This real wedding sees fairytale magic and contemporary chicness collide. Hannah and Darren's Cabra Castle wedding had it all, exceptional style, timelessly elegant décor, sweet personal touches and so much heart. 180 of their loved ones celebrated with them for their luxurious autumn wedding which married black-tie groom attire and opulent bridalwear with a vintage twist and not to mention one of the hottest bridesmaid dress trends of 2024. Refined yet lush flowers permeated through the styling and we loved the cheeky football twist to the table styling at their lavish reception. Get ready to marvel over the stunning imagery from Folklore Photography.

Let's begin by getting to know our newlyweds more. They're both from Dublin, Hannah grew up on the Navan Road and Darren is from Clonsilla. They tell us, "We met in 2012, working in Captain America's Blanchardstown. It was such a fun time in our lives, working with the best gang of friends, many of whom joined us on our wedding day more than 12 years later. We bonded over a common distain for awkward customers and the job alike, but absolutely loved the buzz of it all really."

"After two years, we both happened to be heading on separate holidays to Croatia at the same time. The jury's out as to who followed who over. After that holiday, we never looked back and just over 10 years later, we tied the knot." Darren whisked her off on a romantic holiday to Portugal in June 2022 to pop the question.

He asked Hannah to marry him in a stunning sun-soaked location, on a beautiful pier in Lagos. Today, they live in Dunshaughlin in Co. Meath. For the couple, being surrounded by their nearest and dearest was the most important factor when it came to planning their special day.

"We wanted to choose a venue that had a good flow, but could facilitate everyone in one room so people could mingle and we could get around to all our guests at some point in the day. We wanted somewhere that was comfortable but also felt special for the day. It was important for us to have some time alone at points during the day."

It was the old-age charm and modern style that made the couple fall in love with the Irish castle wedding venue. "We loved the darkness of the ballroom for a cosy meal. We loved the large dancefloor with the bar in the same room to keep guests all together throughout the day. The new Granary venue blew us away and was a great contrast to the original style of the castle. We felt like we had the best of both, old and new."

The luxurious castle inspired their wedding attire. "Darren chose black-tie as this went well with the venue and I chose my dress as I felt it went well with the black-tie look. I chose a vintage bag to accentuate the vintage details on my dress." Videographer Tyler Fallon Films was on hand to capture every magical moment of their special day.

Hannah absolutely dazzled in her gown which blended a sparkling sequin and pearl top with a silky, curve-hugging skirt which she styled with a cathedral veil, glittering crystal drop earrings and elegant satin heels with draped straps.

Her bridesmaids were a vision in neutral satin bridesmaid gowns which are so timeless. Darren and his groomsmen opted for suave tuxes with the groom opting for a dark green velvet jacket. Their favourite piece of ceremony music was Sinead O'Connor's ballad She Moved Through the Fair.

Their family and friends played such an important part in making their ceremony unforgettable. Hannah's mum created the stunningly sophisticated floral display which included creamy roses and baby's breath mixed with lush foliage along with their refined three-tier cream wedding cake which boasted a glamorous cake topper.

Reflecting on how their loved ones played a part on the big day, Hannah says, "My brother Donncha, playing music during the ceremony. My brother made our table numbers and all of our friends and family who listened endlessly to our ideas and predicaments." For their first dance they chose the classic and adored love song Be My Baby by The Ronettes.

The couple "couldn't recommend" Dzifa of Folklore Photography more to wedding couples. "Dzifa was absolutely amazing on the day. Everyone commented on how organised, efficient and friendly she was. People don't want to be standing around for ages waiting for photos to be taken and Dzifa absolutely made sure this wasn't the case, all while getting all of the most important, beautiful shots."

"Dzifa has such a friendly and relaxed personality and just became part of the gang on the day, especially the bridal party when we were getting ready. Everyone was so relaxed around her, meaning the photos turned out so lovely and personal. Dzifa made sure to have a consultation with us in the lead up to the day to know what shots we wanted who to include."

They had intended on heading to Thailand for their honeymoon but the plan was interrupted for a very special reason: baby on board! They had a combined honeymoon babymoon "a bit closer to home" in Rhodes, Greece. The couple have plenty of great tips for those planning their big day from working from finances to photos and arranging a Day Two.

"Try and settle up with any suppliers ahead of time. Have money owed on the day, separated into envelopes for different suppliers. Assign an envelope to a specific person, for example have a groomsman in charge of paying band, bridesmaid in charge of paying ceremony music etc. If possible settle your bill with venue in advance since most banks have a max amount you can spend per day. Paying off the bill in the week running up to the wedding would mean you don't have to worry about it when its all over the next day."

"Try and get a photograph with each set of parents, including you with parents with their partners, or ask special family members like aunties and uncles and godparents in advance if they would like a photo with you and their partner and then organise this (if there is time on the day). It's such a cliché but the day really does flash before your eyes."

"Take moments to stop and really take it in. Don't worry too much about trying to speak to everybody, people understand it's a busy day." They sum up their wedding for us as an, "Amazing day surrounded by all the people we love. Great atmosphere, great party, beautiful details. Cabra Castle is the most beautiful venue and the staff are absolutely amazing at what they do. It was busy and vibrant with so many well wishes."

A huge thank you to Hannah, Darren and Folklore Photography for sharing this ultra-chic Cabra Castle wedding with One Fab Day!

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