The Lessons I Learned Traveling to Ireland as a Wedding Photographer
One of the inside jokes that always seems to follow me around while traveling is the moment when things are absolutely ridiculous. What’s ridiculous you ask? Oh, you know. It usually happens when we are stuck in an airport with a delay that feels endless. Or when we cannot find a taxi and time is slipping away. Sometimes it is standing in a train station that was supposed to connect us to the next city, only to realize there are actually no more trains for the day and no employees to ask for help. We live here now. Add in the fact that I often do not speak the local language, and almost always on a deadline of some kind, and you have the recipe for comical frustration.
It’s an “if you don’t laugh you’ll cry” kind of vibe.
In those moments, someone I am with usually looks at me and says, “It’s such a blessing that we get to travel.” And it is true. My cameras have taken me all over the world, and I am deeply grateful for that. But I also believe in being honest about what travel really looks like. Social media loves the perfect moments, but rarely shows the exhaustion, the missed connections, or the parts of the journey that fall apart. As a wedding photographer, traveling is made even more complicated by the responsibility of protecting people’s memories and carrying extremely expensive photography gear everywhere I go. Not to mention handing scripts that roughly translate to “please, please, hand check this film so your x-rays don’t destroy it” in whatever language is needed to airport security… Traveling for work is an adventure.
Because let’s be real, it’s real cute by the time it hits the ‘gram. We’re smiling over great food, walking over cobble stones, and drinking tea. But it’s just not the whole story. Well, the tea is, the tea is 100% accurate. Frankly, we didn’t talk enough about the tea.
I digress. My most recent international trip was to Ireland, which is a fairly special one for me. Erica and I traveled together, and it was meaningful for me because Ireland has been on my bucket list since I was a child. I grew up Irish Dancing and surrounded by people who traveled there yearly and I have just never made it over. So on this trip we tried to squeeze too much into one trip, which is not usually our style, but sometimes excitement wins.
It was magical in every way I imagined, and it also taught me a few lessons. Over the last few weeks we keep thinking about what we could have done better, aka “we’ll never do that again” and what we’re booking that flight back to do immediately (the tea, obviously). So in the spirit of both full transparency and a few travel recommendations – please learn from my mistakes.
Three Things I Do Not Recommend when visiting Ireland
1. Don’t drive.
I know you think you can do it. I thought I could too. In fact, I (and every other American) felt fairly confident as we spent two and a half hours waiting in line at Hertz, only to finally get our car and discover that Ireland’s roads are about three inches wide. They are not built for two cars, much less large vehicles, and the locals drive them with the confidence of race car drivers. At one point, we just kept saying to each other, “This feels like a video game.” My advice: Save your sanity. No matter what a private driver or alternative transportation costs, your mental health is worth it.
2. Don’t overschedule.
I underestimated Ireland. In my head, it was a sleepy little island. How hard could it be to get from one side to the other? After all, I navigate New York City multiple times a year. But Ireland? She had other plans. Everything takes longer than you expect, and the logistics can be surprisingly complicated. Build in margins. Give yourself space to breathe. The island is worth savoring slowly. Or she’ll eat you alive. Dramatic? Try it, I dare you.
3. Don’t ask AI for itinerary help.
Fun fact: Did you know AI likes to make things up? Downright hallucinates! I do now. Tells herself stories about sweet little castles we should see while we’re nearby (4 hours is not nearby, please see item one on this list). Let’s just say when you ask your “friendly neighborhood robot” for hidden gems in a specific area that you’re already in, you may want to double-check before banking your schedule on its suggestions. Learn from my mistake and stick to trusted guides, or better yet, locals.
Three Things You Absolutely Should Do in Ireland
1. Find good chocolate.
Somehow, we stumbled into what I am convinced was the best chocolate shop in the world. European chocolate is obviously better than what we find in the States, but I never expected to find my favorite in Ireland. I’m telling you, do not miss this.
2. Eat your way through Dublin.
Here’s a confession: I didn’t have high expectations for the food. But Dublin surprised me at every turn. From rich flavors to unexpected fusion, the city is a culinary dream. I’d go back just to eat my way through it again.
3. Talk to the people.
This might be my favorite takeaway. I don’t think you’ll find kinder, warmer people anywhere in the world. From shopkeepers to B&B hosts to the sweet women serving tea, every conversation felt like a gift. I may or may not have tried to get three grandmas to adopt me. Take the time to connect, you won’t regret it.
Travel is always a privilege, despite our jokes of desperation when we’re tired and hungry. But in reality, it is humbling to be welcomed into different cultures, to see new landscapes, and to share in so many incredible moments. I am grateful that my cameras have given me the opportunity to do that, and Ireland will always hold a very special place in my heart. I can’t wait to come back and drink more tea.
