“Our theme of the wedding was ‘our day, our way’. We wanted a non-traditional wedding that celebrated our relationship, with everyone closest to us.”
Your Names: Vanessa and Pa Moloney
Length of engagement: 4.5 years
Wedding Date: 2019-04-13
Wedding location: Woodenbridge Hotel and Lodge
Photographer: M and M Photography
How did you meet and get engaged?
We met as teenagers in Lourdes 2008. We were both volunteers working with the elderly. We got engaged on Christmas morning in his brother’s house in Nenagh Tipperary.
Describe your wedding:
Our theme of the wedding was ‘our day, our way’. We wanted a non-traditional wedding that celebrated our relationship, with everyone closest to us. We all wore Converse including my dad and Pa’s dad. The bridesmaids wore burgundy and the groomsmen wore black suits with burgundy ties. I picked Pa’s burgundy suit which he wasn’t mad about on the hangar but fell in love with it as soon as he tried it on. All our decor was DIY, except for our fabulous flowers from Miss Daisy florist. Pa’s nan collected jam jars for the year in the run up to the wedding and we decorated them with lace and hessian.
Tell us about your bridal look:
I always wanted to be different on my wedding day. I found my wedding dress by accident while out on a walk with my mam. We found a sample sale in a shop that’s now closed down. The second dress I tried was the one! We had to ring my dad to come down because neither of us intended on buying a wedding dress out on a walk! It was very surreal but it was my dream dress. It was lace with a champagne underlay, had an illusion back with buttons up the back. I loved every bit of it. I cried taking it off after the wedding! Between buying it and the wedding I had started training in the gym so my body shape changed which meant I needed it altered. I found Sandra from Alter Image and from the moment I spoke to her on the phone I was happy to have her alter my dress. Which turned out perfectly! From the day we got engaged I intended to wear a leather jacket and converse as that’s what I wear all the time and it was really important to me to stay true to my style I was never going to be a princess bride. I wore a fresh flower crown and a veil with tiny crystals all over it because my theory is it’s the only time you get to wear a veil! I wore it all day right up until the band finished!
What did your bridesmaids wear?
I had three beautiful bridesmaids all not living in Ireland at the time of wedding planning so it was difficult to find a dress that suited everybody. That was until I discovered Folkster. I found one dress that managed to suit everybody it was a very plain full length burgundy dress that could be worn off or on the shoulder. All of my girls loved the dress.
What was your ceremony like?
Our ceremony was a humanist ceremony done by the amazing Amy Browne. From the first time I spoke to her I knew she was going to make our ceremony individual and about us. Which it was as we wanted a ceremony that celebrated our relationship over the last ten years. We had a hand tying and ring warming ceremony and our loved ones read poems chosen by us! My Maid of Honour read out a Dr Seuss poem which everyone loved. Our ceremony music was supplied by Redwood Wedding Band and they did an amazing job. From walking down the aisle to Led Zeppelin to signing the register to Metallica they were happy to oblige our unusual choice in ceremony music.
Tell us about your wedding venue:
We found Woodenbridge by fluke going down to visit a potential wedding venue. When we got to the Vale of Avoca on the train, myself and Pa fell in love with the scenic views and then Woodenbridge came into view, we knew we had to visit. A year later we finally got the chance to visit the hotel. We were in love with its quirky-ness. It was perfect, it felt like walking into a house, not a hotel. It was so warm and welcoming.
When Julieann showed us the spectacular ceremony room, we knew this was the place for us. Although there was one more test! Pa being a professional Chef knew he wanted to have good quality food. We were absolutely blown away with the quality and standards of the food that night when we sat down to dinner. On the day of our wedding Julieann and Gillian were amazing, reassuring and calming when we explained that myself and Pa wanted to do a first look that made sure it went off without a hitch. Pa sneaking in through a fire exit so none of our guests would know that we had seen each other. From talking to our guests and our own experience all the staff at Woodenbridge went above and beyond for us from the very first day we walked into the hotel to view it as a wedding venue.
What is your favourite memory from your wedding day?
There’s so many but if we had to pick for me (Vanessa) walking down the aisle with my dad surrounded by our loved ones to see Pa well up with tears of happiness knowing we finally got to our Big Day, the magic moment is here! For Pa, it was walking into the drinks reception for the first time as a married couple seeing all our guests and shouting out ‘WE DID IT’!
Have you got any advice for other couples?
Do it YOUR way. Everyone is going to give you advice. Only tell people what your plan is and what you want if you want their opinion but be warned everyone has an opinion on how your day should go. Do it the way that makes you and your partner happy.
Suppliers
Wedding venue: Woodenbridge Hotel and Lodge | Photography: M and M Photography | Planner/coordinator: Julieann | Musician and DJ: Redwood | Hair: Benita Kavanagh | Makeup: Michelle T O’Sullivan | Dress: Wedding world – now closed down | Suits: Love Suits | Bridesmaids dresses: Folkster | Cake: Made with love by Pa’s Mam Margaret | Celebrant: Amy Browne | Stationery: Optimal Print | Jewellery: Kings Jewellers Artane Castle | Flowers: Miss Daisy Florist