Kilkea Castle Wedding: Sheila and Sean’s Autumn Castle Wedding in Kildare

Kilkea Castle wedding film – Sheila & Sean, Castledermot, Co. Kildare

An autumn wedding at Kilkea Castle, Co. Kildare

Sheila and Sean were married at Kilkea Castle in Castledermot, Co. Kildare, on a soft autumn day, with golden leaves on the paths and the castle towers rising above the gardens. With an elegant indoor ceremony, a bridal party in ivory and black tie, and portraits under the old garden arches, it was a classic castle wedding with a timeless, cinematic feel.

As their wedding videographer, I spent the day with them at the castle. Here is a look at their Kilkea Castle wedding – and a few ideas if you are planning an autumn wedding of your own.

About Kilkea Castle

Kilkea Castle dates back to 1180 and was home to the FitzGeralds, Earls of Kildare, for around seven centuries, making it one of the oldest inhabited castles in Ireland. Today it is a castle hotel and golf estate, with formal box-hedge gardens, a long covered garden walk, old stone walls and views across the Kildare countryside – and in autumn the whole estate turns gold, copper and red.

Getting ready

Sheila got ready in the quiet light of a window, with her hair in soft waves, pearl drop earrings and a delicate pearl necklace. A calm moment before a big day – and one of my favourite shots in the film.

An elegant ceremony at the castle

The ceremony took place indoors, with a white aisle running between tall urns of peach roses, white hydrangeas and trailing greenery. Sheila wore a strapless textured gown with a plunging neckline, a thigh-high slit, sheer detachable sleeves and a long cathedral veil, and Sean wore a classic black tuxedo with a bow tie and a white rose buttonhole. Holding hands in front of their celebrant, Sheila could not stop smiling – and their first kiss as a married couple was full of joy.

Portraits in the castle gardens

After the ceremony we took Sheila and Sean around the estate: along the castle walls with the autumn trees below, up the driveway beneath the round tower, across the lawns and through the long covered walk in the gardens, its arches heavy with leaves. The bridesmaids, in ivory dresses with blush rose bouquets, and the groomsmen in black tie joined them for a walk in front of the castle – lots of laughter, and a real sense of occasion.

Planning an autumn wedding at Kilkea Castle? A few tips

Embrace the season. Autumn colours at Kilkea – golden trees, falling leaves and soft light – make for some of the most beautiful wedding films of the year.

Use the garden walk. The long covered walk in the gardens is one of the most atmospheric spots at Kilkea for portraits, in colour or in black and white.

Go black tie. A classic tuxedo, an ivory bridal party and a castle backdrop give your film a timeless look.

Plan for the light. Autumn days are shorter, so plan your portraits soon after the ceremony to make the most of the daylight.

Looking for more weddings at Kilkea Castle? See Deanna and Jack at Kilkea Castle and Pamela and Ciaran at Kilkea Castle, or, also in Co. Kildare, Eimear and Pauraic at Barberstown Castle. You can also watch more of my wedding films or see my wedding packages.

Wedding suppliers

Venue: Kilkea Castle, Castledermot, Co. Kildare

Videography: Michael Black Wedding

Planning a Kilkea Castle wedding of your own? I would love to hear about your plans – get in touch and let's chat over Zoom.