Our Italian Job – The Origin

Our Italian adventure all started on the 29th of September 2022 when Ryan & I captured a wedding in the Clandeboye Lodge for the lovely Cheryl and Wayne Mahaffy. Wayne’s brother Kent and girlfriend Annarella were guests and Annarella (Anna) loved the way we worked and even more so the pictures we delivered.

Kent and Anna, owners of KMink tattoo studio in Newtownards, contacted us a year later about their wedding in Sorrento and at first, we were devastated because we had another wedding round the time of theirs and couldn’t logistically do it – Anna was devastated too and even went to Kent and to try and change the date to accommodate us 😮

Well as fate would have it, 2 weeks later our circumstances changed (including flight times – don’t ask about 6am flights from Dublin) which meant that we would be able to capture Anna and Kents stylish Sorrento wedding, providing they hadn’t booked someone else….. 🤞🏻

….I messaged Anna telling her the news in the hope she hadn’t booked anyone and nervously awaited her reply – she replied instantly and said “I have tried so many but I can’t find anyone whose pictures I love as much as yours” 🥹🥹🥹 I nearly cried….She told us to book the flights and within 10 minutes, Sorrento was booked 🇮🇹🌅

Travelling to Italy

Travelling can be stressful at the best of times but when you have a wedding to make (and a wedding to get back for) it was even worse on the nerves. With the change in flight times mentioned above, we had to have a change of plan and leave the house at 1am to make the early flight in Dublin.

It meant our family friend and second mother to Xander & Sofia, Jacqueline Peacock, had to stay an extra night at the house. We would be lost without her for sure ❤️ I am not even sure the kids noticed we were gone 🫠

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon and were greeted by Kent and Anna’s grandfather Giovanni (John to the Northern Irish contingent) who took us on a death ride from Naples to Sorrento. I thought Polish drivers were crazy but the Italians are next level. John must have called 13 different drivers ‘Animals’ before we even got out of Naples 😂 We did get to see the lost city of Pompeii on the journey from the back seat of the car. We will defo be back to see more.

This flight change meant we had the afternoon  and evening to scout out the area but it doesn’t really matter does it? Everywhere is stunning. We had dinner in a restaurant that looked out over the sea and sunset behind Mount Vesuvius – I ordered lobster as this was the first time I have ever had it, and what a place it was to have my first lobster dinner🦞

Wedding Day

The day started as it would for most weddings – preparation pictures first up. Anna was getting ready at the hotel and Kent was going out for a haircut and a beard trim in the town close to where Anna spent many of her summers. After a quick Italian expresso, Kent and Giovanni got spruced up

Anna’s body is a great advertisement for KMink as it’s like a living, breathing canvas which very much complemented her beautiful features. She is such a stunning girl and I loved photographing her.

…..nice and relaxed with the girls……well the boys were the same and brought a bit of home with them…all the lads had a pint of Guinness before going to the ceremony.

Sorrento Wedding Ceremony

So this ceremony was actually a record ceremony for us, but more on that later. It started with Anna being walked down the aisle by the amazing character that is Giovanni/John. He’s an adorable man and it’s lovely to see the relationship that him and Anna have. Here’s a look a the first look pics before heading to the ceremony, with Grandfather Giovanni struggling to keep a brave face on 🥹

Now onto the ceremony…….

Well, what is the record then? – this was officially the faster ceremony we had ever seen. Anna’s Italian cousin who was supposed to do the readings in both Italian and English, succumbed to nerves and pressure and no sooner had Anna walked up the aisle, she was walking straight back down it again. It was 120 seconds between arriving and leaving.

In what was quite a unique next part of the wedding, it was straight round to the reception and the start the phenomenal display of Italian cuisine. Get ready for many pictures of the magnificent multi course platter

after what felt like about 5 courses, we were able to get the family pictures and guests pictures taken – then were able to take Kent and Anna for a quick pic together.

Part-time photographers / Full time wedding helpers

At every wedding, Ryan and I will be more than just photographers, whether it be tying ties, fitting cuff links & pocket watches or fitting veils & curling hair, we have done it all. This wedding was ties, croc fetching for Bride and groom for dinner and curling hair for bridesmaid in the morning….

after a few pictures, it was inside for the main meal. Yes, after what seemed like 5 courses of food it was in for another 5 🤣 have to love Italian weddings. When we do weddings at home, we often get singers come in and sing famous Italian songs and have guests waving their napkins – well now we have experienced it it Italy 🎶🇮🇹🎶

After dinner it was up to the evening do by the pool, but first – a tattoo for Kent’s dad as a momento of the occasion. Kent’s dad ‘Muff’ is 90% covered in tattoos and I was hoping to get some pictures of him screaming in pain. But Muff said ‘I have a reputation to keep’ 🤣 and his reputation is completely intact – he didn’t flinch even a little bit while he got a tattoo of the map of Italy on his foot

Kent & Anna picture time

after everyone moved upstairs to the pool area, we grabbed Kent and Anna to go for pictures round the town and in anticipation of the sunset on the hotel roof.

We had walked past this building the night before and there was something so beautiful about. It’s massive wooden door, it’s colour and it’s symmetry meant that I had to get a full picture of them in front of it with the wide angle.

We then got a few shots in the streets…..

….and down some side streets where people lived. True Sorrento life.

We then headed back to the hotel for some roof sunset shots….we also got this shot of Anna and Kent walking back to the hotel and getting a lovely greeting from a local….

…..now up to the hotel roof…..🌅

After watching the sunset, it was then down to the pool area and because it was St Antony’s day, we were sitting waiting in expectation for the annual at-sea fireworks display. The hotel looked out onto the sea and the guests all gathered in anticipation.

Honeslty, we weren’t let down – it was absolutely spectacular. An amazing way to end the perfect day.

A fitting end to our first Sorrento wedding and such an enjoyable trip for us. Anna and Kent made it so relaxed for us (almost too relaxed with Anna not even knowing ceremony time 🤣) and it was lovely to be around so many familiar faces again. Big thanks must go to Anna & Kent for trusting us to capture their special day in such magnificent surroundings. Thank you both ❤️

Feel free to reach out to us if you are looking to get married, and whether it be Sorrento or Strabane, we would happily cover it.

Agnieszka & Ryan ❤️❤️❤️