A Christmas New York engagement and an intimate wedding with their closest friends in the breathtaking Glounthaune Church followed by a reception at Fota Island Resort, Sonya and Lewis’ day was sparkling and magical from start to finish! The day was captured by Cork photographer, Anuzis Photography.
Sonya and Lewis’ first meeting was in a bar a few days after Lewis had spotted Sonya shopping in a clothing store. Within minutes of being in the same bar, their eyes met and they were besotted instantly.
“We knew fairly soon after meeting that we had both found ‘the one.’ In fact, within days of meeting we were inseparable and have been ever since,” explains Sonya.
Dressed in a classic boat neck gown with ruby red lips, Sonya’s wedding look was elegant and fitting of a Christmas celebration, although the mornings preparations were slightly frantic:
“The funniest memory has to be, when myself and my bridesmaids left the hairdressers at 12:45- I was getting married at 1:30! We still had a twenty minute drive home to get us all in our dresses and to the church! And the traffic was so bad, we were gridlocked! I got home for about 1:15- fifteen minutes to get dressed and to the church!” explains Sonya.
Lewis, who is originally from Liverpool arranged a Christmas trip to New York for the couple:
“I was hoping a proposal would happen, I felt if I was ever going to be proposed to, then Christmas in New York with my handsome man was the perfect time!” Sonya added. “When we arrived Lewis had arranged champagne, truffles and red roses in our hotel room. Several hours later after a liquid lunch we took a stroll through the city, taking in the hustle and bustle, it was freezing cold, we couldn’t feel our faces but the electricity and energy of Christmas was amazing! We walked for hours taking it all in, and suddenly Lewis dropped to one knee! On the street, at night, in New York, it was like something out of a movie! I thought passers by would, stop and heckle us but they didn’t.”
Back home Sonya and Lewis quickly decided on an intimate and simple Christmas wedding, and chose Fota Island Resort in Cork for their reception. Sonya’s one requirement was that the day would sparkle with lots of fairy lights!
Guest who had travelled from as far as New York and also the UK were greeted with a homemade quirky wooden sign that Sonya had made herself. For a December wedding the sun shone high in the sky reflecting the joyous happy occasion.
Sonya’s advice for other couples:
“Spend the day as close to your husband as you can, he is the one you are marrying, the one you will spend your life with for better and for worse. So many brides spend the day entertaining all the hundreds of guests they invited. I just wanted to spend it with Lewis!”
Sonya had met Kest from Anuzis Photography through her work as a model. After a wedding Kest has an uncontrollable urge to share one photo with the couple. And Sonya’s reaction to the first photo was just the biggest reward and ‘thank you’ to Kest :
”If that was the only photo I had from my entire wedding I’d be absolutely delighted”.
A huge thanks to Sonya and Lewis for sharing their day with us.
Sonya & Lewis’ Wedding Details
Ceremony: Glounthaune Church.
Reception: Fota Island Resort, Cork.
Photographer: Anuzis Photography, Cork.
Wedding dress: Couture Bridal, Galway.
Jewellery: Keanes, Cork.
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Jenny Packham.
Hair & Makeup: Origin Hair Design, Cork / Arlene Keating Make Up.
Flowers: Cork Florist Supplies.
Grooms wear: John Lewis.
