It's not often we get a vintage wedding with original antique finds, but today Nicola and Rob's 1930s wedding delivers just that, and couldn't be any more magical! Captured by Fergal McGrath Photography, get ready for some seriously practical tips from today's bride on how to style your wedding exactly to your liking, while still keeping to a budget.
Architecture graduates, Nicola and Rob met during their end of year architecture ball in Plymouth, where they both studied. Almost ten years later in March of this year, Rob proposed during a ski holiday in Tignes, France, at the bottom of their final run. Nicola explains:
"We were both breathless and still wearing skis and goggles when Rob popped the question!"
Rob and Nicola originally decided to get married in September 2014, which they felt would give them time to save and get organised, but when they thought it through a little more it seemed a long way off and decided rather spontaneously to bring it forward a year to coincide with their ten year anniversary!
"Changing the date gave us just three months of organisation so we called in family and friends who jumped at the challenge, taking on a great commitment of their time. Luckily they’re a talented and creative bunch so we could spread tasks evenly across the board. We rather naively thought three months was plenty of time, but it's fair to say that without their input we’d never have pulled it off with style."
Nicola's engagement ring and wedding gown were original thirties pieces, which is where the theme began:
"We both love antiques and old objets d’art, so a vintage wedding was very appropriate to our personalities. When we researched this era further we realised it was around the time of the American depression and people had to be more creative to throw elegant parties on a tighter budget, which was exactly what we were doing. It also suited the times we live in now with the recession and people being generally more money conscious. We went to a local car boot sale every Saturday for nine weeks and collected ornate candlesticks and vintage table decorations; one man’s junk is another man's treasure! We invited our guests to join us in the nineteen thirties style and remarkably almost everyone did."
Being architecture graduates the wedding stationery was very important to this design led couple.
"We designed and printed all our invitations, which were inspired by the Bauhaus - a German design school that had a massive influence on architecture and design, with a distinct graphical style up until the mid-thirties when it was closed by the Nazis. All elements of the graphics, menus, monographs and church booklets were homemade, as it personalised everything to our style. The twenty table names were all Yeats' poems and a very close friend did a unique illustration based on each poem with spectacular results."
On their wedding day Nicola wore an original thirties gown that she had purchased from Pennies Vintage in London for an amazing price of just over €500! She carried a traditional bouquet of red roses, while her bridesmaids carried vibrant yellow calla lilies.
"My mother in law is a retired florist, so she arranged the flowers for the reception. Roses were the traditional dinner party flower of the thirties, and so a dozen ivory and gold roses in vintage jugs became the centerpiece for each table."
After a slight mishap - the groom's wedding car failed to turn up, so he and his family were 20 minutes late to the ceremony - the rest of the day went perfectly, culminating in an amazing marquee reception at Ardtarmon House, Yeats' country, County Sligo.
"Artarmon House is owned by the Henry family and it’s been in their family for four generations. It was the most wonderful historical setting for our vintage wedding with mature gardens, woodland and a beach. The hospitality of Charles and Christa Henry was exceptional and they made everyone feel very welcomed into their home."
Advice for other couples:
"Think outside the box and organise a wedding that suits you both. Lateral thinking can save the pennies too. We bought our own wine straight from a vineyard in 25 litre plastic containers! We bought quirky glass bottles and carafes to present it in and saved a fortune, while still drinking very high quality wine."
Highlight of the day:
"Having family and friends from all walks of life under the same roof – it was like an episode of ‘This is your Life’. The best part was everyone getting on like a house on fire, family telling us our friends were brilliant and friends telling us vice versa."
Nicola and Rob's Wedding Suppliers:
Ceremony: Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Bundoran.
Reception Venue: Ardtarmon House, Yeat’s Country, County Sligo.
Photographer: Fergal McGrath Photography, Kinlough.
Marquee Hire: Toons and Balloons, Mayo.
Wedding Dress: Pennies Vintage, London.
Bridesmaids Dresses: Virgo's Lounge.
Bridal Accessories: Camden Passage, London.
Groomswear: Ted Baker.
Wedding Cake: Tess and Cliodhna McCaughey, aunt and cousin of the bride.
Flower: Ailin's Flowers, Kinlough.
Bridal Transport: Defender 90, owned and driven by a close friend.
Entertainment: The Jazz Ladds, Sligo.
Honeymoon: Aran Islands, Co. Galway.
