Planning your wedding timeline at Clonabreany House is an exciting journey. This venue is one of my absolute favourites in Ireland – not only because of the beautiful grounds, sunsets, and food, but because everything is so perfectly designed for weddings.
Having photographed here more times than I can count, I know the flow of the day inside out.
One of the biggest questions couples ask me is: “What should our wedding day timeline look like?” So let’s go through a real-life example together.
Morning Preparations at Clonabreany
I usually start the day around 10–11 am with the girls. This allows for plenty of time for relaxed photos, champagne popping, and even a few drone shots, if the weather is favourable.
TOP TIP: A really important point: if you are staying in the house close to the venue in the morning, make sure you are in the Main House by 1:00 pm sharp – not starting to pack the car at 1:00 pm – trust me, it will all make sense at the end of the day :)
Trust me, this makes all the difference in keeping the day calm and enjoyable.
Another fantastic option is the Tomblake House, which I absolutely love for morning prep. It’s spacious, full of character, and works beautifully for photos. It’s even an excellent choice for the bride to get dressed there before moving over to the Main House.
👉 See photos from Tomblake House
💡 TOP TIP: Hair & Makeup Timings
- Ask your hair and makeup team to schedule Mum and Chief Bridesmaid first, so they are fully ready and able to help you into your dress later.
- Aim for everyone to be finished by 12:30–12:45 pm.
- That way, you’ll be stress-free and ready to move to the Main House at 1:00 pm sharp.
⚠️ Don’t give your makeup artist your ceremony time (3:00 pm) as the target! – Instead, provide them with the time you actually need to be finished (12:30 pm 12:45 pm).
This one change can save your morning from running late.
The Boys’ Prep in Cottage No. 4
At 1:00 pm, I switch over to the lads in Cottage No. 4. Please ask the venue to have it ready. We’ll only use the kitchen and sitting room with the big windows downstairs – it photographs beautifully.
TOP TIP: The boys should arrive at the venue no later than 12:50 p.m., ready to start photos at 1:00 p.m. sharp. This timing is really important because once I’ve finished with them (around 1:20 p.m.), I’ll head back to you for bridal prep photos in the Main House.
Believe it or not, in this case, every 10-minute delay has a significant impact on how smoothly the whole schedule runs.
Final Prep for the Bride- Main House Clonabreany
When you move to the Main House, I’ll photograph all the wedding details – your dress, shoes, and jewellery – in the stunning bridal suite.
Please keep bags and anything you don’t want in photos tucked away in the suite bathroom.
TOP TIP: Here’s the timing for a 3:00 p.m. ceremony (adjust slightly if your ceremony is at 2:30 p.m.):
- 1:20 – 1:40 p.m. → Fun PJ photos, champagne opening, and moments with bridesmaids and mum.
- 2:00 p.m. sharp → Bride fully dressed and ready.
- 2:00 – 2:20 p.m. → First look with Dad (if planned), photos with Bridesmaids, Bridal Portraits.
- 2:30 p.m. → I leave the Main House to set up cameras, microphones, and everything for the ceremony- time for final touches and relaxation.
Believe me, these timings make a huge difference to keep the morning relaxed and stress-free!
This is why having the boys ready on time is so important – otherwise, we’d lose these lovely moments with you.
Ceremony Timing at Clonabreany
Ceremonies at Clonabreany are usually scheduled for 3:00 p.m., but if possible, I strongly recommend checking with the venue to see if a 2:30 p.m. ceremony is available. That extra 30 minutes makes a huge difference to your drinks reception time later.
- 3:00 p.m. start (usually closer to 3:15 p.m.).
- The ceremony lasts around 30–40 minutes.
- Finish time: approx 4:00 pm.
⚠️ If your ceremony is at 3:00 pm, I recommend skipping the greeting line – otherwise, you risk cutting your drinks reception very, very short.
Outdoor Wedding Ceremony in Clonabreany House
An outdoor ceremony at Clonabreany is always something special. Lush green fields, beautiful gardens, and that unmistakable countryside charm surround the setting.
It creates a natural backdrop that looks stunning in photos — no need for extra decoration, the venue does the magic itself.
Couples often say it feels both intimate and grand at the same time, with the sweeping views and the soft light making the ceremony truly unforgettable.
Drinks Reception & Photos
Between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm or 5:30 pm, we’ll fit in:
- Family photos (quick and well-organised).
- Couple portraits (around the avenue, courtyard, and gardens).
- Candid moments with your guests.
Even if everything runs smoothly, you’ll only have 40–50 minutes left to enjoy your drinks reception – which is why avoiding the greeting line is a wise choice.
If the weather is nice, an outdoor ceremony is highly recommended – Clonabreany has the perfect setup for it.
Family Photos at Clonabreany
This is an important one. At Clonabreany, family photos must be completed before the bell rings for dinner.
Once the bell goes, the venue staff need to collect meal orders from your guests. If key family members are delayed because they’re still in photos, it can hold up food service.
The team have even told me about a wedding where a photographer tried to take family photos after the bell rang, and it caused significant issues with the meal.
So the golden rule is: all family photos happen during the drinks reception, before the bell rings.
I’ll guide you through this smoothly on the day, and stress-free.
Speeches, Dinner & Dancing
- 5:00 pm – Speeches in the courtyard or speeches before or after food – confirm with the venue.
- 5:30 pm – Guests called into the marquee for dinner.
- 9:00–10:00 pm – First dance, band kicks off, and the party begins.
Don’t worry about the small details like where exactly we’ll do family photos – I’ll guide you on the day, taking weather and light into account.
The only thing I always make sure of is that you get your sunset photos. The sunsets at Clonabreany are breathtaking, and I promise they’ll be worth sneaking away for a few minutes.
Church Ceremony + Clonabreany Reception
If you are planning a church ceremony before heading to Clonabreany for your drinks reception, here’s how to prepare:
- First, ask the venue what time your guests will be allowed to arrive for the drinks reception.
- Deduct your travel time from church to venue.
- That will give you the correct ceremony start time to aim for.
On average, a church wedding ceremony lasts around 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you are planning a greeting line at the church afterwards, allow up to 2 full hours from start to finish before guests are ready to travel, plus travel time.
Why the Timeline Matters
A wedding day flies by faster than you can imagine. Timing is everything – not just for photos, but also to ensure you actually enjoy your day without feeling rushed.
Many couples are tempted to cut corners on photography, but the truth is: your photographer is the one who quietly leads the flow of the day, keeps timings on track, and ensures you get to soak it all in.
If you’ve booked me, you’re in safe hands 😊
Quick Timeline at a Glance
- 10:00–11:00 a.m. – Photographer starts with the girls (preparations and drone shots if weather allows).
- 12:30–12:45 p.m. – Everyone finished with hair & makeup (Mum & Chief Bridesmaid FIRST).
- 12:50 p.m. – Boys arrive.
- 1:00–1:20 p.m. – Boys’ photos in Cottage No.4 (boys must be fully ready — not packing cars).
- 1:20–1:40 p.m. – Fun photos with the Bride: PJs, champagne, moments with Mum & bridesmaids.
- 2:00 p.m. – Bride fully dressed.
- 2:00–2:10 p.m. – First look with Dad (if planned), plus photos with Bridesmaids.
- 2:30 p.m. – The photographer/videographer leaves the Main House to set up cameras & microphones for the ceremony. (for a 3:00 p.m. ceremony – adjust earlier for 2:30 p.m.)
- 3:00–3:15 p.m. – Ceremony (usually 30–40 minutes).
- 4:00–5:30 p.m. – Family photos (before the bell!), couple portraits, candid guest shots, drinks reception.
- 5:00 p.m. – Speeches in the courtyard? Or before/after the meal – confirm with the venue.
- 5:30 p.m. – Guests called into the marquee for dinner.
- 9:00–10:00 p.m. – Cake cutting, first dance & band start.
- Sunset – 10–15 minute golden-hour photo session.
(For church ceremonies: allow around 2 hours for the service + greeting line, then add travel time before guests arrive at Clonabreany for drinks reception.)
Final Thoughts on Clonabreany House Weddings
Clonabreany House is, without doubt, one of my favourite venues in Ireland. The staff, the food, the spaces, the photo locations, the sunsets – it has everything. With the correct timeline, you’ll enjoy every moment of your day here.
And of course, your day may run a little differently — and that’s totally fine. The beauty of weddings is that no two are the same. But in most cases, the timeline will look very similar, and I’ll adapt it seamlessly to your plans.
👉 Looking for more planning tips?
Enjoy planning your Clonabreany wedding – and if I’m your photographer, I’ll make sure you enjoy every moment of it!
Also, one very last thing: if you’d like to go through my portfolios to get a clear idea of my style as a wedding photographer:
I’d love to be part of your very special day!
Daniel :)
