Wedding photos, snow white doves and event management
By Tom Gillespie
WHEN last did you see a standalone wedding photograph in a provincial newspaper? I bet it was in an annual wedding, pre-Covid feature highlighting the benefits of booking one hotel venue over another.
In the late 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and into the early 1990s, the publication of wedding pictures was all the craze and not a week went by that four or five happy couples were featured here in Mayo in The Connaught Telegraph, Mayo News or Western People.
So anxious were the newlyweds to have their photograph published that the photographers - Derek Mandel, Tom Campbell, Liam Lyons, Paul Heverin, Frank Dolan, Damien Slater, and others - had to have the black-and-white photos developed and in print often before they returned from the honeymoon.
Others waited until they received the full wedding album - maybe four or five weeks - before they selected their favourite photograph.
At all the local churches and wedding reception hotels, the individual photographers had their favourite locations as to where to shoot the best and most appropriate pictures.
No doubt, seaside and lakeside locations were most outstanding, and so too were many churches. In particular, Ballintubber Abbey, dating from 1216, is considered one of the most outstanding locations.
But right across the county there are magnificent churches with outstanding stained-glass windows by renowned artist Harry Clarke and others.
In particular, I remember, the late Liam Lyons took a spectacular photograph of the sun shining through the stained glass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Roundfort, something he observed while doing a wedding there.
The Harry Clarke design, a magnificent window, features a rich, blue sky linking Heaven and Earth. Jesus rises up into Heaven with a purple mantle held by two angels.
A parishioner commissioned this window in 1926 and it was put in place on October 29, 1926.
In Liam’s photo, the sunlight projected the image of the window onto one of the church walls and it made a stunning shot.
Henry Patrick Clarke was an Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator.
Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish arts and crafts movement.
His work was influenced by both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. His stained glass was particularly informed by the French Symbolist movement.
Other Harry Clarke works are in St. Mary’s Church, Ballinrobe, The Friary, Ballyhaunis, St. Thomas’ Church, Callow, St. James’ Church, Charlestown, St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Cong, St. Patrick’s Church, Kilmaine, St. Patrick’s Church, Lahardane, St. Patrick’s Church, Newport, St. Mary’s Church, Tooreen, and St. Mary’s Church, Westport.
Many years ago disposable cameras were strategically placed around wedding reception halls so that guests could snap their favourite pictures of the wedding party and have them developed at their convenience.
Now, sadly, the demand for wedding photographers, and the disposable camera, has wained, with the introduction of smartphones which contain high-resolution cameras which can be downloaded on laptops.
Now photos and video clips of the happy couple, regardless of poses, are posted on Facebook and other social apps before the newlyweds even leave the church, and, sadly, often without the consent of the bride and groom.
Likewise, the wedding speeches - from the best man and groom - are largely ignored as guests are too busy ‘filming’ rather that concentrating on the content.
Then again, many couples opt to tie the knot abroad in sunny climates and Lanzarote is one of the favourite locations from the west of Ireland.
Such a choice can make it expensive on guests, for as well as the ‘gift’ for the couple, they have to fork out for a flight and accommodation for a few days in the sun.
Alas, Ryanair flights to the Canaries from Ireland West Airport Knock were suspended due to the pandemic, but hopefully we'll see them back on schedule again soon.
Traditional weddings in rural areas are still hugely popular, though an invitation can be considered by some as akin to a summons to appear in court.
Nevertheless, once the invitation is accepted and transport arrangements are put in place, it can prove a most enjoyable day.
A fairly new trend, but highly popular, is the day after the marriage celebration, when family and friends meet up with the bride and groom in their ‘local’, in a more relaxed atmosphere, where the couple can let their hair down after the nerves and tension of the previous day.
In recent years more and more novel and quirky ‘customs’ have been taken up by those planning to walk up the aisle.
The one I find most appropriate is the service offered by Ballyhaunis man Joe Freeley, whose dove release service is proving a ‘flying’ success with brides.
Back in 2018, Joe, now known as ‘Joe Dove’, who has a beautiful bevy of snow white doves, who can find their way back home to Hazelhill in Ballyhaunis, from a 100-mile radius, launched the business after being a taxi driver for 13 years.
Initially he thought brides might be reluctant to handle the birds, but the service has really taken flight.
Another service which I featured in a business story in The Connaught Telegraph was Yvonne Kilcullen Events Management.
The Castlebar mother-of-two can cater for between 12 and 700 guests and through her expertise she can take the hassle out of planning the wedding day.
She can organise all aspects of the wedding, including sourcing venues, dresses, suit hire, florists, caterers, etcetera, and ensuring the couple can enjoy their day.
Weddings, now, are being planned years in advance and brides are at their wits end to have something unique and memorable to make their big day. So there are opportunities out there for would-be entrepreneurs to cash-in on the lucrative wedding trade.