A picture perfect celebration of love.

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One of my favourite real weddings so far this year, Shauna and Ryan's Virginia Park Lodge wedding is an amalgamation of superb style, timeless elegance and infectious emotion. Combining a subtle autumnal theme and a knockout wedding dress with impactful lighting and candlelight, Shauna and Ryan crafted a picture perfect wedding, that was captured with equal perfection by the talented Damien Milan. Get ready for some serious wedding day envy...
Stunning Virginia Park Lodge wedding by Damien Milan Photography // onefabday.com

Shauna and Ryan's story begins at a work dinner on the remote Channel Islands, just off the coast of France. Shauna remembers... “We met in Jersey in the Channel Islands in 2010. We worked for the same company at the time although we had never actually met as Ryan worked for in the Belfast office and I worked in the Dublin office. We were both sent to Jersey to work on a retail development there and met at a work dinner. We both love reliving the night we met, we definitely had a little moment!”

Stunning Virginia Park Lodge wedding by Damien Milan Photography // onefabday.com

To propose Ryan pulled out all the stops and wooed Shauna with a romantic helicopter ride. Shauna details fondly... “Our engagement was such an amazing day. I don’t get surprised easily but for our engagement, Ryan took things to the next level. While on holiday in Queenstown NZ in August 2015, Ryan surprised me with a helicopter trip up into the mountains where we landed by remote Alpine Lake and he popped the question.”

As Shauna and Ryan are both based in sunny Sydney they wanted their wedding to be a celebration of all things Irish, and to make the most of being surrounded by the ones they love the most. Shauna tells us... “We are both from Northern Ireland and live in Sydney so it was important to us that our wedding represented where we are from and everything we love about Ireland. We picked a destination in Ireland which would mean all our guests would stay the night and enjoy an extended celebration with us. Living in Sydney we spend a lot of time missing those closest to us, so having a few days away with everyone was important to us. We chose Virginia Park Lodge as it offers that home away from home feeling, with the best Ireland has to offer – beautiful surroundings, delicious food and fantastic hospitality.”

Shauna's unique lace gown is by designer Mira Mandic and included a divine Satin Dupion overskirt worn during the ceremony. To accessorize Shauna paired her dress with a classic veil and elegant jewels by Samantha Wills & Les Nereides.

Virginia Park Lodge wedding by Damien Milan Photography 58

Shauna's girls each wore complimentary bridesmaid dresses in shades of white, a perfect example of how to mix and match and still have a cohesive bridal party look. We love!

Inspired by their autumnal wedding date Shauna and Ryan embraced a subtle autumnal theme. Shauna sums up the look perfectly... “The beautiful lush surroundings of our venue on the first day of Irish Autumn inspired the florals of our day. Favouring a natural, earthy yet elegant feel to the decor. A palette of greens with plenty of texture; lots of interplay between darks and lights, along with woody textures, herbal and botanical elements. Hints of soft blush, along with tones of cream and ivory also featured throughout the florals.”

Lighting was another important decor element with a stunning hanging light installation over the main table and candles scattered throughout both the ceremony and reception venue creating an effortlessly romantic vibe all styled by the talented Grace & Saviour.

In total celebrations lasted three full days, a decision Shauna and Ryan would totally recommend. They explain... “V irginia Park Lodge was exclusively ours for 3 days and it had a real home from home feeling. We hosted a rehearsal dinner the night before which meant the celebrations started early. We’ll never forget the feeling on that night – seeing our closest friends and family together with all the excitement ahead of the next day was just fantastic!”

How picture perfect is this semi-naked cake by the amazing Cove Cake Design?!

After dinner and cutting into that divine three-tier cake Shauna and Ryan had their first dance as husband and wife to ‘Warm Love’ by Van Morrison. Huge, huge congratulations to you both and thank you so much for sharing your beautiful wedding day with us all. Such a pleasure.