Niamh & Fionán | A Summer Wedding at Ashley Park House

30 Sept 2026 · @Hannah

When Niamh and Fionán first sat down with me on a zoom call, they told me one thing they wanted from their wedding day: not to miss it. They didn't want to disappear for hours of photographs while their favourite people had all the fun. They wanted to be at the party with the people they love.

So that's how we planned it. On a July day at Ashley Park House, they spent the whole day with their guests, and I got to photograph every bit of it.

Planning the day around the guests

A wedding day doesn't have to be split between "the photos" and "the party". We built the timeline so the two happened together.

  • Getting ready: I arrived early to capture the details, the dress, the suit and the quiet nerves, then stepped back so they could enjoy a calm morning with their closest people.
  • Ceremony: Their families and friends were right there with them, and I photographed the faces as much as the vows: the happy tears, the laughter, the proud parents.
  • Drinks reception: Instead of whisking the couple away, we let them mingle. I took the group photos quickly and early, with a short list agreed beforehand, so guests were back to their drinks in minutes.

Portraits in a few unhurried minutes

We slipped away for couple portraits in the gardens for about 20 minutes. It was just enough time to breathe, hold hands and take in what had just happened, and then they were straight back to their guests.

Those few minutes gave us some of my favourite images of the day: Niamh and Fionán laughing, wrapped up in each other, with the beautiful grounds of Ashley Park House around them. Short, relaxed portraits like these tend to feel more natural too, because nobody is worrying about what they're missing.

The party with the people they love

Because they hadn't been away from the day, they arrived at the dinner and the dancefloor relaxed and fully present. There were speeches that made the room laugh and cry, hugs from parents, and friends who had come from near and far to be there.

When the music started, Niamh and Fionán were the first on the dancefloor and the last to leave it. I stayed close, capturing the joy and the chaos: the singing, the spinning, the best friends piled into every corner of the frame. These are the photographs they'll look at for years, because they remember how it felt to be in them.

Planning your own wedding?

If you want to be part of your own party, tell your photographer early. A little planning, such as a short group-photo list, quick portraits and a timeline that keeps you with your guests, means you can have beautiful photographs and a day you actually got to enjoy.

If that sounds like the kind of wedding you're dreaming of, I'd love to hear about it. Get in touch at hello@hannahjaynephotography.com and tell me your plans.

Wedding suppliers

  • Photography: Hannah Jayne Photography
  • Videography: Paddy, Neidin Films
  • Hair: Mary Kearns Hair
  • Make-up: Laura Behan


Green oval sign reading Ashley Park House with a coat of arms, set on a stone wall between neatly trimmed round hedges.
A vintage red tractor and a peacock stand in a courtyard with a white marquee tent, ivy-covered cottages and flower beds.
Wedding flat lay with a ring box, perfume bottle, bridal heels, invitations, a peacock feather and a pearl handbag on a table.
Smiling woman holds up bright pink dresses and colorful garments in a vintage room with ornate wooden furniture and floral wallpaper.
Flat lay of wedding details including white handbag, ring box, perfume bottle, bridal heels, floral invitation suite and peacock feather.
Wedding ring and two gold bands resting on a welcome card for Niamh Gleeson and Fionán Leahy's July 2026 wedding.
A bride in a white robe stands smiling beside an older woman in a floral dress in a bright room with floral wallpaper.
White cupcake gift boxes with handles and clear windows beside a glass vase holding a pink calla lily on a wooden table.
A makeup artist applies hair and beauty touches to a seated woman in a bright, elegant room with tall windows and red walls.
Open black makeup artist case filled with foundation bottles, eyeshadow palettes, brushes and cosmetics arranged on a table by a window.
Bridal party getting ready in a bright room with red walls, as women in robes sit around a wooden table while a stylist works on hair.
A elegant country house hotel with green shutters and a manicured lawn dotted with white garden chairs, set for a wedding.
A white country house with green shutters and a veranda is framed by pink and purple flowers and stone planters in a garden.
Vintage red tractor with a trailer of potted plants parked beside a white marquee tent and a country house.
Golden-brown hen perches on a dry stone wall in front of green fir trees and leafy plants in a countryside garden.