A Sunset Elopement at Howth & Sutton Creek, Ireland
Howth and the Irish coast: a setting that asks you to slow down
Howth sits on a headland just north of Dublin — a fishing village with a harbour full of coloured boats, cliff paths above the Atlantic, and the kind of light that makes everything look slightly cinematic. For couples drawn to eloping in Ireland, Howth offers something rare: wild coastal scenery within reach of Dublin, with enough seclusion to make the moment feel entirely private. Jeff and Brittany had always wanted to visit Ireland — and when they finally came, they came to get married.
Jeff & Brittany: two nurses, one Claddagh ring
They met on February 19, 2019 — Brittany was precepting Jeff as a travel nurse at Kennestone Hospital in Georgia. Jeff’s humour cut through the weight of the job: nursing is hard work, and someone who could make you laugh in the middle of it meant something. Six months of friendship, then an awkward hug and a text message, and they had their first date at Starbucks.
Both had been married before and had no particular intention of marrying again. But as Brittany put it: they had both finally learned what true love actually was, after a few tries. The COVID-19 pandemic brought them even closer — long shifts, high stakes, the kind of shared experience that either breaks people apart or binds them permanently. For Jeff and Brittany, it was the latter.
They both have Irish roots, and Ireland had always been on the list — a place they talked about but hadn’t yet been. Christmas 2023, Jeff gave Brittany a Claddagh ring: not just a promise to visit, but a promise of forever. Eighteen months later, they were standing on the cliffs at Howth, about to make it official.
The Celtic Handfasting ceremony at Howth Cliffs
Jeff and Brittany chose a Celtic Handfasting for their ceremony — one of Ireland’s oldest rituals, where the couple’s hands are bound together with a ribbon or cord, symbolising their union. The phrase “tying the knot” comes from exactly this. Their hands were joined in a figure-eight above the Atlantic, with the golden hour light catching the cliffs and the sea stretching out below them. They had written their own vows. Just the two of them, the officiant, and Ireland. If you are planning a ceremony in Ireland, handfasting is one of the most meaningful ways to make it your own — particularly on this coast, where the tradition was born.
The photo session at Sutton Creek
After the ceremony, Jeff and Brittany made their way to Sutton Creek — the light still warm, the tide low, the evening quiet. Their photo session captures two people who are completely at ease with each other: a spunky social butterfly and her quieter, funnier counterpart, who balance each other in the way that only works when it’s real. A great cocktail, a great view, and a long overdue yes.
OUR REAL WEDDING STORIES IN IRELAND
Others couples from our blog stories
A Twenty-Year Promise, Dunluce Castle | Ernie & Erica
Twenty years, two boys, one angel baby, and a secret courthouse marriage no one knew about for years. Ernie and Erica came to the clifftops of Northern Ireland to do it their way — finally.
Ireland Wedding at Black Castle — J&B
Clifftop vows, Celtic handfasting, and a pint of Guinness — this intimate Ireland wedding at Black Castle had it all. A story written in wind, sea, and tears.
Sunset Elopement in Ireland: Romantic Vows at Howth & Sutton Creek
Just outside Dublin, Howth’s colorful harbor and the serene sands of Sutton Creek set the stage for a magical Ireland elopement. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the couple exchanged vows against the shimmering tide, capturing golden hour portraits in one of Ireland’s most romantic coastal settings.
A wedding at Black Castle, Wicklow, Ireland
A wedding at black castle, Wicklow, Ireland with family and friends. Overlooking the Irish Sea, offers a stunning and romantic backdrop.