Swiped Right at First Sight: Meggie & Glenn’s Lough Eske Castle Wedding

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Meggie and Glenn had a charming and minimalistic wedding filled with love, style and lots of laughter at Lough Eske Castle

HOW THEY MET

Who said you can’t meet your soulmate on Tinder? It’s 2021 and modern-day dating can be even easier these days as Meggie and Glenn found when they swiped right at first sight!

It was 2019 when Meggie cheekily made the first swipe and Glenn jumped at their opportunity to ask her on a date although it took a little grafting to get the girl of his dreams.

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“I may have swiped right first but Glenn definitely was the first to message. There was no way I was doing that, I’m too high maintenance,” Meggie laughs.

“He actually sent me a ridiculous meme of a guy throwing hay in the air which just said ‘hay’ and I thought that was so funny and then I sent one back of Joey Tribbiani from Friends saying ‘how you doin’?. It was so silly, but we just had that same sense of humour!

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“We went on our first date about three weeks later – Glenn had been asking me out from the get-go but I was feeling a little sceptical and he was very patient with me and was the perfect gentleman, so I finally agreed.

“We had our first date at The Harbour in Portrush and it was fantastic and we got on so well. I had class in Belfast the next day and Glenn actually drove all the way up to Belfast just to take me for lunch before my class, it was so sweet.”

THE PROPOSAL

Fast forward to the anniversary of their first date on the 28th November when Glenn planned the perfect proposal at Meggie’s favourite walking spot in Roe Valley County Park with a touch of sparkle.

“My favourite place to go for walks is Roe Valley Country Park in Limavady and at this stage we didn’t have our dog so I would always take his mum’s dog for walks there,” Meggie explains.

“One day Glenn came home from work and asked if we wanted to go for a walk, and I should have known something was up because it was 6:30pm in the winter and was pitch black out but I just grabbed the dog and went.

“As we walked up to Carrick Church in the park it was covered in lanterns and as I was walking up to it, I was asking Glenn ‘oh my goodness, is there a funeral or something happening here’ but it was far from it!” she laughs.

“I didn’t even catch on that it was the anniversary of our first date too and I just couldn’t believe he planned it all – of course I said yes straight away!”

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Meggie and Glenn also made sure to go back to the scene of the crime at Carrick Church in Roe Valley Country Park to get some cute wedding shots to remember where the big question went down!

PLANNING PROCESS

After three years together Meggie and Glenn finally said ‘I do’ on the 12th July 2021, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing thanks to Covid.

“At first we were getting on great with our planning – I had the bridesmaid dresses, the shoes and everything, but when Covid hit we didn’t know what way things were going to go and we were just waiting for an update all the time,” Meggie says.

“We always said from the start whether it was 600 people or six people we were getting married on our date. I had to cancel some of my bridesmaids and me and Glenn just had one maid of honour and one best man on the day.

“We didn’t even send wedding invites because we just found out three or four weeks beforehand that we were only allowed 50 people – we had originally planned for 170, so we had to downsize quite a bit, but everyone was so understanding.

“I think having a smaller wedding actually made it even more special because we were so grateful about who we could have there and it was just a lovely, cosy day.”

DREAM WEDDING SUPPLIERS

Meggie and Glenn had a charming Chapel ceremony in St John’s Church, Granaghan, before heading to their chic reception celebration at Lough Eske Castle.

“We had a mass at my home church where I grew up and it meant a lot to me and my family that I had my wedding there and Glenn loved it too,” Meggie says.

“It was a very special thing for me to get married there – I have had my communion and confirmation there and it was absolutely gorgeous and the priest was phenomenal.”

After going on a romantic staycation at Lough Eske Castle in Donegal, Meggie and Glenn were set on creating their dream venue in the charming castle walls.

“As soon as we saw Lough Eske Castle, we didn’t need to view anywhere else,” Meggie says.

“We stayed there for a weekend, and we just fell in love with it – we actually asked the wedding co-ordinator Simon what their wedding room was like, just being nosy, and they had a wedding set up for the next day so we got to see it all and it was amazing.

“The setting was fantastic, the food was phenomenal, the rooms were gorgeous, and the staff were absolutely incredible – it couldn’t have been more perfect!”

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Meggie and Glenn went for a minimalistic and elegant theme with natural colours, fairy lights and lots of flowers.

“Gerard Flowers in Magherafelt did my flowers with green and white daisies and other wildflowers as I didn’t want anything too neat, and I absolutely loved them!” Meggie says.

CAPTURING THE DAY

Ciaran McGuckin from Carn Photography captured the day perfectly with cute candids and memorable moments for Meggie and Glenn to treasure forever.

“Ciaran just takes the most natural pictures and he always goes that extra mile,” Meggie says.

“He is so easy to work with and made us feel really comfortable. My guests were always talking about how lovely he was and he just felt like part of the day rather than a photographer – he is the best craic and gave me loads of support!”

WEDDING WARDROBE

Meggie lived out every girl’s princess fantasy with a stunning dress from Pronovias in the style Milena from Romantique Bridal, Magherfelt.

“I’ve always known Marie from Romantique Bridal because she lives quite close to where I am from so as soon as the shops were opened after the first lockdown, I messaged her to tell her I’m coming in!” Meggie laughs.

“It was the first and only store I had been to and Marie is just class and got me sorted right away. It was the third dress I tried on and I knew it was the one.

“Everyone always expected me in a figure-hugging dress, but this one was just perfect and I felt like a princess all day!”

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Glenn also looked sharp in a Navy Remus Uomo suit from The Black Tie, Limavady with an ivory/champagne waistcoat to match his blushing bride.

His best man Ben and father of the bride also wore matching navy numbers and Meggie’s maid of honour and sister-in-law Martina wore a sage green sparkly dress from Coast online.

FAVOURITE MOMENT

Meggie and Glenn had a picture-perfect day with close family enjoying all the fun, especially their little niece and nephew Cathy and Tadhg!

“They were really sweet and as good as gold – it was all they talked about for weeks and are on a downer like me because it’s all over!” Meggie laughs.

“Our favourite moment was probably getting into the car with Glenn on the way to the reception just after the ceremony. Sitting there together as husband and wife was really surreal.

“It’s all a big rush and then you get into the car and it’s just the two of you – we were just so happy and giddy the whole way and took a little pic with our rings!”

BRIDAL ADVICE

For all those busy brides-to-be out their planning their wedding during the uncertainty of a pandemic, Meggie has some encouraging bridal advice.

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“I would say just to remember what the day is really about and that’s you two getting married and starting that new chapter,” she says.

“I know it’s difficult in relation to Covid but if you really want to get married like us, just go for it and always remember that’s your day! A lot of people have opinions, but it’s your day so just go with what makes you both happy.

“We didn’t get to have music or a DJ and we had originally planned a big wedding, but we didn’t want to wait to get all those things and we’re so glad we just did what we wanted. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Meggie and Glenn are now enjoying married life together and planning their dream honeymoon to their favourite place in Italy.

Congrats to these two lovebirds!

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