EPIC DUNREE FORT WEDDING | DONEGAL

Wedding Photographers | DONEGAL

What a wedding this was. When Carole got in touch with me saying she was getting married and was thinking of having Dunree Fort as her wedding venue, I got more than a little bit excited. She had come across a blog post of ours on alternative wedding venues and was keen on having it as the setting of their wedding. I love Dunree Fort. Now a military museum, it was once a series of fortifications defending Lough Swilly during the Napoleonic Wars. The site has been left in all it’s glorious abandonment for avid urbex fans such as myself to have a wander around.

Getting ready

Carole got ready at her parent’s house in Derry along with her mum, dad, sister, niece and bridesmaids. She chose gorgeous autumnal colours for her bridesmaids dresses with thistle and autumnal flowers to match. 

 

The Ceremony

The wedding ceremony took place at Dunree Fort. We arrived at Dunree greeted by everyone enjoying a drink in the afternoon sun. Dave was already there with their dog, Fergie.  Carole and Dave did a stellar job of decorating the ceremony room with colourful paper lanterns, plants and an amazing blue and yellow backdrop at the alter. I see a pattern emerging with these awesome couples of mine; slipping in my favourite colours with their wedding theme.

Carole’s brother, Vincent, sang her up the aisle. Her good friend Ruth Corey joined him during the ceremony and sang a beautiful cover of ‘Galileo’. They had a few readings and poems from close friends including Sandol Stoddard Warburg’s  “I Like You” and a hand-fasting before making their way down the aisle to enjoy the stunning surroundings in the Autumn sun.

The reception

Everyone cleared outside to have a drink, mingle and a bit of an impromptu dance to Carole and Dave’s mates playing Bruno Mars’ “Marry You”.
We took to the helicopter pad overlooking the sea for a huge group portrait with everyone retreating back to the fort for more banter before dinner!

            

 

The Portraits

        

 

 The Speeches

Despite the weather being a bit crisp, they opted to have their speeches outside in the sun. I love an informal setting like this for speeches! Everyone just piled in on top of each other, having a drink and wrapped up in their coats and blankets. More of this kind of thing!

 

 The Party

Oh the party. Carole and Dave’s first dance was to Caribou’s ‘I Can’t Do Without You’ which was an insanely good choice for a first dance song. The room was crowded with their family and friends who literally piled in on top of them for the second song and didn’t stop dancing all night.

Epic Wedding Status for sure.


Suppliers

Venue: Dunree Fort http://dunree.pro.ie/
Carole’s Dress: McElhinneys https://www.mcelhinneys.com/
Hair and Makeup: Tara and Teresa from Hairspray Salon https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Hair-Salon/Hairspray-409472135735605/

Flowers: Sharon Peaker http://www.sharonpeakerweddings.com/