A Fairytale Disney Theme Wedding

Articles, Real Weddings

“Well it was only fitting we had a Disney theme wedding as I am a Disney fanatic and because of where we got engaged.”

Couple: Kayliegh & Sean Smith
Engagement length: 2 years 2 months
Wedding date: 2021-07-23
Wedding location: Bellingham Castle
Photographer: David Maury Photography

Kayliegh and Sean met through a mutual friend at a local nightclub 10 years ago.

Sean surprised me with a birthday present of going to Paris. On the first day we were there he took me to Disneyland! I had always wanted to go and little did I know he was going to make it all the more magical that evening. I was so happy to be there I was on cloud 9 all day. As we had 2 day tickets I wanted to leave around 7pm and come back the following day. I was so tired but Sean was adamant we were staying until the closing fireworks. Once the fireworks started I was so happy I was already in tears! So as we watched the fireworks he told me to turn around and there in the middle of the crowd in the dark he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. I thought he was just having me on and then I saw the ring and then I was crying like a baby.”

“Well it was only fitting we had a Disney theme wedding as I am a Disney fanatic and because of where we got engaged. Plus people would expect nothing less from me. We had a Disney theme throughout everything in the wedding. Our tables were named after our favourite Disney movies, we had the Disney castle on our cake, invitations, save the dates, order of ceremony, even our music was Disney. We could only have 50 guests and it was amazing. We always wanted a small wedding so it worked out perfectly. For us the day was perfect, Bellingham castle could not do enough for us. They were always 3 steps ahead of us and we were never left wanting or having to ask for anything.”

Sean wore a navy blue 3 piece suit with a blue checked waistcoat, a pocket watch and Mickey Mouse cuff links. Kayliegh’s dress was very Disney Princess, a dress everyone loved and knew she would go for. She carried a bouquet of peonies that were just perfectly open and smelled amazing.

The bridesmaids wore flowing navy blue bridesmaid dresses from ASOS. They carried bouquets of gypsum that just matched the fairytale Disney theme of the wedding. The groomsmen wore 3 piece navy suits with their suit jacket being the same checked material as Sean’s waistcoat. They also had pocket watches and Mickey Mouse cuff links, like Sean.

“Our ceremony was in a little country church. It was the church that as a family we would go to mass in and I have a lot of family buried there so it felt right to be married there. It was very simple and sweet. All the flowers in the church were gypsum and it just added to the fairytale theme. I walked down the aisle to “Bless the broken road” by Rascal Flats which I think is perfect for a wedding. And we walked out to “Here comes the sun” by the Beatles. We had instrumental music of Beauty and the Beast and “Can you feel the love tonight?” during the ceremony. As there was so many in my family overseas that could not come to the wedding we streamed it so they could still be there to see us finally get married.”

“We had our reception in Bellingham Castle in Louth and it was a fairytale location. From the moment we booked 2 years ago Ciara and Jack could not do enough for us. They helped keep us positive throughout all the uncertainty with restrictions and constantly having to change plans. The food was incredible! Even a week later people are still raving about it. It was a perfect location as we had the run of the castle. We set up a toy room for the young children with board games and activity packs to keep them entertained for the day. The staff at the castle was second to none. They never let a glass get empty or even half empty before they were topping us up. And as I have specific dietary requirements (as did some of our guests) there was separate desserts, bread, sauces, canapés all prepared without us having to ask or even remind them. If I could do it all over again it would be in Bellingham Castle.”

David Maury was our photographer. He had photographed our friends’ wedding a few years ago, that is how we found him. As I don’t like my photos taken I didn’t even know he was there a lot of the day. We took the usual family photos and he just knew when I was getting frustrated so he split our sessions up so I was not getting overwhelmed. He has sent me a preview of some photos he took and they are magnificent! He has captured our day just as it was. Full of laughs, love and fun. He came to my house in the morning to take photos of us getting ready and even there I didn’t notice him which is perfect as he was able to get the moments of people having fun and enjoying themselves. It was important for me that he captured all the natural moments of the day to help us see the day through other people’s eyes. He is actually the photographer for our friend’s wedding next year also. I could not recommend David enough. All my guests are still talking about what a lovely man he was and that they can not wait to see the rest of the pictures.”

Kayliegh made little chocolate favours with Lilly O’Brien crispy hearts. She also got paper and bamboo fans for women, in the hopes that they would have nice weather. They got very hot weather on the day, so they came in handy. For favours, they also made donations to Dublin Zoo, ISPCA, Pieta House and the Irish Cancer Society and these donations were kindly matched by Sean’s employer. As a little something extra for the young children who were there, they got them the Irish Cancer Society teddies and they loved them!

Besides actually getting married, our favourite memory was just getting to have everyone together. It was so nice to have a day or normality in the middle of everything going on. I got to have my Nanna and sister there who we have not seen for over 18 months. My Nanna was just so happy to be there after her health scares this year and I know our day would not have been the same if she was not there.”

“It’s so easy to get caught up in the worry of numbers and restrictions but try not to. We had a day with 50 of our nearest and dearest friends and family. The day will be what you make of it. We originally planned for 170 people and had to cut numbers but people understand. It’s your day that you will remember for the rest of your lives. Don’t listen to what other people say, just go with what you want because in 50 years’ time they will not remember your day but you will.”

Suppliers

Ceremony venue: St.Brigids, Kilcurry, Co.Louth | Reception venue: Bellingham Castle, Co.Louth | Photographer: David Maury Photography | DJ: Irish wedding DJs | Hair: Rita’s Bridal Hair | Makeup: Laura Keogh – LK Make Up | Couple’s outfits: The Bridal Studio Drogheda and McKenna Man Dundalk for suits | Wedding party outfits: McKenna Man Dundalk for suits and ASOS for bridesmaid dresses | Cake: Louise Clarke Heavenly Cakes | Jewellery/rings: Fields | Flowers: Strandfield Dundalk