La Mon Hotel holds a very special place in our hearts. It's where we said our own vows, where a boy from Lisburn and a girl from East Belfast began their married life together. So when Nina and Jonny got in touch, also a boy from Lisburn and a girl from East Belfast, we knew straight away this one was going to feel extra special. There is a lovely symmetry in that, two couples from the same corners of those cities, finding their way to the same place to get married. It felt like a full circle moment, and we were absolutely thrilled to be part of their day.

La Mon Hotel is one of those venues that just works. It has a warmth and familiarity to it that puts everyone at ease, while still feeling like a proper occasion. On a gloriously sunny 29th of May it looked absolutely stunning, and from the moment we arrived we knew the day was going to be a special one.

La Mon Hotel Wedding Photography

We started the morning with Nina getting ready for the wedding at La Mon, and straight away the atmosphere was calm, happy and full of excitement. Nina looked absolutely beautiful. Her dress was elegant and classy, exactly the kind of dress that photographs wonderfully in every setting, and she wore it with such grace and confidence. There is always something lovely about spending the morning with a bride who is just genuinely excited rather than nervous, and Nina was exactly that.

Jonny arrived a little later and wasted absolutely no time. Before we had barely said hello he was keen to get some photos with his BMW 3 Series. We love that kind of enthusiasm and the car looked brilliant in the sunshine. It is always a good sign when the groom arrives full of energy and ready to go, and Jonny set the tone for the whole day right from that moment.

The ceremony was conducted by humanist celebrant Stewart Holden, who made the whole thing feel incredibly personal and warm. What made it even more special was that Nina and Jonny already knew Stewart well before their wedding day. He is the compare at the pub quiz that the two of them attend as their regular date night, so having him stand up and marry them felt completely natural and full of meaning. It was not a stranger reading words from a script. It was someone who genuinely knows them, and that came through in every moment.

There were tears during the ceremony, the best kind. Jonny, who had been so full of energy and laughs all morning, was visibly moved as Nina came in. Those are the moments we always hope for as photographers, when all the joy and love of the day rises to the surface and you can see it written all over someone's face. We were ready for it and we are so glad we captured it.

Wedding Photos at La Mon Hotel

After the ceremony the celebrations were well and truly underway, and then came one of our favourite moments of the entire day. Toby, Nina and Jonny's beloved Dachshund, arrived to join the party. The two of them absolutely lit up. Whatever cool and composure they had as a newly married couple disappeared the moment Toby trotted in, and it was honestly one of the most joyful things we photographed all day. Toby was only there for a short while, just long enough for a couple of photos and a very well deserved cuddle from his owners, but he made a big impression. Dogs at weddings never get old and Toby was a total star.

With a couple as naturally fun and relaxed as Nina and Jonny the photos almost took care of themselves. They were comfortable together, laughed easily and never once looked like they were waiting for the day to be over. Quite the opposite in fact.

That became very obvious when the evening came around. The band were still setting up when Nina and Jonny were already out on the dance floor, ready to go for their first dance. It told you everything you needed to know about them. They were not waiting for permission to have a good time.

And then there was the father daughter dance. Except it was not really a dance. It was a full routine. Nina and her dad took to the floor and performed a choreographed dance that had the whole room on their feet. It was one of those moments that stops a room, the kind that guests will still be talking about years from now. Emotional, hilarious and completely brilliant all at once. As photographers those are the moments we live for.

Nina and Jonny's wedding at La Mon was one of those days that reminds you exactly why we love this job. A venue that means the world to us personally, a couple who brought nothing but joy and good energy from start to finish, a Dachshund who stole the show, tears from the groom, a celebrant who doubled as a pub quiz compare, and a father daughter routine that brought the house down. We could not have asked for a better day.

If you are reading this because you are looking for some inspiration for your own wedding at the La Mon Hotel and County Club, or some further information on this venue you should check out this page as well. La Mon Hotel Wedding Photographer

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Tommy and Laurene, Pure Photo N.I.