“We just wanted a relaxed, informal day with no fuss. We chose grey suits for the guys and green for the bridesmaids.”
Your Names: Wendy and Andrew
Length of engagement: 6yrs
Wedding Date: 2019-08-01
Wedding location: Summerhill House Hotel
Videographer: Sky Eye Wedding Films
Photos below are stills from the video
How did you meet and get engaged?
I became friends with Andrew’s brother’s wife, Fiona, through work. After a few months, she announced that they were moving back to her home in New York. So they had a going-away party for friends and family and that’s where I was introduced to Andrew. After about a week, he asked Fiona to get my number for him. And it just went from there.
Describe your wedding:
We didn’t really have a theme as such. We just wanted a relaxed, informal day with no fuss. We chose grey suits for the guys and green for the bridesmaids. The venue was so beautiful that we didn’t need to add anything else to it, and we trusted them to pick out table pieces etc.
Tell us about your bridal look:
I went for a less formal look with my hair, having it down and swept to one side. This was to show off the back of my dress, which I adored. I chose a La Spoza gown, the first dress that I tried on. I spotted it from outside Embrace Bridal, Gorey, when I went for my appointment and fell in love when I tried it on. My make up too was a very natural look, which went perfectly with everything.
What did your bridesmaids wear?
Finding bridesmaids dresses that both my bridesmaids would like was a little more difficult. Both wanted knee-length, not many of those available. But we managed to find one on cocomelody.com. I was able to get Fiona’s shipped to her in New York and my sister’s one here, which saved me a lot of worry.
What was your ceremony like?
We decided on a civil ceremony in the hotel. Luckily a friend of mine was able to be our celebrant, which made me definitely relax more, and made it more personal. As the weather was fabulous that day, we were able to have it in the stunning gardens of Summerhill House. That really made the day. The ceremony was short and sweet, we opted for the sand ceremony so the kids could be involved too. Finished off with the very talented Una Pedreschi on keyboard and singing.
Tell us about your wedding venue:
Summerhill House Hotel is a stunning manor type house, with the most professional and friendly staff you could wish for. Our planner Seamus was amazing. He had everything covered, everything ran so smoothly. Food and service were excellent and they really made us feel special.
What is your favourite memory from your wedding day?
Of course I have so many, from the outdoor drinks reception, the laughing from everyone with the caricaturist, Andy Goti, to the band who had everyone on their feet all night. But just before we did our entrance to the reception, our wedding planner took us aside and told us to go and have a few minutes together, while they got everything set up. Looking back, it was great to take those few minutes alone, just to take in the day, and slow down the nerves and adrenaline. Oh, and I really enjoyed doing the photo/video, that was great fun.
My favourite moment was Katie who was a pupil in the school I work in as an SNA, for all her school life, came to the wedding and sang The Greatest Showman ‘This is Me’ for us.
Have you got any advice for other couples?
Don’t panic on the day. If anything does go wrong, chances are you will be the only one who notices. And just do you two when planning. You’ll never please everyone so as long as the two of you are happy, the guests will enjoy themselves. And do take a time out together at some point in the day. Join “Help I’m Getting Married” Facebook page, great advice, ideas and enter any and all competitions you can. I won a pig on a spit and my jewellery!
Suppliers
Wedding venue: Summerhill House Hotel | Videographer: Sky Eye Wedding Films | Planner/coordinator: Seamus | Singer: Una Pedreschi | Musician and DJ: Top of the Popz | Hair: Shauna Lawlor | Makeup: Michelle Field | Dress: Embrace Bridal | Suits: Protocol for Men | Bridesmaids dresses: Coco Melody | Caterer: Summerhill House / Pigspit.ie | Celebrant: Annie Leddy | Stationery: Optimal Print, drawn by Andrew Goti | Jewellery: Touch of Venus Jewellery | Flowers: Joe Duffy Flowers, Smithfield