If you're fretting about last minute table plans, decor and DIY, then chill for a moment and take the time to indulge in today's real wedding, because it's one to inspire and remind that no matter how carefully you plan, life will get in the way. But in the end it will all come together and it will be fine. So Lindsay and Eoin had planned every detail and diy-ed the divil to put together a perfect picnic-themed wedding in Horetown House. Everything was in place: metres of bunting, a carousel themed dessert table, all the handcrafted wedding signs you could wish for and loads of goodies for their guests. It was all done. What could possibly go wrong? Well Lindsay's appendix didn't quite get the memo, and the bride was rushed in for emergency surgery only a week before the big day! But Lindsay wasn't giving up that easily, and despite the setback, and dramatic start, the pair ended the week as Mr and Mrs with a huge celebration (full of those crafts they'd lovingly prepared.) So you see, you never know what might happen, but as Ewa Figaszewska's pics show, all's well that ends well. We're really thrilled this couple were able to say I do, and share it with you...
Lindsay and Eoin's romance was a slow burner but after some long distance longing the pair knew they were in it for the long haul, Eoin gave us the deets (love a groom telling the tale!!). "Myself and Lindsay were both in DCU studying for IT degrees. We sat in the same computer lab for the last two years but never actually spoke. Then on the final day, at the graduation party we were introduced by my friend Ciaran. We got on great and laughed all night and by the end of the night I finally got Lindsay's number. From there a relationship grew, until a few months later, Lindsay abandoned me to go backpacking in Australia with her friends. We were heartbroken to go our separate ways and during the year, our contact faded. Two years later, back in Dublin, Lindsay went on a night out with her friends and by chance, her friend Maria spotted me in the bar, chased me down and casually “bumped” into me. I was delighted and we chatted and laughed all night and knew we didn’t want to lose each other again so starting going out shortly after and have been with each other ever since." AWWWWW!
After getting his girl back, Eoin was dying to pop the question. The pair had planned to by a house first so the proposal got delayed a little, but Eoin was determined to do it in style when the right time rolled around as he explained... "Two years after we moved in to our place I had saved enough money again to finally propose. It was Lindsay’s birthday on July 1st and I'd brought Lindsay to the Cliffhouse Hotel in Waterford. On the first night after an amazing dinner we were sitting on the balcony drinking beer and champagne and having a good time. It seemed like the perfect time to get down on one knee. I was more nervous than I thought I would be, not because of what Lindsay would say (I knew she’d say yes!) But just because you want it to be a memorable occasion. She did say yes and I assumed like most girls Lindsay knew what kind of wedding she’d want, I was wrong, she hadn’t a clue."
Lindsay looked gorgeous in her tea length embellished Dirty Fabulous wedding dress, with turquoise accessories. You wouldn't believe that only 5 days earlier she was in hospital getting her appendix out. The whole wedding day and honeymoon was up in the air with the pair wondering if Lindsay would be well enough to walk down the aisle at all. Disaster and disappointment was avoided after 4 days of solid bed rest and lots of TLC, and the bride got her gladrags on, (popped a couple of paracetamol no doubt) and was ready for her big moment. Hats off to a beautiful lady who stunned on the day despite an incredibly stressful run up. Those smiles are worth all the more.
The duo decided to have a first look before the ceremony. They liked the idea of creating their own traditions, and here at OFD, we're big believers in this concept. It settles the nerves and results in some gorgeous photographs if you want to try something different on the day. Lindsay gave us their take on it "We decided to meet before the ceremony as we liked the idea of getting to see each other first. It was the best decision as it gave us time to take it all in, spend a few minutes together and get over any nerves before the ceremony. Also, we got our wedding photos done then so we could enjoy the rest of the day!"
The vows were made in the drawing room of Horetown House in a way they could feel was theirs "We chose a humanist ceremony so we could make the ceremony completely our own, personal and fun."(And there's Susie Kennedy from the Humanist Association officiating, she did Naoise's wedding too!)
The ceremony was written by Eoin and Lindsay along with Susie and the couple were surprised with readings from their oldest siblings, Graham and Joann. A funny story from Graham and an emotional poem from Joann. Once it was official, the happy couple walked down the aisle to one of my favourite songs, 'You Make My Dreams Come True' by Hall and Oates!
The main vibe that we wanted to get across to our guests coming to our wedding was that it was going to be a very fun, relaxed and informal day. We wanted everyone to enjoy themselves as much as us. The day was planned to feel like a celebration, of our marriage and of everyone there who had supported us along the way. We tried to include as many personal touches and the main theme Lindsay had in mind was picnic style and colourful.
Despite the risk or rain, the sun shone on the day and Lindsay, Eoin and their guests were able to enjoy canapés and drinks on the lawn after the ceremony. For entertainment the pair hired barbershop quartet, 4 in a bar, who moved around between groups performing and entertaining the crowd. Creating a chilled out vibe for friends and family to mingle.
When they began to plan their wedding, Lindsay and Eoin had lots of different ideas for the style and theme. So they choose a venue which gave them lots of scope to play around with, one we know well down in the heart of Wexford. "Horetown House had everything we wanted to fulfil all parts of the wedding. The house was exclusive and it had lots of character and room for our family to stay. A beautiful setting and surrounding gardens. Options for an indoor or outdoor ceremony, as well as a beautiful newly renovated marquee. Best of all it had a cool, cosy and old school Irish bar downstairs to keep the party going for as long as we wanted. Kate and Niamh who run Horetown were great to deal with from the first moment we met them. Also the food by the in-house chef Phelim Byrne was amazing!"
The sun shone (despite the forecasts) and the venue fitted those ideas perfectly with a personal indoor ceremony, a sunny, fun reception out on the grounds, a colourful and informal dinner followed by a band in the marquee and a party afterwards in the basement bar.
I mentioned earlier that a huge theme for this wedding was handmade. Once the overall look and feel was set, the couple and their family and friends absolutely threw themselves into making and doing to bring the look to life and personalise the marquee. The projects included a whopping 40 feet of bunting, Eoin's mother made by hand, the couple made the table plan and signs for around the house, and all the flowers were arranged by bridesmaid Lynne and her mother, Monica. What a team.
The cake table was central to the picnic theme but it wasn't as much a diy job - this called for some help from the professionals as Lindsay told us "We didn’t want a traditional wedding cake so we opted for a cake table so we could have variety and have it as a feature for the wedding. Janette (from Blossom Bakes) was amazing to work with, taking onboard all of our ideas and producing amazing, colourful and tasty cake selection. We bought the cupcake carousels in America and added some homemade signs to make this table our own."
So finally, what advice would you give to couples planning their day? "Don’t limit your thinking to what you ‘should do’, but instead think about what will make the day special for you and what you want to happen on the day. Decide on the parts of the day that are most important and spend your time and energy on them. Trust the planner in your venue, they are the experts and make sure to let them know how they can help you. The less time you have to plan the less money you’ll spend. From engagement to wedding for us was 11 months, if we had another 3 or 4 months we would have just bought more props and decorations. Try and organise as much as possible before the big day so you have time to enjoy the few days leading up to it (or drop into the hospital to get your appendix out!)"
Congratulations to the happy couple, Eoin and Lindsay! And thanks for sharing such a happy day with us. Brought a smile to everyone's faces here.
A big Thank You also to Ewa Figaszewska of course, for sharing her work with us at One Fab Day. To see more of Ewa's work pop over to www.weddingsindublin.com.
The Wedding Details
- Venue: Horetown House
- Photographer: Ewa Figaszewska
- Wedding Dress: Dirty Fabulous
- Custom Necklace & Bracelet: Ruth Barzel
- Bridesmaids dresses: Oasis
- Shoes: Kate Spade
- Flowers: @hea_flowers
- Groom's suit: Next & Paul CostelloWaistcoat
- Bow Ties: Divine Domestication
- Cake: Janette at Blossom Bakes
- Stationery: Daintree - designed by bride & groom and printing by Snap
- Make Up & Hair: Hair by Bonnie & Megan Hughes
- Wedding Bands: Rocks & a custom band by Abana for Lindsay
- Barbershop quartet: 4inabar
- Band & DJ: Panic Animal
- Humanist Celebrant: Susie Kennedy
