Five Reasons to Book a Christmas Mini Session

Kids Birthday Party Ideas NI

When my girls were younger I used to love planning their birthday parties  - we had ideas from teddy bear picnics to mad scientists and magicians as well as utilising the indoor soft play areas but like everything kids birthdays parties seem to have become bigger & more extravagant over the past few years so I thought I would do a wee bit of research to give you some ideas.

1: Godmodex Gaming Bus & Truck

This is one that is perfect if your kids and their friends are into their gaming.  We have used this ourselves for Gary’s boys joint birthday last year and they loved it so much they wanted it again this year.  

The bus & truck provide an amazing array of games with the added advantage of VR on the truck.    Last year we went for the bus but I know the boys cant wait to try out the VR on the truck this summer.  We were really impressed with Godmodex, the bus was spotless last year in the height of covid & the guy who drove that day was on hand for all gaming queries while the kids played away. 

This year we are taking advantage of the fact that they allow food on the truck so that we don’t have a full house of kids running around lol.

https://www.godmodex.com

2: Real Princesses NI

These girls are amazing for any princess loving kids.  I have always loved hosting the princesses in the studio for my princess photoshoots.  The fact that the princesses not only look amazing in their gorgeous & authentic outfits but that they also have the most beautiful singing voices just adds to the whole experience so whether you’re kids are into Belle, Sleeping Beauty or Moana (or any of the other princesses) this is highly recommended for a supercalifragalisticexbealadocious birthday party

https://www.realprincessesni.com/

3:  Mrs Bubbles Bath Bomb Parties

I have loved watching this wee local company grow from strength to strength.  Kathy (one of my lovely brides from back when I first started out) and her business partner Emma have the most amazing bath bomb making workshops for kids (young & old)  in their fab space (keeping all the mess away from your house lol) 

They do Bath Bomb parties with different packages to choose from including Hidden Treasure Bath Bomb Package (Poppit, dinos, squishier, bouncy ball)  & Pamper Parties (lip balm, jelly soap, lip scrub) suitable for children and adults.

Bath Bomb Parties are now held at Mrs Bubbles Workshop at the entrance to the Larne Football Club.  They also offer “pay per person” Workshops

https://mrsbubbles.co.uk/pages/workshops

https://www.facebook.com/mrsbubbles1/videos/372642957535033

4:  Aunt Sandra’s 

My girls & their friends always loved a wee visit to Aunt Sandra’s when they were younger.  So glad to see that they are still holding their workshops & shows.   What a perfect way to celebrate your kids birthday with a visit to the ultimate sweet shop  - choose from events including their chocolate making workshop or their candy show.

https://www.auntsandras.com/events/private-parties.php

https://www.auntsandras.com/events.php?fbclid=IwAR06rp8ew44-DDdLs1ESlaUvU1JuJGWwx3u-yqysJKv3bUDQ7atRkIO4kTo

5: Zen Dens Teepee Hire NI

I first came across Zen Dens Teepee Hire NI at a wedding where the bride and groom had booked one of the teepee packages to keep the kids amused.  Such a well thought out birthday sleepover experience for your kids and their friends.

They have a fantastic selection of amazing teepee sleepover themes to choose from & also offer a bespoke styling service on request
Each package includes
• beautifully styled certified teepees • Comfortable full size mattresses, inflatable or foam • Duvets • Coordinating cotton bed linen & sheets • Individual breakfast trays • Fairy lights, night lights & bunting • Themed cushions, throws & accessories • Name plaques for each guest & a personalised peg board for the party host!

Whats even better is the opportunity to mix and match the styling to create a really unique experience for different kids personalities 

https://www.zendensteepeehireni.com/services

I hope this has helped with a few ideas to create an extra special birthday for your child. Dont forget we offer bespoke & creative photoshoots to mark your childs birthday, whether its a 1st birthday cakesmash or a timeless portrait session .. Our 2021 diary is almost full but we’d love to hear from you if you would like to book a session for 2022

Things to Consider When Booking Your Wedding Venue

How to choose your wedding venue

So now you’re starting to plan your big day - it can be overwhelming with the vast choice of venues here in Northern Ireland. So I thought I would help a little.

The first thing you and your other half need to decide, is what you want from a venue. This will make It so much easier to narrow down your favourites.

Things to consider:

Does your venue only do one wedding a day?

If they don’t, are you okay with that? What measures do they have in place so that each wedding has their own space on the day and don’t bump into each other. Do they give each couple enough time to get photographs at their favourite spots? For me personally, I think it sets your mind at ease if you don’t have to worry about seeing another bride on your special day.

Does your venue provide accommodation?

Having accommodation at your venue makes it easy if you have guests travelling some distance and even for yourselves, meaning you don’t have to worry about transport after the party. Luckily, a lot of venues which don’t provide their own accommodation, have B&B’s or other hotels nearby but it’s just something to think about

Are there places at your venue for photographs or will you have to travel somewhere else?

Having places at your venue to take photographs makes the day run a lot smoother as you don’t need to get transported to another place for photographs. A lot of venue’s have their own gardens which are great if there’s good weather but living in Northern Ireland, the weather can be very unpredictable. It’s good to view your venue and see where they have for photographs inside if the weather did take a turn. You could also look at photographs the venue has shared or from photographers, to give you some ideas

Make sure you get on with your wedding coordinator 

You will spend a lot of time in the lead up to your wedding and on the day, with your wedding coordinator. It’s so important that you’s get on well and both have the same vision of how you want your big day to go Consider how quickly they return your calls, emails etc. Whilst they are dealing with lots of weddings you will want to get answers relatively quickly. Expecting a response straight away is unrealistic however. Please go easy on venues/ co-ordinators (& other wedding suppliers) at the minute as they deal with the aftermath of the pandemic. Everyone is working so hard at the minute, with lots of venues having weddings daily to cope with the level of weddings who had to postpone due to the restrictions throughout 2020 & into the first half of 2021.

Where is it?

Think of where you both live, as well as your family and friends. Try and narrow down an area you would like to get married in. There are so many stunning venues in NI that it can be overwhelming trying to look at them all. So by narrowing down an area this will streamline your search a little. Maybe theres a venue that already means something special to you both or it’s close to home. This will help you narrow down your favourite venues.

Budget

There are a lot of different vendors you need to hire for your wedding day and it’s important to budget realistically for each one. If you’re open to options – does your venue provide a discount for weekday weddings? Do they have a minimum number requirement? Do they have a set package?(make sure you do your homework on these though as they may not be as good value as they appear, eg does the photographer include coverage for the full day or just a few hours, do they provide all the edited images or just a small selection, with the expectation that you will pay to have the rest of your images etc) . Being realistic is so important - some couples will go all out on one or two aspects of their wedding & then have to scrimp & save on the important things like their photography, which can lead to regrets after their wedding day when its too late. Likewise, if you’re trying to purchase your first home alongside getting married, don’t feel pressured into spending massive amounts of money on your wedding day. So many couples end up in a lot of debt due to their wedding & this can add strain to your relationship.

Covid

With the current pingdemic, I am trying my ultimate best to stay safe for not only my family, but my couples as well. There has been so much disappointment this last year and with venues especially. Make sure to ask any venue you are considering what happens if your date has to be postponed due to Covid. Will there be any additional costs or can your date be transferred? Will your deposit still be valid? If you unfortunately have to limit your numbers, will you still have to pay the extra money?

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PS. Make sure you both love the place! This venue will hold a special place in your hearts for the rest of your lives so it’s important you get ‘that feeling’. Visit many times, go for lunch, go for dinner, even stay for the weekend. Make sure it matches your personalities so that you “feel at home” when visiting .

I had written a blog previously about some of NI’s beautiful venues so if you fancy a wee read follow this link: https://www.carolinesmythphotography.co.uk/blog-journal/choosingtheperfectweddingvenue - PS I cant update that blog but another venue I would like to recommend is The Dunadry Hotel. I have photographed a few weddings there now. The recent refurbishment of the wedding reception facilities are just stunning & their new outdoor space is breathtaking - the perfect spot for romantic & whimsical wedding photographs.

I’d love to hear from you if you are currently looking for your perfect wedding photographer to capture your story in a natural & relaxed way

You're engaged - Now what???

Tip 1 – Enjoy being on Cloud9, whether it was a total surprise or something that you had discussed beforehand!! You’ve just got engaged to the love of your life, enjoy the celebrations while you can. Soak up every ounce of joy from those around you. You are about to embark on one of the biggest & most exciting adventures of your lives, one that can be overwhelming & stressful at times.

Tip 2 – Don’t rush into booking anything. People often book everything in the few weeks after getting engaged – yes, it’s great to be organised but you need to make sure you’re happy with your choices. That shouldn’t stop you from starting your research though. Check out facebook, instagram, google for the different types of wedding vendors you are going to need. If any of your friends have been married in recent years ask them if they could hand on heart recommend any of their suppliers. Word of Mouth is a great way to find the perfect team for your wedding day. Start thinking of your budget, how much can you afford to spend on your wedding day? Would you rather get your feet on the property ladder first and buy your first home together before starting to save for your nuptials or put all your efforts in saving as much as possible for your wedding day? Think about where your priorities lie… a lot of couples spend the majority of their money on an amazing venue & then need to cut back on their other suppliers, often only apportioning a small amount of their wedding budget for their wedding photography/ videography. I have so many people who have messaged me over the years telling me that they regret not having researched their photography better & not spending enough on it, not realising that their photographs are the one thing that is left to tell the story of this special day in their lives.

Tip 3 – One of the biggest decisions you will make is your wedding venue. Something a lot of couples dont think about until they are faced with it on their wedding day is how many weddings a day does your venue cater for? It can make you extremely anxious watching another bridal party on your wedding day. Your big day is all about you and you shouldn’t have to worry about bumping into another bride on the day, especially when we can be very self-critical , comparing ourselves to others, wondering why we didn’t try harder to shift that last stone, why did we wear our hair this way when that brides hair is so much nicer etc etc. However, for some this isn’t an issue. This is such a personal thing for you to discuss & decide on as a couple. Personally, I love venues that only cater for one wedding each day, ensuring that you & your guests are priority. This is why I love being the recommended wedding photographer for the gorgeous Ballygally Castle Hotel. You, & only you, are the centre of attention on your wedding day. Other venues that cater for just one wedding a day include the magical Hillmount House, the stunning Magheramorne Estate, the quirky Altahammond Barn & Breckenhill, the elegant Drenagh House Estate, The Sheddings at Glenarm Castle , the individual WoolTower, the warm & friendly Rosspark Hotel & Leighinmohr House Hotel.

Another big decision is what type of ceremony you will have. Will it be a religious ceremony in Church or maybe you want a civil ceremony with the local Registrar. What about a Humanist Celebrant or an Independent Celebrant who can write and deliver a beautiful and very personal ceremony for you on your wedding day? PS Did you know I qualified in 2020, at the start of the first lockdown, as an Independent Family & Wedding Celebrant! (Yes I could eat, sleep and breathe weddings lol)

Tip 4 – Research your suppliers and make sure you get on well. You will spend so much time speaking with your suppliers in the lead up to your wedding and on the day. Consider keeping it local (or at least local to your venue, not only because the effects of the worded pandemic have left a lot of small businesses in a very precarious situation, through no fault of their own, but also because as your day gets closer you will be attending appointments with some of your suppliers and if you have to travel to all parts of the country this can add a lot of stress & eat into your very precious and limited spare time. As an added bonus, choosing a wedding photographer who is local to the venue can mean they know of locations that others may not for some beautiful wedding photographs.

As a wedding photographer, we are part of the family on the day and it’s so important that you not only like my style of photography but my personality as well. When you get it right this will help you feel so much more at ease, especially if you’re not keen on having your photographs taken. I love people, I love the dynamics of families & friends. This is why I love being part of my couples days. I feel so fortunate to have become really good friends with lots of my couples & their families & friends, many of whom I am privileged to have them visit me in the studio afterwards for baby & family photo sessions. A word of warning - Please don’t choose your wedding supplier on price alone. It is often these suppliers that you have the biggest regrets over. I am very fortunate to have worked with some of the loveliest and talented wedding suppliers over the years and have their details on my Recommended Wedding Supplier page on my website so check this out of you are struggling/ overwhelmed with the amount of choice out there. All those on my list are not only super talented but are also among the loveliest people you will meet, who I know will look after you.

Tip 5 – How are we protected if something goes wrong? Don’t be afraid to ask about insurance and what your suppliers would do if something prevented them from fulfilling their job.

I can only speak for myself in saying that my number one priority is having your images protected. I am not just taking photographs on your wedding day. I am capturing memories, moments that are specific to that day and that day only. So for me getting it right is paramount. I bring two camera’s to all my weddings.. this makes it super easy for me to use two different lenses without having the hassle of changing them over but also gives me peace of mind that I have a back up camera in case of any problems. Inside those cameras are double slots for memory cards meaning that your photographs will be backed up on two different SD cards at the same time inside the camera. Technology fails - its inevitable - so this gives me confidence, that even if a memory card corrupts I still have the images backed up on a second card. A complete set of those cards is stored in a fireproof box, offsite, & isn’t touched until your wedding is completed. Only after you have received your images, wedding album etc will those cards be reused. Once your wedding is edited, its saved on two hard drives and also in cloud based storage.

I am very fortunate to be a member of the Professional Photographers Association NI (PPANI) - an association of professional full-time, fully insured photographers who have all had to reach a minimum standard of qualification to become full members. This means that, if needed,  I have back up photographers who I can recommend if something extremely urgent prevented me from photographing your wedding.

These are things I chat to all my couples about as part of their wedding consultation with me

I hope this has helped a little to plan the next steps after your engagement. I am always here for a chat if you need any guidance <3

Caroline xx

Five Tips For Your Wedding Morning

No.1 - Labels

On your wedding morning whilst you start getting, I will be photographing all the dresses, shoes, your perfume, if you have the something old, blue, borrowed and blue etc. One thing I recommend doing, a day or two beforehand, is making sure all the labels are cut off everything new, and stickers removed from shoes. This saves so much time on your wedding morning, especially with the label on your veil if you’re wearing one - they are usually attached with a type of thin rope so can be a pain (especially if you’ve don’t know where your scissors are!)

No.2 - Hair and Make up

No doubt you and your girls will be up at the crack of dawn getting your hair and makeup done. One thing I would recommend is that you don’t get yours done last. Good make artists are so skilled in applying beautiful makeup that will last all day & well into the night. By not going last, it means that, even if things are running a bit later than planned, I can still get those beautiful bridal photographs before I leave to photograph your groom and his grooms party at the ceremony venue. One of my favourite moments to capture is the moment the person who will be giving you away sees you for the first time in your dress, whether thats your dad, your stepdad, your mum, a grandparent, sibling etc. It’s such a special moment to capture and would be a shame to miss out on this because timings are running over & your hair or makeup isn’t finished yet because all your bridesmaids had theirs done first.

No.3 - Hangers

The best way to show off your beautiful dress is to get a nice wooden hanger. Lots of small businesses are now making wooden hangers with your name and date on them. This would also be a lovely keepsake for your bridesmaids too. But you dont have to spend a lot of money on hangers, especially if you have a large bridal party. Plain wooden hangers are fine too… just make sure they have the little notches to hold the ribbon hanging loops on the dresses (this takes the pressure of the shoulder area of dresses (especially your wedding dress which is usually quite heavy). Another idea is to have little tags made for your hangers that each of your bridal party can keep as a souvenir afterwards.

No.4 - Everything in the one place

To save you or a bridesmaid from running around getting all the bits and bobs sorted on your wedding morning, it’s a great idea to have everything sitting altogether in the same room. I will have sent you a list of things to prepare before the big day. If everything is sitting altogether I can just work away without having to bother anyone, allowing you and your bridal party to relax & enjoy getting pampered.

No.5 - Crochet hook for buttons, extra time for laces and buttons on dress.

If your dress has buttons or is a lace-up corset type dress make sure to leave plenty of time to get those done up. Even better if you can have a crochet hook as this makes the buttons so much easier to fasten (dont forget to put one in your overnight case for the hotel to make it easier to unfasten all those beautiful little buttons). With you in your dress this leaves me time to get photographs of you in your dress before I leave for your ceremony. As part of your pre-wedding consultation I run through timings and let you know what kind of time I need you in your dress to allow me 5 or 10mins of photography time - I’ll keep a wee eye on the time throughout your wedding day to make sure we keep on track as much as possible..

Ps. Don’t forget to have good breakfast before your ceremony and even bring a wee packed lunch if you have a bit of a drive to your reception. It’s amazing how quickly your blood sugars can drop if you haven eaten that morning. A lot of brides are anxious about drinking too much water as they will be running to the loo all day but its important, especially during the warmer summer weather, to keep yourself well hydrated.

If you’re planning your wedding and are searching for a wedding photographer who will not only capture the most beautiful moments on your wedding day but will help plan your timings etc to ensure you get the most pleasure out of your wedding photography experience then I would love to hear from you xx

TIPS FOR MAKING A PHOTO SESSION WITH KIDS EASIER

No.1 - What time is good for them??

Schedule your photo session at a time the kids are generally in good form.  If it would normally be their nap time / lunch time don’t change their schedule to squeeze in with us; grumpy kids won’t want fussed over!  If you have booked in at a time and their routine changes it’s not an issue don’t stress, just let us know and we will try our best to work something out.  We want everyone to have an enjoyable experience!  

No.2 - Snacks

Who wouldn’t want the chance to get some of their favourite snacks?!  They are a great way to keep kids happy and content.  Avoid messy foods like chocolate, crumbly crisps or orange vegestix - got to keep those gorgeous outfits clean.  Mini marshmallows are always a great shout!

No.3 - Change at the studio 

We know you have probably spent weeks choosing the perfect outfits for your little ones.  So the last thing we want is for something to happen to it on the way to the studio (explosive nappies or car sickness happens when you least expect it).  Just bring the kids is their normal clothes and there is plenty of time for them to get changed into their outfits at the studio.

No.4 -  Tell us about them!

We send out some information gathering forms to help us prepare for your photo session in advance.  Fill it out as accurately as possible and we will use this info to make the kids more at ease.  What are their favourite songs and we can play them on Alexa in the studio.  Do they love princesses or superheroes?  Let us know what they like and we will make their time in the studio fun for them!

No.5 - Reschedule if you need to

If your little one is teething or you think they are coming down with something please contact us and we will reschedule the session.  The last thing we want is your kids to be unhappy or uncomfortable in the studio and we want to be able to capture the best family photos we can for you. We are parents too so know what its like when our kids aren’t feeling their best!

No.6 - DON’T STRESS

Kids pick up on your mood!  We have had to actually put parents in the naughty corner during a session and the child found this hilarious (the photos were fantastic).  Don’t stress about your child ‘misbehaving’ we love children with a bit of character. Don’t forget too that most wee ones have seen very few people because of the pandemic, so coming into a new space with new people may mean it takes a little while for them to come round. If all else fails Caroline is a bit of a magician with Photoshop and she can do head/ body swap edits to make sure you get some great photos!   

AVAILABILITY

We have limited availability for the rest of the year so if you’re thinking of booking a photoshoot with the kids get in touch as soon as possible to secure your space in 2021

Six Days Out in Northern Ireland For All The Family

School’s out for summer!  Keeping the kids entertained during the summer holidays can be hard  so we’ve came up with a wee list of places to visit in Northern Ireland to give you a few ideas for something different for the whole family.  This isn’t just a random list of places, but instead they are places we have tried ourselves and would definitely recommend (we have thrown a few personal pictures in as well).  Get out and have some fun with the family and make those precious memories. (Prices correct as of time of writing)

PRISON ISLAND - Belfast

One for the older kids / teenagers (although there is no age restriction).  It is a Crystal Maze type experience (like an escape room but better). The goal is to work as a team to score as many points as possible in Prison Cell themed rooms solving different challenges.  There are 25 different cells which require a combination of intellectual, technical and physical skills.  Caroline has tried it out and can report back that it’s a great day out!  Do you think your family could boss this challenge??    

Prices starting from - £20 pp (£14 under 16)

https://prisonislandbelfast.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PrisonIslandBelfast/

COLIN GLEN - Belfast

If you’re looking for a giant adventure for the whole family - give Colin Glen a wee visit.  There are so many different activities that will suit any age.  There’s Laser-Tag, a Gruffalo Trail, a Forest Flyover Zipline and even Ireland’s first Alpine Coaster, to name a few of the activities on offer.  They offer adventure packages depending on what you would like to experience.  I feel like it would take me a few trips to make my way through all the activities I want to try! This was one of my favourite places to walk with my dad as a young child before we moved to Newry so has been lovely revisiting it.

Prices vary depending on activity / package

https://www.colinglen.org/

https://www.facebook.com/colinglenbelfast

GALGORM CASTLE FAIRY TRAIL - Galgorm

Explore the magic of the enchanting Fairy Trail in Galgorm Castle grounds.  You will receive an interactive map to follow markers along the trail and solve clues as you go.  Visit the Fairy School, Mud Kitchen and Flutterville while exploring almost 2km of beautiful woodland trail.  Allow around 1-2 hours to complete the trail (usually takes some time with the the little ones exploring everything they see - Shelley couldn’t get Frankie out of the Fairy School!). Great day out for the whole family - dogs welcome too!       

Prices - £4 pp (babies under 1 are free)

https://www.galgormcastlefairytrail.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/GalgormCastleFairyTrail

ROSEPARK FARM - Ballymoney

Rosepark is a great wee attraction for families with kids who love animals and the outdoors.  There’s plenty to keep everyone entertained with play parks, zip line, duck ponds & lake and a wide selection of animals and birds!  You can purchase bags of animal feed as well which was a big hit with the kids (&adults) when Shelley visited.      

Prices - £5 pp (babies under 2 are free)

https://www.facebook.com/roseparkfarmballymoney

https://www.roseparkfarm.co.uk/

THE PLANETARIUM - Armagh

For anyone interested in Space, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is the place to visit.  You can experience the wonders of our universe in the digital dome theatre and the Sensory Space or get a closer look at scientific research with hands on activities and workshops.  Perfect for a day out to try something different!  

Prices from - £8.50 per adult (£6.25 under 16’s, £2 for toddlers) - check out their family ticket too for great savings

https://www.armagh.space/planetarium

https://www.facebook.com/armaghplanet

AIRTASTIC ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES NI - Bangor, Craigavon & Newtownabbey

If you want to try various different activities under one roof give Airtastic a visit.  There is something for everyone in the family, with bowling, inflatable activities, ninja zones, soft play and loads of others depending on which location you visit (have a look on their website to see which location offers what).  Plenty of choice to keep you occupied all day and definitely need a snooze after!       I got annihilated at Bowling last week but using the excuse that I haven’t played in years :)

Prices vary depending on activity / package

https://air-tastic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AirtasticNI/

Ask the expert - A guide for brides | Bridal Elegance Boutique

When a girl get’s engaged, finding the perfect dress is probably the number one thing you will want to do. Most of us have been dreaming about this moment since we were kids. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Lauren from Bridal Elegance Boutique in Larne to answer a few questions.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 & the current restrictions on close contact retail has changed wedding dress shopping a little so we have updated this blog post, at the end, to include some current advice if you’re planning your wedding here in Northern Ireland during the pandemic.

Lauren worked in retail since she left school, in different roles such as customer assistant, supervisor and management. She took a break from it all and worked in community care before working night-shifts in a local nursing home after she had her middle child. It was when she was expecting her third child, that her and her mum Hilary opened the boutique.

When Lauren was getting married herself and looking for her own dress, she found the process quite stressful and she never had that amazing experience which everyone tells you about. In the three bridal shops she went to, there wasn’t much variation between styles. The consultants came into the changing room with you to put you in the dress (she hated this part, standing in your underwear in front of a stranger isn’t very nice), and the overall process was quite serious due to the lack of atmosphere in the shop. Lauren’s mum Hilary had been hiring formal and bridesmaids dress part time, and then the bridal shop in Larne closed down the year after Lauren got married. They both saw the opportunity to open a bridal boutique offering brides a relaxing and friendly atmosphere, to make their wedding dress shopping a memorable, stress free experience. Something you wouldn’t get in every other boutique.

Lauren’s top tip for choosing the right dress is to be open minded - try on dresses you think you don’t like on the hanger and styles that you haven’t thought of. Nine times out of ten, brides buy a dress that is totally different to what they had in mind. She would also recommend bringing only one or two of the people you are closest to. (e.g. mum or sister) Too many opinions can make finding your perfect dress a nightmare.

Lauren would recommend wearing a good nude, strapless bra and if you want to, shape wear to your fitting. Underwear can make a huge difference to the fit and look of a dress. Bring shoes with the height of heel you want to wear on the day. Heels can help your posture and it will let your consultant see if the dress needs shortened.

In normal circumstances, Brides should start looking for their dress 12-18 months before their wedding. Dresses can take up to six months to be made and arrive in store. Your alterations usually start eight weeks before your wedding. Lauren’s favourite style of dress would be the A line. It’s a classic shape and looks great on most people.

Covid Update from Bridal Elegance

With covid putting restrictions on everything in life at the minute, shopping for your wedding dress seems an impossible task. Although you can’t visit boutiques to see and try on all the gorgeous dresses, you can use this time to do some research on styles you like and wedding boutiques you would like to visit.

We recommend using Pinterest to create a board of wedding dress styles that you like, you can also screen shot dresses from boutique websites and add them to a folder on your phone, When you do visit a boutique these images can give your bridal consultant a good idea of the look you are going for. But remember to stay open minded, if a dress looks terrible on the hanger you can bet it will look absolutely amazing on and your bridal consultant will know exactly what will suit you.

At Bridal Elegance we are offering Brides virtual appointments during lockdown. This is another really good way of seeing styles and getting to know us before you book your Bridal appointment. Its very informal and we can add your mum and bridesmaids to the appointment as well so you can all see the dresses and have a wee drink while chatting all things Bridal.

If you are on tight time scale a virtual appointment is definitely beneficial for you. We have a large off the peg range we can show you and we will keep a list of the dresses that you like. As soon as we can re open you will get the first available appointment.

We still recommend looking for your dress at least 12 months before your wedding date although ideally 18 months! Although this sounds like a long time, it really isn't! Wedding dresses can take up to 6 months to be made and arrive in store for you, you also have to allow 2 months before your wedding date for alterations. That's an 8 month process! Throw into the mix covid restrictions/lockdowns and now Brexit causing complications with deliveries that 8 months could turn into 10 months or more. It really is a good idea to start looking at dresses as soon as possible and don't be scared to commit to your dress even if it is a year and half/ 2 years until your wedding. Dress styles do not change that fast so you wont be missing out.

Click here to follow my beautiful weddings on Instagram

If you want to chat about your wedding photography, click here to get in touch

Halloween Activity Ideas

Choosing Your Wedding Venue - and some of my favourites

End of a Decade & What a Decade its Been!!

So as I sit down reflecting on 2019 I am thinking more of the past decade and how much my life has changed. This isn’t going to a be a photography blog - there will be plenty of other wedding and family photographers summing up their years - hopefully this will inspire at least one person to really look at themselves and find out what it is that will make them truly happy.

Roll back a whole 10 years - I was a 35 year old wife & mum to two daughters, working as a team leader in a workplace that sucked the life out of me. I was a size 32 and was literally comfort eating myself to death

This picture was taken in Dec 2010 - it makes me so sad to look at this but also immensely proud of how far I have come in my life since then. This photo was taken to mark the start of my weight loss journey before I had a gastric bypass. This was to be my magic key to being thin. Yes I lost 4 stone relatively quickly but then had to work really hard at the gym to lose another 6 stone during 2011.

During 2011 my now ex husband & I had to have the hardest conversation with our girls, telling them that their lives would be changing massively. I still think this was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do in my life & for years after, I felt an immense sense of guilt at the heartache I had caused to both my girls and their dad. It took a few years to really come to terms with this.

It was in the summer of 2012 that I hit rock bottom, emotionally & physically. I just couldn’t cope with everyday life. I really needed time to heal from my marriage breakdown and also from working in a toxic environment. I battled on for another couple of months till I just coudnt’t continue any longer. I took a weeks annual leave, which turned into 3 months sick leave. A lot of you will already know that it was during that weeks leave that I discovered my love of photography when someone loaned me their camera to try & get me out and about in the fresh air. Photography literally made me feel alive & the minute the camera was put away I was back to feeling low again. I learnt a lot during that 3 months about other people too and had never felt so alone. My friends were also my work colleagues and their feeling was that if I was fit to take photographs I should be in work. Ironically, the day I returned back into work from sick leave, they had a meeting with someone about the mental health & well being of their teams - yet I was ignored by most of them and made to feel like I was a nobody. If I had a leg in a plaster cast & on crutches I am sure I would have been treated differently but they actually did me a favour. I knew that I was in the wrong place and it made my decision to hand in my resignation a no-brainer.

The only other thing that I was half decent at was taking photographs, so I decided to start my own photography business which officially opened on 2nd January 2013. I concentrated on being a wedding photographer capturing local couples in Larne, Co Antrim & across the rest of Northern Ireland. Roll on 3 1/2 years & I was super proud to open my photography studio where I was now able to offer family portrait sessions and newborn sessions, which were made even more special by the fact that a lot of my brides and grooms asked me to capture their little ones.

Fast forward to 2019, one of the most pivotal years in my life so far. I found myself in another failing relationship and had just started studying for an MA in Photography. I was flat out working in the studio & had a really important project to start for my MA. So off I travelled to Tyrella Beach & Ballykinler, where I came from before I was adopted as a toddler. My project was about belonging. I took two photographs that were to lead to my life changing dramatically. I was to find myself hitting rock bottom again.

It was at this stage that my life changed dramatically. I went through an intense course of Timeline Therapy with a local hypnotherapist & life coach. This was to be my turning point. Dealing with my adoption and the ultimate type of rejection, from biological parents. My whole life had been full of thoughts of no self worth, not being good enough, constantly seeking approval etc & this was despite the fact that I was adopted by two of the best parents. My timeline therapy helped me deal with all those issues, helped me to not eat based on my emotions. Do you remember I had lost all that weight back in 2011… well I ended up putting a lot of it back on .. down to that old thing called “comfort eating”. I joined my local slimming world group and with the emotional eating switched off I found myself losing weight again but more importantly starting to believe in myself, believing that I was worthy to be loved, that I deserved to do well in life. I have achieved goals this year that I didn’t think were possible in both my personal and my business life, I am in a happy place with my life & am hoping to be able to share that with others through 1:1 business mentoring for photographers.

So this decade started off with me unhappy, eating myself to death & ends with me 9 stone lighter, 8 dress sizes smaller, with a successful business, two beautiful daughters who are growing up far too quickly, an amazing partner who I wish I had met a long time ago, & about to embark on training to become a Wedding Celebrant.

So I suppose my message (if you’ve read right through to the end) is to never lose faith in yourself, surround yourself with people who build you up and who are genuinely happy when you succeed in life.

I cant wait to see what the next decade brings

Happy New Year

Caroline

xx

Samantha & John // Whistledown Hotel Wedding Photographer

April 2019 - Mayobridge Chapel & The Whistledown Hotel

I had a fabulous day at Sammy & John’s wedding back in April. I love going back down to Warrenpoint as I grew up in Newry. It was lovely meeting up with John again as he was the best man at his own best man, Conor’s wedding a couple of years ago, a day I thoroughly enjoyed being apart of. One of the highlights of the day was getting to photograph Sammy & John with their treasured horses, they are absolutely stunning. The wedding team at The Whistledown Hotel did a fabulous job with the decor, it was so elegant - definitely Instagram worthy! Luckily the weather was on our side for some of the day, allowing us to get some lovely photographs at Donaghaguy Lake.

Bride & Bridesmaids dresses - Elody Bride

Suits - Louis Boyd Menswear

Makeup - Therese McDonald Makeup

Hair - Classique Hair Salon

Flowers - Fortfield Flowers by Genevieve

Cake - The Wee Cake Shop

Rings - Joseph Rea

Band - The Housem8s

DJ - Supplied by Michael Magill Entertainments

Venue - The Whistledown Hotel

Venue Styling - Whistledown Hotel Wedding Team

Videography - Paul Johnston Wedding Videography

Photography - Caroline Smyth Photography

If you’re planning a Whistledown Hotel Wedding, I’d love to hear from you. Click here to get in touch

Make sure to follow my beautiful Weddings on Instagram

Orla & Steven // Larchfield Estate Wedding Photographer

October 2018 - Larchfield Estate

I was so excited to photograph Orla & Steven’s wedding, especially when I heard about all the fabulous suppliers they had booked to help create their dream wedding. I had been wanting to photograph some of my ‘bucket list’ wedding venue’s this year so I ran a competition a little while ago over on my facebook page - Orla & Steven were the lucky winners! Larchfield is somewhere where I had really wanted to photograph as it’s just the right mix of classy and elegant yet very ‘natural’ and photogenic. The decor is just stunning and there are so many nice areas and gardens to photograph in.

Orla’s dress is from designer, ‘Daughters of Simone’, and she was able to buy it locally at the amazing Archive 12. It was a beautiful two piece outfit which worked so nicely with the hint of mustard and foliage bouquet’s on the day.

When asking Orla & Steven for their most memorable part from their day, they agreed it would be when they sat down in the room for their evening meal and looking around at all the people they love sitting in one room laughing and talking together. If they were to give any advice to other couples it would be book additional coverage with your photographer to stay longer to capture the evening party & first dance

Have a look below to see a selection of photographs from their day and which wedding vendors they used;

Bridal Gown - Archive 12

Hair - Joanne Cooke (JMC award winning house of Hair and Beauty)

Make-up - Molly Cooke (JMC award winning house of Hair and Beauty)

Florist - The Rosehip and Berry Floral Studio

Venue - Larchfield Estate

Photography - Caroline Smyth Photography

Band - Top of the Popz

If you’re planning a Larchfield Wedding, I’d love to hear from you. Click here to get in touch

Make sure to follow my beautiful Weddings on Instagram

Ask the expert - A guide for brides // Catherine Hamilton, Soprano & Harpist

Next in our ‘ask the expert - a guide for brides’ series is Catherine Hamilton, from Larne.

When it comes to music, I couldn’t recommend anyone else but Catherine. If you’ve heard her sing along with the harp, you’ll know what I mean. She’s just amazing.

Catherine was brought up in a musical family and studied at Garron Tower before going on to study a degree in Music, at Queen’s University, Belfast. She started off playing the violin, followed by piano, and then she branched into the harp. Although, she focused mainly on her voice at University. Catherine started singing at events and was asked to do so at weddings as well. This is now a full time career for her, as well as being a singing teacher. Catherine would say she “found a gap in the market with the harp and soprano.”

When deciding on your wedding music Catherine would say to think outside the box. It can be nice to go for an old song which everybody will know and traditional is timeless - people will always love Pachelbel’s Canon in D. You should walk down the aisle to your favourite song as that’s the most important one. If a song isn’t that appropriate for a wedding, I can always change a few words!

A lot of people assume that musicians charge at lot for what they do but you get what you pay for. Catherine and her parents have paid a lot of money over the years to train and her instruments are also expensive. She is constantly investing in new equipment and puts a lot of time into learning new songs. It’s not also a case of just ‘turning up,’ there’s the set up time beforehand, soundcheck and then packing everything away again once it’s over.

Although Catherine has been singing at weddings for quite a few years now, she still doesn’t know what she would walk down the aisle too. These would be some of her favourite wedding songs;

• Feel’s like home (her favourite to sing)

• Tale as old as time (favourite instrumental)

• Anything - James Horner

• Your song - Elton John (her favourite song)

Catherine really enjoys quirky songs at the minute for walking out. Some of her favourites would be You’re the one that I want (Grease) and I wanna grow old with you (The Wedding Singer).

Click here to get in touch with Catherine if you’d like some fabulous music for your special day!

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Follow my beautiful weddings on Instagram

If you are wanting to chat about your wedding photography, click here to get in touch

Ask the expert - A guide for brides // A Flower Lady

Once getting engaged, it can often be very overwhelming when you start to plan your big day. There are so many different aspects that you don’t realise until you start to do your research.

Picking the right suppliers is a very important thing to do - it is a good idea to start by reading reviews or talking to other people and who they have used to provide everything they needed for their wedding day. I am very careful about who I recommend to my clients or anyone asking for advice. Over the past few years I have had a chance to work with some amazing wedding vendors so I would love to share one of my favourite suppliers with you.

Just across the road from my studio in Larne is an amazing florist called A Flower Lady, owned by a lady called Iris. Iris is the mother to four children and was born and bred in Larne. As her parents are in the Hotel business, Iris worked in the catering industry before moving into Floristry.

Around fifteen or so years ago, Iris completed a three year BTEC Diploma in Floristry and has been working in the industry ever since. As her parents are business owners as well, it seemed natural for Iris to do the same.

Iris loves being in the wedding industry because it is an enjoyable experience to discuss their wedding day with her customers and it’s also a pleasure to be apart of their day. It’s lovely to have an insight into their day and to assure them that everything will be kept confidential.

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Iris has an amazing team of people who work in the shop with her. They are a great help, especially at busy times like Christmas or Mother’s Day.

Choosing your wedding flowers can be very daunting, especially if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for. It can often be easier to arrange your flowers if you have a theme or a colour scheme already picked. A lot of the time your flowers will be matched in with your bridesmaids dresses.

Iris’ favourite flowers to include in a wedding bouquet would be a Freesia. This is mainly because of the beautiful perfume as it’s a soft scented flower. The white Freesia would be her favourite. In A Flower Lady, they like to use a lot of seasonal colours at peak times which can tie in very well. It’s amazing to see the different array of colours in the shop at different times of the year.

Choosing the style of your bouquet can often be hard to decide on. Most brides tend to go with the typical posy style bouquet, mainly because it’s easier to carry than a teardrop bouquet which were very popular many years ago. The size of your bouquet really depends a lot on your budget and you. ie. A very large bouquet might not suit a petite person.

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A lot of people ask about different packages for their wedding flowers. The price of flowers changes very regularly so wedding bouquet’s are individually priced dependant on the size and what type of flowers have been used.

If anyone is looking for a florist for their wedding day, I would highly recommend A Flower Lady. Iris and her team are amazing at what they do and you are sure to be looked after.

Click here to get in touch with A Flower Lady

Jenna & Michael // Brownlow House Wedding Photographer

October 2018 - Brownlow House

To save the early morning drive, Jenna and the rest of the girls stayed at the Glenmore Manor, which was just the perfect backdrop for their photographs. It also cut out a lot of stress with a delicious breakfast being made for them. I was so excited when Jenna told me about her wedding venue, Brownlow House - I had never photographed a wedding here before and this stunning venue didn’t disappoint. It was made even more beautiful by the elegant styling by Orchid Design & stunning flowers by Victoriana Floral by Kim Davies It was a beautiful autumnal day and the soft evening light was just beautiful.

I really enjoyed being with the bridal party on the morning of the wedding, really feeling like part of the family. Before the wedding Jenna had been asking me about possibly staying on after dinner to capture her evening and first dance as well. Little did she know that her sister Erin had booked me as a surprise and Jenna didn’t find out until that night! Such a thoughtful gift, which was accompanied by a tear or two, when Erin revealed the surprise. I do love being in on surprises, even when I had to tell Jenna that I wasn’t available to photograph her evening reception, due to other commitments.

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When I asked Jenna to pick out her favourite memory from the day, she just had too many to choose from. From first seeing herself in her wedding dress, to her dad and the girls seeing her for the first time too. She had butterflies walking up the aisle, plus many more throughout the day. She loved how relaxed she felt on the day and how well it all flowed. Everyone seemed to be having a good time and they were really enjoying themselves. Michael’s most memorable part of the day was definitely learning how to be patient and he had to wait 40 minutes on Jenna! Thank goodness they had chosen the extremely talented harpist & singer Catherine Hamilton, who serenaded the guests while waiting on the beautiful bride to arrive.

If there’s any advice Jenna would give, it would be to make sure you get a decent nights sleep before, make sure you get breakfast even if you don’t feel hungry, and don’t worry if things don’t work out exactly how you have planned because sometimes it works out better!! Michael’s would be to try to relax, and enjoy the day as it goes so fast. Don’t stress about things and don’t take things too seriously if they don’t go as planned.

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Take a look below to see some of their photographs and which amazing wedding vendors they used;

Bride & Bridesmaids Dresses - Pronuptia

Flowergirl Dresses - Debnehams

Men’s suits - Ludlows

Pageboy’s Suit - McCalls of Lisburn

Hair - Pro Hair by Catherine

Makeup - Maid by Sinead

Flowers - Victoriana Floral by Kim Davies

Cars - Perfect Day Wedding Cars NI

Ceremony & Drink’s Reception Music - Catherine Hamilton, Soprano & Harpist

Venue Styling - Orchid Studio

Favours - Wee Mallows

Cake - The Pastry Chef, Larne

Stationery - Perfect Day Print

Rings - Gardiner Brothers

Band - The Promise

Venue - Brownlow House

Bridal Party Accommodation - Glenmore Manor

Caricature - Inkwell Cartoon & Caricature

Photography - Caroline Smyth Photography

If you’re planning a Brownlow House Wedding, I’d love to here from you. Click here to get in touch.

Make sure to follow my beautiful weddings on Instagram.

Louise & Michael // Breckenhill Wedding Photographer

August 2018 - Breckenhill

When Louise and Michael asked me to capture their special day, I knew it was going to be a cool one. They had so many quirky and personal aspects to their day. They decorated their venue themselves and they even brewed their own cider! The sun was stunning throughout the day which was great for archery and outdoor gatherings. They had a scrumptious hog roast buffet for their evening meal, finished by playing their first song with their friends. Breckenhill was just the perfect venue for Louise & Michael, and all they had planned.

Louise’s most memorable parts from their special day were seeing the peacocks out of the balcony at the hotel. She was aware of saying “awfully” wedded husband and ended up in fits of laughter when she overcompensated at that part. She really enjoyed learning archery after the ceremony and that the guests had something more quirky to do. The whole day was a whirlwind for her but she loved playing their first song instead of having a first dance and of course being so happy that her face ached.

Some pieces of advice from the bride herself -

• If any brides and grooms are decorating the venue themselves, plan more time than you will think you will need.

• Get as much sleep as possible, leading up to the day

• Have a cold shower in the morning before getting ready (I swoll up with the heat and the girls had to wrestle me into the dress!)

• Bring a spare pair of shoes - they were life savers!

• The day goes in so fast so take in as much as you can

Have a look below to see some of their photographs and which wedding vendors they used -

Bridal Gown - Wed2B

Suits - The Bank Menswear, Randalstown

Hair & Makeup - Laurel Hair & Beauty, Parkway

Cake & Appetisers - Cindy Shields, Belfast

Hog Roast Buffet - Andrew Mulholland Butchers, Lisburn

Evening Buffet - Flipping Crepes, Carrickfergus

Photographer - Caroline Smyth Photography

Venue - Breckenhill

If you’re planning a Breckenhill Wedding, I’d love to hear from you. Click here to get in touch

Make sure to follow my beautiful weddings on Instagram

Lauren & Martin // Ballygally Castle Wedding Photographer

September 2018 - St MacNissi’s Chapel & Ballygally Castle Hotel

What a beautiful summer wedding. Lauren has been a customer of mine for a while now and I was delighted when she asked me to capture her and Martin’s special day. So many happy memories were made that day - especially for their two little ones.

I always love it when bride’s say their reception is in Ballygally Castle - it’s amazing how such a stunning wedding venue is right on our doorstep. The pale pinks and purples were absolutely gorgeous for time of year and they blended in so nicely with the flowers in bloom at the gardens. The weather really was good to us, the light in the afternoon was beautiful and added a really nice ‘glow’ to the photographs.

Have a look below to see some of their photographs and which wedding vendors they used!

Dresses - Perfect Day

Suits - Red Groomswear

Makeup - Savage Beauty

Hair - Karen McCullough Hair

Cars - David Andrews

Cake - Gemma’s Cakes

Flowers - Cherry Blossom Flowers

Stationery - Darling Stationery

Photography - Caroline Smyth Photography

Video - Timeless Productions NI

Music - Anthem Band

If you’re planning a Ballygally Castle wedding I’d love to hear from you. Click here to get in touch

Make sure to follow my adventures on Instagram

My "Why"

People over the years have asked me why am I a photographer, why do I love it so much & why is it so important to me.

I first wrote this blog back in Oct 2018 after returning from a photographers retreat in Donegal & a workshop in Belfast. I was inspired by two very talented photographers who got us thinking about our “why”. Why do we take photographs for others? You would think that this would be a fairly easy question to answer. But a lot of soul searching was needed to give the true answer to this question.

I first attended the Learning To Fly retreat in October 2015. Whilst listening to the very talented Paula O’Hara about her photography journey I had my lightbulb moment. I realised then why I love doing what I do for other people. It originally took me 3 years to put “pen to paper” and another 4 since then to update it but with National Adoption Week coming to an end today I thought it was the perfect time to update my story.

Rewind back 41 years. Back to 1977 - 3 years after I was born. In 1977 my life changed in its entirety & for the better. I was adopted by Sean & Sinead - aka mum & dad. They hadn’t been able to have children of their own &, thankfully for me, they decided to adopt. I grew up in a happy house, full of storytelling, imagination, creativity. We didn’t have much money back then but that didn’t stop my brother, sister & I enjoying our childhood. I have this to thank for my own creativity and imagination when it comes to working with kids in the studio for my themed shoots. It brings me back to my dad telling us about goblins trying to get us as we drove up Slieve Gullion in a clapped out old Renault 5 called Clarissa. Those goblins were the exhaust needing replaced but it was so much more fun for us thinking we were trying to escape the goblins while searching for fairies.

As I grew older I suffered from a real identity crisis. I didn’t know who I was, where I fitted in, who I looked like, where I was born, what time I was born at……. This really affected me in my teenage years, & with the help of my mum & dad I started the long journey in trying to trace my biological parents when I turned 18. I came across brick wall after brick wall. Dead ends everywhere & it was soul destroying. I felt so strongly that I needed to find them to find me.

I went to counselling at my local hospital with the loveliest of ladies who helped me get my head around my adoption, talking about the feeling of rejection, the feeling of not belonging anywhere. We talked about what would happen, if I traced my biological parents & they didn’t want to see me or the opposite if they did want to be part of my life. My mum & dad, whilst having their own fears about me tracing my biological parents, were such an immense support to me through that time. I was so angry with the world and I know I put them through hell at times with how I treated them. I needed to lash out & like a lot of people it was the people who gave me the most love that I lashed out at.

When I was 19 I did trace my biological father & met him & his family which was a really positive experience then. But I still had no idea where my biological mother was. Over the next 5 years I kept looking and due to a chance encounter between a lady who worked in welfare at the time I was adopted and my granny I finally met my biological mother - I was 6 months pregnant with my own daughter. It was at this time that I received the only picture I have of me as a baby. A lot of my questions were unanswered, meeting my biological mother didn’t automatically give me my identity like I thought it would. I really struggled after my eldest daughter was born 3 months later. I had severe postnatal depression which the doctor likened more to battle fatigue/ PTSD as I had gone through so much.

My brother had a daughter a year before me & when her & Becca grew older I could see how alike they looked. She had the same colour eyes as me & Becca. This might seem trivial but to me it meant the world. Finally I looked like someone, had the same features as they had. This was the start of me realising that I did know who I was, I had my own wee family & that meeting biological parents wasn’t what was going to give me my identity.

My photograph of me as a baby helped me so much - finally I knew what I looked like. I did get the information about what time I was born at & where but they didn’t really make any difference.

It was only while listening to Paula back at that retreat in 2015 that I realised this photograph was my “why”.

I love capturing special moments for my families and my couples whether its in the studio or on their wedding day. I love it because it makes me feel alive, it makes me feel that I am creating something special that families will look at down the generations, I love it because I am giving them & that child something that I didn’t have until I was just about to become a mother. Something that will show that child how loved they are, how important they are in their families lives. How amazing a gift that is to be able to give to people! I am so fortunate that I found photography when I was 39 & going through a really rough time in life (or maybe it was photography that found me).

No matter what you do in life capture your children, capture you with your children, print the images & display them so that your children know how much they mean to you, that they know exactly where they belong. My mum & dad took me to a studio after I was adopted to capture our adoption photographs. 45 years later they are still called our “adoption photographs” & take pride of place on the wall in my parents home. I love those photographs as I can see how loved I felt, how happy I was to be with mum & dad. But I love them even more now that I have the one baby image of me.. the life before I came to mum & dad.

I suppose I should really show you me seeing as you read so far:

Meet me:

Thank you reading through my ramblings. Thank you to the Learning To Fly photographers retreat, to Jay who brought his idea to life, to Paula for allowing me to open my mind & my heart fully to find out my “why”. Thanks to Rob who also brought his idea to life with Burn Workshop & to Nadia for getting us to question our “why”

I love the fact that I get to do this as my “job” now, creating memories for children and their parents. Maybe we all have to go through hard times to truly find ourselves.

The most important thank you goes to my mum and dad who have made me the person I am today, for giving me a chance at being the best version of me that I possibly can be… love you both xx

For those who are considering adopting a child, no matter what age that child is, you are doing something so selfless that will make such a difference in that child’s life. I know that I wouldn’t be half the person or parent that I am today without mum & dad. They instilled my values & morals, my drive to do my best no matter what I am doing, how to see the argument from both sides & how to just be a good person. Adoption will have its difficulties too, there is no doubt about that. I no longer converse with my biological mother, having finally let go of the toxicity caused by that “relationship” My biological father passed away last year & I finally felt like I could close the book & move on with my life properly. But things that happen in your childhood have a funny old way of resurfacing when you least expect it. Most people who follow me will know I took up cold water dipping this year and lo & behold issues from my early childhood bubbled to the surface. I’ve gone through some therapy this year which really helped me release a lot of how I was feeling about my adoption & in turn has helped me overcome a lot of my fears and anxieties

This is an image of me - taken just after therapy - engulfed in the waves at Ballygally. If I told you that I never put my face in water, not even in the shower you would have never believed me. I suppose our journey of self discovery never really ends… once you figure out one thing another takes its place. I feel so fortunate that my “Why” has led me to be doing such an amazing job, photographing newborn babies, children, families and brides and grooms throughout Northern Ireland and in my cosy wee studio in Larne, Co Antrim; something I hope I can continue to do for many more years to come.

Caroline Smyth Photography crowned Best Wedding Photographer for second consecutive year

Caroline Smyth Photography wins prestigious
Mrs2Be Brides’ Choice Wedding Award

June 25, 2018

Caroline Smyth Photography wins Best Wedding Photographer for the second consecutive year

DUBLIN, IRELAND – Leading Irish wedding website Mrs2Be.ie announced the winners of their Brides’ Choice Awards in an exciting virtual awards ceremony on 25 June 2018. The online event was deemed a huge success by the Irish wedding community.

2018 is the fifth year of the Mrs2Be Brides’ Choice Awards and they've been very well received by the Irish wedding industry. The awards are open to all venues and registered businesses who offer a wedding-related service to Irish-based couples regardless of whether or not they are customers of Mrs2Be. Judged by both real brides and grooms and independent judges with industry knowledge, the awards recognise excellence within the wedding industry. 

The organisers commented, “Winning a Mrs2Be Brides’ Choice Award is a huge achievement for any wedding business. When creating the awards, we deliberately steered clear of the ‘popularity contest’ and ‘paid for’ models. We endeavoured to create a system that was unbiased and based upon real reviews from real previous couples. We believe we were successful in achieving this goal.”

The organisers added “the judges were very impressed with the overall standard of finalists. Each finalist deserves recognition for their professionalism and quality of their product or service. We sincerely congratulate all of the award winners and wish them the very best for the future.”

About Caroline Smyth Photography

Caroline Smyth Photography has been documenting her couples special days for the past 5 years, covering weddings in N.Ireland, Southern Ireland and further afield. She loves working with her couples in a relaxed and natural way to really capture who her couples are. 

About Mrs2Be

Mrs2Be is an active online community for couples planning their wedding in Ireland or abroad. Our website provides regular doses of bridal inspiration and a directory of wedding suppliers and venues. The website launched in 2009 and quickly became one of Ireland's most popular wedding resources.

Further details

Full details of the awards can be found here: http://www.mrs2be.ie/brides-choice-awards/ 

Contact information

Mrs2Be Ltd.

Unit 5/6 HC Swords Business Campus, Balheary Rd, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland.