When a global pandemic turned their dream Italian destination wedding into a celebration for 24 of their closest friends and family at home in Ireland, today's lovely couple Joanne and Shane made the absolute best of it! You would never believe this was a "Covid wedding" judging by the wonderful, Autumnal details, the gorgeous regal Wilton Castle setting, beautiful outdoor ceremony, and above all, the couple's elated smiles, captured in the wonderful images and film by Remain in Light Photography! It's the perfect reminder that, when things don't go according to plan, it's still possible to have the wedding of your dreams!
Joanne and Shane, both from Wexford, hung out in the same friend groups and moved in the same circles since they were 19 and 20 years of age, but groom Shane maintains the universe wasn’t quite ready for their love back then! Joanne tells us more, "we never caught each other’s eye until years later when we were both at a mutual friend’s wedding in Rome, and Shane made it his mission to make an impression on me that weekend. Not a day has gone by since that we have not spoken to each other."
The proposal happened when the couple were on a staycation in Clare for the August bank holiday in 2019. Joanne tells us, "The day didn’t quite go to plan, we went on a boat tour at the Cliffs of Moher and I felt sea sick, then we went to Fr. Ted’s house and there was a field day with loads of people around and, in typical Irish fashion, it rained all day! Then, the plans had to be scrapped and Shane decided dinner that night might be the time, so in a panic he had to try book somewhere for a nice romantic dinner." She adds, "I thought Shane was a bit weird during dinner, and drinking a bit more wine than usual. After dinner he suggested a walk and he finally got the courage at sunset, on the boardwalk in front of St. John’s Castle, to get down on one knee. It ended up being very romantic. I never saw it coming as we were going on holidays a few weeks later and thought if it was going to happen it might have happened there. Shane reminded me he had always told me I’d never see it coming!"
The couple set the date for 10th April 2020, and planned to get married in Italy, but but as the pandemic began to unfold, it was looking unlikely that it would go ahead. The couple had to swiftly make a change to their plans, moving their destination wedding to home, their date to 24th October 2020, and cutting their guest list down to 24.
They chose the atmospheric Wilton Castle, a venue which is just a few miles from Shane’s childhood home. "It’s funny, we had discussed Wilton Castle prior to going for a destination wedding and we looked at it a few times. The castle was ruins for years prior to being renovated and Shane and his siblings used to play around there as kids. When I was younger, I imagined I would get married there one day like all the fairytale stories! It's funny how things have a way of working out, we really believe it was meant to be in that venue despite all the obstacles getting there," Joanne says.
The ceremony took place in a clear marquee on the castle grounds, which was decorated with twinkly lights and candles.
The couple choose to do a hand-fasting ceremony, with some extra-special help from their nephew and godsons.
Deciding to go ahead with a micro wedding, rather than cancelling, or postponing for another year, was bittersweet, because it meant some really important people couldn’t be there on the day due to travel restrictions. "We set up a Zoom link for those who couldn't attend and they all got dressed up in their wedding attire and celebrated the day with us from afar, it wasn’t the same but it was so special to have them be part of it and know they were there in spirit!"
Joanne wowed in a floral lace Pronovias dress and tulle veil which she found at The White Room in Mullingar. She completed her bridal look with sparkles from Swarkovski and jewelled butterfly heels from Rainbow Club.
Shane and his guys looked incredibly dapper. We're loving his cream suit from Industry!
Joanne's bridesmaid wore a blue dress from Folkster. We love how it looks with those dreamy, Autumnal florals!
Joanne describes their wedding day as, "emotional – we couldn’t believe it was finally happening, a lot of tears flowed, mainly mine! It was very relaxed and fun. It was better than we could have hoped for."
Afterward, the couple hosted a cosy, Autumnal-inspired, intimate dinner for their guests inside the castle. There, guests were seated at long tables styled with rust linen napkins, gorgeous seasonal floral arrangements and a selection of mixed-and-matched antique silver cutlery. Joanne’s mother Mary created the gorgeous pumpkin flower arrangements and the vase arrangements on the mantlepieces, with flowers grown by Joanne’s dad Michael.
For wedding favours, the couple made a donation to Pieta House in memory of Joanne’s Uncle. Guests were also gifted handmade chocolate truffles made by Shane’s sister Caroline, mask bags and hand sanitisers, as well as s'more packs for later that night.
Although he couldn't be there on the day, Joanne’s dog Archie made a special appearance on the cake table! "It wouldn’t have been wise to have him there in reality, there would be no cake left!"
Joanne's advice to engaged couples is to remember that, "nothing ever goes to plan, even in normal times, the sooner that can be accepted the less stress you will have. Absolutely everything fell apart for us in the lead up to the wedding, the wedding we had was organised in about ten days, but in the end none of that mattered because the day was magical and we wouldn’t have changed a thing."
For their honeymoon, Joanne and Shane had planned to go to the Amalfi Coast and Croatia, but due to travel restrictions their plans were put on hold. "We're hoping we can still make it in 2022!"
What a gorgeous end to Joanne and Shane's big day! At this point, we have to say a huge thank you to the couple for telling us all about their wedding, and to Mairead McDaid from Remain in Light Photography for providing the beautiful imagery! There are more photographs in the gallery below, and a sweet video by Ciaran Dunphy from Remain in Light Photography, too.
