Today's real wedding is an Irish-Canadian celebration at Virginia Park Lodge. Hanna & Patrick planned a wedding that brought their beloved friends and family from both sides of the Atlantic together for a weekend of festivities that felt more like summer camp than a swanky soireé. While the dresses, the flowers and the styling are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, it's the money-can't-buy details we love the most. The surprise flash mob, the tear-inducing ceremony, and the non-stop smiles - all of which were captured beautifully by The Lous. Who knew Cavan was the go-to destination for Irish poutine!

I'm eyeing up Hanna's wedding shoes already - what styling somethings blue!

The couple laid out a whole weekend of activities and celebrations for their guests.

The Canadian bride and Irish groom brought a few touches with them from their home in Toronto!

Hanna and Patrick were in the same course at the University of Edinburgh but the pair didn’t actually meet until third year, "One of my best friends and bridesmaid, Lib, asked her friend Patrick to come to lunch one day,” recalls Hanna. “Almost ten years later, here we are! An undergraduate degree, a Master’s degree, moving overseas, a couple of jobs, 10,000 pints and endless (and priceless) banter with all of our amazing friends and family.”

The couple had a first look moment before their ceremony - that excitement is pretty palpable in these shots!

Patrick tells us he popped the question while he was on holiday in the Bahamas one Christmas with Hanna’s family, “I kept wanting to go for a walk with Hanna alone but she never wanted to. After three days of asking, she finally said yes to the walk and yes to marriage on a stretch of beach all to ourselves.”

Hanna jokes that the proposal setting has since become pretty iconic, "Little did Patrick know that he would be a trend setter for the likes of Justin Bieber and A-Rod a few years later who also got engaged on the same beach. All in all, always say yes to a walk!”

How stunning is Hanna's wedding dress - the detailing in her bodies is beautiful!

I really what to know what the in-joke was at the end of the line-up!

The couple’s wedding had the best of Canadian friendliness and Irish hospitality, “A lot of the Canadian guests kept commenting that it felt like an adult, classy version of summer camp with way better food,” says Hanna. “At camp in Canada, everyone becomes fast friends, everyone is having an amazing time doing various activities (shooting, golf and nature walks at the Lodge) and everyone never wants to leave!”

What a ceremony set-up, Frog Prince Weddings & Events created the most spectacular floral decor!

This pair had a clear set of priorities for making the day their own, “We wanted good food, great music, never-ending booze and a authentic, family feel. We also really wanted the wedding to reflect us as a couple. Coming into the tent with a pint of Guinness in our hands really helped set the tone.”

Berries at a beautiful organic touch amid all the blossoms!

The ceremony was an important element of the day for Hanna and Patrick, “The ceremony was short, impactful and meaningful. It was incredibly personal as we wrote the entire thing from our favourite excerpts and scouring the internet for hours.” P.S. Spot the brain-shaped stationery! 

The couple tell us about how the details that made their ceremony so special, “We wanted, love, emotion and for people to really connect with us as a couple. We believe we achieved that! The band did such a good job covering Gordon Lightfoot and Hanna’s brother wrote his own reading which reflected our love of food and spending time with our family and friends.”

The couple let their guests out of the ceremony with a pipe procession!

The fun details didn’t end after the ceremony, “The late-night Irish poutine and the ceremony programmes shaped like brains really added to our personal touches.”

Once the couple, who live in Canada, decided to get married in Ireland, they knew they wanted a venue with history and spectacular scenery, Patrick’s Cavan-born mother suggested Virginia Park Lodge, “From the moment we stepped through the door we were made to feel at home by Deirdre and her team. No request was too big (including the late night poutine). We loved the idea of taking over the property for the wedding weekend and we knew that Richard would not let us down when it came to the food (we are foodies).”

The newlyweds have the perfect message to pass on to other couples, “A wedding is one day, a marriage is a lifetime. Remember the important things!”

The reception pavilion was decked out so beautifully with an abundance of flowers and candes.

One of our favourite elements of this wedding has to be the surprise flash mob! “The song and dance by our closest friends was an amazing touch! Every time we hear Proud Mary, we think of our wedding day!”

This pair of foodies headed to the culinary capital of Spain for their honeymoon, “We spent five days in San Sebastian, exploring some of the world’s best restaurants and bars and relaxing at the Hotel Akelarre. It was an incredible way to rest up, get our voices back, and reminisce about all of the amazing moments at the wedding. We would absolutely recommend it (but not the 6am flight…).”

From the flowers to the flash mob, this wedding has got it all! Thanks so much to Hanna and Patrick for letting us in on your day, and to The Lous for documenting it so beautifully!