Brian McFadden & Danielle – A Lusty Glaze Wedding in Cornwall
Some weddings feel like they barely need photographing – the emotion and energy are already written into every moment. Danielle and Brian’s day at Lusty Glaze was one of those.
From the outset, it felt unforced and open. There was a warmth to the way people arrived, the way conversations overlapped, the way laughter travelled easily through the space. Nothing felt managed or shaped for the sake of appearances. It was simply a group of people who were very happy to be there, celebrating two people they care deeply about.
You may recognise Brian from Westlife, his solo work, or more recently from Boyzlife – but what stood out throughout the day wasn’t the performer. It was how present he was. How much time he spent with the people closest to him. And how evident his love for Danielle – and for his daughters – was in quiet, unguarded ways.
That sense of family ran through everything.
Lusty Glaze is a place that lends itself naturally to that kind of openness. Sitting right on the beach, with the sea close enough to hear, it strips things back. The setting encourages people to relax into the day rather than perform it. Danielle and Brian fitted into it effortlessly – laughing, chatting, moving between people, never disappearing for long stretches, never stepping away from the flow of the day.
The ceremony itself was full of feeling without ever becoming heavy. There were smiles throughout, knowing looks exchanged across rows of guests, and a shared sense of excitement that felt collective rather than contained. I’m always drawn to what happens just beyond the obvious moments – the reactions, the glances, the hands finding each other – and there was no shortage of that here.
As the day moved into the wedding breakfast, the atmosphere lifted another notch.
One of the most memorable moments came when their friend, the brilliant Cole Page, took the lead and turned the room into a full-blown sing-along. What started with one voice quickly became many. Brian joined in, then more guests, until the entire room felt connected by sound, laughter, and shared energy. Even Keith Duffy was right there in the middle of it – not as a performer on a stage, but as a friend, part of the same moment as everyone else.
It was one of those scenes that perfectly summed up the day: spontaneous, communal, joyful – and completely unmanufactured.
Throughout it all, Brian’s relationship with his daughters was impossible to miss. Small gestures, shared smiles, moments of attention that spoke volumes. These weren’t moments that needed directing or highlighting – they were simply there, woven naturally into the rhythm of the day. The kind of details that matter far more in hindsight than anything perfectly arranged.
Danielle and Brian also found space for each other in a way that felt organic. Not formal “couple time”, but small pauses – a kiss in passing, laughter on the beach, a shared look amid the noise. Moments that would have happened whether I was there or not, which is always the litmus test for what’s worth photographing.
Then came the evening – and a first dance that felt less like a performance and more like a release.
There was energy, confidence, and no shortage of movement – a reminder, perhaps, that Brian does indeed have the moves (something Strictly viewers are about to see for themselves). But what made the moment wasn’t the dancing itself. It was the way Danielle watched him throughout – laughing, reacting, completely in it with him. The room fed off that connection, and the noise, applause, and movement that followed felt genuinely earned.
As the night wore on, things softened in the best possible way. Shoes came off. Hugs lingered. Children stayed up far later than planned. The dance floor became a blur of faces, arms, and expressions – joyful, imperfect, and alive. These are the moments where documentary photography thrives, because nothing needs prompting and nothing needs repeating.
This was a wedding fuelled by people – by energy, by affection, by shared history, and by a lot of love. High-octane at times, tender at others, but always real.
No posing.
Nothing staged.
Just a day that unfolded exactly as it should have.
It was a genuine privilege to photograph – not because of who Brian and Danielle are publicly, but because of how openly they invited everyone around them into their celebration. A wedding full of heart, humour, music, and connection – the kind that stays with you long after the night ends.
If you’re looking for wedding photography that’s honest, unobtrusive, and rooted in real moments, you can find more information about my approach here.