Belfast Wedding Videographer
The Beauty of a wedding video in Belfast City
If you’re planning on getting married in Belfast, congratulations!
Belfast is an incredible city to tie the knot in. It’s a place that balances history, elegance, and a vibrant energy that makes wedding celebrations truly unforgettable. Perhaps you studied at Queens university, or live in one of the outlying suburbs such as Dundonald and spend your weekend in the cities cafes (I recommend Neighbourhood cafe as my favourite!). From the grandeuer of the Merchant Hotel, to the charm of Ten Square, and the iconic backdrop of the Titanic Hotel, there’s no shortage of magical venues right here in the city.
As a Belfast Wedding Videographer, I’ve been lucky to capture some incredible love stories in these venues. Every couple is different, and so is every wedding film - which is why I always approach each day with fresh eyes, looking for the moments that make your relationship unique.
Whether you’re planning a big, glamorous day in the city centre, or something more intimate like an afternoon of celebration from an elopement of City Hall Wedding, there’s no shortage of magical venues and I’ll make sure that your story is told in a way that feels true to you.
Why choose Belfast for your wedding?
Belfast has quickly become on of the most sought-after wedding destinations in Northern Ireland. Couples are drawn here for many reasons:
The venues From historic hotels such as Belfast Castle, to contemporary spaces, the city has a wide range of options that fit every style and size of wedding.
The city backdrop. Think cobbled streets in the Cathedral Quarter, iconic pubs like the Duke of York, and the mix of modern architecture with victorian heritage. These all make for beautiful, cinematic backdrops for those lovely 50 frames-per-second shots that I can use in slow motion to open my highlight films with.
Accessibility: with the airport and transport links, it’s an easy city for guests travelling from abroad or across Ireland.
But perhaps what makes Belfast special is its atmosphere - the buss of the city adds energy to a wedding day, and that translates beautifully to digital compact cameras and 18mm film at the same time!
A brief history of Belfast
Belfast is a city with a story that stretches back centuries. Once a small settlement along the River Lagan, it grew rapidly during the industrial revolution to become one of the most important cities in Ireland. By the 19th century, Belfast was world-famous for its linen production, earning the nickname ‘Linenopolis’. Shipbuilding also played a massive role in shaping the city - the Harland and Wolff shipyard was responsible for building many of the world’s most iconic vessels, including the RMS Titanic.
Alongside its industrial success, Belfast became a centre for innovation, trade, and culture. It's victorian and edwardian architecture still defines much of the city centre today, from the grand facade of the city hall to the ornate pubs of the cathedral quarter.
The city has also weathered its share of challenges with the Northern Irish Troubles, but in recent decades belfast has transformed into a vibrant, welcoming place that’s proud of its heritage while looking firmly to the future. This shown so much in the country and cities involvement in Game of Thrones and the film studios that have taken over the ports and dockside of the city to host blockbuster films and shows how the city has moved on from its turbulent recent past. This mix of history and modernity is one of the things that makes Belfast such a special location for weddings. When you get married here, you’re not just choosing a venue - you’re becoming part of the city’s living story.
Getting To Belfast - National and International Transport Links
One of the big advantages of choosing Belfast for your wedding is how accesible the city is for guests, whether they’re travelling from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the UK, or abroad.
Belfast is served by two airports: Belfast International Airport and George Best City Airport. Belfast international connects the city to major European destinations and key uk hubs, while belfast city airport is just minutes from the city centre, making it ideal for quick and easy arrivals. For couples with guests flying in from overseas, Dublin Airport is also less than two hours away and well connected by coach and rail links.
For those travelling within the UK and Ireland, Belfast is linked by an excellent road and rail network. The Enterprise train service runs directly between Belfast and Dublin, while the motorway network makes driving from other parts of Northern IReland and the Republic straightforward. Guests from Scotland and England also have the option of ferry services to Belfast or Larne.
This ease of access means your wedding in Belfast is not only memorable but practical for all. Your friends and family can celebrate with you without the stress of complicated travel.
Exploring the wider city of belfast
Beyond the wedding celebrations, Belfast itself has so much to offer your guests. It’s a city that blends history, culture, and modern energy in a way that few places can. Visitors often comment on how welcoming and vibrant it feels and there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy.
For history and culture lovers, the Titanic Belfast Museum is a must-see, telling the story of the world’s most famous ship right on the site where it was built. City hall in Donegall Square is another landmark worth visiting (if you don’t get married there by a registrar), with free tours that explore Belfast’s fascinating civic history. The Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens aren’t just popular tourist spots - they’re perfect locations for couple portraits after a small civil ceremony or part of a larger marriage celebration. I often use their greenhouses to stage some of my shots alongside a couple’s wedding photographer. Often for these type of shoots I’ll try and mount my sony cinema camera on its manfrotto plate, onto my DJI gimbal for that extra added stability. This means I can get those sweeping dress shots, or follow the bridal bouquet toss and capture one of your bridesmaids scrambling to catch it!!
Belfast is also known for its buzzing food and drink scene. The Cathedral Quarter isn’t just a vibrant and buzzing place for bridal photography and videography, but it’s full of traditional pubs with live music, trendy cocktail bars, and fantastic resturants serving everything from classic Irish dishes to contemporary cuisine. St George’s market is another highlight, where visitors can try local produce, crafts, and live Irish music all under one roof.
And then there’s the street art and political murals, which tell the story of Belfast’s past and present. Exploring them gives guests a real sense of the city’s resilience and creativity.
In short, Belfast is more than just a wedding destination, it’s a city that leaves a lasting impression.
Belfast City Hall Weddings and Cafe Parisien
One of the most iconic and romantic places to say “I do” in Belfast is the City Hall. Located right in the heart of the city, its grand Edwardian architecture and marble interiors provide and elegant and timeless backdrop for a wedding ceremony. Many couples choose this wedding venue for its central location and opportunity to marry in one of the most historic civic buildings in Northern Ireland.
As a videographer, I love filming weddings here because of the drama and atmosphere the space brings. From sweeping startcases to the light-filled rooms, City Hall feels regal without ever being stuffy. After the ceremony, couples often step outside onto the grounds for confetti throws and groupi shots, with Belfast’s skyline and bustling city life as the backdrop.
What makes a City Hall Wedding even more special is how easily it pairs with a reception just across the street at Cafe Parisien. This stylish restaurant and event space overlooks City Hall, offering incredible views through its tall windows. Inspired by the Parisian Cafe culture of the early 1900s, it combines elegant interiors with modern touches, creating a sophisticated yet relaxed place to celebrate. I love setting up for more candid shots in this reception space, where the top table is often integrated with the rest of your bridal party and guests, lending itself to the intimacy or a smaller ceremony or reception.
I’ve filmed weddings where couples moved seamlessly from their City Hall ceremony to Cafe Parisien for champagne, canapes, and a lively evening of dining and dancing - or even just a few lovely shots of my couple grabbing a coffee and enjoying watching the bustling city go by as newlyweds. Guests love the convenience too - with no long transfers, no waiting around - just a short stroll across Donegall Square. The atmosphere inside Cafe Parisien feels intimate but vibrant, with a European flair that makes it stand out from traditional hotel receptions.
For couples looking for a chic belfast city wedding, the City Hall and Cafe parisien is a stylish combination that’s hard to beat. It gives you a sense of grandeur for your vows, followed by a stylish, contemporary space for your party. From a storytelling point of view, it also works beautifully on film: the formality and history of City Hall blending into the warmth and sparkle of Cafe Parisien’s celebration. I’m fortunate enough to have won ‘Best City Hall’ wedding video in Junebug Bridal videography awards, thanks to a particularly quirky and fashionable couple who were so in love for the camera that it made my job particularly easy!
Wedding Videography at the Titanic Hotel Belfast
Few venues in Northern Ireland carry as much history and impact as the Titanic Hotel, Belfast. Built within the old Harland and Wolff headquarters and drawing rooms where the RMS Titanic was designed, this space combines industrial heritage with luxury.
I recently filmed a wedding here where the couple said their vows in the Drawing Office. The light poured in through the glass roof, and the scale of the room gave such a cinematic feel. We captured drone footage of the surrounding Titanic Quarter, with its mix of historis shipyard cranes and modern waterfront. Those shots contrasted beautifully with the intimate, personal moments of the ceremony and speeches.
The main ceremony room of the Titanic Hotel is one of the best in the country. It allows me and the wedding photographer the space that we need to take a step back and fulfill a more candid documentary approach - with the natural light spilling in from the glass roof.
For couples who want their wedding film to have grandeur and atmosphere, Titanic Hotel is perfect. It’s one of those venues that tells a story before the camera even starts rolling and I particularly love slowing down my shutter to around 1/10s for those moving wedding dress shots with the dockyards as a background.
The Merchant Hotel - Elegance in the Heart of Belfast
The Merchant Hotel in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is iconic - and for good reason. It’s one of my most popular venues for weddings in the city and its five-star luxury, stunning architecture, and central location make it a favourite for couples who want that blend of old-world charm and modern sophistication.
When I filmed Jane and Martin’s wedding at the Merchant, their day started with a relaxed morning in the hotel’s stunning suites. After their chapel ceremony in Dunmurry, they returned to the Merchant for the reception. We made the most of the elegant lobby, the grand staircase, and even stepped outside for portraits around Belfast City centre. One of my favourite shoots in the cathedral quarter was with Orla and Caolan:
With all of my wedding couples at the Merchant, a stop at the Duke of York for a pint gave them the chance to catch their breath, and gave me those candid, joyful shots as the highlights of each wedding film.
What I love about the Merchant is that it gives you so many layers to work with. The opulence indoors, the lively Cathedral Quarter streets just outside, and the atmosphere of being right in the middle of Belfast - all combine to make it a dream location for a wedding videographer.
Weddings at Ten Square Belfast.
Ten Square, right beside Belfast City Hall, is another gem in the city. It’s stylish, modern, and has an unbeatable central location. I filmed a wedding there not long ago where the couple wanted somethign chic and contemporary, whilst still keeping that Belfast character.
We made use of the City hall as a backdrop for some stunning shots - it’s literally across the street on Donegall Square. We then went into the heart of the city where I took my gimbal stabiliser for those buttery smooth shots for more urban-style portraits. The reception itself had a real buss to it, with Ten Square’s modern interiors setting the tone for a lively celebration. The stunning bridal suite overlooks the city for some great portrait opportunities.
For couples who want a wedding film that feels fun, fresh and modern, Ten Square is a brilliant choice.
What makes a great Belfast Wedding Film?
A wedding film should never feel like a cookie-cutter template. Belfast offers so many opportunities to create something special, personal and cinematic. For me it’s about:
Getting to know you - your story as a couple helps shape how I film and edit.
Capturing the atmosphere - whether it’s the grandeur of Titanic, the elegance of the Merchant, the chic vibe of Cafe Parisien, or the vibrancy around Ten Square, the venue’s character is part of your story.
Blending planned shots with real moments - yes, we’ll capture the sweeping cityscapes and timelapses of the city coming alive with its iconic landmarks, but the laughter, the tears, and the unexpected moments are what make your film truly yours and allows me and my photography partner tailor your wedding photography and videography package to suit your needs.
Why invest in a Belfast Wedding Videographer?
Your wedding day will go by in a flash. Photos are wonderful, but a film gives you the sounds, the movements, and the little moments that can’t be captured in still images.
Imagine hearing your vows again in 20 years, watching your first dance, or seeing your friends and family as they were that day.
Couples often tell me that their wedding video becomes the one thing they return to year after year - and it only grows in value over time.
Let’s chat about your Belfast Wedding
If you’re planning your wedding in Blefast, whichever venue you choose, I’d love to chat with you about your plans. Every couple is different, and I’d be honoured to create a film that tells your story in a way that feels authentic, timeless, and full of life.
