A Relaxed Wedding With an Ode to Travel

Articles, Real Weddings

“We both love travel and wanted that to play a key part in the day.”

 

Your Names: Jacinta Devins and Sean McCoy

Length of engagement: 10 months

Wedding Date: 16 August

Wedding location: Tankardstown House

Photographer: Christina Brosnan

 

 

How did you meet and get engaged?
We met through mutual friends during college in Dublin and we were lucky enough that these same friends were in our wedding party on the day. Almost 8 years to the day we met we got engaged on holiday in Mauritius. It was a very special trip and Sean proposed on the second night. The original plan he later revealed was to propose on the first night but unfortunately nerves got better of him. It was always going to be a yes from me.

 

 

Describe your wedding:
We had no real theme in mind for our wedding but both liked the idea of incorporating fresh summer flowers throughout. The flowers were chosen to complement both the bridesmaid’s dresses and the groom’s suit. We wanted all details to be very personnel to us on the day.

We both love travel and wanted that to play a key part in the day. For example our table names were named after the countries we visited, such as Mauritius where we got engaged 10 months before our Big day. Italy is one of our favourite countries and we had previously taken a trip to the Prosecco Valley in Northern Italy and we included a ‘Pimp my prosecco’ stand in honour of this, with personalised straws and seasonal fruit.

We wanted the day to have a relaxed feel after the ceremony with a fun element and we included lawn games on the day to take advantage of the good weather and a photobooth after the meal. Springbreak allowed the party to continue to the early hours with Tayto crisp sandwiches available for everyone on their way home.

 

 

 

Tell us about your bridal look:
Suzanne Kavanagh did my make up on the morning of the wedding, and I couldn’t praise her enough. She went with a natural look while still incorporating that hint of glamour. To complement this look, David opted for a soft loose curl in my hair, in a half up half down style. For my dress, I wanted something simple and elegant and I found that in my Suzanne Neville dress from Sharon Hoey.

 

 

What did your bridesmaids wear?
The bridesmaid dresses were a soft powder blue from Dresscode. Each dress was slightly different to suit the individuality of each bridesmaid.

 

 

What was your ceremony like?
Our ceremony was very personal to us both and was held in Mellifont Abbey, just 2 minutes from where I grew up. This was the first wedding ever held in the Monastery since it opened over 80 years ago. Our wedding mass was celebrated by a close family friend, Fr. Kevin Donohue. He married my parents just over 30 years ago, who were also the first couple he married after his ordination as a priest.

 

 

Tell us about your wedding venue:
Tankardstown House was the second venue we visited and we fell in love with it straight away. The deciding factor was when we saw the Orangery; we knew this was it!

We cancelled all other viewings straight away as Tankardstown ticked all our boxes as a wedding venue. We were so lucky to have such a stunning venue so close to our home. There was a real comfort in knowing that we didn’t have to worry about travelling far between the ceremony and our reception. The staff were exceptional and our memory from the day is that everyone had fun, was relaxed and well looked after.

 

 

What is your favourite memory from your wedding day?
We both agreed the ceremony and exchanging of vows was our favourite part of the day. However the few minutes driving from the church to Tankardstown House was a close second. Chatting and laughing on the journey over as a newly married couple was very special, it was also one of the few times that day we got to spend time just the two of us.

 

 

Have you got any advice for other couples?
The day will go by so quickly, take time to sit back and enjoy it together even if that is taking time to have a catch up over a Tayto sandwich and a rest from the dancing. Don’t worry if something goes wrong on the day as no one will notice but you. Putting a Child of Prague statue out the night before the wedding is also required not only for tradition but also a necessity. We woke up on the morning of the wedding to thunderstorms and hail but by the time we were all dressed and ready to leave for the church the sun had come out and shone for us all day long.

 

 

Suppliers

Wedding venue: Tankardstown House | Photographer: Christina Brosnan | Ceremony Music: Amie Dwyer | Reception Music: Scott Newman | Band and DJ: Springbreak | Hair: David at Indigo hair | Makeup: Suzanne Kavanagh | Dress: Suzanne Neville from Sharon Hoey | Suits: McKenna Man | Bridesmaids dresses: Dresscode | Cake: Anytime cakes | Celebrant: Fr.Kevin Donohue | Stationery: Save the date.ie | Jewellery: Appleby Jewellers | Flowers: The House of Elliott | Photobooth: Instaglam