What to Do if it Rains at Your Bellingham Castle Wedding

If you’ve chosen Bellingham Castle for your wedding, you’ve already fallen in love with its 17 acres of rolling lawns, the weir, and that iconic footbridge over the River Glyde. But let’s address the elephant in the room or rather, the cloud in the sky. When you're planning a rainy day wedding in Ireland, the fear that a downpour will ruin your photography is real.

The secret to a stress-free wedding isn't hoping for sun; it’s hiring a photographer who has a "Plan B" that feels like a "Plan A." At Bellingham Castle, the rain isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s an invitation to lean into the opulence of one of Ireland’s most luxurious interiors. You don't have to choose between getting wet or getting boring photos. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how we navigate a wet-weather day at the castle to ensure your gallery is as cinematic and atmospheric as you dreamed, even if the clouds don't clear.

It's obvious that none of us would like to see you have a rainy day, and while they are few and far between, it does happen from time to time where the rain falls all day. Usually, its showers off and on so there is no problem in dodging a few showers in order to get the best candid wedding photographs.

Indoor Photo Locations at Bellingham Castle

The Library Portraits: Old-World Drama When the rain starts to fall, my first port of call is the Castle Library. This isn't just a backup space; it’s one of the most photogenic rooms in the country. With its deep red leather couches, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and massive period windows, we can create Library portraits that feel like a high-fashion editorial. The light in this room is soft and directional, perfect for intimate, quiet moments between the two of you while your guests enjoy a whiskey by the fire downstairs.

Candid Moments in The Buttery Kitchen One of the most unique "hidden gems" at Bellingham is the Buttery Kitchen. Most photographers walk right past it, but it’s a dream for a documentary-style shooter. It features low vaulted ceilings and a cozy, "at-home" atmosphere that is perfect for candid shots. If the weather is volatile, I love to tuck couples into the tiny alcove nearby. It feels secret, romantic, and completely sheltered from the wind, allowing for those natural, unposed laughs that happen when you finally have a moment to yourselves.

The Grand Staircase and The Bute Suite For your family formals and larger group shots, we utilize the grand staircase or the Drawing Rooms. The scale of these rooms ensures that your photos still feel "Castle-like" without anyone having to step foot on a damp lawn. The Bute Suite, with its massive chandeliers and bright top-table lighting, also provides a stunning, high-ceiling backdrop for speeches and reception photos that feel airy and light, even on the greyest Irish afternoon.

Using the Architecture for Shelter Even on a rainy day, many couples still want that "Castle exterior" shot. We don't need a dry day for this; we just need the right angles. Bellingham’s architecture offers several arched doorways and covered stone porches. This allows me to stand out in the rain (don't worry, I'm used to it!) while you stay perfectly dry under the stone arches, capturing the grand facade of the castle in the background without a single drop of water hitting your dress.

The image above is from Eimear and Niall's stunning summer wedding at Bellingham Castle, County Louth, Ireland. Check out more of their photos here.

A Photographer’s Final Thoughts

As an Irish wedding photographer, I’ve learned that the best galleries often come from the most "challenging" weather. Rain brings a certain mood, a sense of intimacy and "coziness"—that a bright, harsh summer sun can’t match. At Bellingham Castle, you are surrounded by 17th-century luxury that was designed to be enjoyed from the inside out.

My final piece of advice for any Bellingham bride is this: Trust the venue, and trust your pro. Between the "Buttery Kitchen," the "Library," and the expertly lit Bute Suite, we have enough indoor variety to fill three wedding albums without ever opening an umbrella. When you stop worrying about the sky, you start focusing on the "craic," and that is when the best photos happen.

If it rains at Bellingham, we aren't "stuck" inside, we are tucked away in a fairytale. So, bring the white umbrellas just in case, but know that your love story looks just as beautiful by candlelight as it does by sunlight.

Thank you for reading. If you need any questions answered please reach out to me on my contact page.