Caitriona and Paddy waited over a decade to tie the knot, but they certainly did it in style with an outdoor celebration at The Millhouse! With the sun shining, Larry McMahon captured all the special moments and we're excited to share them with you today!

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Happy Friday All! I hope you all survived Halloween and didn't over do the sugary sweets last night! This week was a bit hectic, so I for one am looking forward to some down time this weekend and hopefully less rain! So in One Fab Day style, we're kicking off the weekend with the lovely wedding celebrations of Caitriona and Paddy. These lovebirds waited over a decade to tie the knot, but they certainly did it in style with an outdoor celebration at The Millhouse! With the sun shining, our pal Larry McMahon captured all the celebrations and we're excited to share them with you today!

Caitriona and Paddy met while they were working together in 1999. It took a little while for Paddy to secure the first date, but once he did, they were both smitten... It wasn’t until a work party that we first hit it off. I walked Caitriona home which was 2 and a half miles away, even though I lived a stone’s throw from the pub! I left her at her door, safe in the knowledge that a date had been secured for the following week, little did I know that a week would turn into 3 months! At another work do, she finally succumbed to my charms and a first date was arranged for the following day. After a day in Howth and a bag of chips on the pier, we both knew we’d struck gold!

After a decade or so of dating, Paddy decided it was time to pop the question... It was Christmas morning and we were opening presents with our beautiful baby Éabha, who was enjoying her first Christmas. Paddy presented me with a card that was addressed to 'My Fiancée'. I thought he’d made a mistake, until he got down on one knee and began saying some very nice things! He produced my Grandmother’s engagement ring - having first asked my Mam and several friends if it was the ring I wanted! He didn't need to worrry, we have a photo in our living room of my grandparents on their wedding day, with my Grandma wearing the same ring, he knows how sentimental I am about all things old and especially a family heirloom, so this was the only ring for me. To say it was unexpected is an understatement - I may have left Paddy waiting at the beginning, but he left me waiting 12 and a half years!

Paddy and Caitriona wanted a laid back wedding, with a rustic and natural feel that reflected their own style. The couple started their venue search with an alternative spot in mind - something a little out of the ordinary... We came across the Millhouse, and loved it straight away and knew then we had to see it. It was the first and last place we looked! When we saw the ceremony room in the Old Mill, we both knew this was the venue for us! It’s a stunning old building with original features, making it a very atmospheric place to exchange vows. It was full of rustic charm that we just fell inlove with.

Caitriona and Paddy brought their wildflower floral theme through the ceremony with the help of Theresa from Petite Fleurs. She created simple wild flower arrangements, and the couple hung ivy tendrils from their back garden and bouquets in the Old Mill where the ceremony took place...With our traditional musicians playing some lovely soft O’Carolan tunes and the curtains billowing in the breeze, the atmosphere in the ceremony room was just magical!

How cute is little Eabha taking part in the ceremony!

Traditional music was a key element in this laid back wedding. The couple's friend Dermot, a fiddle player, coordinated the ceremony music and played alongside two other musicians during the ceremony and in the courtyard during the reception. Caitriona said it created just the right chilled out party vibe for the day.

Caitriona's beautiful gown is from Nicole Miller, it suits the outdoor celebration perfectly and Caitriona added a beautiful tulle veil which gave her look the wow factor!

A few other friends chipped in on the day - one made the butter-cream iced cake (and a mini coeliac cake for the bride!) Another friend took portraits of the guests during the day, and friends helped with stationery tasks and makeup. Every little helps on the day, so don't be afraid to ask your nearest and dearest to chip in!

When it came to the reception decor, Caitriona and Paddy kept it simple with atouch of rustic charm. Using craft paper with patterned lettering for table numbers and the table plan - the craft paper tags are a simple and sweet way to display the names.

The table numbers reflected the table plan and followed the rustic theme.

For the reception space, the couple chose muted decor - shades of white and brown, that created a really relaxed vibe. The colour scheme also made the arrangements on each table really pop!

Caitriona's advice for brides planning their weddings was hard learned... Give yourself plenty of time to organise everything. We did it all in 4 and a half months, which was a lot of pressure and not to be recommended! I had to drop a few ideas as we just didn’t have enough time. Try to get as much as possible done in the early days, to allow you to enjoy the weeks leading up to it.

Congratulations, Caitriona and Paddy on your wedding day! And a big thank you to Larry McMahon for sharing his work with us at One Fab Day! To see more of Larry's work pop over to www.larrymcmahonphotography.com

The Wedding Details