A Majestic Hotel Tramore Wedding | Máirín & Ben

There are some wedding days where everyone just seems ready to enjoy themselves from the very start, and Máirín and Ben’s wedding at the Majestic Hotel in Tramore was definitely one of those. They’re both doctors, Máirín is a paediatric doctor and Ben is a GP here in Waterford, and there was a great mix of Waterford and Kerry connections throughout the day. Ben’s parents live in Dingle, so there were plenty of people who had travelled to Tramore to celebrate with them. And before most wedding mornings had properly started, the lads were already heading for the sea.

Starting the Wedding Morning at the Guillamene

Máirín and Ben’s Majestic Hotel Tramore wedding was full of personality, from the morning swim at the Guillamene to portraits along the Waterford coast. Ben and the lads began the morning at the Guillamene in Tramore. There were six of them, they all took the plunge and dived in. It was certainly one way to wake yourself up on the morning of your wedding. The Guillamene is one of those places that is instantly recognisable to anyone from Waterford. On a wedding morning it gave us something completely different, and more importantly, it was genuinely part of their day rather than something staged for photographs. Once everyone had survived the swim, it was back to the Majestic Hotel to get ready.

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Wedding Morning at the Majestic Hotel Tramore

While the lads were recovering from their early swim, Máirín was getting ready at the Majestic Hotel Tramore. Hair was by Lindsay Waring, with makeup by Niamh, and the morning had that lovely mixture of excitement and people coming and going that I always enjoy photographing. I tend to work quietly during this part of a wedding day. Rather than constantly setting things up, I’m watching what is happening between people, the conversations, the laughs and all the little moments that make each morning different.

That approach suited Máirín and Ben perfectly.

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A Ceremony with Love Jo Weddings

Their ceremony was led by Jo from Love Jo Weddings, and it had plenty of personality.

One of Jo’s ideas that I particularly liked happened before asking everyone to put their phones away. Guests were first encouraged to take out their phones, put them on silent and take a selfie to send to Máirín and Ben. It meant that when the couple eventually looked at their phones again, they had all these photographs waiting for them from the people who had been there. Then the phones were put away and everyone could simply enjoy the ceremony. There was also a handfasting and a whiskey ceremony, bringing plenty of character to proceedings without losing the relaxed feel of the day.

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Drinks, Family and Plenty of Guinness

Afterwards everyone settled into the drinks reception at the Majestic. This is one of my favourite parts of a wedding to photograph because people have relaxed completely by then. The formalities are finished for a while, drinks are being poured and you start getting those natural photographs of friends and family enjoying themselves. One photograph that probably sums up the atmosphere particularly well is Ben’s dad standing there with three pints of Guinness. It wasn't during dinner or some carefully planned photograph. It happened during the drinks reception and was simply one of those funny moments that makes a wedding personal. We also got the family photographs done without allowing them to take over the afternoon. I always try to keep that part organised and moving so everyone can get back to enjoying themselves.

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Wedding Photographs at Garrarus Beach

For Máirín and Ben’s portraits we headed out to Garrarus Beach, just a short drive from the Majestic Hotel. Living and working in Waterford, I’m lucky to have places like this available almost on the doorstep. Garrarus gave us a completely different feel from the hotel, with the Copper Coast landscape, open space and sea. The photographs weren't about spending an hour directing the two of them. We went for a walk, gave them room to themselves and let the location do much of the work. For me, couple photographs should still feel like part of the wedding day rather than a separate photo shoot.

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Rapeseed Fields Near Newtown Cove

We also stopped at the rapeseed fields near Newtown Cove. The bright yellow fields against the Waterford landscape were too good to drive past, and again we kept things simple. One of the advantages of photographing weddings around Tramore and the Copper Coast is how quickly the scenery can change. Within a short drive you can move from the Majestic Hotel to beaches, cliffs, country roads and open fields. It gives a couple a lot of variety without taking them away from their guests for a huge part of the day.

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  Natural wedding photography in Tramore Waterford

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A Tramore Wedding Full of Personality

What I remember most about Máirín and Ben’s wedding is how happy it felt.

There were the lads diving into the Guillamene, the ceremony selfies, Guinness during the drinks reception, the beaches and fields and plenty of laughter throughout it all.

Those are the things I want the photographs to bring back years afterwards.

Máirín and Ben later left me this lovely review:

“10/10. Keith was amazing throughout our wedding day and captured so many smiles and laughs. We absolutely loved our photographs, especially the ones along the Copper Coast.”

Wedding Photography at the Majestic Hotel Tramore

The Majestic Hotel Tramore is a great base for a Waterford wedding, particularly because there are so many fantastic photography locations within a short distance. Garrarus Beach, Newtown Cove and the Copper Coast are all close enough that couples can have beautiful natural portraits without disappearing from their wedding for hours.

You can also see another Waterford wedding at The Haven in Dunmore East or view my gallery

I’m Keith Sullivan, a Waterford-based wedding photographer at Infokus Wedding Photography. My approach is relaxed and documentary-led, photographing the people, humour and real moments throughout the day while keeping the posed side of things straightforward. If you're planning a wedding at the Majestic Hotel Tramore or anywhere along the Waterford coast, you can view more of my work and wedding photography packages on the Infokus website.