Say hello to Jess and Michael! They tied the knot in a lovely Catholic wedding ceremony, followed by a beautiful wedding reception at Tankardstown House. They describe their wedding as simple and classic, with the colours white, off white and blush pink!
Couple: Jess and Michael
Engagement length: 22 months
Wedding date: 2023-08-18
Wedding location: Tankardstown House
Photographer: M&M Photography
Jess and Michael’s modern day love story began when they met on Bumble. Four years later, Michael popped the question! This hilarious and romantic story is best told from Jess’s perspective:
“It was the weekend of our 4 year anniversary and I came home from work looking like crap. Michael goes ‘I’ve your anniversary pressie come on’ and I go ‘ugh do I have time to change’. I ran up to change into my comfy clothes or as Michael calls them my boy pants (which he hates). Anyway so he then says ‘hurry up it’s perishable’. He leads me outside to our gym, which he moved everything out of and had the entire place covered with candles, a poster with photos of us saying happy ever after and four pumpkins carved out saying “will you marry me?” He then turns to me and goes to bend down on one knee but before he could get down and open the ring box I said yes! Then we enjoyed the gorgeous champagne and take away he planned as we were going to Kilronan castle the next night anyway. Second best weekend of our lives (after the wedding obviously).”
They describe their wedding as simple and classic, with the colours white, off white and blush pink!
We love how they incorporated simple mason jars with fairy lights into the decor, along with a fun Jenga game guest book!
Jess had a Sophia Tolli ball gown with a simple wrap v neck back and front body with a layer waterfall tulle full skirt. She completed her look with a cathedral train in ivory and a cathedral double length veil with white edging and diamonds placed all over.
She then changed into a simple off white halter neck floor length dress for the first dance. Paired with a gold bow block heel. For jewellery, she picked a gold hair slide, her mother’s engagement ring on her right hand, a necklace and a gold tennis bracelet gift to her from Michael on the morning of the wedding. The bouquet was white and baby pink roses and posies, sprigs of pink and purple flowers and greenery.
Michael had a navy blue two piece suit paired with a light grey and a satin baby blue back waist coat, a burgundy red paisley patterned tie with black textured shoes. Simple cuff links and a new watch he got from Jess as a wedding gift. Michael’s buttonhole was one white rose with baby’s breath.
The bridesmaids wore blush pink Maya sequin top and tulle skirt dresses from Pamela Scott with rose gold block heels, simple gold stud earrings from Rosie and Dott and a simple gold bracelet with their birth stones in them from Karl Scarpa. Their bouquets were baby’s breath with two baby pink roses.
The groomsmen wore navy blue three piece suits from Dorian Black with baby blue ties which were the same as Michael’s but the colour was different. They were paired with black brogue shoes from River Island and a simple white pocket square and cuff links. Each groomsmen had one pink rose with baby’s breath for buttonholes.
They hosted a beautiful Catholic ceremony in Curradha Catholic Church in Meath, officiated by Father Kevin. They kept it short and sweet, just under 35 minutes in total. Olivia Romeo was their ceremony singer, who they describe as ‘absolutely breathtaking’.
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The wedding was beautifully captured by Marcin and Marta from M&M Photography.
“They were out of this world. So attentive, hardly notice them there, excellent for direction for the portraits and after receiving 27 preview photos I am so so so excited to get the rest back. 100000% would recommend.”
The fabulous Sax On Fire band entered the guests!
“We loved the energy we saw online and reviews. Was absolutely delighted with them. They listened to the type of music we wanted and what would also appeal to the crowd. Everyone was on the dance floor from the get go. Couldn’t get my mother in law off the dance floor lol.”
Jess’s retelling of her favourite memory of the day is hilarious:
“I should really say when I saw Michael’s face walking down the aisle but it’s not. It was throwing my bouquet. First time I threw it my sister and bridesmaids fully right tackled each other to get it and it was absolutely the best thing I’ve ever seen especially on video! But my absolute favourite thing is (bar marrying my husband lol) is when I threw the bouquet again to my autistic cousin whose face lit up when she got it. That moment was my absolute favourite and I will cherish it forever.”
We love asking newlyweds for their wedding planning advice. Here’s what they had to say:
“Soak it all up. Celebrate every task on the run up. Ask the venue to hold some canapés back for you when you get your photos so when and if, like us we missed our drinks reception so when everyone was called to dinner we had the canapés for us brought to our room while we got to relax and chill for 20 mins. We were starving so this was ideal! Definitely have breakfast and some food before you go! I also would 100000% recommend bringing a second dress (I got my second dress for under €50) and even though we had a storm outside it was still roasting so happy I changed into it as I would have died in my dress all night it got so hot even though I didn’t want to take it off. I had too! Best decision ever. I bought it the week before so if I didn’t wear it I could return it.”
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Reception venue: Tankardstown House
Planner/coordinator: Aine and Sarah Jane from Tankardstown
Photographer: M&M Photography
Musician: Olivia Romeo
Band and DJ: Sax on Fire
Wedding dress: Fiona Todhunter
Groomsmen: Dorian Black
Flowers: Ashbourne Flowers
Other Suppliers
Ceremony venue: Curradha Catholic Church | Videographer: Cupla Films and Idiosync Films | Hair: Dovile Hair and Make up | Makeup: Sugarcube Audrey O’Brien | Male grooming: Dees Hair Bray | Party dress: New Look | Suit: Moss Bros Dundrum | Bridesmaids: Pamela Scott | Cake: HD Patisserie | Celebrant/solemniser: Father Kevin Heery | Stationery: Canva and Reads Printing | Rings: Weirs and Son | Engagement ring: Blue Nile | Accessories: Rosie and Dott, Swarovski