Station House Hotel Wedding: Nicola and Conor’s Woodland Wedding in Meath

Station House Hotel wedding film – Nicola & Conor, Kilmessan, Co. Meath

A woodland wedding at the Station House Hotel, Co. Meath

Nicola and Conor were married at the Station House Hotel in Kilmessan, Co. Meath, on Friday 12 September. With a handfasting ceremony in a stone garden among the trees, festoon lights glowing through the woods and a warm autumn palette of peach, rust and cream, it was a wedding full of character – and full of laughter.

As their wedding videographer, I spent the day with them at the Station House. Here is a look at their Station House Hotel wedding – and a few ideas if you are planning your own.

About the Station House Hotel

The Station House was built around 1862 as Kilmessan Junction, a railway station in the Meath countryside. The Slattery family bought it in 1981 and turned it into a restaurant and hotel, and today it sits in 12 acres of gardens and woodland. The old railway is still everywhere you look – most of all in the white-painted Kilmessan Junction Cabin, the former signal box, standing at the end of a tree-lined path.

Getting ready

The details told the story of the day: an invitation on handmade paper with a Celtic knot, delicate drop earrings and Nicola's bouquet of peach roses, white agapanthus and copper fern by Space to Grow. Annemarie Browne created her soft vintage curls, Pamela Matthews looked after her make-up, and Nicola could not stop smiling as she got ready in one of the hotel's rooms.

A handfasting ceremony in the garden

The ceremony took place outdoors in a sunken stone garden surrounded by hedges and tall trees, with candles and arrangements of white dahlias and peach roses at its edge. Nicola wore a sleeveless gown with sheer floral appliqué and bow-tied shoulders and a long veil, and Conor wore a three-piece brown suit with a green patterned tie and a peach rose buttonhole. They chose a handfasting – an old Celtic tradition – binding their hands together with a braided cord, before sharing their first kiss as a married couple. Even a little September rain could not dampen the day: guests simply put up their white umbrellas and cheered as Nicola and Conor walked back up the path under the festoon lights.

Portraits in the woods and a night under the lights

We spent time with Nicola and Conor among the ivy-covered trees in the woodland – lots of hugs and lots of laughter – and after dark we went back out for a portrait under the arch of lights, framed by the old stone urns. Then The Brass Monkeys took to the stage and the party went on late into the night.

Planning a Station House Hotel wedding? A few tips

Use the woodland. The paths, the ivy-covered trees and the festoon lights at the Station House are some of the most atmospheric spots in Ireland for photos and film.

Plan for the weather. An outdoor ceremony in September can bring a shower – a few white umbrellas for guests keep everyone happy and look lovely on camera.

Make it personal. A handfasting, a Celtic knot on the invitation, an autumn palette – small personal touches like Nicola and Conor's make your film truly yours.

Go out after dark. Ten minutes outside under the lights at night gives you one of the most magical shots of the day.

Looking for more weddings in Co. Meath? See Jen and Ciaran at Tankardstown House, Emma and Kevin at Ballymagarvey Village and Rachel and Stephen at Clonabreany House. You can also watch more of my wedding films or see my wedding packages.

Wedding suppliers

Venue: Station House Hotel, Kilmessan, Co. Meath

Videography: Michael Black Wedding

Photography: Bronté Photography

Flowers: Space to Grow

Hair: Annemarie Browne

Make-up: Pamela Matthews

Band: The Brass Monkeys

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