As soon as Sonya and Gavin chose their wedding date of New Year’s Eve 2016, a glitzy and glamorous party it had to be! Today we’re delighted to share their fun-packed, opulent wedding at Ballymascanlon House Hotel with you. If sparkle is your bag, prepare for a heap of inspiration!
Thanks to Mario from PhotoMV for sharing this memorable Big Day with us.
After first meeting at their local leisure centre a few times, Sonya and Gavin bumped into each other in Liverpool while they were both on a weekend break with their friends. It was Valentine’s weekend 2009 and their love story soon blossomed.
“We enjoy taking holidays and had planned a trip to Las Vegas in November 2011. Like most tourists we booked to do the Grand Canyon Tour by helicopter. As we winged our way over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead I had no idea that Gavin was a bag of nerves before hitting the ground to the Grand Canyon where he popped the question! Of course my answer was yes and at that point our tour guide popped the Champers!” explained Sonya.
Keeping with the party theme to reflect the time of year, Sonya and Gavin added sparkly elements to their theme, creating unique, fairytale-style wedding.
“We gathered everything possible to make our theme work, from party poppers, cannons, clocks, props, to the big count down at 12 o’clock with exploding balloons!” added Sonya.
“I always liked two style of dresses – princess and straight slinky. Although after deciding on a fairytale wedding that was accompanied by horse and carriage I had no doubt in my mind that I needed to have a princess style dress. For dancing in the later hours I got my other choice which was the straight slinky dress. I designed the dress myself where the big tulle princess skirt and the off the shoulder straps could be detachable and I got the best of both worlds!” said Sonya.
Wearing shimmering sequin gowns in contrasting shades of black, silver and gold, Sonya’s three bridesmaids slipped effortlessly into the party theme.
“Having all our favourite people in the one place at the one time was amazing and definitely the highlight of the day! The funniest incident was seeing the bridal party – Mother of the bride, three bridesmaids and three flower girls – hitch a lift at the side of the road after their limo broke down. Needless to say they were picked up by two willing vehicles who escorted them to the chapel!” added Sonya.
Sonya’s Advice
Enjoy every minute of it! From the start of your planning till the very end. On the day live in every moment. If you’re anything like us you will have put a lot of thought and effort in so make it all worthwhile by embracing it all on the day. Don’t be nervous, be yourself – it works!
Wedding Suppliers
Ceremony: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dundalk
Reception: Ballymascanlon House Hotel, Dundalk
Wedding Dress: Designed by Sonya
Bridesmaids Dresses: Cari’s Closet
Makeup: Naiomh Mackin – Lips ’n’ Lashes, Cullyhanna
Hair: Emma Galligan – Cortex Hair Design, Dundalk
Grooms wear: Moss Bros
Bouquets: Innocent Chaos, Belfast
Stationery: Cherished Occasions
Florist: Cherry Blossom Weddings
Ceremony music: Mary Sexton (singer), Patrick Dunne Music Solutions (piano) & Orla Mulrey (Violin)
Videographer: Liutas Pictures
Drinks Reception Music: The Reckoners, Belfast
Evening Band: The Stormer’s, Dundalk
Horse & Carriage: Denamona Carriage Hire
Cake: Scrumptious Cakes
Table linen: Glitz Décor
Centrepieces: We’ve Got it Covered
Room draping: Add a Little Sparkle
Chalkboards: Ebony & Ivory
Glitzy backdrops: Mood Events, Belfast
Balloons: Ab Fab Balloons
Selfie Mirror: Booth and Flash
Photographer: Mario from PhotoMV
