For the past three years we have been publishing our 100 Best Wedding Venues Guide and each year there's just one venue we know, without fail, will make the list. Your home. Planning a wedding at home isn't the easiest (just ask Naoise!) but there is nothing more special than a wedding in your own garden. It's just the most personal event you can ever have. Today's beautifully romantic At Home wedding of college sweethearts Susan and Colm, all captured by the wonderful Darek Novak is an example of what a wonderful way it is to celebrate - you'll love this wedding we promise...
Like many couples I know, Susan met her now husband Colm when she moved from the country to attend college in Dublin. Once enrolled, Susan decided to embrace college life and soon found herself running one of the college charities. Overwhelmed by her new role, one day Susan looked up the previous charity head (Colm) to ask for some advice. Colm obliged, and later asked Susan along to a gig he and his band were playing at. The band must have rocked because not long after, romance blossomed and the two have been sharing giggles ever since.
Like many students after they graduate, Susan and Colm decided to emigrate and make Australia their new home. Little did Susan know, Colm had decided to make another big move...Before flying thousands of miles away, Colm decided to seize the moment and propose. After asking Susan's dad's permission, Colm took Susan for a romantic stroll on the beach. Seaside walks are quite the norm for Susan so at first nothing seemed strange, until Colm suddenly dropped to one knee. (Whilst Susan was mid rendition of The Carpenters "I'm On Top Of The World".) A total romantic, Colm hadn't bought a ring. Instead, he produced an old brown penny, as an ode to Susan's favourite W.B Yeats poem "Brown Penny". Once Susan had said yes, Colm whisked her off to a country cottage for the night equiped with freshly delivered mussels and a roaring fire. Even better, he'd secretly booked the following day off work for them both...
Following their engagement, Susan and Colm stuck to their plans and headed to sunny Oz whilst also beginning to plan a wedding back home in Ireland. The thoughts of trying to book a venue from abroad began to be stressful but luckily Susan's dad came to the rescue and offered the family home as a marquee venue. Susan and Colm both wanted a relaxed wedding so an At Home celebration worked out perfectly.
As our own Naoise will testify, planning a marquee wedding at home isn't easy. Marquees take lots of planning and a hefty budget. However, Susan and Colm, like so many of our Real Wedding stories, are surrounded( even long distance) by so mnay helpful family and friends: "My parents, in particular my Dad, were amazing with helping us research all the practical side of rentals and hiring staff/caterers etc. We really couldn’t have done it without them."
Another great reason for Susan and Colm choosing to get married at home was the stunning Sligo surroundings. After the local church ceremony, they took a brief detour to the nearby coast for a host of epic portraits with photographer Darek Novak.
Making the most of the seaside location, the day after the wedding Susan and Colm chartered a boat for guests to a nearby island for some celebratory drinks: "It was fantastic! About 60 of our guests made the trip, some for just walking or playing games on the beach and others went for a few pints in the island pub. The boat was chartered through Daryl Ewing and they provided a brilliant service."
Susan's dreamy dress is the "Hazel" dress by Anouska G which she accessorised with a simple veil and subtly sparkling headband. A pretty modern update of quite a traditional bridal style.
The rest of the wedding party was just as stylish: the girls in matching coral red and the boys donning matching dickie bows. Delightful!
Not exactly sure what they're trying to spell but it doesn't seem to be YMCA 🙂
After a bit of larking about by the shore, the bridal party returned to Susan's home where the rest of the guests were already enjoying the blue skies and balmy temperatures, clinking sparkling glasses and scoffing some very tasty bites. A merry time exactly as Susan and Colm envisaged...
Having the perfect venue on their doorstep, literally, on their doorstep, and finding the right people to pull off the marquee, all that remained was to put the look and feel of the wedding together. The couple decided on a loose theme of romantic Irish poetry and the main priority was to serve superb food. Each table was named after a Yeats poem with a romantic verse or line from the poem written underneath, whilst the colour scheme comprised of soft pastels and pink. The delicious food was supplied by a local café, Lyons, who devised a delicious alternative menu for Susan, Colm and their guests.
As Susan put it... "We wanted the food to be really tasty and fresh and also something a bit different. We had tapas plates for starter, we love this kind of eating and hoped it would get people mingling from the beginning. Mains were a buffet of spit roast lamb and salmon with some delicious salads and sides. Gary’s presentation was outstanding and it tasted as good as it looked!"
"Then for dessert we had a selection of small deserts served to each table on individual cake stands. Gary sourced vintage cake stands and cups and saucers for us from ‘Pretty Plates’. The whole thing just looked beautiful. In the same vein we really wanted a Cheese course so decided to serve a selection of cheeses as the midnight snack. We sourced these from Sheridans in Dublin and my brother decorated and arranged it in cake formation- they were devoured."
Naturally the food and romantic atmosphere of the day was enjoyed by everyone. Afterwards, guests were treated to lots of live music and a performance by Colm and his band. The same band which Colm played with that very first night they began to date. "Colm and his band playing was a highlight as it was completely impromptu. I had no idea they were going to play as they hadn’t practiced in over a year but they sounded fantastic!
Huge congratulations to you both and thank you for sharing your beautiful wedding at home with us! Thank you also goes to the talented Darek Novak for sharing his work with us. To see more photography and weddings by Darek head over to www.photosligo.com
The Wedding Details
- Ceremony: St Columba’s Church, Rosses Point
- Marquee: Pavillion Marquees
- Dress: Anouska G from De Stafford Bridal
- Bridesmaids dresses: Dessy at Netbride.com
- Shoes: Ciara bridal
- Flowers: Leitrim flowers
- Groomswear: H.e by Mango
- Accessories: Argento
- Cake: Manning's Bakery
- Car:Classic Car Hire
- Stationery: Distrikt design
- Make-up: Jean from Tohers Chemist
- Hair: Pauline O Donnell from Ceann Oir
- Ceremony and Reception Music: Sarah O Connell and friends, The Jazz Lads, The White coats
- Videographer: David Laird
- Caterer: Gary Stafford from Lyons cafe
- Vintage cake stands and crockery: Pretty Plates
- Bar: Barry Battle of Event Bars
- Table/Chair Linen Hire: Select Hire
- Charter boat to Coney island: Ewing’s boat charters
- Reception Music: The Bentley Boys
