Looking for simple and honest photography for their wedding day, Sonia and Stuart chose Paul Kelly from Studio 3 Photography.
To help them feel relaxed in front of Paul’s lens on their big day the couple had a beautiful engagement shoot on Sandymount Strand.
Sonia and Stuart originally met during a night out, whilst both holidaying in Spain.
Stuart was best man on a stag party over from the UK and we met on the dance floor. We exchanged numbers and met up again the next two nights. A fortnight later we had a great weekend in Dublin and that was the start of three years (of Stuart in the majority) travelling backwards and forwards between Dublin and London.
People give out about Ryanair but we wouldn’t be together if it wasn’t for Michael O’Leary!Incidentally, my parents met whilst on holidays in Spain 36 years earlier!
Romantic Stuart planned the perfect proposal which took Sonia completely by surprise! The couple travelled to Brussels where Stuart popped the all important question after dinner.
We stayed at a beautiful hotel in the city centre and that night had a fabulous meal cooked by the head chef in their restaurant. Stuart asked for his petit fours to be sent to the room and there was also a bottle of champagne on ice when we returned. When Stuart asked me if I wanted a petit four I immediately picked up the caramel one – my favourite! I was just about to pop it into my mouth when I noticed a diamond shining at me- when I looked up Stuart was on one knee and of course I said yes when he proposed!
The proposal was a complete surprise as I had always said Stuart would need to ask my father for my hand. Whilst we had talked about marriage and the rest of our lives together, I didn’t think Stuart would propose without doing this so I was delighted when he told me he’d brought my parents out for lunch and asked permission the weekend before. We rang our families who were thrilled and celebrated late into the night, laughing, crying and making plans! The next day we took the train to Antwerp where I chose a stunning diamond and designed the ring of my dreams – this was one of the reasons Stuart chose Brussels as he knew how fussy I was, he used a fake for the proposal!
The following day we flew back to Dublin and met my parents at the airport for a celebratory drink – it was great to see them and I was the happiest girl in the world! Little did I know there were more surprises – Stuart had arranged for our car to be parked at the airport and whisked me away for two nights in Carton House. We had stayed there three years earlier for Stuart’s birthday and had fallen in love with the place- the setting, the atmosphere, the food and staff. Our suite in the old house was amazing and after two nights we enquired about booking our wedding for the following year.
Sonia’s bridesmaids kindly bought the couple the engagement shoot as an engagement gift.
We waited until February 2011 to have our shoot as we wanted to have it at the same time of year we got engaged. On Stuart’s first weekend in Ireland we walked along Sandymount strand and it’s a special place for both of us. The views along the coast to Dun Laoghaire and the imposing chimneys make it very unique.
I cannot recommend Paul highly enough, after receiving the image book and CD of the images, I’m really looking forward to having Paul shoot our wedding and seeing the results. The engagement shoot has allowed us to get to know him and his style of photography, no tricks just really honest portraits. It was a cold but sunny early Spring day and Paul used the light and reflection on the water brilliantly.
Stay tuned for coverage of Sonia & Stuarts elegant wedding day in the near future!
Special thanks to Sonia and Stuart for sharing their engagement story with us, and their photographer Paul Kelly.
If you’re interested in having Paul capture your engagement shoot or wedding, drop Paul a line on 087 4128766 or visit his website.