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The summer of 2010. It was early evening and I had set aside half an hour to chat with Sinead and Michael, learn a little about them and give them the opportunity to decide if Velvetine Studios were a good fit for their wedding day. They wanted more than just wedding video so we were off to a great start. I can’t remember why Elaine wasn’t there but I met the couple on my own.
The connection was immediate.
We spent more like an hour and a half, just talking. During the conversation, Sinead told me she is a nurse and the truth is, I could have guessed. I told her that she reminds me of the wonderful men and women who looked after my Dad during his terminal illness. It was almost twenty years ago but I will never forget the kindness they afforded him, the care, the dignity, and their strength to show only positive emotions.
To my surprise, I noticed that both Sinead and Michael had tears welled in their eyes. I was for all intensive purposes a complete stranger telling them, in a matter of fact way, why I have the greatest respect in the world for nurses and their reaction summed up their characters in that single moment. Later that night when filling Elaine in on the meeting, I told how her how excited I was about this couple and their wedding. Every fibre in my body told me that this was going to be one of them really, really special days.
An entire year passed by before I would see them again.
The wedding day arrived and Elaine and I began filming at the family home. Tucked away, just past Beaufort and off the main road, Sinead’s parents house is set against the backdrop of the MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range. What’s most impressive about the Buckley home is… it is a real home. It’s the atmosphere that greets you the moment you walk through the front door. It’s a sense of belonging, even for strangers, and Elaine remarked on more than one occasion “I could live here”. In fact, the welcome was so sincere and the connection so strong that Elaine was already in tears and we hadn’t even reached the ceremony yet. We both fell love with the families and Elaine was an emotional mess for the rest of day… much to my amusement. She cried buckets during the ceremony and speeches and she kept blubbering “Their Wedding Story is going to be amazing….”
Over the course of the day, and like all good stories, Sinead and Michael’s story began to peel itself away in layers and I wanted to reflect this in their teaser. I think great a story is one can you can revisit and discover something new during the second and third journeys through it and I would like to think we achieved this with “My Forever”. The title was inspired by a poem which was written by the bride and read to a captivated audience at Fossa church in Killarney. Again, it was one of many layers that peeled itself away to give us an insight into the lives of the Buckley and McCarthy families and add Father Pat O’Donnell into the mix and you have an amazing Wedding Story.
Fr. Pat is first and foremost, a gentleman. Funny. Down to earth. Sincere. I have filmed several of his homilies over the past four years and each one of them is unique to the couple before him. They have a poetic quality. Almost nostalgic. He is a born storyteller and he wraps up his messages of hope and guidance into funny but meaningful fables and Elaine and I have the greatest of respect for him.
This day was amazing. Everything clicked into the place. Stunning locations and venues. Great service providers all round. A thoughtful celebrant. Heartfelt speeches. Glorious weather. In fact, it was as near to perfect as you could ever get and I can think of no better way to sign off on 2011 than with a teaser like this.
Sinead and Michael: Thank you for your warmth and hospitality {the food at The Europe was to die for!} and thank you so much for having Elaine and I as part of your wedding day!!
Other key vendors and suppliers:
Ian Cronin - Ian and Trevor were looking after the wedding photography and it is always a pleasure to work alongside the pair of them. Great guys and their sense of fun is infectious and a great addition to any wedding day!!!!
The Europe – A beautiful venue and Elaine was in heaven among the decor. In a past life, and before she fell in love with the wedding industry {and me, of course}, Elaine was a talented interior designer and she spent our dinner break walking around the hotel stroking the fabrics and taking pictures on her phone. Speaking of dinner, the food and service at The Europe was second to none and once again, thanks to Sinead and Michael for their kind hospitality.
