Work lovers Alia and Pierce said ‘I do’ with a blissful and chic ceremony in one of Ireland’s hidden gems! Check out their Real Life Wedding in Ireland!
We love a good Real Life Wedding in Ireland! Today we’re sharing Aria and Pierce’s chic and rustic day at Ballybeg House in County Wicklow on the 19th of July 2022!
This perfect pair had everything from sequin bridesmaid gowns to a dreamy venue! Rob O’Neil Photography captured every heart-felt moment where we could really feel the love, so let’s take a closer look…
HOW THEY MET
We’re throwing it all the way back to the early 2010s when Alia and Pierce were work friends, but their love story didn’t really begin until Alia handed in her notice to start another work adventure!
“Pierce and I met in Glasgow at a business meeting at The Corinthian Club in 2013. We both worked for the same company, but he was based in Belfast and I was based in Edinburgh. It was two weeks before I was leaving the company that our paths crossed and we met. I’d only ever dealt with him via email, so when we met I was like ‘wow, he’s gorgeous!’
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“I said to the girls who I worked with I’m going to marry Pierce Hunt, they laughed at me. But I knew that he was the one. Thankfully, he felt the same about me and then a few weeks later, I was leaving and I sent out a generic thank you email to head office. He was the first to reply! He messaged saying he would like to look me up when he’s next in Edinburgh. 6 months later he came to visit for a weekend and we have been together ever since. We officially got together in the May and then I moved to Belfast in January 2014.”
THE PROPOSAL
Alia and Pierce got engaged on the 30th November 2019 and it came as a surprise! They had been together exactly 6.5 years. It was a tradition to celebrate every 6 months. Alia explains how she expected her proposal to go.
She explains, “we travel a lot and I always thought Pierce would propose on a trip away. It was a Saturday afternoon after I’d been out shopping with his sister!
“We had glug and games planned at our friends that night. I came home and Pierce said there was a change of plan and that we were going out for dinner that night. I said ‘oh okay’, and went to start getting ready. Pierce was dressed and changed in the fastest time that I’ve ever seen!”
THE BIG MOMENT
After an hour, Alia returned down stairs and walked into their gorgeous lounge where they had put up their Christmas tree a few days before.
Alia describes the moment, “There was a bouquet of beautiful pink roses for me and I said, ‘what are these for?’ He said because I deserve them, at this point I had no clue. We went into the kitchen to get a vase and I couldn’t find a single one! Pierce mentioned they were under the sink. I was busy getting the vase and as I turned around to find Pierce, he was already down on one knee!
“He very romantically told me that it was our 6.5 year anniversary and that he wanted to marry me, he had the ring box open and I started crying. I was so over joyed and cried saying ‘Yes, of course!’
“He also said that going away was too predictable and that he wanted to catch me off guard, which he really did. In our home that we built together was truly the most romantic place he could have picked.”
THE PLANNING PROCESS
Since the proposal happened at Christmas, the couple decided to hold off the planning process until the New Year. That way, they were also able to enjoy the buzz of being newly engaged. Alia and Pierce had always dreamed of getting married abroad, however the pandemic hit and they were unable to plan any further!
A trip to Donegal convinced the lovebirds to focus on a wedding in Ireland instead. Alia explains the thought process for their real life wedding in Ireland.
“I started looking at venues all over Ireland that would give us the flexibility and freedom to still enjoy the feeling of an abroad wedding and a 3 day duration. Whilst looking on countless articles, I stumbled across Ballybeg House in County Wicklow and it was described as a quirky and intimate venue set against the back drop of the Wicklow mountains.
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“We were sold and we arranged a trip down to view the venue as soon as we were able too. The minute we turned up the drive way we both looked at each other and said this is it. Greeted by a paddy the owner he was so warm and welcoming I knew that is how I wanted our guests to feel when they arrived.
Ballybeg House is available for exclusive private hire Monday -Thursday and has accommodation for up to 50 guests. This meant that Alia and Pierce could have that ‘abroad’ feeling they always wanted.
Alia says, “The estate is big and there are a couple of properties set way up in the woods and it is just stunning.”
WEDDING PLANNER
“We appointed Tee o Toole as our wedding planner she got married at Ballybeg and she really was a super star from start to finish.
“Tee very quickly understood the style we wanted to create and she was always on hand to ensure everything was just as had wanted. She made our wedding so special she had thought of things I hadn’t even thought of. Tee made my bouquets and offers this service along side the wedding planning and she is such a special lady to have with you on your big day.”
DREAM WEDDING SUPPLIERS
Our wedding suppliers were:
- Venue – Ballybeg House County Wicklow,
- Wedding Planner – Tee o Toole,
- Makeup – Anita Conroy Makeup
- Wedding Dress – Reflections Bridal Lisburn
- Wedding Dress Designer – Naviblue “Blandy”
- Hair – Michelle Conroy
- Music -Ukebox for drinks reception, Santoria in the evening, Day Two – Local singer, Mush Malloy.
- Catering – Pauline and Infrid Furlong, Mollys Larder.
- Flowers – Tee o Toole
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“Our photographer was the incredibly talented Rob O’Neil photography. He captured our day in such a way we are gobsmacked!
“My Wedding Dress was bought at Reflections Bridal Lisburn. The designer was Naviblue Bridal and my dress was Blandy. I wore Jimmy Choo shoes and my bridesmaids wore sequin gowns from coast. The men wore black tie tuxedos.
“Pierces tux was one he already had and loved so he actually wore it again!”
FAVOURITE MOMENT
One of the couples favourite moments was the 31 degree heat as they were having the drinks reception with ‘Can’t take my eyes off you’, by Frankie Vallie playing!
They truly got their dream real life wedding in Ireland!
“Our wedding band, Ukebox played ‘Can’t take my eyes off you’ and my bridesmaids started doing a little leg kick together. Pierce and I decided to also dance and everyone was watching! The sun was shining and it was that moment we realised we were so full of love and loved by everyone else. It was just a really special moment!
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“The mountains are dazzling behind and the moment was just so special as it was completely unplanned. Also as we walked through the confetti arch after just being married it was a real feeling of joy and love.”
BRIDAL ADVICE
Alia says, “Our biggest piece of advice is literally create the day you want and pick a venue that allows you to do just that. There were many venues we viewed that were very strict and for us having the freedom of the venue was key to our day.
“Also do what brings you joy and try not to people please and do what you as couple both desire. Enjoy the day and soak it up, it’s the one time all the people you love are all together in one place just for you.
“Since our wedding, my darling Grandmother passed away and to be honest I’m just so grateful that we had such a magical few days all together. I’ll treasure the pictures!
“Also remember if your budgeting try and stick within in it, all the little details you think so much about really on the day don’t matter. Everyone is there to celebrate you so do just that and enjoy it all”
What a perfect real life wedding in Ireland!
If you would like your wedding day featured in Ireland’s Wedding Journal, feel free to contact us at: chloe.murray@pentonpublication.co.uk. We would love to see your pics also!
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