Natalie & Chris flew to Ireland for their Star Wars wedding with two specific requests: somewhere old for their ceremony, and permission to bring lightsabers. (Which, obviously yes, hello.)

Late October delivered cold, clear weather, which was lucky. The light that time of year is so good if you catch a dry day. They picked an ancient abbey ruin for their ceremony, crumbling stone walls covered in vines, trees encroaching from the woods to the back, then headed back to Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork city afterward for a wee celebration.

The Ceremony

Juli (The Dingle Druid) performed a handfasting for them, and after they exchanged vows and rings, they participated in a “jump the broom” ceremony, symbolizing sweeping away their old lives and leaping into their shared future. It’s an old tradition, representing a clean slate and a fresh start.

Which was fitting. They chose their elopement location because (aside from looking so cool) they wanted “something old to kick off their new beginning.”

Dressed all in black and burgundy, they looked amazing against the backdrop of stone walls with a low October sun hanging in the sky. Natalie also wore a black, jeweled crown and had little bones on her nails. (Be still my little emo heart.)

One of their favourite things is Star Wars, and if you’re going to have a Star Wars wedding, there are going to be lightsabers. They’d brought two lightsabers across the Atlantic specifically for this, and we used them throughout the photos at the abbey. Dueling in the field, posing in archways, having fun with something they genuinely love instead of pretending their wedding day needed to look like everyone else’s.

Cows and Cold Hands

We wandered around the ruin, getting photos in different corners of the site. And, of course, getting out the lightsabers. They. Were. So. Fun. Sound effects, changing colours, the works.

We also stopped to say hello to some cows grazing in the neighbouring field. They came over to investigate (safely on the other side of the wall).

By the time we wrapped up for the evening, everyone’s hands were cold, but spirits were high. We headed back to their hotel—Hayfield Manor, a gorgeous historic property in Cork city—to warm up.

They’d brought custom engraved pint glasses with them: one said “husband,” the other said “wife.” They used them for a proper celebratory drink at the hotel bar, toasting their new marriage before heading to dinner.

Details

• Season: Late October
• Weather: Cold but clear
• Guest count: Just the couple
• Locations: Abbey ruin, Hayfield Manor Hotel (Cork city)
• Ceremony elements: Handfasting, broom ceremony, lightsabers
• Special details: Custom engraved pint glasses, black and red attire, black crown, bone nail art, lightsabers
• Accommodations/End-of-day celebration: Hayfield Manor Hotel
• Vendors:
  • Photographer/planner: Solar Rose Elopements
  • Celebrant: The Dingle Druid