35mm Film Wedding Photography: An Intimate Wedding in Bray, Ireland.
I’ve spent the last two years obsessed with the art of 35mm film photography. From portraits and behind-the-scenes on film sets to newborn and maternity sessions, my work has always been about the raw, unscripted moment. However, I hadn't yet stepped into the world of wedding photography. I knew that for my first one, I wanted something intimate an Ireland elopement, a civil ceremony, or a micro-wedding. When Maev reached out regarding her wedding in Bray, it felt like the perfect chance to bring my analog wedding photography style to a real-world celebration.
Maev had seen my work at a corporate event I’d shot through another company and liked my style enough to track me down. She saw that I also do newborn and maternity photography, see here, which was a huge plus because she was pregnant at the time. It felt like a great opportunity to incorporate a maternity aspect into the wedding day itself, which I thought was incredibly cool. Twelve people, one dog, and the chance to shoot on the Bray Promenade. It was exactly the kind of Ireland-based elopement I had envisioned for my first time out.
The "Fly-on-the-Wall" Mentality: Candid Wedding Photography
One of the first things we talked about was the "getting ready" portion of the day. At that point, I’ll be honest: I had zero wedding photos in my portfolio. I had a few shots I’d taken as a guest at other weddings (an occupational hazard when you can’t leave your camera at home), but nothing as a hired photographer.
To show Maev what I could do, I leaned on my background shooting behind-the-scenes on film sets and commercial shoots. On a film set, you have to be a ghost. You’re capturing the makeup artist at work, the actors in their quiet moments, the "real" stuff that happens when no one is looking at the lens. I told her, "This is the style I’ll emulate." I’ve shot maybe 170 rolls of film over the last couple of years street photography, my partner, friends hanging out so I knew I could handle the documentary style photography side of a wedding. For a Dublin wedding photographer, it’s about capturing the essence, not just the event.
The Gear: Trusting the 35mm Film Process
Shooting film at a wedding requires a level of commitment that digital just doesn't. You have to be prepared. For this day, I brought three camera bodies: my Minolta X-700, my partner’s Minolta X-300, and a Canon 300V that I actually bought specifically for this wedding. Why the Canon? Because it has autofocus. When it comes to "the kiss" or those split-second key moments, I didn't want to be fiddling with a manual focus ring and missing the shot.
I wasn't shooting alone, either. My friend Lucas, a seriously talented photographer who shoots and develops his own black and white film, came on as a second shooter. Having that second perspective was incredible. He brought a different energy, and seeing how he directed people or suggested small reactions gave me a lot to learn from in real-time. Between us, we had six cameras and a mountain of film. It sounds like a lot, but when you're a Dublin wedding photographer shooting on 35mm, you never want to be at the end of a roll during a big moment.
The Ceremony at the Royal Hotel Bray
The ceremony was in a small room at the Royal Hotel in Bray (www.royalhotel.ie). The room was tight, there’s no getting around that. But sometimes those constraints actually make you a better photographer. You have to find the angles. You have to be even more aware of your space and how you move within it.
They chose "The Book of Love" by Peter Gabriel for the ceremony a song I’ve loved since the Scrubs finale. Hearing that in such a small, emotional room was something else. Lucas and I were able to cover the ceremony without stepping on each other's toes. I shot in colour, he shot black and white. It gives the whole day a depth that I don’t think you get with a single shooter. It allows the couple to see their wedding from two different artistic perspectives simultaneously.
Spontaneity on the Bray Promenade: An Intimate Ireland Elopement
After the ceremony, we walked from the hotel down to the Bray Promenade. This is the beauty of an Ireland elopement or a micro-wedding—you aren't tethered to a rigid schedule or a giant bus for guests. You just walk. We got some of my favourite shots of the day just walking along the street, the whole group together, totally casual.
At one point, it started to get a bit warm, and Maev said, "I think I'll go for a paddle." She took her shoes off, Levi followed, and then her siblings and their partners joined in. They were splashing around, laughing, totally forgetting the cameras were there. That spontaneity is the "joy" you can’t fake. As an alternative wedding photographer, those are the moments you live for. If the bride and groom are willing to jump into the Irish Sea, I’m going to be right there with them (though I stayed on the sand!).
A Personal Connection: Preserving Family History
I have to mention that this was a very tough week for me personally. My Grandmother had passed away just four days before the wedding. I was in a headspace where the importance of family and memory was hitting me very hard.
Initially, the plan was to finish at the promenade. But I knew that Maev’s grandmother was going to be at the reception nearby. She hadn't been able to make it to the ceremony, and I knew how much it meant to have her there for the celebrations. I turned to Lucas and asked, "Do you have more film?" He did. I had one roll left.
Even though it wasn't part of the original agreement, we decided to head to the reception. We just wanted to complete the story. I knew the importance of those photos. Knowing that I was able to capture those memories for them is a humbling feeling. It’s a reminder that this job isn't just about "taking pictures", it’s about preserving pieces of a family’s history.
Why I’m Sticking with Analog Wedding Photography
People ask if I get stressed shooting on film. I do, and I don’t. There’s no screen on the back of my camera. I have no idea if I "got the shot" until the scans come back from the lab in Germany two weeks later. But I generally feel confident after shooting a roll, and I left that day feeling positive. I knew I’d delivered on what I promised.
The reason I love film, and why I think it’s perfect for weddings and elopements, is that the "look" is already there. The colour palettes, the grain, the vibe it’s baked into the film stock. I don't have to spend hours trying to make a digital file look "vintage" or "filmic." I’d rather just shoot the real thing. It makes the process more honest.
If I wasn't having fun, I wouldn't do it. I’ve taken thousands of photos just because I love the medium. Being paid to be part of someone’s wedding day is a privilege, and the kindness Maev, Levi, and their families showed us was heartwarming. They were at the Pregnancy & Baby Fair, which I exhibited at later, and gave me a hug; that’s the kind of connection you can have with small weddings.
Looking Toward 2026: Booking Your Ireland Micro-Wedding
This first experience taught me so much about my limitations, about managing stress, and about the kind of work I want to do. I have another wedding planned for January, and I’m shooting it with Lucas again.
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer in Dublin or anywhere in Ireland who values the "fly-on-the-wall" documentary style, let’s talk. Whether you are planning a micro-wedding or a quiet elopement, I’m booking for 2026 now, and I’d love to help you tell your story on film.
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