“…But at the end of the day, Castlemartyr made our dreams come true with an intimate fairytale family ceremony & wedding. We had 25 guests and the day was absolutely perfect.”
Your names: Alicia & David
Length of engagement: 2 years
Wedding date: 13 Sept 2020
Wedding location: Castlemartyr Resort
Photographer: Dermot Sullivan
This gorgeous couple met in 2014 while both studying in the UK. Four and a half years later, David proposed in the rain under a tree in Regent’s Park near their London home, totally catching Alicia by surprise!
David and Alicia were determined to still get married in 2020 and Castlemartyr Resort were really great in working with them to host a smaller, more intimate wedding with 25 of their nearest and dearest.
“We decided to keep the flower spend more or less similar to what we had planned for our original wedding in May, which allowed Jill to create a truly spectacular display.” For the outdoor ceremony, think luscious Amazonian hot pinks, exotic turquoise orchids, leafy tendrils and peacock feathers to reflect “a touch of India” – Alicia’s family’s cultural background. The themes were continued into the reception and dinner which worked beautifully against the backdrop of Castlemartyr’s “blue room”. The photos are quite breathtaking.
“As someone who isn’t very good at hair or makeup, I decided to put my trust in the ladies and let them work their vision! Alice styled my hair in soft curls (that lasted the entire day!) and Caroline went for a soft natural look that suited me perfectly.”
Alicia’s beautiful wedding dress was by Justin Alexander from Windsor and Eton Bridal. We just love the “east meets west” fusion and the fact that this intricate dress is complemented by the simple earrings and bracelet.
Alicia’s favourite accessory was her vibrant bouquet which included a couple of peacock feathers (with a matching smaller feather in David’s lapel which was cute).
“My maid of honour was my sister, she wasn’t able to attend in person as she lives in New York however that didn’t stop her from joining in the celebrations. She wore a beautiful pale pink evening dress from David’s Bridal with simple yet elegant silver jewellery and joined us from her Manhattan apartment via Zoom (along with her boyfriend and our brother – both suited up!)”
Alicia describes their wedding ceremony as magical. “The sun came out and we were able to have an outdoor ceremony at Castlemartyr Resort next to the gardens & fountain. We had a harpist (Claire Heffernen) who played dreamy instrumental covers of our favourite songs: my dad walking my down the aisle to my favourite Metallica song stripped down on the harp was literally my dream come true – I felt like a rock princess!”
“With the music by Claire and flowers by Jill setting the scene, our celebrant John Burns then worked his magic. John created a ceremony that reflected our vibrant personalities and encompassed both our cultural backgrounds, moreover he had our guests smiling, laughing and cheering.”
“We had my siblings on FaceTime on a tripod on the front row which worked out really well. The tripod was angled so that we could see each other clearly and I could even hear them clapping and cheering. It honestly felt like they were there with me on our big day.”
“Before the ceremony David and I had our first look photos up on the coast near Ballycotton. Our photographer Dermot and videographer Gordon captured really dramatic shots of us against the background of the cliffs and we had a lot of laughs as it was quite windy, it was just so much fun!”
As they couldn’t have all their friends and family with them on the day, the photos and videos felt all the more important. “Dermot shot every detail of the day. He had such a way with the guests and made everyone feel relaxed, both our families commented now how stunning the pictures were. Our videographer Gordon captured the most beautiful moments and edited them within days of the wedding which was really appreciated by our friends & family abroad – many tears of joy were shed by aunties across the globe!”
“With everything that’s going on in the world right now, it is still possible to have the best day of your life. Whilst not everyone will be able to physically be there, at the end of the day your friends and families will support you, they will be there for you in spirit and there are lots of little ways you can make them feel included – from FaceTime to sending them a piece of cake.”
