Video Story's first year in Australia
As
a
wedding videographer with links to both Ireland and Australia, Video
Story’s
Killian Mulcahy has been intrigued to observe some of the differences
between a
typical Irish and Australian wedding. Killian is from Ireland
(as you will be quickly be able to work out if you chat with him on the
phone!), he and his Australian wife recently moved to Geelong,
Australia. So what were Killian’s
observations after filming wedding videos in both countries.
Weather
Although the Irish climate is substantially colder
than the Australian climate, there isn’t usually much difference in bridal fashions
between the two countries, men arrive in suits and the ladies wear evening dresses rain, hail or shine. 
The Ceremony
Another big difference is timing. Generally, Australian weddings have a faster pace while Irish weddings are a longer affair. The average Aussie ceremony runs for 20 minutes, an Irish one is much longer and usually goes for at least one hour, including a full Catholic mass.
Another big difference is timing. Generally, Australian weddings have a faster pace while Irish weddings are a longer affair. The average Aussie ceremony runs for 20 minutes, an Irish one is much longer and usually goes for at least one hour, including a full Catholic mass.
While
in Australia, many weddings are
held outdoors, in such places as leafy gardens or stunning sandy
beaches. Celebrants read beautiful ceremonies about the Bride and
Groom's life and journey together, touching on wonderful stories and how
they fell in love. Irish ceremonies and venues are predominantly
unchanged: most weddings are held in a church and conducted by a local
Priest or Minister, although equally touching ceremonies it's the
variety of venues and locations that's different.
For
a wedding to be held in a venue
other than a church in Ireland the venue must be approved for ceremonies
and the County
Registrar of Births, deaths and marriages, who is appointed by the Irish
health service, is the only official able to marry a couple in a Civil
Ceremony.
Whilst in Australia the number of
guests can vary from intimate gatherings to a very large gathering, in Ireland
weddings are always big with two to three hundred guests as a standard number.
In Ireland the Bride and Groom will always walk straight down the aisle after the ceremony to great applause and then stop at the front door to greet all the guests and they leave the church and receive their congratulations, a noticeable difference for Killian in Australia, is when the Bride and Groom after the cermony greet the guests as they walk down the aisle.
In Ireland the Bride and Groom will always walk straight down the aisle after the ceremony to great applause and then stop at the front door to greet all the guests and they leave the church and receive their congratulations, a noticeable difference for Killian in Australia, is when the Bride and Groom after the cermony greet the guests as they walk down the aisle.
Ongoing
festivities
At
an Australian wedding, when the reception package has run it's time and
the band begins to unplug their equipment, that’s usually
around the time when the Bride and Groom wave their sweet farewells to
everyone and the wedding has come to a close.
Yet, not so in Ireland! In fact, that’s
usually the time when the dancing is just getting started! An Irish wedding couple along
with their guests will be continuing to celebrate long into the morning, never
one to miss a party, some even go home the following morning with the post man, there really is no time limit on the reception.
It
used to be the case that the couple would leave early but more recently
they realise that there is a lots more fun to be had and the DJ usually
kicks in at 12:30am to play for about 2 more
hours, with the resulting sing song in the residents bar, tells Killian.
He says last time they were at an Irish
wedding as a guest they retired from the sing song at 3am to go back to
the hotel room for
a cup of tea and wedding cake!
Dancing
Dancing is a big part of any wedding
but especially so in Ireland! The band helps create a fun and inclusive
atmosphere, as Killian describes.
The band is usually very interactive,
finding out who’s birthday it’s been lately or who’s from what part of Ireland
and they incorporate this info into the night, it’s just great fun.
While
at Australian weddings, the
dancing can take a while to warm up, in Ireland the dancing is almost
woven
into the DNA of the wedding, including an
elaborate and sometimes dizzying dance move called the Paul Jones, where
of a circle of women
holding hands and dance in one direction, while an enfolding circle of
men dance around them, in the
opposite direction. When the music stops after about 30 seconds you
dance with the person opposite you for a few songs, it's a great way to
mix up the crowd.
How
the day runs
A really interesting point of
difference between Australian and Irish weddings is the time they are scheduled
to begin.
In Australia, weddings can begin within
a variety of different times, such as 10am, 2pm, 4pm or even 6pm but in Ireland weddings
always begins between 1pm or 2pm.
Also,
in Ireland the Best Man may have
a busier workload: he’s also the MC on the day, as well as getting the
groom to
the church on time!!! The variety of the Australian weddings really
impressed Killian, he says it's great to go to new venues, new themes
and see new ideas for each wedding here in Australia.
The structure of the evening is also a little different. Irish weddings have a four course dinner followed by speeches. Then everyone leaves the function room and retires to the bar, lounge, foyer or goes for a walk. Band then sets up in the function room and the hotel clears the floor ready for the dancing to begin, this process usually takes 1-1.5 hours. Where as in Australia the pre-dinner drinks, meal, speeches and dancing is all interwoven usually into a 5 hours reception package.
The structure of the evening is also a little different. Irish weddings have a four course dinner followed by speeches. Then everyone leaves the function room and retires to the bar, lounge, foyer or goes for a walk. Band then sets up in the function room and the hotel clears the floor ready for the dancing to begin, this process usually takes 1-1.5 hours. Where as in Australia the pre-dinner drinks, meal, speeches and dancing is all interwoven usually into a 5 hours reception package.
Photography
Although every wedding is different,
Killian has noticed the quintessential Australian wedding photography style is
more candid than back home.
Also,
from a photographer’s or
videographer’s point of view, the conditions in Australia are brighter
and in most instances, flash isn’t even needed at all. This means an
Australian photographer/videographer has greater possibilities to work
with on the day, especially the evening light that has a beautiful color
and casts wonderful shadows on the background, the sky is usually blue
and around the Geelong/Ballerine region the photos often take place on a
beach or near the sea, he loves his new working environment and
working in the sunshine!
Some
things remain the same
Whether it's an indoor Irish ceremony
officiated by a Priest, with snow falling down outside, or a sunset Aussie
wedding along the beach with canapés and candles, the truth is this: the
excitement of the wedding remains the same! Everyone loves a wedding and it’s always
a pleasure to be part of a couple’s big day, Killian reflects. People come along to a wedding
dolled up, happy and looking forward to a good time, "that’s a fantastic atmosphere
to work in," says Killian, to wrap up...
Visit Killian's website at www.videostory.net.au
to view his latest weddings and find out more about Video Story or give
him a call on 0468 328 283 to hear that lovely Irish accent!
