Their wedding theme was very simplistic and highlighted the beauty of the venue itself. They loved the lemon trees in the area so they added touches of yellow to complement the simple white and greenery of the garden.
Your Names: Simone and Richard Ruth
Length of engagement: 13 months
Wedding Date: 2019-07-25
Wedding location: Casa Santonja, Denia, Beniarbeig, Alicante, Spain
Photographer: Anna Senchermes Photographer
Planner: Your Dream Wedding in Spain
Simone and Richard are childhood sweethearts who met when they were 15. They were together for about three and a half years and went their separate ways in college. They met up again in 2017 and things picked up quickly from there. They got engaged in 2018 and tied the knot in July 2019.
Their wedding theme was very simplistic and highlighted the beauty of the venue itself. They loved the lemon trees in the area so they added touches of yellow to complement the simple white and greenery of the garden.
“We had only one bridesmaid and best man – my sister and Richard’s brother and it was lovely. Our parish priest travelled with us from Tipperary and it was lovely to be able to have our Catholic ceremony outside in the garden. The meal under the twinkling fairy lights was magical and everything from a fairytale with soft music playing in the background. The food was El Poblet Caterers and it was a real fine dining experience – the guests were really impressed. The surprise of the ‘Rave Cave’ for the guests at the end was also really exciting and they didn’t expect it at all! The day just flowed so well and everyone was smiling all day long! Wish we could do it again!”
Richard and his friend made all the table names. He is a technology and woodwork teacher and they used meaningful Irish words for each table. They had a Polaroid of each guest as their table name and lots really liked this and took them as a memento.
Simone’s gorgeous hairpiece is from the Butterslip in Kilkenny and her hair was done by her aunt Patricia. Her dress and veil are by South African designer, Elbeth Gillis, purchased at The Attic Bridal Store. “It was quite warm so I needed something light. I couldn’t choose between fitted and a bigger skirt so this dress was ideal. It was so light and the skirt removed for later so I could move freely. Again, I love the ethereal style – I like fairytale but not OTT. It couldn’t be too fussy either. Rebecca Devin did our makeup – she was recommended by Marcella – she was amazing – fitted in a trial while we were over for our food tasting and she was so calm and chatty that morning she kept us all calm!”
Simone’s sister wore a navy dress from Reiss. She didn’t want to wear anything typically bridesmaid and because the weather was so warm it had to be light too. It was navy and very simple and elegant with the yellow pop from the flowers too.
“We had a religious ceremony which was important to us and our families. We were so lucky the venue catered for this outside in the beautiful garden. We brought our own priest and it made the ceremony much more personal and fun as he knew our history, how we had been together in school etc. and he knew all the guests.”
“The venue is what made us finally decide on Spain for our wedding! It was perfect! Everything on one sight and the guests got led from one section to the next. They arrived and had lemonade on the terrace and then were brought down to the ceremony area hidden behind the trees. The canapes were back on the terrace and then the meal was under twinkling fairy lights surrounded by trees. Then there was a candlelit runway down to the band and DJ in the cellar underneath the building. It was all so beautiful and everyone commented.”
When asked about her favourite part of the day, Simone says it was the meal. She was sitting at the top table with Richard, looking down at all the people who had travelled to Spain to celebrate with them. “There was music playing and everyone was in a holiday mood and it was all so relaxed. Everything was taken care of by Marcella and her team so we could sit back and enjoy everyone and experience it all. The day went so quickly we had time to stop and take it in at the meal.”
“I think people think weddings abroad are so much more work and organisation but with a good wedding planner everything was so much easier. Marcella was so organised and so helpful and always replied within the hour to any questions wedding related. She even went above and beyond with advice for our families etc. too. I think it was so special having all our family around for the week of the wedding too. The wedding day is such a blur but having everyone over in Denia meant we saw everyone throughout the week and everyone was in holiday mode and relaxed and there to enjoy.”
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Wedding venue: Casa Santonja, Denia, Beniarbeig, Alicante, Spain | Planner/coordinator: Marcella Doran – Your Dream Wedding in Spain | Photographer: Anna Senchermes | Musician: Ceremony ‘Ebron’ String Quartet, Band ‘Gate Crash’ | DJ: DJ Darrell | Hair: Patricia Prout | Makeup: Rebecca Devin | Dress: The Attic Bridal (Elbeth Gillis) | Suits: Ted Baker | Bridesmaids dresses: Reiss | Caterer: El Poblet | Celebrant: Fr. Vincent Stapleton | Flowers and cake (wheels of cheese): Heidi Francis Florist
