 minutes BEFORE YOU NEED TO LEAVE. This gives you extra time to get into your dress without rushing, for photos, to grab a glass of bubbles and just let it all sink in. These moments are priceless, you don’t want to miss them or for them to be rushed.
Have all your bags packed the night before. Literally have any bags you need for that night packed and at the door. You won’t have time to be looking for them. Assign a family member to get them all packed and in the car on the morning so that you don’t have to.
Have your dress hanging up on a nice hanger (not a plastic one) somewhere with nice light ie near a window. Have your shoes, bag and important keepsakes nearby.
Leave all your little details sitting out. Things like lipstick, kirby grips, deodorant, perfume, underwear, jewellery etc. Have them in a little box so you know exactly where they are. Doing this the day before means you’ll notice anything you’ve forgotten and have the chance to nip to the shop to pick things up.
Order in breakfast or have someone come in to do it for you. This will save you or your parents the stress, and will free up time to enjoy with each other.

Personal Wedding Ceremony at Larchfield Estate

Éimear and Ryan had such a personal Humanist wedding ceremony conducted by Jean Barrett-Quinn. I loved their ceremony, and their unique vows. There will smiles, giggles and tears. It was full of so much emotion. And when they walked back down that aisle, the atmosphere was incredible. Everyone was so happy to celebrate.

The amazing Rachel Toman sang throughout the ceremony, with the songs being personal choices for the couple.

Here are 5 lists of songs for your wedding ceremony to help inspire you.

Relaxed Larchfield Wedding Photography

So how many times have you heard couples say at weddings, ‘We have to go and get photos’ and then you don’t see them again until the speeches? Well that’s not how I work as a Larchfield wedding photographer. I believe that you spend so much time and money on your wedding you should be there to enjoy it. And at Larchfield, it’s even easier because all of the epic portrait locations are right there.

We made the most of the stunning greenhouse at Larchfield for most of the family photos and bridal party, so even though there was a bit of rain (it was Autumn after all), we didn’t have to worry. Then we headed down to the lake with the happy couple to make the most of the stunning backdrop.

Top Tip for Family/Bridal Party Photos: do them straight after the ceremony before everyone goes to check in/heads to the bar. Even if your ceremony isn’t at your chosen location, it’s best to get family photos done incase weather changes or things crop up. Then if you get a chance to take them again later, great, if not, you can relax knowing you’ve got those precious photos. Bridal party photos should be done ASAP for the same reason. With me, these take around 15 minutes, then I send them back so you guys can be alone for 15 minutes for couple photos.

All in all, I ask for an hour of photographing time. That means you’ve plenty of time to get back and enjoy your drinks reception. On this wedding day, we were gone for a total in 45 minutes, meaning there was LOADS of time before dinner.

A Fun Larchfield Estate Drinks Reception

Éimear and Ryan’s reception was brilliant. From the music from the brilliant String Ninjas to the fresh Oyster bar all the way from Carlingford. The craic was brilliant and everyone was able to mingle inside and out. The Autumn feel was carried throughout the barn with styling and the bride and groom pumpkins were a personal favourite of mine.

Statement Wedding Flowers from Northern Ireland

The flowers at this wedding deserve a whole section on their own because Gillian from Flowers by Mee pulled it out of the bag. Gill’s style is such that you can spot one of her bouquet’s a mile off. But the hexagon backdrop, created by Éimear’s brother was beautifully styled with the most striking arrangement. Complimented with Éimear’s flower crown, the floral design set off the Autumnal boho feel of this wedding perfectly.

Autumn Wedding Photos by a Larchfield Wedding Photographer

Autumn light is probably my favourite light. There’s something so magical about it. And sunset is at a brilliant time for an Autumn wedding because I can whisk my couples away for a quick portrait session between courses, and no one notices they’re gone.

I love grabbing couples away for a few photos at golden hour because not only is it the best light (and oh my gosh the Autumn light at Larchfield Estate is stunning), but it’s also a great opportunity for them to get a breather. It’s a chance to be alone and take in the fact you’re now married! The day flies by and this part is often one of the most sacred for my couples who love having a moment to themselves – I obviously don’t count 😉

Party Time at Larchfield Estate

There are no words needed for the party that went down that night. All I will say is that Soul Power were like no band I’ve ever seen at a wedding. Their music and energy was something else, as you can see from the photos and the very full dancefloor.

Your Larchfield Wedding Photographer

I hope that this blog has been some help in showing you how incredible Larchfield Estate is, but also how you can plan a really unique fun wedding that you’ll be able to enjoy to the full whilst still getting amazing photos to cherish. If you’d love to know more about me as a Larchfield wedding photographer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.