Sitting on 10 acres of grounds near Drains Bay in Larne, Hillmount House is one of those venues that immediately feels different. This beautifully restored 300 year old Georgian country house has been painstakingly refurbished to create a sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere, and its 10 acres of gardens and grounds give the whole place a wonderfully open, peaceful feel. It is a stunning backdrop for any wedding day, and when Emma and David chose it for their wedding we were absolutely delighted to be along for the ride.

Hillmount House Wedding Photography

We arrived at Hillmount House ahead of the ceremony to have a wander around and get a feel for the place before the day got going. It really is a photographer's dream of a venue. The Georgian Coach House with its open courtyard gives you so much to work with, and beyond that you have the gardens, the grounds and those incredible views stretching out in the distance. Every direction you look there is something worth photographing. We always love arriving early at a venue we have not shot at before because it gives us a chance to spot the best light, find the hidden corners and just get a sense of the place before the excitement of the day takes over.

Emma and David had planned to hold their ceremony outside, and honestly with grounds like those it is easy to see why. The outdoor spaces at Hillmount are beautiful and an outdoor wedding ceremony there would have been something really special. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas and a couple of rain showers in the morning meant the ceremony moved inside instead. These things happen, especially in Northern Ireland, and the key is not to let it affect the day. Emma and David took it completely in their stride, and as it turned out the indoor space was warm, intimate and absolutely perfect for the kind of ceremony they had planned. Sometimes the rain does you a favour.

The Ceremony

Emma and David had chosen a humanist handfasting ceremony and from the moment it began it felt completely right for them. A handfasting is a wonderfully personal way to get married. The couple's hands are bound together as a symbol of their commitment to one another, and rather than following a fixed script the whole thing is shaped around who they are as people. The celebrant they had chosen was brilliant and the ceremony felt genuine, heartfelt and completely relaxed from start to finish. There were a few happy tears, plenty of smiles and a real sense that everyone in the room was exactly where they wanted to be.

And then there was Millie. Millie is Emma and David's 4 year old daughter and she had the very important job of flower girl on the day. She was doing brilliantly right up until the point, somewhere in the middle of the ceremony, when she decided to announce to the entire room that she needed the toilet. Not quietly either. The whole place erupted in laughter. The Humanist celebrant handled it brilliantly, Emma and David laughed their heads off, and the whole room just melted. It was one of those completely unscripted, totally unpredictable moments that no amount of planning could ever produce.

Wedding Photos at Hillmount House

Now, we should mention that Emma and David are both a little camera shy. They told us as much and we completely understand it because it is far more common than people think. What we find is that the couples who are most nervous beforehand are often the ones who surprise themselves the most once we get going. Emma and David were exactly that. Once we were out in the grounds and just chatting and walking and enjoying the space, any nerves disappeared completely. By the end they were naturals. Millie on the other hand proved to be a bit more elusive, but we still got some nice candid photos of her as well.

With the open lawns, vibrant flowers all around and that gorgeous Georgian house as a backdrop, there was no shortage of beautiful spots to work with. We kept it short and sweet but got to visit most of the best areas around the grounds. There were plenty of laughs throughout and the images from the afternoon were some of our favourites from the whole day.

And what a way to finish the portraits. Emma and David were sent back to their guests through a tunnel of confetti and the smiles on their faces as they came through the other side said everything. It was a brilliant moment, the whole crowd cheering them on, confetti flying everywhere, and two people absolutely loving every second of it. The perfect end to an already brilliant afternoon. The rest of the day was spent chilling in the courtyard before dinner. After dinner we grabbed another 10 minutes with the guys before they returned to their guests for a Guinness world record attempt for the quickest first dance, before partying the night away with their family and friends..

Hillmount House absolutely delivered as a venue and we would love to go back. If you are getting married there or considering it, get in touch and we would love to chat. Huge congratulations to Emma and David, and a very special mention to Millie for providing the undisputed highlight of the ceremony.

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Tommy and Laurene, Pure Photo N.I.