All aboard: Cork bus station and port are just the ticket for bride

As Cork’s cityscape stars in a designer photoshoot, Eve Kelliher talks to the creatives involved

Deirbhile Lee pictured at the bridal photoshoot. Pictures: Matt Brooker

Cork's cityscape and architecture formed a slick and stylish pairing with a homegrown wedding design team.

Every pavement she stepped on was an aisle as Deirbhile Lee, decked out in full bridal regalia, strutted her stuff for a gritty but glam urban photoshoot — whose itinerary included the bus station at Parnell Place as a backdrop — before she glided down to her vibrant outdoor destination “venue” — the Port of Cork. 

Model Deirbhile Lee poses before the Galeón Andalucía in Cork. Pictures: Matt Brooker

In fact, it was a ship docked there, the Galeón Andalucía, that floated the idea for the creatives. The chic and fun session was the brainchild of Youghal photographer Matt Brooker (Mattbrookerphotography.com) and bridal boutique owner Grace Penney.

Matt and Grace, of Diamond Bridal, then teamed up with wedding content creator Ever After by Erika and Youghal makeup artist Za McCarthy (@za_makeup_) —  who also did model Deirbhile’s hair — and Florist 4 U, Mahon, which supplied the flowers. 

“Grace spotted the galleon, and Erika and I then contributed some ideas of where we could shoot on the way down to the quay, including the bus station!” says Matt.

Model Deirbhile pictured in Parnell Place bus station.

The photographer is a familiar face on the city streets from snapping numerous real-life weddings, so he and all involved jumped at the idea of a wedding/city-themed fashion shoot, complete with graffiti. “Grace and I had talked about doing some shoots like this some time ago, but we’ve all been so busy,” he says. 

“We finally found a date [last Monday] that worked, so got our little dream team together! I’ve done a few of this kind of shoot but not many — largely due to time [constraints].

“It presented an opportunity for all of us to be a bit creative with something a little different, while getting some nice shots to help promote our respective businesses.”

Deirbhile Lee. 

The close-ups commenced at Grace’s Maylor Street boutique before the group headed out at midday along Merchant’s Quay, stopping at Parnell Place where everything from ticket machines to buses took on starring roles.

An award-winning photographer, Matt has also used the city as a backdrop for real-life weddings: “I like contrasting glamorous brides with city scenes — the more urban-looking the better — and have photographed a few couples in the city, particularly when there are places that have special meaning to them.”

Graffiti added to the atmosphere.

Matt says it was “love of landscape and portrait photography that made the perfect marriage” when he started as a wedding photographer almost two decades ago, standing behind the lens as friends exchanged vows.

So what’s the reaction when he roams downtown or ventures into public buildings with glitzy entourages in tow? “Passersby are always so nice on wedding days, offering congratulations to the couple — in this instance, I think they were looking for the groom as well as the bride — and I wasn’t dressed like either!” he jokes. 

“Everyone we did meet was friendly, if occasionally possibly a little quizzical, and plenty of drivers were beeping horns. A couple of people were joking and questioning how anyone would have stood up Deirbhile, and so forth.” 

Transport employees and bus passengers enjoyed being ringside to the action, also, says Matt, who takes a people-centred approach to his work: “Staff at the bus station were friendly too, as I made sure to check they were OK with us being there. One lovely lady offered up her seat inside the waiting area — I think, too, so she could get a better view!”