Featuring stylish neon signage, delicate décor details and the cutest fur babies!
Get ready for some killer décor, stylish signage and adorable pups in Caragh and Ben’s pet-friendly wedding at Clandeboye Lodge Hotel on April 23rd. Our bride Caragh is also the face behind the amazing Bonnie Designs NI and made a lot of her own wedding décor – she will also be exhibiting at the Wedding Journal Show in Belfast so make sure you come along to see her amazing pieces in person!
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Keep on reading to find out how this perfect pair from County Armagh made it to the alter and get inspired with their wedding planning advice and top tips.
HOW THEY MET
For Caragh and Ben, it was love at first swipe on Tinder in 2018 when Ben made the first move after seeing Caragh’s profile picture and so their modern fairytale began!
Ben says: “I made the first move by swiping right on Tinder and starting a conversation. The first time we met was at Carn Industrial Estate when I was leaving my van off to get a new one and Caragh was taking her break at Irwin’s Bakery across the road, so we arranged to go to the park in Portadown.”
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Since then, Caragh has become an amazing step mother to Ben’s son Caleb, they worked through long distance when Caragh was working in London, cared for their four dogs and have now moved in together in Armagh. Caragh, who is the owner of Bonnie Designs NI, also designs logos for Ben’s new business venture BJC Electrical Services. Now that’s wifey materiel!
THE PROPOSAL
After all this, Ben knew it was time to put a ring on it! He proposed two years later in October 2020 while on a romantic boat ride in Italy.
Ben continues: “I proposed in Venice on a gondola going under the Bridge of Sighs. The story is that once you pass under the the bridge you are meant to kiss as it signifies that you will have eternal love.”
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Of course, Caragh was delighted and said ‘YES!’ and Ben nailed the proposal… Fellas, take notes!
THE PLANNING PROCESS
Caragh and Ben found their dream wedding venue at Clandeboye Lodge Hotel and booked straight away. They planned everything themselves and offer some great tips and advice for our busy brides and grooms-to-be!
Caragh says: “We planned everything ourselves and I made a lot of the items at our wedding with Ben’s help throughout. Our wedding planning tips would be to create a new email for wedding planning to keep everything in one place. You should also create a google spreadsheet to manage the to-do list/planning/budget and payments (I lived in mine!).
“Before adding up your budget, send it to any past brides you know and to see what you’re forgetting – I forgot loads of important things! Also, we wouldn’t recommend booking your honeymoon the day after the wedding. Overall, make sure to enjoy all the planning and don’t sweat the small stuff on the day as only you will notice!”
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“Our suppliers were all great, we picked them all purely through word of mouth and friends’ recommendations. Our Humanist Celebrant was Claire Taylor who really got to know us in the year running up to our wedding and wrote us the most beautiful wedding script for our day! Bonnie Designs NI is my wedding décor and signage business – I will be exhibiting at the Wedding Journal Show so make sure to come and say hello!”
CAPTURING THE DAY
Sun & Beau captured Caragh and Ben’s wedding perfectly with an array of cute candids, picture-perfect moments and unforgettable memories. Their amazing wedding video was created by T9 Images Media and we could really feel the love!
“We absolutely loved Sarah from Sun & Beau, she is an amazing photographer and every image was amazing!” Carragh says. “She really listened to the type of photos we wanted and was able to tell us how to stand and pose – we are both uncomfortable in front of the camera but this wasn’t the case with Sarah.”
“Our videographer was T9 Images Media. They were great and really knew their stuff about wedding videography, they thought of everything on the day and got some amazing drone shots to go in our video. We both absolutely loved our preview video and are so looking forward to seeing the full wedding video.”
WEDDING WARDROBE
Caragh looked like a real-life princess in a stunning beaded gown by Eliza Jane Howell from White Gold Bridal in Broughshane.
“My dress was called the Lexington and I purchased this from Dorothy at White Gold Bridal. She is amazing! The mother of the bride gown was was Gill Harvey in white which is the same designer as Eliza Jane Howell and was Bought from Queen Bee By Serendipity in Fivemiletown.”
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The bridesmaids wore champagne satin off-the-shoulder gowns by Amsale from Maire Therese Bridal in Coleraine while the groom and groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos.
FAVOURITE MOMENTS
As parents to some precious fur babies, Caragh and Ben will never forget having their pets involved in the wedding as well as the moment Caragh walked down the aisle.
Carrie reminisces: “My favourite moment was walking down the aisle and seeing Ben in tears. We also both loved having our dogs there after the ceremony for some cute pictures and just loved every part of our day. We both wish we could do it all over again!
Ben add: “Mine has to be watching Caragh walking down the aisle in her dress looking stunning.”
DREAM WEDDING TEAM
Venue: Clandeboye Lodge Hotel
Wedding Dress: Lexington by Eliza Jane Howell from White Gold Bridal
Bridesmaids: Verona Bridal & Marie Therese Bridal
Wedding Car: Angels Wedding Cars & Lurgan Limos
Signage & Décor: Bonnie Designs NI
Photographer: Sun & Beau
Ceremony Singer: Eimear O’Neill
Florist: Blooming Events
Videographer: T9 Images Media
Hair: Simon Stewart Hair & Matters NI
Makeup: Zoe Boyd
Eyebrows: Rogue Beauty by Gemma Coghill
Cake: Yummy Mummy Cakes
Dog minders: Petticoat Tails Ireland
Wedding Candles: She’s a Melter & Bonnie Designs NI
Mother of the Bride Outfit: Gill Harvey Collection from Maire Therese Bridal
Kids Corner: Little dreams NI
Casino Entertainment Ideas
Flower girl jackets: Bonnie Designs NI
Bride & Groom Accessories: Bonnie Designs NI
Rings: Lunn’s Jewellers
Drinks Reception Music: Gerard Leathem
Evening Music: Juram Music
Humanist Celebrant: Claire Taylor
Skin Prep & facials: Luxederma Skin & Brow Clinic
Check out all or other inspirational real-life weddings HERE!
Would you like your wedding featured in Ireland’s Wedding Journal? Please email us at emma.fegan@pentonpublications.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you!
