A Rockin’ 50s Themed Wedding at Kippure Estate by Linda Clarke Photography

Real Weddings

“We were in Eddie Rockets one day we decided a fifties wedding would be cool and fun!”

The couple: Elaine Laverty and Bryan Steedman

Length of engagement: 2 years | Wedding date: 19th July 2013

Photographer: Linda Clarke Photography

Wedding location: Kippure Estate County Wicklow

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We met… in Dungarvan County, Waterford on a night out. I think we clicked straight away because we were both from Scotland, we had so much in common apart from the fact that I come from a much better part of Scotland than Bryan!

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My dress… I wore a vintage style tea length wedding dress by Fancy New York, bought at Bella Bleu in Cork and it was the first one I tried on. I wasn’t convinced by it on the hanger but Kate from Bella Bleu made me try it and I loved it immediately. I had gorgeous blue heels from Pin Up Couture which I wore for the ceremony then changed to low tops with Elvis on them so kindly made for me by Kapow Shoes by Gem at the very last minute! I received them the day before the wedding.

Like Elaine’s vintage style tea length dress? Check out our top 10 tea length wedding dresses for 2013/2014!

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“One of my favourite memories was Uncle Jimmy in his red Teddy Boy suit and blue suede shoes driving us to the ceremony in a 50s car”

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Our proposal… we had no big romantic proposal just a gradual realisation that actually we did want to get married despite everything we had said. The wedding was put on the back burner for a while with the arrival of our daughter and then we tried to decide what to do. Neither of us wanted anything very formal and it was in Eddie Rockets one day we decided a Fifties wedding would be cool and fun!

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Our ceremony… My dad walked me up the aisle in the room we had decorated the night before with help from the truly fabulous Grainne from Kippure Estate. Memories are Made of this by Dean Martin played as we entered the room and it was a wonderful moment. The ceremony itself was a short and sweet civil ceremony with no readings or songs just the way we wanted, we still managed to get a touch of hysterical laughter in despite it being so short but if we hadn’t we wouldn’t be us

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Our menu… we had milkshakes after the ceremony, some alcoholic some not, then for dinner we had burgers and fries in keeping with the diner theme. There was apple pie for dessert and ice cream with toppings to choose from for the kids. We had 5 diner themed cakes from The Swell Bakeshop which were served at night along with mini hotdogs and popcorn.

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“We had no speeches apart from a poem by the groom and no fixed seating plan. As a result everything was relaxed and happy.”

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We chose our photographer because… Linda (Linda Clarke Photography) is brilliant and a friend of mine, as a photographer myself I wasn’t at all keen on handing the responsibility of my wedding over to someone else but I was comfortable letting Linda take over and do what she does, she was fabulous and totally unobtrusive.

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We chose our venue because… Kippure Estate was totally perfect for our needs, the scenery was out of this world and there were self catering houses for all of our guests (most of whom were coming from the UK). Grainne (wedding coordinator) was delighted when we told her we wanted something a little out of the ordinary and helped us plan the whole thing , We were so lucky with the weather on the day which meant that after the ceremony the guests could mingle in the garden in the sunshine which was lovely. Some of our guests also took advantage of the adventure activities at Kippure Estate the day after the wedding and the venue arranged a BBQ for the night after too which meant that everyone got to enjoy a whole weekend’s festivities instead of one day.

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My favourite part of the wedding day… I have several but one was Uncle Jimmy in his red Teddy Boy suit and blue suede shoes driving us to the ceremony in a 50’s car, another was our brother in law singing I’ve Got You Under My Skin unaccompanied for our First Dance followed by the brilliant JJ Jupiter singing for the rest of the night but I think the best moment of all was just us and everyone we cared about being there and laughing and having fun.

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My piece of advice for other brides… Do your wedding your way , we had a few raised eyebrows about our plans but in the main everyone was delighted. There was no stress at all we had no speeches apart from a poem by the groom and no fixed seating plan. As a result everything was relaxed and happy.

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