Elopement On The Aran Islands - Inishmore, Co. Galway, Ireland - Brautrausch Wedding Photography

Real Wedding Description

From Columbus OH to the West of Ireland - a Wedding on Inishmore

If you are seeking a very intimate and individual wedding at extraordinary places, why not have an elopement!? Leave all those big wedding plans at home, gather your closest ones and head of for an adventure.
So did Melissa and Chad - two lovely "Urban Hippies" from Columbus, Ohio. They got married on Inishmore (Irish "Inis Mór", meaing "big island"), the biggest of the Aran Islands. It's located roughly 20km off the coast of County Clare and about 5,500km from Ohio. With a population of about 800 people the island offers more than 50 Pre-Christian and Christian ancient sites and is considered a center of Irish-Celtic culture and home to countless myths and stories. And last but not least it is also the home of Dara Molloy.

Dara is free celebrant, Celtic priest, state-registered Solemniser and sort-of an Inishmore tourguide. As if on a wild journey through Celtic and early Christian traditions Dara leads through weddings with rituals like handfasting or the honour to the elements of mother earth - and of course also legally binding if you wish.

It was raining outside when I met up with Melissa and Chad at the Aran Island Hotel for their Getting Ready. We were in no hurry so we spent a lot of time waiting by the fireplace in the bar for the weather to clear up, sipping on a whiskey or two. It must have been the luck of the Irish that the rain had stopped for the ceremony at the Teampall Chiaráin, the ruins of an old monastery from the 12th century - a perfect place for a truly unique and intimate wedding ceremony.

Later that day, at the westernmost point of the island, all was covered in evening light and Melissa and Chad were overlooking the ocean. Suddenly they spotted a pair of beady eyes in the water, watching them curiously. Slowly a second pair appeared. It was a seal couple, keeping them company and wishing them luck.

Go gcuire Dia an t-ádh ort - May God put luck on you!