Lauren Rutherford Photography Blog » Newborn, family and wedding photography in Northern Ireland.

It’s hard to know where to start with 2012, it was quite a year! On top of over 50 portrait sessions (reviewed in Part 1!) I feel unbelievably lucky to have shot 28 weddings this year, my first full wedding season, and even luckier to have had so many beautiful, fun and unique weddings. It’s hard to pick highlights, but it’s inevitable that some weddings do stand out. I had the honour of photographing the weddings of three old friends, Alan, Elaine and Jon, which were all really special occasions for me. I got to travel throughout Ireland and the UK once again, to England, Scotland, and various locations in the Republic of Ireland (still waiting to tick Wales off my list!), as well as racking up many thousands of miles around the good old Northern Ireland country roads. I was delighted to shoot more weddings at some of my favourite venues from 2011, like the ever-popular Larchfield Estate and Galgorm Resort, but also got to experience stunning new venues like The Carriage Rooms at Montalto, Riverdale Barn, Clandeboye Estate, Ballydugan Mill and Narrow Water Castle.

In terms of unique weddings, Canadian couple Laura and Kurt’s Scottish castle elopement definitely deserves a mention – it’s not often you get to photograph, and be a witness at, a private ceremony on a beautiful hillside. We had more than our fair share of wet weddings this year, with almost every summer wedding seeing a shower at some stage! Some were wetter than others, with Esther and Tim‘s torrential downpours and Trish and Guy‘s washed out ceremony springing to mind, but not one of my couples let the rain put a dampener on their day. There were all sorts of styles of wedding dresses: fun 50s shapes, elegant lace, beautiful beading, modern fishtails and real vintage treasures, with every single bride looking a million dollars. We took photos on beaches, by lakesides, up mountains, in barley fields, greenhouses, gardens and woods.

For me, there were stressful times, emotional moments and hectic months where it seemed I hardly spent a moment in my own house, but the thing I’ll remember most about 2012 is the fun. I can honestly say that I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of brides and grooms, just looking back through these photos brings a big smile to my face. I was lucky enough to be assisted by some fab photographers this year: big thanks to Paula, Paula S, Emma and Sharon. And of course I have to mention my trusty comedy sidekick Colin, I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do without you when you’re busy with all of your own weddings this year!

I’ve looked at a lot of 2012 Reviews over the past few days, and I thought I’d make mine a little bit different. Instead of running from January to December, I thought I’d show my favourite photos chronologically (sort of) as they happened through the wedding day. I suppose it’s a sort of super-wedding! To all of my lovely 2012 brides and grooms, thanks for making your weddings so beautiful, heartfelt and fun, and I wish you every happiness in the future. And to my 2013 couples – I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for me this year! : )