When Bri and Tim first reached out to me, all they knew was that they wanted to elope and they wanted to do it somewhere far away. After months of emails and phone calls, we finally settled on a plan. I was honored to be part of the process and help bring Bri and Tim’s elopement on the Cliffs of Moher to life.
Enjoy Bri and Tim’s stunning Ireland elopement (and all the hiccups we tackled along the way!). If you’re planning your own international elopement, let’s chat!
STARTING THE ELOPEMENT OFF WITH AN ADVENTURE
Bri and Tim originally found me after I shot one of their friends’ weddings. They came to me dreaming of an international elopement but very open to suggestions and help with the details. While they’d started planning a big, blowout wedding, it didn’t take long for them to scrap that idea (and all the stress that came with it). They saved their money, planned the trip of a lifetime, and set themselves up for a beautiful wedding experience.
As you can imagine, I had fun with this one.
The night before the elopement, I met Bri and Tim in a little pub in Doolin to chat, grab a drink, and nail down our plan for the next day. When I got there, Bri told me she’d just picked up her bouquet and Tim’s boutonnière from a local florist. Unfortunately, she was not happy with it.
Photographer/hairstylist/florist Jaime to the rescue! After shooting international weddings for a few years, I’ve learned to expect these types of issues. The wedding styles and trends we know and love in the states – like the loose, bright bouquet Bri had her heart set on – don’t always match the trends in other countries. That’s why I always pack my floral supplies, hair styling tools, and other bits and bobs that can help me save the day.
The next morning, I drove out to a different florist, snatched up a bunch of new flowers, and drove four hours across the countryside grabbing roadside wildflowers and gas station bouquets. By the time I got to Bri, my rental car was loaded with blooms. In the end, I was able to whip up a bouquet Bri loved, a bold boutonnière for Tim, and two flower crowns… just ’cause!
GETTING READY FOR THEIR CLIFFS OF MOHER ELOPEMENT
The morning of their elopement, Bri and Tim got ready separately. Tim and his parents (their only wedding guests) popped out for brunch, and I helped Bri get ready in this cute AirBnB near the water. When Tim got back, I handed off some to-go fries for his bride and snatched this cute photo of her chowing down while she got ready.
Although they opted for an elopement, Bri and Tim still incorporated some classic wedding elements into their day. They wrote personal vows in these little notebooks, and they each picked a signature scent for the trip. Now, whenever they wear those scents, they’ll be immediately taken back to their memories of their elopement on the Cliffs of Moher. How beautiful is that?
Once both couples were all done up, they met in their AirBnB for a super simple, super sweet first look. I’m a fan of first looks in general, but there’s something extra intimate about this moment during an elopement. The couple gets to spend quality time together for the ceremony, help each other with the finishing touches, and soak up all the lovey vibes. Bri and Tim also exchanged gifts – a bracelet for her and a watch for him. Overall, it was a quiet, easy first look full of love.
COUPLE’S PORTRAITS AROUND DOOLIN
After their first look, Bri and Tim headed out for couple’s portraits. By the time their actual elopement rolled around, the three of us were old friends. We’d spent months planning the trip, sending inspiration back and forth, and working through all the kinks. So on the day of, these two were super relaxed and so, so trusting!
We spent some time exploring the town of Doolin (with a stop by the iconic row of rainbow houses), fighting the insane Ireland wind, and getting tons of stunning shots against the grey, stormy sky. Then, we headed out to the Cliffs of Moher for their elopement ceremony.
ELOPEMENT CEREMONY ON THE CLIFFS OF MOHER
We met Tim’s parents and the officiant up on the cliffs. The walk up was gorgeous, and the views at the top were unreal. Plus, right as we got the ceremony started, a rainbow popped up in the distance. It doesn’t get more perfect than that!
A word of warning for couples considering an elopement on the Cliffs of Moher: It’s scary, y’all! We were just a few feet from the drop-off, and the wind and rain made it hard to keep your footing. My knees were knocking the entire time! If you’re afraid of heights, let’s choose a different location. But if you’re willing to risk if for the view, it can be done!
Bri and Tim exchanged vows and rings, Tim’s mom gave a reading, and his dad said a prayer. The couple sealed their marriage with a kiss while the wind whipped around them and waves crashed into the cliffs below.
Before we headed back into town, Bri and Tim posed for a few more photos, this time with Bri in an old leather jacket. Not only did it look cool with her wedding dress, but this jacket is also sentimental to them both. Bri wore it on their first date! She doesn’t wear it much anymore, but I loved that she brought it along for photos. (And with the wind, I’m sure she was glad she packed it, too!)
MINI RECEPTION AT AN IRISH PUB
Is there any other way to wrap up your Ireland elopement than a night at the local pub? If there is, I don’t want to hear about it!
I joined Bri, Tim, and Tim’s parents back in Doolin for dinner and drinks at the same pub we’d met in the night before. The owners were kind enough to let Bri and Tim play ‘their song’ for their first dance. Then, Tim conspired with the house musician to surprise his mom with a mother-son dance, and Bri handed off her flower crown to her new mother-in-law. Freaking precious.
We spent the rest of the night eating delicious food, laughing over the live music, and (naturally) drinking Guinness. I retired to my AirBnB to recover and reflect on the day, and the newlyweds headed out for the next stop on their two-week European vacation.
I am forever grateful Bri reached out to me and trusted a total stranger to travel all the way to Ireland to document such a special day. I feel so lucky to get see the far corners of the earth and tell these stories.
PLANNING AN INTERNATIONAL ELOPEMENT? HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT.
No wedding goes exactly as planned, but that goes double (or maybe even triple) for an international elopement. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have someone on your team to help create your timeline, prepare for hiccups, and keep the show going through the obstacles. I’ll be forever grateful that Bri and Tim trusted me, a total stranger, to meet them halfway across the globe and make their wedding day special. Love you guys.
If you’re planning your own international elopement, I’d love to chat. I’m happy to help plan the trip, scout locations, and make sure your wedding day runs as smoothly as possible (floral fiascos be damned!). Head over to my contact page, shoot me a message, and let’s talk about your dream elopement.
