I Do Date: 26th March 2023

How did you both meet?

‘We matched on Bumble – the modern day meet-cute,’ laughs Jordan, ‘We started chatting and then a few days later we had our first date and headed to The Crafty Vintner for cocktails and canapés, followed by a few more tipples at The Merchant. Ironically, I had just turned 30 and sworn off dating, thinking I would never meet the right man for me and although we both said we would take things slowly within a few weeks we were talking about engagement rings and living together! In fact, Ben said in his wedding speech that he had noticed me walking down the street a few weeks prior to us connecting on Bumble which I never knew until then. Plus, I am a real foodie who doesn’t like to cook and Ben is a chef, so I think we were meant to be!’

How did Ben propose?

‘It was seven months after we met that Ben proposed. Having remembered all I had previously said I liked in an engagement ring – gold not silver and an oval diamond – he secretly had one made for me and started this process a few months before he popped the question. It was mid-January 2022, that he told me we were heading for a break at Lough Eske Castle and this came after a really busy period for both of us in work, so I didn’t really question why he was treating us to a break away. Unbeknown to me Ben had already spoken to my boss to ensure I could get the time off and also to my nail technician to make sure she would do my nails in a nice colour! When we got there I spent ages getting ready in the bathroom to go for dinner as I always do, and when I came into the bedroom to show him the transformation, he asked me to sit on the bed, handed me a gift box and inside was a personalised teddy bear he’d had made for me that had ‘Baby will you marry me?’ on its foot! He then had a whole speech for me – it was a total dream.

‘My mum is my all time bestie so I Face Timed her and dad to let them know and they were on the other end with balloons, banners and Champagne as Ben has already briefed them too – I am just glad I hadn’t got in touch with home prior to him popping the question!’

Tell us about the planning?

‘We didn’t want a church wedding, and as a nod to our first date at The Merchant, we decided to have our wedding ceremony on the rooftop there. Also, Sundays are our favourite day of the week as it’s my only day off so they are usually special, so we asked them to let us know a few dates they might be free and not wanting to rush things, but also not wanting to stall either, we opted for March 2023. 

‘For our reception, we wanted to bring our guests somewhere different and food focused, so we booked Stock at St. Georges Market, where we had a sit down dinner for 60 and then a further 30 for the evening reception. Our favourite food is steak and chips and taking charge of the menu, Ben opted for a langoustine scampi with crab & apple slaw starter, followed by Côte De Bœuf and for dessert, a chocolate tart with rhubarb & vanilla cream.

‘I ordered our wedding cake – which had a white chocolate and raspberry tier and also a salted caramel one – from The French Village.

Who captured your day?

‘Lisa and Marty from Adore Weddings NI were our photographers and they have a candid style that we really wanted, we didn’t want any posed shots. Niamh McLaughlin was our videographer and as with our photographers, she captured lots of great moments that otherwise we would have missed because there is just so much going on and the day really does just fly by. So, having memories of the day captured on video and photographs is so important and we love looking back on it all.’

Tell us about some of the other suppliers you used?

‘While we wanted to plan a memorable day, we also didn’t want to spend a fortune on what is realistically one day, so we did keep it within the allocated budget. For example, I made our wedding invitations and when it came to venue styling we worked with what The Merchant supplied for the ceremony, enlisting the help of Ciara Scullion from Weddings at Tiffany’s for Stock. Picture Perfect parties NI supplied our large ‘LOVE’ letters and our balloon arch with the words ‘It was always you’ at the reception.

‘We had a champagne reception after the ceremony and before dinner where Rwanda Shaw sang and entertained everyone. In the evening, our wedding DJ was my old co-host at Q Radio and close friend Ryan A. 

‘My aunty Olive is a florist and she provided our bouquets and buttonholes. The flowers were stunning and reflected the green and gold accents we used throughout the styling.

‘As for my hair, it was styled by Keris Weir and one of my bridesmaids Anna McConnell is a make-up artist and did my make-up. Oonagh Boman did my mum’s,’ adds Jordan.

What did you wear?

‘I started modelling when I was 16 and thanks to my curves, which suited wedding dresses, I have worn loads of them over the years, so I did have a pretty good idea of what suited me and what didn’t. In fact, there was a dress I remembered wearing about five years ago and I found one very similar in Reflections in Lisburn. It was in their sample sale and in my exact size – it was like it had been waiting for me! My shoes were cream sandals from Primark and I wore a stunning hairpiece from Deborah K Design. My bridesmaids wore long black dresses from Pretty Little Thing and they each picked their own hairstyle and makeup look for the day, so they all looked and felt their best.

‘Ben and the groomsmen wore a classic tux and Ben stood apart in a bespoke tailored velvet jacket from Suitor Brothers, which he has already been able to wear again to a black tie event. 

‘I am not a trend driven person and we both wanted a timeless styling that wouldn’t date the wedding when we looked back on it,’ adds Jordan.

What were your favourite moments from the day?

‘For me it was walking down the aisle with dad,’ reminisces Jordan. ‘We took a little pause at the top, to be in the moment and survey room. My dad was crying with pride and I felt beautiful.’

‘Seeing Jordan walking down the aisle was mine,’ adds Ben.

Have you any advice to share?

‘Be realistic with your budget, don’t get yourself into debt over this one day – and don’t let the day become bigger than the marriage. Also everyone says it, but the day flies so savour every moment and last but not least don’t sweat the small stuff!’

Jordan & Ben’s Dream Team

Ceremony

Reception

Photography

Videography

Wedding Dress

Bridesmaid Dresses

Groom’s Jacket

Venue Styling

Cake

To read more real-life weddings stories click here

The post Jordan & Ben’s Chic City Wedding in Belfast appeared first on Wedding Journal.

How did you two meet?

We met in 2015 when my friend Colette married Declan’s cousin Trevor. Declan always speaks about spotting me in the church that day and discussing ‘the girl in the green dress’ at dinner but it wasn’t until late in the night when we were on the dance floor that he plucked up the courage to chat to me. Shut up and dance with me was playing and its now such a special song for us.

When did you get engaged?

We got engaged in October 2021. Two or three times a year Declan would take me on a surprise date, usually to a restaurant that I have been banging on about wanting to go to. It was a random week in October and on the Wednesday he told me he was taking me out Friday. I knew it was in the East Cork direction because he said we would drop the dog to his sister’s and we would stay there for the night. I was ready early so I suggested we leave early and have a glass of wine with his sister. We set off and as Declan missed the turn off for Cloyne, I asked where he was going? He said that there was a big cruise liner taking off from Cobh and he wanted to go to have a look as we were so early. This didn’t seem out of character for Declan as we once went to view a tractor en route to a wedding!

As we got up to Fort Davis in Whitegate I couldn’t see any boat. It was misty and I was complaining my wig was getting wet and my feet were getting sore from my heels. Declan was adamant we waited another few minutes. From afar I heard a buzzing noise, we soon realised it was a drone and as it got closer I was hiding my face and said to Declan, “oh no someone’s trying to get photos of the liner and here I am all dolled up ruining the shot”. Declan said, “what’s hanging off it and I turned to see the words – “Will you marry me” and I turned back around to Declan who was on one knee. He had arranged the whole thing with one of my really good friends from SpeirTime and they had tiny hidden cameras in the bushes. Fort Davis is where we went on our first date and will forever hold such a special place in our hearts.

How did the planning process go?

Once we got engaged we had the venue booked in about five weeks. I’m a very organised person and with my alopecia I promised myself I would not get stressed out about the wedding, so I thought the earlier we booked everything, the more time we would have to plod along and enjoy the moment. I have planned many charity events since from the age of 15 so I knew we wouldn’t need a wedding planner. From the proposal to the wedding was 20 months and it was the perfect amount of time in my opinion. I love details, so there were lots of different details about our wedding and I feel I couldn’t have done it all any faster without being totally stressed out.

Tell us a bit more about your wedding day?

We had our wedding ceremony in Saint Lactheen’s Church, Donoughmore. My grandmother was Sacristan here for over 50 years when she died and I have lovely memories of going up to the church to ring the bell at 12 and six. We also used a chalice with her name engraved on it that the church got when she passed, so it was all extra special to us.

We had our reception at The Dunloe Hotel and Gardens. We had viewed a few venues and Declan is very chill so he didn’t say much, however when we viewed The Dunloe, the hotel was closed, it was dark and empty and Declan walked out of there and said “I LOVE IT”, so I knew that if he loved it closed that he would adore it when it was open and had more atmostphere, so I booked it on the drive home!

Our church flowers were done by Wonderous Weddings and our venue flowers were done by Tie the Knot. We had a full day music by the amazing Riff Shop and when it came to the food and drink, we spent some time with Nico, The Dunloe’s Mixologist, designing our wedding cocktails. We had “An Espresso Dinneeni” and “Keen to be a Dinneen”. We worked hard on the ingredients and presentation and the hotel just made this process so smooth! 

Jeanette Cronin and Joanne Sexton did our make-up and our hair was styled by Emma from Cathyanne Bridal Hair. 

As well as the poems I had written for the guests, our wedding favours included keyrings of photos of the guests entering the church from Clikring, we also had hand-poured heart wax melts of our personalised scent done by the amazing Twilight Wax Company. We had the amazing Pamela Kiely from TOAST, a wedding content service, and she was with us all day. Pamela has sent me thousands of clips and it’s so fun watching back the ‘behind the scenes’ footage!

Rounding off the day perfectly, were the amazing fireworks we had from Nationwide Fireworks.

Who captured your day?

Janusz and Justyna from Januszt Photography. They are husband and wife and their dynamic is unreal! We were so happy to book them as we had met them multiple times and have seen their amazing work. We had Dreamcatcher Productions for our videographer. I’ve followed them since meeting them at my friend’s wedding five years ago. Their work is incredible and I would have almost changed my wedding date if they weren’t available! I cannot wait to see the video in a few months.

What did you wear?

My designer was Milla Nova and I got my dress in Verona Bridal in the North. This was the first shop I went to and the third dress I tried on 15 minutes into the appointment. The dress was only halfway up and I told Maria the stylist that it was the one! I walked out of the dressing room and everyone started crying, it was just meant to be and I never looked back. 

We bought Declan’s suit from Morley’s in Cork City. After researching and shopping, Morley’s definitely had the highest quality suits and their staff were so knowledgeable on what to do and how to style them – you would be so surprised how much detail goes into a plain black tux!

The groomsmen were also in black tuxedos from Morley’s and the bridesmaid’s dresses were Terri McEvoy’s collection with InTheStyle last year.

Do you have a favourite moment from the day?

I loved the morning of the wedding it was so chill. We had a pianist playing my parents grand piano and everyone was just buzzing. There was about 20 of us in the house and we were all on such a high! Everyone was panicking over the downpour of rain, but I couldn’t have cared less, I was just so ready to walk up the aisle to the love of my life. 

I also love to write poems it’s something I’ve always done, so I wrote a poem for every guest before we even knew who could and couldn’t attend! I started about 11 months before the wedding and they were such a hit that the hard work and late nights I put into writing them was worth every second! Then, as a surprise I stood up and said: “Declan on our wedding day the 16th of June, there’s one person left to write a poem for and that’s my groom…..” it was such a hit with the guests, they laughed, they cried and they just felt the love.

We kept having private moments together just looking around and taking it all in I loved it. I bought Declan cufflinks engraved with our 14 year old yorkie Molly’s portrait. It was his favourite surprise.

Do you have any advice for couples who are planning their wedding day?

Stay calm. I was very, very conscious of my stress levels not to kick off my alopecia as I wanted to wear my own hair on the wedding day so I was watching it like a hawk. It can be very stressful the last few weeks, but just don’t lose focus as to why you are having a wedding. The bubble you will be in afterwards is amazing it just feels like you’ve won the lotto. We are almost a month married and I am still on such a high!

Also trust your vendors! More than likely you have not done this before but these vendors do this day in day out. They know what they’re doing, so let them do their thing.

We planned the day being very conscious that we wanted to spend every minute with our guests, so we skipped the meet and greet outside the church, this allowed people to make their way to Kerry (1 hour 10min drive) instead of spending 40 minutes in the church queuing to say a quick hello to us. As we were first to the venue we snapped some very quick photos and went and enjoyed almost the full two hours of our drinks reception with our guests.

Chloe & Declan’s DREAM WEDDING TEAM

RECEPTION VENUE Dunloe Hotel & Gardens

PHOTOGRAPHY Januszt Photography

VIDEOGRAPHY Dreamcatcher Productions

WEDDING DRESS Verona Bridal

GROOMSWEAR Morley’s

CEREMONY FLOWERS Wonderous Weddings

RECEPTION FLOWERS Tie The Knot

MUSIC Riff Shop

The post Chloe & Declan’s Sentimental Summer Celebrations appeared first on Wedding Journal.

The pair married at St Senan’s Church in Cooraclare, Co Clare, on December 19, followed by an intimate reception at the Falls Hotel & Spa.

How They Met

Trisha (33), who is from Co Clare and works in childcare, first met Tommy (33)  nine years ago when she joined the Young Ireland GFC girls team while living in Sydney, Australia.

Product manager Tommy, who lives in Newry, was born in Australia and when he returned there as an adult he joined the Young Ireland GFC boys team, the same club his dad used to belong to.

“I went along to their social events and we happened to meet, and we went on our first date to the zoo together in Sydney. Three years after that, we moved home together,” Trisha says.

The couple lived in Dublin for four years and now live in Tommy’s home town of Newry.

The Proposal

“We got engaged in May 2018 in Dublin on a Monday evening,” Trisha says.

“I was walking home from work after a long Monday and little did I know that Tommy had a surprise proposal arranged in the apartment. I was met with him down on one knee proposing to me – I got the fright of my life but it was very sweet and spontaneous.

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“He had the apartment decorated, my favourite dinner, even my favourite ice cream, and he’d asked my mum and dad!”

The Wedding Plans

The pair had originally planned their wedding for May 2020, giving themselves two years to save up, and were inviting around 280 guests.

“The wedding was going to be in Co Clare at the Armada Hotel at Spanish Point. The invites were sent out in March 2020, but the same week we sent out our invites, it was announced that there was Covid-19 in Co Clare, “ Trisha says.

“So originally we changed from May 2020 to March 2021, but we decided ‘what are we waiting for’, and we booked October 2020.

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“Then my sister got Covid 10 days before the wedding so we left it a while until everyone was well nd then booked it three weeks beforehand.

“We changed the hotel, we changed the hair and makeup, we changed the photographer and we ended up having a wedding with 28 of our close family and friends.”

Planning The Day

The couple had to strike while the iron was hot. Trisha says: “It was a busy three weeks, but we got that 10-day transition period when you could have inter-county travel and as soon as that kicked in, we went with the wedding, because both our families would be able to be there.”

Unfortunately Tommy’s two sisters, Eimear and Ciara, were abroad and were unable to get home.

Because the Armada Hotel wasn’t available on that date, the couple asked the Falls Hotel and Spa in Ennistymon if they could accommodate the last-minute wedding – “They were wonderful,” Trisha says.

“We didn’t even do a meal tasting. We picked a room, and Grace Events in Co Clare placed a drop curtain in the room and added fairy lights to make the space more intimate and create a lovely warm Christmas atmosphere,” Trisha says.

“It was a lovely day – there wasn’t any music or dancing, but we still got to have a meal and enjoyed our time together. We counted ourselves very lucky to get over the line!”

The Style

Trisha’s dress came from Ivy & White Bridal in Lisburn, Co Down, with veil from Blue Meadow Bridal.

RELATED TO: Which Is The Best Veil For Your Wedding Dress?

“It was an Australian dress, Sienna from Made With Love  – that was a nice touch because Australia is where I met Tommy! It had a hand-beaded lace bodice with pearl and opal details with pearl straps and a crepe skirt. I wore a double layer veil – the dress was modern and the veil was quite timeless,” she says.

“I wore a hair band from Lori Muldoon Millinery in Co Down which had pearl and opal details, and matching earrings. I really loved it because I love hair bands in general.

“The flowers were done by Caroline at Stalks and Stems in Cooraclare – we had white roses, baby’s breath and eucalyptus, that green and white look.”

RELATED TO: How To Choose Your Wedding Flowers

Hair and makeup were also very last-minute – Emma Talty from Strandz Hair Studio in Quilty did Trisha’s hair and family friend Nicola Talty did the makeup: “It was December 19 which was before Christmas and they went above and beyond to help me – I got very lucky!

“My hair was in soft curls, a little bit up and a little bit down, with the hair band. The makeup was a very soft glam look.”

Meanwhile the bridesmaids’ dresses were peony off-shoulder gowns from Madeleine Gardner at Morilee, bought at The Bridal Emporium in Miltown, Co Clare. By the time the wedding came round, one of the bridesmaids, Shereena, was pregnant and close to her due date, but they were still able to alter the gown to fit. My sister Annemarie was also my bridesmaid.

“One of our bridesmaids was in Sydney – Tommy’s sister – and we still have her dress hanging up for her to have when she comes back,” Trisha says.

RELATED TO: 10 Gorgeous Pink Dresses For Blushing Bridesmaids

The best man Neal and groomsmen Mark and Rory got everything they needed from Peadar at O’Cathalain Menswear in Culloville: “He kitted all the boys out and the two dads with everything from shoes and socks to shirts, and he was brilliant.”

The Big Day

The couple were able to have a couple of musicians playing at their ceremony in Cooraclare Church, even though they couldn’t have live music at the reception.

“No one had heard any live music for such a long time and it made such a difference that you were hearing it live – it was lovely to hear someone singing and playing music and it made it really special to feel a bit of normality for a few hours. No one had been to any events since March,” Trisha says.

“The car was a surprise organised by my family, from Orga Wedding Hire in Ennis, and another lovely surprise was family and football friends waiting outside the church doing a guard of honour after the ceremony.”

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After the ceremony, the couple headed to Spanish Point to take some photos with photographer Michelle Garrihy, aka Michelle BG Photography.

“She was excellent – it was really last-minute. Our parents are from the country and Tommy doesn’t like the camera and my daddy wouldn’t be used to being photographed, but she was really good and very professional,” Trisha says.

“She got some really good photos at Spanish Point beach – the rain was on and off all day but we got some clear spells and it was lovely.

“The videographer was a lovely man named Michael O’Sullivan. To be honest, the video has probably been the most important after-point of the wedding, because so many people weren’t able to be there and I got to share it with Tommy’s sisters. 

“We were delighted to have it and the video has been sent to Sydney, the US, lots of places where people would have travelled from.”

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After dinner, they had the speeches and cut the cake, which was baked by Mary Kelly from Cooraclare and had one tier of chocolate biscuit cake and a tier of lemon drizzle.

“We were able to put on a bit of music – the hotel was very nice and let us have our first dance and we were able to share that together and put on our own music in the background. People really enjoyed just sitting around chatting,” Trisha says.

“We all got to enjoy some time together and I had a nice guest book to read back and a lovely atmosphere. It felt like we were all friends together instead of all the formality. It was a nice atmosphere and Tommy really enjoyed it because he doesn’t like a fuss!”

One very important moment in the day was when the couple lit two candles in the ceremony, one for Trisha’s sister Síle who passed away  four years ago and one for Tommy’s baby brother Gearoid who died when he was a few weeks old.

RELATED TO: 15 Tasks No Bride Can Forget On The Week Of Their Wedding

“I had a photo of my sister in my flowers – she would have loved to have been in the middle of it all and it was very important for me,” Trisha says.

“We had a sacred space to remember them and we lit candles for them.”

Trish says her favourite moment of the day was just before leaving for church.

“It was probably standing in the house in the morning dressed and ready to go and the car coming and I was saying ‘This is really happening’. I was extremely busy in the lead-up to it and the girls were saying ‘You’re so relaxed’. I was saying ‘This is happening – why would I not be relaxed?’

“Tommy would probably say his favourite moment was when he could stop making eye contact with the photographer and have a drink and stand with his friends. He was like ‘Right, the speech is done, the cake is done, the first dance is done and he was able to stand up with his friends!”

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The post How Patricia And Thomas Pulled Together Their Wedding In Just 3 Weeks appeared first on Wedding Journal.

This wedding really was a case of hitting the ground running – Galgorm spa manager Jade Lavery (29) married her fiance, car salesman Dean Strain (32), on the first day the hotel was allowed to host weddings again after lockdown.

The couple married in the hotel’s Phantom House and held their reception in the Renaissance Suite, dressing the wedding in a timeless and classic style.

How they met

Jade and Dean had known each other since their school days in Antrim, but didn’t become a couple until they crossed paths again as adults on a night out.

“I was out one night with friends and we bumped into him again and he asked how I was doing,” Jade explains.

“We got caught up about when we were younger at school and it all stemmed from then – we were reintroduced to each other and that’s how it started! We’ve been together for five years now.”

The Proposal

The proposal came when the couple were in Venice for Jade’s birthday.

“We were on a gondola and Dean proposed – it was lovely and romantic!” Jade says.

“The only thing was I knew something wasn’t quite right, because when we were on the gondola he was very quiet! I kept saying ‘Are you ok, because it doesn’t seem like you’re enjoying it?’ I think it was the stress of thinking about what he had to do!”

The Planning Process

“I’ve always loved Galgorm ever since I can remember and I work within the spa here at Galgorm, so it really was a no-brainer! I adore the style of the Renaissance Suite and it fitted so well to the theme of our wedding,” Jade says.

“Our first date was September 24 2020 and we had to move it to March 2021. But the hospitality industry was still closed so it didn’t go ahead again.

“It got moved to April 24 and that was the day that hospitality opened up in Northern Ireland, so we were very lucky that we got the day we wanted to have it!

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“We were able to do a risk assessment of numbers for our venue and we were allowed to have 70 people which for us was still a very good number – originally we had 120 on our guest list, so we did have to cut back slightly. But most of our family and friends were able to come.”

The Venue

The couple married in the Phantom House at Galgorm, a ceremony room that resembles a church, followed by a reception in the Renaissance Suite.

“We had a humanist ceremony which was lovely – it was very personal to us as a couple and all our guests commented afterwards about how lovely our service was,” Jade says.

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She says they chose the Renaissance Suite for the reception because it fitted the classic styling of the wedding so well.

“We wanted to go for a classic and elegant theme and it’s a beautiful room that doesn’t need much decoration done to it – it was really timeless,” she says.

“That room has always really stuck out for me and I knew that when we were getting married it would be in that room.

“We loved that we chose a resort location, as there was no travelling between the ceremony and function, and it meant we had that little bit of extra time with our guests after the ceremony instead of rushing off.”

Dream Wedding Suppliers

The classic and timeless theme was conveyed to perfection by florist David McConkey, who used white hydrangea for the bouquet and the groom’s buttonhole, as well as pale pink hydrangea for the bridesmaid’s bouquets. The groomsmen had pink hydrangea in their buttonholes and the venue’s floral displays featured hydrangeas and roses.

Jade says: “My dress was from Ivory Grace, the bridal boutique at Galgorm, and it was by Kenneth Winston. It had lace detail at the top with diamante and a little off-the-shoulder sleeve and it fitted right down to below the knee, with a fishtail and a long train at the back.”

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Her hair was styled by Kerry McDonald, from House of Smyth in Antrim.

“She did my hair and all the bridesmaids’ hair as well,” Jade says.

“My hair was in a low bun with a little bit of volume to the top. A hairpiece was clipped in above the bun and a veil put in – it was very simple.”

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“The make-up was done by Natalie McNab – she did my bridesmaids’ and my mum’s make-up as well. It was very natural, but very bridal, and in the photos it looks lovely!”

Dean went for a black tie style tuxedo ensemble, from Hire Class in Ballymena.

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“They were really good – they were closed throughout the main lockdown and it was a last-minute dash to get measured and ready in time, but they managed to get everything done in a few weeks for us – and the suits were amazing!” Jade says.

The Day

Jade says she loved being able to marry at her place of work, in part because it meant her colleagues could be there to see her arrive.

“When I arrived it was a really lovely, sunny day. I arrived 10 minutes early and I had to sit in the car and wait until everybody was inside,” she says.

“When I eventually got out, it was a lovely day and all my colleagues were there to say hello before I went in.”

The couple were able to have a sit-down four course meal, and while live music wasn’t an option, they were able to hire a DJ to keep the celebratory atmosphere going.

“We were able to have our speeches, sit-down meal, a drinks reception, cut the cake, have our first dance and music for the wedding, so it still felt very much like a wedding day,” Jade says.

“Galgorm was amazing at helping with reorganising it all. We’d booked a package wedding where a lot of the bits and pieces were booked through the Galgorm and they did it all for me. It took all the stress out of it – the wedding planners were great and helped us in any way they could and we were able to keep all our suppliers.

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“The cake was by Gemma’s Cakes and it was a three-tiered cake with roses made out of icing. One tier was chocolate, the second tier was raspberry and white chocolate and the other one was lemon and elderflower gin flavour. They were all amazing – it was so hard to choose my favourite!”

The Music

The couple had been planning to have a live band for the wedding, but only discovered two days ahead of the big day that live music wouldn’t be allowed.

However, they were allowed to have a singer at the ceremony, Jess Walker, hired through Starling Entertainments, and she performed an Ed Sheeran number

“She als sang an acoustic version of Bruno Mars ‘Marry You’ when we were leaving the ceremony,” Jade says.

RELATED TO: How To Create The Ultimate Wedding Reception Playlist

She says Starling Entertainments really came through when it came to the reception music, promising that there would be some kind of music at the evening do.

“We were able to have a DJ and he played a range of music throughout the night, which was good,” she says.

“We also had a Mr and Mrs quiz halfway through which was fun – it broke up the night for everybody and we all had a bit of a laugh.”

Capturing the Day

Jade pays tribute to their photographer, Emma Rock.

“She made us feel really relaxed. She contacted us a couple of days prior to the wedding  asking if there were any shots we wanted to get, and she was able to gather up family members for those on the day,” Jade says.

“It means we weren’t running around looking for grandparents for the photos! We felt really relaxed and weren’t rushing about, stressing about anything – it was very laid-back.

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“Our videographer was Sean from Timeless Productions. He worked really well with Emma and they had worked previously together, which was one of the reasons why we chose him. He had the same style as Emma and it was very relaxed.

“He captured a lot of moments with our guests which we hadn’t really seen so it was lovely to see those moments afterwards.”

Favourite moment

“I would probably say the ceremony would be my favourite moment,” says Jade.

“We didn’t know what to expect with having a humanist ceremony, but it was relaxed and personal and people were laughing through it as well.

“The people that were there really loved the ceremony as well. All the feedback from the guests was that they’d never been to a ceremony like that before and it was lovely to see something so different.”

RELATED TO: Should You Have A Humanist Wedding Ceremony

Advice for couples

“Enjoy every minute of your special day as it is true what people tell you, that it passes in the blink of an eye! Also try and take some moments out of the day just for the two of you to enjoy some time together!” Jade says.

The Dream Team

RELATED TO: 11 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Planning A Wedding

Still organising your perfect day? Check out our gallery of fabulous suppliers HERE.

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The post Jade and Dean’s Classic Wedding At The Galgorm appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Like many recent couples, Nikki and Stephen McBride, had to downsize their guestlist but that didn’t mean they had to downsize on style.

After the pandemic delayed their wedding date five times, they finally got their fairytale ending with a magical ceremony at the Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort on 15^th May.

RELATED TO: ‘We Planned A Pandemic Wedding in 1 Week’

How lucky would you have to be for the love of your life to be living just next door? These two love birds from Waringstown first met when they were teenagers back in school – and the rest is history.

“We’re both originally from Lurgan and growing up, we lived just two minutes away from each other and went to the same school,” Nikki shares. “We were around 16 when we first started dating and we’ve been going strong ever since!”

After 11 years of love, happiness and amazing memories, Stephen finally popped the question making sure to include the star of the show – their little princess, Emily!

“It was 8^th May 2016 and we were down at Newcastle beach with our wee girl, Emily, who was only one at the time, and Stephen said go and get something out of that bag, which was the kids’ changing bag by the way!” Nikki laughs.

“I actually thought it was a necklace at first because the box was quite big and then I turned around to see Stephen on one knee holding Emily, it was such a special moment.”

The planning process wasn’t all smooth sailing though thanks to COVID-19, but Nikki and Stephen stayed positive and finally got their happily-ever-after following a stressful decision on dates.

“The pandemic definitely added an extra stress to things,” Nikki shares. “This was actually our fifth time choosing a date for the wedding. We were originally supposed to get married last June and we just kept having to put it off and hope for the best each time.

“We both agreed to change it one last time and we’re so glad we went ahead with it. We did have to downsize our guest list a little to 60 people and missed out on a full reception, but we always wanted a more intimate wedding anyway and it was such a chilled and personal day.

“Although it was different day than we originally planned, it ended up being perfect for us and looking back now we wouldn’t have changed a thing. Not having music allowed to everybody to really mix and everyone said it was one of the best weddings they had ever been to.”

Nikki and Stephen held a stunning intimate ceremony and reception at the Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort, where Wedding Planner, Rose McMillan, brought all their wedding dreams to life.

“Rose was fantastic – she helped us plan and create our whole day from start to finish and we couldn’t recommend the Galgorm enough,” Nikki says.

“The setting was just stunning and everything we wanted. We had very little to do in terms of decorating, we just told them what we were looking for and they took care of every detail. We had gorgeous flowers down the aisle and on the top table, and flowers outside – it was amazing.”

Nikki went for a pastel pink flower theme with a mix of roses and babys-breath from Leaf Designs in Ballymena.

“My flowers were also inspired by my mum’s bouquet when she got married 30 years ago, I wanted to replicate them because I loved her style and they turned out lovely,” Nikki shares.

Nikki looked stunning in a sexy modern lace Stella York dress from Marie Me Bridal in Randalstown.

“I fell in love with the love heart front around the chest and the butterfly back,” Nikki says. “It had mesh around the sides and there were buttons coming from the back all the way down the train with lace all over.

“I also went for pale pink bridesmaid dresses from The Wedding Centre in Randalstown which were similar to my silhouette style and had diamante details on the shoulder with a low back.”

Stephen also looked slick in a checked grey custom-made suit and pink tie from Freddie Hatchet in Belfast, with their little boy, Theo, matching his wardrobe attire!

RELATED TO: Small weddings: how to wed like a celeb

Kris Dickson Photography in Ballymoney captured this couple’s fairytale day perfectly, framing stunning moments in time that they’ll cherish forever.

“Kris actually did my sister’s wedding photographs at the Galgorm a few years back and his photographs are just stunning. He’s just made for the job, there’s not one bad photo and his style is so different to any other photographer – you just know they’re his photos when you see them!”

For all the brides-to-be planning a wedding during the pandemic, Nikki has some words of advice on how to stay positive in these strange times.

“Don’t forget the true meaning behind your wedding,” Nikki says. “It isn’t always about the awesome party everyone has after, the real reason for your wedding is to marry your best friend.

“We postponed so many times thinking the reception was going to be the best part of the day, and we didn’t want to get married without being able to celebrate properly afterwards.

“But despite everything, we had the most amazing day from start to finish. It was a very beautiful, informal, intimate and relaxed day. We wouldn’t have changed a thing – your wedding day may be a little different with everything going on, but it certainly won’t be any less special!”

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The post Wedding of the Week: Nikki & Stephen’s Romantic and Relaxed Galgorm Ceremony appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Drenagh House Estate, 7th October 2019

HOW THEY MET

Like every great love story, Leigh and Graeme first started out as childhood sweethearts. ‘Graeme was the year above me in school, we had a few friends in common, but we only started dating 12 years later when I was working in a bar. Graeme moved into the local area and popped into the bar with friends for a drink one night. We got chatting, then one thing led to another, and two weeks later we went on our first date.’

THE PROPOSAL

Leigh starts to laugh when we first ask her about Graeme’s proposal; let’s just say things nearly didn’t go quite to plan. ‘It was a horrible rainy morning; it was actually the day before my birthday. Graeme was trying to convince me to go for a walk around Belfast Castle, but I was having none of it. He finally convinced me to go with the promise we could visit their cat garden, where they have hidden cats for visitors to find. He knows me too well; I can’t resist cats.’

‘We braved the weather and walked a few more loops around the garden, then just as the sun started to split through the clouds, Graeme took to one knee and asked me to be his wife. Luckily another couple passing by snapped a few pictures with their camera, so the moment was captured perfectly!’

THE VENUE

‘When we first started wedding planning, we discussed the different venue options we liked, and both agreed we loved the idea of a country estate. So, we booked in to view a few different venues, but once we walked around Drenagh Estate, we instantly fell in love,’ recalls Leigh. ‘We were shown around by Gail and she was so helpful and informative.’

‘The fact that you can move around the different parts of the venue as your day goes on was a massive plus for us, the moon garden ceremony room was so different to anything we had ever seen. This was followed by the reception rooms on offer too, it was full of character and had the exact vibe we were after. As we were driving home, we both turned to each other and knew that Drenagh was our dream venue, we came back the next day to book,’ laughs Graeme.

THE PLANNING PROCESS

Fall has always been Leigh’s favourite season, so when it came to styling her wedding, there was a subtle theme incorporated throughout the day. ‘I love autumn colours and rich burgundy really stood out for me as the main colour to centre everything around. I also love copper tones and velvet textures, so I tied a few of these unique features into the décor and flowers. The Wedding Room provided the gorgeous copper lanterns that were on the stairs and entrance to the marquee, they also provided the candles for the wall pockets during the ceremony, twinkle lights and drape back drops.’

Leigh chose Victoria from Tortraits Floral Design to help add some finishing touches both with bouquets and around the venue. ‘Victoria really understood the look we were going for and provided so many great ideas with our table decorations, moon garden décor and her stunning work on the main house staircase, we really could not have achieved any of this without her!’ Ciara Patrick Designs supplied the most beautiful stationery for Leigh & Graeme. ‘We loved her work from the beginning, everything was so delicate and feminine, with lots of little details which I love,’ adds Leigh. ‘Ciara was so easy to work with; she incorporated my colour palette into everything perfectly.’

WHAT THE BRIDE WORE & THE REST…

When thinking back to planning her big day, Leigh has fond memories of visiting Elsebeth from Peony Bridal in Hillsborough. ‘I have known Elsebeth for years and bumped into her on the day I booked Drenagh for our wedding. I made an appointment to see her and although I had already been to another shop, I felt so special from the second I walked through the door. The service is truly attentive, you are the only person booked into the appointment, so it doesn’t feel like you are competing with space or being overlooked by anyone. I could have tried on so many dresses, and ultimately Elsebeth picked out a dress that was ‘the one’. I always wanted a lace dress, but I loved the back and neckline detail of the dress, the belt added that little bit of bling!’

Leigh had always imagined her bride tribe wearing burgundy velvet bridesmaid dresses, but they aren’t the easier to find. ‘I took the girls to a few different places, but I finally found the dream dresses online at Folkster. They fitted perfectly and both girls were so comfortable all day, I couldn’t believe my luck at finding exactly what I had imagined! Perseverance is key ladies!’

Leigh describes Graeme as a very stylish and quite decisive gent, who is particular with his fashion choices, so she knew she could trust him to pick the perfect suit. ‘I booked an appointment with the team Red Groomswear in Belfast, they were fantastic. I was expecting it to take a couple of trips, but I surprisingly found the perfect suit during my first fitting; that’s quite the achievement. The staff at Red were brilliant in providing any last-minute changes we needed for the day, they made the full process quick and simple.’

EATING & DRINKING

The best way to sample food is at other couple’s weddings, and one particular alternative idea stuck with this young couple. ‘We had previously attended a wedding that had a charcuterie board as a starter and it always stuck in our heads,’ jokes Graeme. ‘We thought this would be a good way to get people chatting. Our main course was a choice of Duck or Chicken and we had a trio of desserts to finish off. All of the food that Drenagh supplied was faultless, everyone raved about it and the portions were so generous.’

When it came to sourcing a wedding cake supplier, this was a no brainer. ‘I first met Gemma of Gemma’s Cakes at the Wedding Journal Show at TEC Belfast and I was sold from the first bite of her chocolate & Guinness cake! I bumped into her again at Drenagh’s showcase day and got to try some of her other flavours too. Gemma and her husband are so talented, their cakes are so light and fresh with the most beautiful flavours. Gemma was fantastic helping with the design as well, and so accommodating to all the questions! In the end we chose a ‘fake cake’ due to the service required with pre-cut slabs ready to be served with our canapés at the reception. The flavours we picked were chocolate and Guinness, lemon, gin and elderflower and raspberry and white chocolate, they were incredible. We couldn’t count the compliments we got on the cake that day, we’re drooling now just thinking about it.’

CAPTURING THE DAY

‘To us, choosing the right photographer was one of the most important things to get right, as your wedding photos are something to look back on for years. We had come across The Three Bears when we noticed they had photographed the wedding of someone Leigh used to work with, and we loved their effortless style and relaxed photos. They were perfect for us as we both hate getting our photo taken formally, they kept things fun throughout the day. They were amazing at getting those intimate shots without feeling posed, we love every shot they captured.’

Finding the perfect videographer was also important, Leigh and Graeme came across Clive at Pigmint Film on social media. ‘We knew straight away when we watched his videos that he was perfect. On the day he was fantastic, he melted into the background and just captured the day naturally as it unfolded, we regularly watch our video with such fond memories.’

FAVOURITE MOMENT

Leigh reminisces that walking up the aisle to meet her soon-to-be hubby was a highlight for her. ‘Walking up the aisle to my favourite song, ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie, being played by Ionian String Quartet, with the weather and the moon garden, full of family and friends, it was perfect!’

Graeme can’t pick just one favourite moment, but one memory he is particularly fond of is just after the ceremony. ‘We were taken into a private room in the house and a member of staff said you’re now husband and wife. That was a surreal moment, it made me feel quite proud of everything we’d achieved together, along with the large drink they poured us!’

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Leigh & Graeme’s Dream Wedding Team

Venue: Drenagh House & Estate

Wedding Dress: Peony Bridal, Hillsborough

Groomswear: Red Groomswear

Venue Styling: The Wedding Room

Flowers: Tortraits Floral Design

Stationery: Ciara Patrick Designs

Wedding Cake: Gemma’s Cake

Photography: The Three Bears Photography

Videography: Pigmint Film

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alison & Michael featured in our first FREE digital issue – CHECK IT OUT!

The post Seasonal Charm At Drenagh Estate appeared first on Wedding Journal.

HOW THEY MET

Justin and Sabine’s love story began back in January 2011 during a night out at Coppers Bar in Dublin shortly before Sabine moved to England. Sabine says, ‘Justin and I met in Coppers in true Irish fashion! There was a connection between us and we kept in touch when in I lived in England. After about six months, we decided to give long distance a go. Thankfully, it worked out pretty well!’

THE PROPOSAL

Justin proposed to Sabine while abroad in New Zealand. ‘We went on a hike and came to a beautiful huge waterfall which was named Bridal Veil Falls. It was then Justin ran back to the car to get our GoPro camera. Little did I know that it was an engagement ring he had picked out two months before and popped the question on the way back up to the waterfall. It was the perfect moment.’

THE VENUE &THEME

When Justin and Sabine visited Bellinter House in Co. Meath, the couple loved it’s laid back, funky style. Sabine explains, ‘We loved that we were able to have exclusive access to the venue for the day and there was plenty of accommodation for our guests. The rooms were stunning and the bridal suite was breathtaking! Everything about Bellinter was so just so cool, a mixture of old and new. We loved it. For their wedding theme, they opted for a fresh, foliage look. Sabine said, ‘We just wanted lots of foliage and green with hints of burgundy and gold. I really wanted to keep a natural and autumnal vibe.’

WHAT THE BRIDE WORE & THE REST…

When it came to shopping for Sabine’s wedding dress, Sabine chose to have her gown custom made after finding the process challenging. She said, ‘I found dress shopping so difficult! I went to many boutiques and tried on loads of dresses. Thankfully, I eventually went to Bridal by Tamem Michael in Ballymount and they were nothing short of amazing. Paula and the girls there listened to what I wanted and I had my dream dress custom made. The most important thing for me was to be comfortable all day and their attention to detail was outstanding, they were brilliant if small or tweaked were needed to be made.  Sabine’s bridesmaids, her two sisters,  looked stunning in dark green dresses purchased American online retailer, Lulu’s. She said, ‘Picking their dresses was a lot easier! Postage and delivery was a breeze and the dresses were the perfect fit.’

For the groomsmen and page boys, they wore smart navy and grey three-piece suits from O’Cathalain Menswear in Culloville, Newry. The page boys wore adorable navy suits also purchased from O’Cathalain Menswear and the flower girls wore M&S dresses accompanied with a length of ribbon from Hickys to match the bridesmaid dresses.  

WEDDING FLOWERS 

Sabine and Justin’s flowers were from Flowers by Moira which they absolutely adored. Sabine said, ‘I loved my flowers so much! Jenny at Flowers by Moire was amazing, we met twice before the wedding to go over everything and I can’t speak highly enough of her. e incorporated ferns into the flowers as we got engaged in New Zealand. Jenny also looked at our invites and included similar greenery that was in the invites. Her attention to detail was great and she created perfect romantic, natural, autumnal bouquets and displays.’

WEDDING CAKE & STATIONERY 

For their wedding cake, Sabine’s sister’s brother-in-law, Gareth made their wedding cake. ‘It was absolutely amazing! It was three tiers, the top two tiers were lemon and rosemary and the bottom tier was lemon and poppy seed with elderflower buttercream. Gareth kept the cake very sleek and we added some greenery to it which perfectly matched our theme and it was so delicious! We also had a cheese tower from Sheridan’s on South Anne Street, which was devoured at reception.’

For their stationery, the couple sent e-invites via Paperless Post. Sabine said, ‘They have really beautiful designs and we found a lovely greenery inspired design that suited the theme perfectly. The website was also a great way of keeping track of all the RSVPs, addresses and guest numbers. As for the table numbers, I collected lots of clear bottles, and the florist put some greenery and water in all the bottles and we popped the numbers into them. The table settings and menus were all sorted by the team in Bellinter House.’

PHOTOGRAPHY 

To capture the special moments of their day, Justin and Sabine chose Awake and Dreaming Wedding Photography. She said, ‘We found Dave and Laurie from Awake and Dreaming on Instagram and they were also recommended by a couple of friends. We loved their style of photography- very laid back, documentary, fly-on-the-wall style. They were so relaxed and helpful on the day!’

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

For the bride and groom’s special moment, there are many to choose from! For Justin, he loved seeing Sabine walk down the aisle. ‘It was such a great day from start to finish, full of favourite moments from the ceremony to the speeches to the not so early hours the following morning. I loved it. However, seeing Sabine walking down the aisle is something I’ll never forget. It was truly amazing! Another great moment was just after our first dance when my youngest sister ran over and hugged us in a tight squeeze. The song we picked was ‘It Must Be Love’ by The Madness, a song she played to us many times over the years whether in a cheeky text or a surprise karaoke rendition (by Sabine and me of course!). So that was a lovely moment for me. I also need to give a special shout out to our band, The Trips, who were fantastic and really made the night. We had great craic on the dance floor with all our family and friends dancing the night away. I would relive it all 1,000 times!’

For Sabine, her favourite moment was simply the whole day. ‘Being surrounded by all our family and friends was just so special. Walking down the aisle to ‘La Vie En Rose’ and seeing Justin at the top, Dad had to tell me to slow down!! Also, the time during the photo shoot was really lovely as it gave us a bit of time to chat and relax, we really felt like the only two people there and we still had the day ahead of us! Also, when Bohemian Rhapsody came on at the end of the night, it was unbelievable craic!’

Justin & Sabine’s Wedding Team

Venue – Bellinter House 

Wedding Dress – Bridal by Tamem Michael

Bridesmaids – Lulus

Groomswear  – O’Cathalain Menswear

Photography – Awake and Dreaming Photography

Flowers – Flowers by Moira

The post An Autumnal Wedding At Bellinter House appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Laura & Benny Photography are a husband and wife team based in Cork who specialise in expertly capturing all those special moments from your big day. Offering full day coverage, this dynamic duo are on hand to capture every magical moment; from bridal preparations to the first dance. With two photographers available, you can rest assured that Laura & Benny won’t miss a thing.

Combining classic and contemporary

Laura & Benny photography combine a flair for capturing relaxed, candid shots alongside those all important traditional photographs. Bringing their own unique personality to their work, Laura & Benny are always happy to experiment and try out any ideas you might have. Describing their own wedding day as the ‘happiest day of their lives’, these wedding photographers strive to help you experience one of the best days of your life, by producing captivating wedding photographs that you will be able to look back, remember, and relive your big day forever.

Photography packages

Each package includes:

• Pre-wedding meeting, a consultation getting to know your plans for your big day and getting to know you.Two Photographers.
• Pre-wedding visit to your wedding day locations.
• Full Day coverage from morning preparations to the first dance.
• 48 hour online album of a selection of images, quick edit photos (usually 40+ photos, online security/visibility level chosen by you).
• All high resolution professionally edited digital images ready to print and share (usually 500+ photos on a USB memory card , no watermark).
• When all the images are ready they will be available online for your convenience too (online security/visibility level chosen by you).
• All photographs within 4-6 weeks, quality assured in an efficient time frame.

A range of album packages are also available with a choice of album covers. Parent albums can be added on at an additional cost, and if you feel anything is missing, Laura & Benny provide a flexible approach to tailoring the package to your individual needs.

For further information visit www.lauraandbennyphotography.com

Win with Laura & Benny Photography & The Wedding Journal Show Dublin

Laura & Benny Photography are offering a €2,500 photography package to the winning couple at the Wedding Journal Show Dublin this September 2018. To find out more on this prize which is part of a larger €35,000 total click HERE.

Be automatically entered into our Win a Dream €35,000 Wedding competition by buying a ticket to the Wedding Journal Show! BUY TICKETS HERE

The post Let Laura & Benny Photography Capture Your Day appeared first on Wedding Journal.

Bronagh Johnston and Anthony Byrne met at a mutual friend’s party back in 2013 and instantly clicked and became friends.

While they talked every day, work commitments meant they didn’t date for a year until Anthony finally invited Bronagh out for a coffee.

‘We went for an ice cream and a walk around Antrim Lough on a sunny day,’ recalls Bronagh.

‘He finally plucked up the courage to kiss me,’ she adds, ‘and the rest is history we have been together ever since.

Two years later the couple were holidaying in Thailand when Anthony had planned the surprise of Bronagh’s life.

“We were in Koh Lanta staying in a fabulous really romantic hotel which Anthony had booked.

“Anthony told me we were going to have dinner early as he was hungry (which was nothing new). We came back to our villa and he disappeared for an hour and half saying he was going to the bank link. When he came back he suggested we go to the beach bar first for cocktails.

“When we got there, there was this fabulous display of white drapes and orchids and candles everywhere. It was on the tip of my tongue to say ‘you’d never do anything like this for me’, when Anthony said this is where we are eating tonight.

‘I went over to sit on his knee to give him a kiss and thank him and he said – when you are here I want to ask you a question, will you marry me. I was speechless and burst into tears. He then produced this amazing ring and I finally spluttered out a yes. I couldn’t eat my dinner, I just kept looking at my ring sparkling in the sunset.”

When it came to the planning the couple decided that they didn’t want a ballroom type venue.

‘In the end we chose Deanes at Queens as we wanted somewhere different with character and the food was an important factor as well.

‘As soon as we went to see it I fell in love with it. I loved the natural light coming into the room and the open plan was classy and elegant. Anthony was sold on the fact that guests could have fillet steak cooked to order from the menu,’

The couple were determined the day would run at its own pace one of the key elements was on entertainment which was wide and varied. As Bronagh explains, ‘We had a range of entertainment throughout the day. To start with we had Irish dancers from the Peacock Academy of Irish Dancing along with Davey Music who played live instruments .throughout the meal we had Ricky Lormier on his acoustic guitar. During the day we had DJ Jon Boi as MC and DJ Hixx from Cool FM later in the evening. We also had Sapphire entertainment for fire breathers when it got dark. To top things off we had a couple of number one break-dancers taking part in a dance off.

‘The sun was shining down and it was beautiful and everyone got to use the outdoor patio area during the cocktail reception.”

They chose Rob Gardiner from G4 Photography, a family friend.

‘His photos are very natural and he captured the day exactly how we wanted it and he got all the action shots we wanted. I couldn’t have asked for better.’

When it came to styling the venue the couple enlisted the help of their florist Helen from Ivy Lane Floral who put flowers in vases on the tables and large floral hoops behind the top table. They also hired a floral wall from Andies Crafts which proved a great pit stop for photographs during the reception.

‘My wedding dress was from designer Danielle Couture, it was called Eve from the Phoenix range. I loved it as it was a trumpet style and fitted me like a glove. I felt really beautiful in it. I changed the back as I didn’t want a corset style and opted for buttons instead. If it was acceptable to wear it every day I would and I’m toying with the idea of having it framed.

‘Anthony and his groomsmen rented their suits from Red in Belfast. They picked floral bow ties which matched perfectly with the bridesmaids.

‘They wore floor length Grecian style dresses from Naomi Bridal in Ballyclare. The designer was Hilary Morgan and the colour was Dragon Fruit.’

Again the couple enlisted a friend of the family when it came to the stationery.

‘A friend did our invites and table plans. It was all quite plain on an ivory shine rose embossed card with a slight rim of silver. They were very elegant.’

Bronagh’s sister runs Caolifinnes Cakes and did a fantastic three tiered job – one vanilla, one chocolate chip and another mint chocolate chip and iced in butter cream. It also had a floral arrangement on the top.

When it comes to selecting their favourite moment from the big day, Bronagh says, ‘My favourite moment was taking our seats before dinner, Anthony had arranged a selection of my favourite Beyoncé songs to be played and seeing all our friends and family together was a moment to cherish forever.’

Anthony adds, ‘Coming back from having our photos taken hand in hand with my wife as our friends and family sat outside in the sunshine at Deane’s and cheered us on as the sun beat down.’

The Couple’s Top Tips

Bronagh says, ‘Don’t stress the week before the wedding – everything will fall into place and be perfect. If only I knew on the run up to the wedding what I knew after I would have been much more relaxed. Enjoy every moment

Anthony says, ‘Take a moment to really take in when you are planning for the big day When the day arrives just enjoy what you have achieved. It really is the best day of your life.

For more real-life weddings click here

The post A Belfast Wedding Full Of Love & Good Food appeared first on Wedding Journal.