There is something lovely about a wedding that brings two countries together for a day, and Emily and Gioacchino's day at Glenavon Hotel did exactly that. Gioacchino's mum, brother and grandmother flew over from Italy to be there, and from the moment we arrived you could feel that this was a day blending two families and two cultures into one celebration.

This was actually our first time shooting at Glenavon Hotel, and if you are wondering whether that matters when choosing your photographer, we wrote a bit about that here: Should I Pick a Wedding Photographer Who Has Worked at My Venue Before? What made it even more special was that it was Gioacchino's granny's first time ever leaving the country, and her first time on a plane, just to be there for her grandson's wedding day.

Emily got ready at her parents house in Dungannon on the morning of the wedding, surrounded by family and with that lovely calm excitement building as the morning went on. It is always a privilege to be let into those early hours of a wedding day, when everything still feels unhurried and the nerves have not quite kicked in yet.

Glenavon Hotel Wedding Photography

The civil ceremony took place at Glenavon Hotel, and with Gioacchino's family having travelled so far to be there, it gave the whole thing an extra weight. There is something different about a ceremony when you know the people watching have crossed countries, and in this case taken a first ever flight, to witness it, and that came through in every glance and every quiet moment between Emily and Gioacchino as they said their vows. Their was also a lovely moment just before the ceremony as Emily and Gioacchino’s granny’s met. The guys also shared a candle lighting ceremony during the ceremony.

After the ceremony we headed to Emily's granny's house for photos, and this is where the day became something really special for us as photographers. This was the exact same spot where Emily's mum and dad had their own wedding photographs taken, years before. Standing in that same garden, photographing a new generation in almost the same light, is the kind of moment that makes this job feel like more than just taking pictures. It is family history repeating itself, and we felt lucky to be the ones capturing it.

Wedding Photos at Glenavon Hotel

Back at Glenavon Hotel the celebrations rolled on with dinner and speeches, the room buzzing with that brilliant mix of Irish and Italian energy. It is not every day you get a wedding reception with two languages flying around the room, and it made for a really warm, lively atmosphere all evening.

Once the speeches and dinner were done, we headed back out with Emily and Gioacchino for some photos along the river beside the venue. The light was beautiful and it gave us the perfect quiet moment to round off the day before heading back in for the first dance and to join the party.

Emily and Gioacchino's wedding was a brilliant reminder of how a wedding day can carry so much more than just the couple getting married. Family history, family travelling across the world for a first ever flight, and traditions passed down through generations all came together at Glenavon Hotel, and we feel so lucky to have been there to photograph it.

Weddings like Emily and Gioacchino's are exactly why we love this job, days that carry family history and a bit of magic in equal measure. If that sounds like the kind of day you're planning, get in touch and let's talk.

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Tommy and Laurene, Pure Photo N.I.