Real Weddings

Real Wedding: After a very romantic surprise engagement (he made a picnic!) today's gorgeous couple, Liam and Emer, set about creating a unique and beautiful wedding day celebration, bursting with personality. They chose the serene and special setting of the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point (who won Lakelands Venue of the Year in the 2013 WeddingsOnline.ie Awards, by the way!) to host a wedding reception jam-packed with fabulous food, spectacular views and amazing entertainment, and had Michael Dillon of Dillon Photography on hand to capture the blue sky and bright smiles on the day.

Real Wedding - Many great love stories involve sacrifice and compromise in an effort to let love lead the way and today's couple's tale follows that very same narrative. Even though being together meant giving up (or postponing!) a round-the-world adventure and a dream job, Natasha and Stephen followed their hearts and their journey led them right the way up the aisle and back down again as man and wife. Lucky for us, their wedding (shot by the wonderfully talented Tara Aherne Photography) was just as beautiful as their story, with chic black bridesmaids' dresses, sweet DIY details and even sweeter wedding cakes (Natasha being a pastry chef couldn't decide what type of cake to make so "made them all"!) The day was held at the stunning Radisson Blu Farnham Estate in Cavan, which won Lakelands Wedding Venue of the Year at this Year's WeddingsOnline.ie Awards 2013.

Real wedding - The super sweet Caroline and Trevor met when they were set up on a date by Caroline's sister's boyfriend. Caroline was knocked sideways by Trevor's cute and dazzling smile while Trevor couldn't even believe she was the girl he was going to spend the next few hours with. Hours turned to days, days to months and the two were married on a gloriously sunny day in June last year. They held their reception at this year's WeddingsOnline.ie Awards Wedding Venue of the Year - Harvey's Point Lough Eske, Donegal - and had the wonderful Paul from Ghorm Studio Photography on hand to capture every special moment. [Dress by Tomorrow's Formal, Stationery by Feather and Ink]

Alison and Gearoid's beautiful family celebration at The K Club was captured by photographer Philip O'Neill and features lots of glorious details. Enjoy!

We missed you last week while we were out sipping Champagne with the Top Wedding Suppliers and peeps from the Top Wedding Venues in the Country at the annual WeddingsOnline.ie Awards (it's a tough job!) but we're back with our dose of real weddings again and we promise, this one was worth the wait! Maggie and Neal threw an incredible, fun day for their guests in Bellinter House, while still managing to bring the romance with their intimate outdoor wedding ceremony. From Maggie's lace Edwardian style Maria Luisa Rabell dress to the couple's choice of entertainment - the floor filling 80's band Spring Break - this was far from your conventional wedding. Captured by Karina Finegan, the couple look relaxed and in love while enjoying the gorgeous sun and free reign of the grounds. Cuteness.

Aoife and Eoin's relaxed wedding in Adare was captured by Emily Doran Photography. Be sure to check out all the sweet DIY touches...

Real Wedding - Continuing with our 'romance' theme for Valentine's week, today we’re featuring a very dreamy, VERY romantic real wedding on the serene and secluded Island of Lusty Beg, Fermanagh. Peter Doherty and Emma Mc Cafferty tied the (sailor's) knot in July last year, in a very elegant, chic and intimate wedding in St. Columba’s Church - “arguably the most beautiful chapel in Derry”. Colour-wise, they went for a deep and sophisticated slate grey for the bridesmaids’ dresses, which carried through to many of the decor and details throughout the day. Their beautiful photo album by Yez Lifestyle Photography is a stunning mix of portrait and landscape with idyllic lake views, tranquil and romantic...

Real Wedding - While the boys took a trip to a very stylish barbers for a morning pampering session (a hot towel shave and some champers), the girls stayed at home dancing around the kitchen to Mumford & Sons, and so set the tone of the day! After a very romantic porposal on top of the Empire State Building, Eimear and David set about creating their vision of a perfect day. Eimear added plenty of DIY details including a beauiful cake table, a guestbook table dotted with old photos of family weddings and, our favourite, her gran's old bicycle! All this was set against the stunning backdrop of the always chic Clonabreany House. However nothing could take away from the beauty of Eimear and David themselves, whose huge smiles and sparkling eyes lit up every room, and every photo captured by Julie Cummins.

Real Wedding - Melissa and Oliver met in a little Dublin pub seven years ago, and a little bit of a theme emerged when Oliver popped the question four years later (can a theme span four years?!) The striking bride (in a fabulous Tamem Michael lace gown) and stylish groom were married in the stunning setting of Durrow in County Laois in November. A colour theme developed from both the groom's bright blue suit and the bridesmaids' luscious long navy dresses. The couple added beautiful details to their reception decor, with pretty rustic style hanging hearts and plush brown suede and white satin table settings by Finesse Weddings. Their day was captured perfectly by the Aileen Kennedy Photography.

Sometimes it's difficult for even the most practical of people to deny fate. And we think Lara and Andrew's chance meeting in a pub in Melbourne may just put them to the test! Australian Lara met her Irish beau Andrew on his last night on the continent before he headed back to the green grass of home, but it only took that short amount of time for the couple to know it 'was it'. They married in a grand and beautiful ceremony fit for royalty at St Macartan's Cathedral in Monaghan before staking their claim on the magnificent Cabra Castle where they spent the rest of the day eating, drinking and being married among their close friends and family. Their day was captured by the wonderful Phil Voon of Give us a goo Photography.

Well if this real wedding doesn't get you digging out your old collection of lollipop sticks and hunting down a pair of pinking shears, we're not sure what will! When Grainne and Stephen started planning their wedding day last year, they called on their very talented (and very patient!) friends and family to help them tie the knot (literally, in the case of some of the DIY projects!) From pimped up jam jars and handmade table runners, to tree stump centerpieces and a ridiculously impressive sweet table, both the couple and their guests managed to pull off the ultimate DIY wedding, and have a pretty stellar time to boot. Gary Barrett captured all the details, as well as all the emotions on the day. Major props to all involved, this is so inspirational!

We couldn't help but break out in a huge grin as soon as we saw today's gorgeous bride Carmel. She has the most infectious smile! Carmel met hubby Alan on the rugby pitch when he came to coach her team and even though he thought she was 'out of his league' (his words, not our pun) the pair hit it off (is that a pun?) and were married in a wonderfully warm and personal ceremony in September. The very talented Deirdre O'Keefe of DOK Photography documented their day...

Real Wedding - Cute, petite blonde meets tall dark and handsome in today's classically beautiful real wedding. When Majella bought her house next to some friendly neighbours, she didn't imagine they would hold the key to her future happiness... Declan and Majella married in a traditional church ceremony in September last year with her bridesmaids holding beautiful bright bouquets of pink gerberas to add a burst of colour to the black and white wedding theme. The day was captured by Galway based photographer Maya Noonan, of Maya Noonan Photography.

Real wedding - It's Monday. It's cold, and we're not quite done with January yet. Me thinks we need a little brightening up this morning - and what better way than with a truly beaming bride, some sunflower bouquets, a classicly cool Cadillac and the brilliantly talented Shane O'Neill of Aspect Photography to capture it all. Welcome to Paul & Annemarie's Country Sunflower Wedding...

Real Wedding - Today's bride Adrienne brought some serious style to the altar when she married fiancé Adam in November. She certainly wowed us when we saw these fabulous photos by Insight Photography! In her Jesus Peiro gown, Adrienne swapped vows with Adam under palms and banana trees in the elegant, romantic setting of the conservatory at Kilshane House. We're also loving Adam and Adrienne's unconventional relationship style, from their street-side Christmas proposal to their wacky-but-apt choice of first dance song (and moves!)

If we said 'Champagne Equestrian Wedding Theme' what would you think? We're here to show you how it works! Or rather, Orlaith, Richard and their pet horse Paddy are. Orlaith met Rich at a horse show in Punchestown six year ago, and after she realised he wasn't in fact 'involved' with the lady he was there with, his flirting went from highly inappropriate to very cute! The couple married in the gorgeous BrookLodge Country Club in Wicklow in September and had the delightful Ros from Couple Photography on hand to capture every special moment of their day (and the adorable Paddy on hand to make sure nobody stole a slice of their cake!).

We'd love to write an entire essay on everything we love about Edel and Rory's wedding at Glasson Coutry Club, but I'm afraid we just wouldn't do it justice. So instead we've decided to let gifted photographer Michelle Prunty take you through this beautiful couple's beautiful day.

Amid the wind and November rain, Nicola and Seamus celebrated their wedding at the stunning Brehon Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry.

Real Wedding - It really doesn’t get any dreamier than a destination wedding with 70 of your closest friends and family in the rolling hills of Tuscany – except maybe if said wedding is arranged by supremo wedding coordinator Sara Mazzei of Infinity Weddings! And that’s just who today’s chic (and composed!) couple Gemma and Samuel assigned to plan their romantic outdoor wedding in the Chianti wine region in Tuscany, Italy. The couple exchanged vows under a hot July sun, and after treated their guests to some delectable Italian cuisine, and some traditional Scottish dancing! The celebrations continued with a serene candlelit dinner on the terrace of Castello Vicchiomaggio, overlooking the enchanting views of the Tuscan countryside – pure bliss!

Real wedding - After saying 'yes' on the banks of the Seine, today's beautiful bride Anna went about creating an intimate and relaxed day for her and fiancé Colly's wedding celebrations in September. With calming pastels and rustic style wildflower arrangements, the tone was set for a day full of summer sun, friendship and fun. The bride stunned in a sumptuous handmade mermaid style lace gown, while the bridesmaids floated in gorgeous grey wrap gowns and pretty plaits. In a wonderfully personalised manner, the couple said their vows to one another in the same church the bride's parents and grandparents made their own lifelong promises years before, and Anna's favourite moment came about when she noticed she hadn't turned into 'a blubbering mess' - quite the contrary Anna! Their day was captured by the wonderful Tanya of Eden Photography.