Family and fun were the focus of today's real wedding thanks to Loni and Gareth's laid-back style. And the setting for such a celebration? The stunning Mount Druid in Westmeath, which sits on 100 acres of greenery and boasts its own chapel, boathouse, barn and accommodation. All of which set the scene for this truly gorgeous wedding - see for yourself in the pictures captured by Moat Hill Photography.

Loni and Gareth's international romance began in San Francisco where Loni matched with the Galway man on Tinder shortly after he moved to the city she had been calling home for quite some time. Their first date was arranged for two weeks later and the rest is history.

For the proposal, it was fitting that this couple was exploring the world when Gareth decided to get down on one knee. "We were living in Vietnam at the time and Gareth had planned a surprise trip to Japan, a place I had always wanted to go," Loni told us. "After being surprised at the airport I had no idea. When we arrived at the hotel and saw he had reserved a huge suite, I still had no idea. And when we were at the restaurant at The Park Hyatt - the one from the movie Lost In Translation - he got down on one knee near the window overlooking Tokyo. I also got on my knees not understanding what he was trying to do. He had to stand me back up so he could finish his proposal! I don't even know if I said 'yes' I was in so much shock." 

"Fun, funky, and ridiculous" - these were top of this couple's wish list when it came to the feeling they wanted to have on their wedding day. "We were already planning by ourselves from across the world so we didn't want or need to have a production but just wanted to keep it low stress," the pair told us. "All we cared about was that people were not bored at the ceremony and reception, and had plenty of opportunities to dance later on. Oh, and food - the food had to be tasty!"

When it came to finding the right setting for their dream celebration, this brave couple booked their venue without having ever seen it in real life. "We reserved Mount Druid sight unseen but were never nervous about whether we made the right choice," Loni told us of their leap of faith. "The aesthetic was funky and quirky which is the vibe we wanted, but what really sold it for us was the people who ran it. They were all just so genuinely sweet and helpful throughout the whole process. One of my bridesmaids was in the middle of a cross-European hiking trip at our wedding and the staff helped ship her luggage home so she could continue her trip after the wedding. It was small touches like that that really made us feel taken care of and allow us to focus on enjoying the day with each other and our loved ones."

But it wasn't just the staff at Mount Druid that was focussed on the little details, this couple really wanted to have some fun with their wedding and include as many personal details as possible. "I spent too much time on the playlist for the pre-ceremony, but was really encouraged that I got so much positive feedback," Loni told us. "People don't always want to hear classical versions of pop songs and I felt that having some fun, dancey tunes was a great way to get everyone excited for the wedding. Also, all of my cousins with their young children took a 10-hour flight to Ireland to celebrate with us and it was great to have the children in our wedding. We wanted them to use bubble guns instead of flowers as they walked down the aisle, but it didn't quite go as planned. Regardless, having them there on the wedding day meant the world to me."

Loni picked her gown in Loho Bridal in San Francisco while Gareth's suit was a custom fit from a tailor in Vietnam. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were all dressed in different outfits, purchased at different stores, embracing the eclectic style that ran throughout the wedding.

A bride after our own hearts, a warm cuppa is a must at an Irish wedding!

This couple's wedding was all about bringing together old friends and new from all across the world together to celebrate their special day with them and it looks like every bit the fun party they had hoped for. "We wanted to have a fun, lighthearted ceremony which resulted in us walking down the aisle as a couple to Tequila by The Chaps," Loni said. "That set the tone for the rest of the evening. Having it in Ireland meant the world to my husband. He hasn't lived in Ireland for 15 years so it was really important to have this celebration with all of his family present, especially his Granny Kay. That meant my grandmother couldn’t make the trip, but we honored her by having her wedding photo prominently displayed at the Boat House."

As for advice for other couples planning their own wedding day, Loni and Gareth had this to say: "As hard as it is, try and rest as long as possible before the wedding. Try to make it home early after the rehearsal dinner. Your wedding will be both the longest and shortest day of your life. The best thing you can do is be well-rested and drink lots of water. It’s a marathon, not a sprint."

Thanks to today's couple Loni and Gareth for sharing their gorgeously fun and bright big day with us and to Moat Hill Photography for capturing it all.