For those of you who are true Dubliners at heart, today's beautiful city wedding combining the best of Dublin, from city centre haunt that many of us are familiar with, to the lovely country manor venue that is Finnstown House, will be a dream from start to finish. Aoife is a bride with style, and Carl is a many with many tricks up his sleeve (wait til you hear the engagement story) so together they celebrated in perfect personal fashion all captured by Eric of Savo Photography

We have been together 12 years. We are both originally from the same place in Rathfarnham, but didn’t really know each other growing up. We got together when I was 19 and he was 20. Typical early 20’s romance, we met at a house party. I actually knew first moment we met that he was the one. It took him a bit longer! A few weeks later we were in Flannerys in Camden street for my friend’s birthday and there he was again! I actually asked my friend whose birthday it was to find out if he liked me. Luckily he did. We went on our first date to Mission Impossible 2 in the UCI tallaght.  Romance was mighty back then! And ever since we have been together.

When it came to choosing a look for the wedding, Aoife had very clear ideas about what she had in mind..."The main theme was centred around cameo brooches, I absolutely love cameos. I also love vintage so it tied nicely together. From there the vintage them evolved and same for the coral colour scheme. I matched the background of the traditional coral cameo with my bridesmaid coral dresses, we continued the coral colour with the flowers but then added n some other bright colours to give it all a bit of contrast and the wow factor.

Lace also played a big part in the wedding, lace being another one of my favourite things. The under part of my dress was completely lace, I then had lace shoes and lace was used tying our ceremony scrolls together and was in my veil and cuff and the bridesmaids' cuffs and veils also.

I made the bridesmaid cuffs and headpieces. I had my cameo ring made from an antique brooch my dad had given my mum years ago. My lace cuff is from Bow in Powerscourt Townhouse and my citrine chain is from Lapis and was a gift from Carl to match my engagement ring.

One of my favourite parts of the outfit and the thing that pulls the whole theme together is the veil, and the fact that my mum put so much love and work into making it makes it even more special. We ordered the same tulle from that is in my dress from Ciara Bridal and bought the lace also. The antique cameo on the veil is from Rhinestones.

The ladies in Aoife's family are clearlycreative, as aside from Aoife making the accessories and her Mum making her veil, her sister also added her talents to the mix - creating all the floral arrangements, from the beautifully vibrant bouquet to the pretty buttonholes...

Don't the boys look handsome? Loving their classic navy suits, that are modern but smart for a city wedding. But before we go into the ceremony, you have to hear one of the best engagement story we've ever had on OneFabDay... "It was the last night of the Christmas holidays, we had spent a really nice evening out for a meal, the perfect end to a great Christmas. So when we got back from dinner he jumped straight into bed, I was stalling a bit only because I was saying if we go to bed it means Christmas holidays are over. When I finally got in he was already in bed with the blankets pulled right up to his chin. As I got in he pulled back the blanket to reveal “Marry Me” shaved into his chest hair!! I got such a shock I was screaming, laughing and crying all at the same time. He then took my hands and proposed to me. He had a token bright pick flower ring and a Links charm of an engagement ring in a box. It was perfect in our lovely home in the most unique way and totally Carl. I still laugh about it now and can recall him in the bathroom for a long time earlier that day. He has since told me he had shaved it in early that morning and had been walking around all day like that trying to pick the best moment for his big reveal."

So, as mentioned at the very beginning, Aoife and Carl had a very Dublin wedding, celebrating in three locations! "We decided at the beginning of wedding planning that a civil ceremony would suit us best. We both love Dublin city centre and the buzz in town on a summer’s day so we began to look for beautiful Dublin city buildings to hold our ceremony. We found No 6 and it was love at first sight. The stunning building fitted with the theme perfectly, has the ceilings I love and really has the wow factor we were looking for.

We then decided to keep the city centre theme going so arranged for drinks in Kehoes in South Anne’s street for the guests after the ceremony. Every part of the day was amazing but I especially love the time in Kehoes. We got our dream photos on Grafton Street and have such fab photos all around town.

I know a lot of lads, for whom Kehoe's would be the perfect wedding venue, fair play Carl for achieving every man's dream...

All aboard! It's the wedding express from Kehoe's to Aoife and Carl's reception venue: Finnstown House. "We wanted a venue for our reception that was big enough to hold our guests but still had the country house feel. We visited a few places outside Dublin but then Carl brought me to Finnstown one afternoon and I was in love instantly. Driving down the tree lined driveway which then reveals the stunning ivy covered main house was perfect. The house and the grounds are beautiful and give the feel of being in a house more then a hotel. I am also partial to beautifully decorated ceilings which Finnstown has in abundance. As we had chosen a Dublin venue our day began to take shape." It was after this that Aoife and Carl went in search of the perfect space to have their ceremony, and finding No. 6 Kildare Street put the icing on the cake.

Finnstown House provides a beautiful backdrop for some stunning wedding portraits, just make sure you have a brilliant wedding photographer like Eric from Savo Photography with you to make the most of all your hard work and happiness...

Looking back what is your favourite moment from the day? "There are so many too choose from! The ceremony was amazing, I especially loved walking down the aisle with my dad to the sound of Elvis singing Love me tender and to see Carl waiting there at the end for me. Another high was the laugh we had at the speeches. Speeches are always one of my favourite parts of weddings, both mine and Carl’s dad, the Bestman Paul and of course Carl didn’t disappoint. I don’t think I have laughed more in my life. Keohes is another high point. At one stage just myself and the bridesmaid hid in the snug for a sneaky wine together, such fun memories!!! But above all is the moment myself and Carl walked back down the aisle as Husband and Wife."

How's about this for a lovely family collaboration - the two mammies worked on creating the perfect wedding cake for Aoife & Carl - awwww...

So what advice would you have for other couples about to trip down the aisle? "Take some time off before the wedding and really soak up and enjoy the build up. I took a week off and spent that week going out for meals and meeting up with friends and family and generally having fun. I was so relaxed by the time the wedding came that I had the most fun day of my life! We organised all the final bits a couple of weeks in advance so we had this time to just chill out. It was perfect and meant for no last minute nerves."

I would also pass on some valuable advice I was given before the big day, take a few moments throughout the day to sit back and look around and soak up the atmosphere and the day in general. I did this a few times and each time I saw all the people I love in one room smiling and having fun. It was everything I dreamt of and more.

Congratulations Aoife and Carl! Hope the chest hair has grown back by this stage?! Enjoy married life you two!

And of course a big Thank You to Eric from Savo Photography for sharing his wonderful work on Aoife & Carl's wedding with us. Lots more goodies to see over on savo.ie if you haven't been there already...

All the Wedding Details

Ceremony: Royal College of Physicians, No. 6 Kildare Street

Reception: Finnstown Country House Hotel

Wedding Dress: Novia D’art  from Ciara Bridal, Powerscourt Townhouse

Bridesmaids dresses: Alila boutique

Shoes: Nordstrom, USA

Fur Cape: Jenny Vander

Flowers: Bride's Sister Niamh ( Niamhfreshtalent@yahoo.co.uk)

Groom’s suit: Protocol Suit Hire, South Anne Street

Hair: Declan Chapple 

Make Up: Janet Pepper 

Stationery: M studios

Wedding Band: Milehigh