This happy couple planned a beautiful summer wedding at Bellingham Castle! They were blessed with a gorgeous sunny day, which meant they could host their ceremony outdoors as planned. To tie their decor and fashion choices together, they included touches of sage green wherever they could.
Something we love: their foodie touches! Shane is a chef so he made homemade jams and lemon curds for the guests to take home, and the table numbers were actually names of restaurants they’d visited together.
Couple: Eilis and Shane
Engagement length: 2 years 5 months
Wedding date: 2025-06-26
Wedding location: Bellingham Castle
Eilis and Shane met back in 1998 when they both worked in the Nuremore Hotel. They then dated for just over 2 years before going their separate ways. Occasionally over the years they met up, but in 2020 they reconnected online and started chatting again most nights. When travel restrictions lifted, they met up again and things moved fast as they officially became a couple again.
Eilis shares the proposal story:
“We got engaged on Valentine’s Day 2023 in the Blue Mountains in Sydney. Shane shocked me by getting down on one knee in front of a waterfall and a tour group. After I got over the shock and of course said yes. I mentioned how I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed the ring box in his pocket all day. Turns out he had snuck it into my bag so I was actually carrying it about for the day.”
The wedding colours were sage green and heather! On the day, the summer weather was perfect for their outdoor ceremony.
Eilis says, “We just wanted the ceremony to be simple and reflect us and our music choices.”
Eils chose an ivory gown with a long train and a proper ballgown skirt. It wasn’t what she initially imagined she’d wear, but she fell in love with it… and it’s perfect for a castle wedding!
Shane wore a beige/stone suit with Adidas trainers and sage green tie to match well with the wedding party.
The bridesmaid wore a beautiful sage green dress and the flower girls had ivory Laura Ashley dresses with sage green and heather flowers. The best man wore the same suit as Shane, but with a different tie, and the page boys wore navy shorts, white shirts and Adidas trainers to match Shane.
“Our ceremony was short and sweet, performed by the fabulous Edel O’Connell. She really made it personal to us and our journey. Our love of music was also used in our ceremony, between readings from Bob Marley and our song choices performed by the amazing Barry Hughes. I walked down the aisle to Warm by the Coronas, we signed our register to Just Breathe by Pearl Jam and we left as husband and wife to Nothing Else Matters by Metallica.”
They tied the knot at the gorgeous Bellingham Castle!
“Bellingham blew us away from the very start. We loved the grounds and the fact that it was exclusively yours for the day. Also anytime we dealt with any staff member they were just amazing especially Ciara and Mathew they just couldn’t do enough for you.”
The wedding was beautifully captured by Rashida Keenan on photography and Vows and Veils on content creation:
“Rashida was amazing on the day. I love to take photos myself but not so comfortable getting my picture taken. Rashida just made us all so comfortable on the day and made sure that all our special moments and then some crew covered. I didn’t book a videographer but a few days before the wedding I was put in touch with the lovely Rebecca from Vows and Veils content creator. Rebecca got some amazing footage of the day that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.”
To entertain their guests, Eilis and Shane booked a band and DJ, Starman, who kept the dance floor full all night. They had a photobooth and now have an album full of pictures of their guests! The outdoor games, like giant Jenga, Connect Four and Cornhole, were for the children but everybody enjoyed them.
Since Shane is a chef, he made homemade jams and lemon curds for guests to take home as wedding favours. These went down a treat! Their foodie journey extended to their table names, which were restaurants they’d eaten at over the last few years.
Eilis shares her favourite memory from the day:
“When I walked down the aisle and we first caught sight of each other. Another one was 6 of my nieces (flower girls) I was taking down to a room to show them where more games were and as I walked down the corridor I could feel a tugging on the dress and when I looked behind me all 6 of them were holding onto my train and lifting it off the ground.”
We love asking newlyweds for their best wedding advice. Here’s what Eilis and Shane had to say:
“Do what you want and make the day yours.”
Recommended Suppliers
Wedding venue: Bellingham Castle
Celebrant/solemniser: Edel O’Connell
Other Suppliers
Photographer: Rashida Keenan | Videographer: Vows and Veils Content Creator | Ceremony singer: Barry Hughes | Band and DJ: Starman | Hair: Tricia McCahey | Makeup: Maeve Hennessy | Wedding party outfits: Folkster and Laura Ashley | Stationery: Optimal print | Jewellery/rings: Howells Jewellers | Flowers: The Petal Plot | Photo booth: CB Productions
