Ballymagarvey Village Wedding: Claire and Finlay’s Courtyard and Lakeside Wedding in Meath
Ballymagarvey Village wedding film – Claire & Finlay, Balrath, Co. Meath
A wedding at Ballymagarvey Village, Co. Meath
Claire and Finlay were married at Ballymagarvey Village in Balrath, Co. Meath – an 18th-century country house with a cobbled courtyard of stone cottages, a walled garden and a lake in the middle of the Meath countryside. With Finlay in a traditional kilt, portraits by the water and a sparkler send-off under the night sky, it was a wedding full of character and joy.
As their wedding videographer, I spent the day with them at Ballymagarvey. Here is a look at their Ballymagarvey Village wedding – and a few ideas if you are planning your own.
About Ballymagarvey Village
At the heart of Ballymagarvey is a two-storey Georgian house dating from the mid-18th century, once home to the Osborne family, set in over 100 acres of parkland. Around it, a courtyard of seven restored stone cottages, old outbuildings and a walled garden have been turned into one of Meath's best-known exclusive-use wedding venues – with rooms for the couple and their guests right on site.
Getting ready
Claire got ready in one of the house's period rooms, with tall panelled shutters and soft light from the sash windows. With her hair in a sleek, voluminous ponytail with loose curls, she slipped into an elegant off-the-shoulder gown with a long train and a row of covered buttons down the back – a quiet, beautiful moment before the day began.
Kilts, a courtyard and the lake
Finlay wore a traditional kilt outfit with a tartan plaid over his shoulder, a silver brooch and a yellow buttonhole, and the two of them could not stop smiling at each other. We spent time with Claire and Finlay at the old stone gateway into the courtyard, among the cottages and the box hedges, and then down at the lake, where a swan glided past as they shared a kiss on the wooden jetty – Claire's long floral veil spread out across the boards.
A sparkler send-off under the stars
Later that night, family and friends lined the cobbled courtyard with sparklers, cheering as Claire and Finlay ran through the tunnel of light – and stopped halfway for one last kiss. A perfect ending to the day, and one of the most joyful moments in their film.
Planning a Ballymagarvey Village wedding? A few tips
Use the courtyard. The stone gateway, the cottages and the cobbles at Ballymagarvey make a beautiful, timeless backdrop for portraits.
Head down to the lake. The wooden jetty by the water is one of the most romantic spots on the estate – especially in the late afternoon light.
Plan a sparkler exit. A sparkler send-off in the courtyard at night looks incredible on film – just make sure everyone lights up at the same time.
Make it personal. Finlay's kilt and tartan gave the day a touch of tradition that made the whole wedding feel like theirs.
Looking for more weddings in Co. Meath? See Emma and Kevin at Ballymagarvey Village, Nicola and Conor at the Station House Hotel and Jen and Ciaran at Tankardstown House. You can also watch more of my wedding films or see my wedding packages.
Wedding suppliers
Venue: Ballymagarvey Village, Balrath, Co. Meath
Videography: Michael Black Wedding
Planning a Ballymagarvey Village wedding of your own? I would love to hear about your plans – get in touch and let's chat over Zoom.