Cariosa & Brian’s Vintage Inspired Wedding

On April 29th, as most brides to be were glued to their tv watching the Royal Wedding, Cariosa and Brian were busy preparing for their own wedding later that day. While Kate chose a vintage design for her dress, Cariosa’s was truly vintage as she wore her mother’s wedding dress, which inspired her wedding theme.  Johannes Photography captured the memories of the day…

How we met

Where and when:

We worked together in the bank, but didn’t really know each other. We were sent on a time management course in early 2006 and got to know each other better! The rest as they say is history.

First impressions:

Cariosa: I loved Brian’s confidence and how easily he got on with people. I also liked his competitive nature.
Brian: What first attracted me to Caríosa was her competitive nature and her sense of humour.

Our first date:

We went to Wagamammas in St. Stephens Green, Dublin. Brian had never been there and always wanted to go, so I brought him! He taught me how to use chopsticks properly.

The Proposal

Brian took me away for a surprise weekend in February 2010. I had no idea where we were going. We drove down on the Saturday & before dinner he gave me my Valentine’s card & told me to read it. In it he’d written

‘Well you never thought I’d ask you, so I’m not. I wrote it instead.
Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife’.

He then got down on one knee & asked me. It was a huge surprise as neither of us are into Valentine’s and so I never thought in a million years he’d propose then. However he made sure it wasn’t on the 14th. He did it on Saturday 13th February!

The Big Day

Wedding Theme and Colour Scheme:

As I was wearing my mother’s wedding dress, and have an antique engagement ring I wanted to go for a vintage theme. The colours were white, ivory, gold, dusky pinks and hints of green.

What we were thinking:

Brian: I could not believe this day had finally arrived. I was very nervous but also very happy at the same time.
Cariosa: I was very calm that morning. We watched the Royal Wedding at home and I think that put me at ease because I wasn’t thinking of my own. Although when I saw Kate walking down the aisle I got very teary – which didn’t help the make-up artist doing my make-up at the time!!!

Before I walked down the aisle:

I took my brother’s hand & said ‘don’t let go’. He squeezed it back & so we walked down the aisle hand in hand (which is not really the traditional way to do it!). I was nervous and emotional, yet at the same time I couldn’t wait to walk down and see Brian and marry the man I love.

When we first saw each other

We kissed. Well Brian told me how beautiful I looked and he had tears in his eyes which nearly set me off! Then we just kissed. Probaby a bit longer than was necessary.

Your music

Processional: Air on a G String (J.S. Bach)
Signing Registry: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Recessional: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
First Dance: To Make You Feel My Love (Adele)

Most emotional moment:

During my speech I got very emotional when I spoke about how special it was to be wearing my mother’s wedding dress. It meant so much to me to walk down the aisle in it especially since my Father was not with us.

Most surprising moment:

I was very surprised at how emotional Brian was when I met him at the altar. He had tears in his eyes and was almost afraid to speak in case he started crying!!!!

Funniest moment:

It has to be Brian and I on the stage trying to kick our legs as high in the air as possible whilst dancing to Riverdance, and watching all our guests on the dancefloor do the same. Everyone was very serious about their Irish Dancing!

Any other memories from The Big Day:

I loved looking around at everything and thinking how well it all came together. The images I had in my head looked just as good and even better when I saw them. All my planning had paid off. The day was everything I’d ever dreamt of and more.

Cariosa & Brian’s Wedding Suppliers