Say hello to Lauren and Martin! They planned a big wedding, but then Covid hit and they rescheduled. We love that they kept things simple and casual, with a lovely garden wedding, burgers for dinner, no wedding party and lots of fun on the dance floor.
Couple: Lauren and Martin
Engagement length: 18 months
Wedding date: 2021-08-21
Wedding location: Lauren’s parents’ garden
Photographer: Pawel Szustak
Lauren and Martin’s love story began when they met all the way back in secondary school. We love that their proposal was an intimate moment on Christmas morning, with just the two of them at home together.
They originally planned to host a bigger wedding in August 2021, but Covid hit and their plans were disrupted. Lauren’s mum is a keen gardened and had already begun growing flowers for the wedding. So, they decided instead to bring the wedding to the flowers! They hosted a small garden wedding and kept everything simple. There was no wedding party and Lauren did her own hair and makeup. They served Handsome Burgers on paper plates for dinner and had no seating plan.
Lauren wore a dress from Whistles which she found online. Martin wore a navy suit from Greenes in Woodquay, Galway with a tweed dickie bow from Fiain.
“Clara from Coastal Ceremonies led our humanist ceremony in the garden. We got legally married a few days before and it felt like an extra expense to have a ceremony when we were planning it, but it was our favourite part of the day. It was so personal and meaningful.”
“Our wedding was at home in my mum’s beautiful garden. My mum did all the flowers, my dad made the tables and built a bar in his shed. We had a small marquee in case it rained (thankfully it didn’t) and used the patio area as a dance floor.”
Their wedding was wonderfully captured by Pawel Szustak, who Lauren and Martin describe as “warm and kind, part of the family”. We love that Pawel was able to capture shots of all the guests, which meant Lauren and Martin could print them and send them off in the thank you cards.
They had originally hired a soul singer who unfortunately pulled out at the last minute, so The Good Hustled jumped in and saved the day!
“They were brilliant and the dance floor was packed all night. Friends have booked them for their wedding next year and we can’t wait for a bop.”
Lauren and Martin had two favourite weddings from their Big Day:
“Two of my cousins performed a song during our ceremony and everytime I hear it now I well up. It meant so much to us that they’d agreed to it, and also the ceremony as a whole. And the dancing, we danced the night away!”
We always ask newlyweds for their best wedding planning advice:
“If you’re going to get married at home, hire a few people to run the bar and pick up and clean glasses. We roped in friends and family but it would have been nice to have someone else on hand.”
Recommended suppliers
Photographer: Pawel Szustak
Musician/band: The Good Hustle
Other suppliers
Caterer: Handsome Burger | Cake: Niamh Heskin | Celebrant/solemniser: Clara from Coastal Ceremonies | Dress: Whistles | Suit: Greenes | Dickie bow: Fiain
