This real wedding couple had a big day packed with style and undeniable swagger. Edel and Raymond tied the knot at Cabra Castle in Co. Cavan and their black-tie bash had Casino Royale flair. Glowing bride Edel chose a glamour-packed wedding day look with her show-stopping sequin lace gown and her bridesmaids wowed in black bridesmaids dresses. White flowers played a breathtaking role in their ceremony and afterwards the couple's adorable mini dachshunds made the most adorable appearance, decked out in their own black-tie garb too. Their reception at the castle was nothing short of a regal affair and it included a scene-stealing white and gold wedding cake. The Three Bears were on hand to capture every ounce of magic of their beautiful autumn wedding. Enjoy!
Let's kick off by learning more about our Northern Irish love birds. Edel is from Strabane in Co. Tyrone and Donegal man Raymond is from Castlefinn. They first crossed paths in a nightclub in Letterkenny and they opted for a night at the movies for their first date.
Post lockdown, in August 2020, Raymond whisked Edel off on a surprise night away pretending it was a belated birthday present. He had something far more magical planned as he popped the question in a very dreamy location, on the romantic grounds of Cabra Castle no less. Today, they call Castlefinn home.
The couple dreamt of a black-tie wedding that blended traditional and modern elements. Their glamorous theme was inspired by their first holiday together in Las Vegas so they wanted to incorporate Casino Royale accents.
Ireland is home to many fairytale castle wedding venues, and there was no doubt in their minds that they would hold their reception at the luxurious Cavan castle. "Cabra Castle held a special place in our hearts because we got engaged there. Not to mention the amazing wedding team they have. Shout out to Emma and Brenda who helped us so much along the way."
The couple delighted over the details of their special day, they even scented their invites with their wedding day scent, L'Immensité the unisex fragrance from Louis Vuitton.
Edel utterly dazzled in her shimmering couture lace gown which had 3D floral straps, a corset with an exposed back and an enthralling mermaid skirt. She added a dreamy sheer cathedral veil and slipped into a pair of sparkling mesh designer stilettos before adding her Tiffany & Co "something blue".
Black dresses are amongst the hottest bridesmaid dress trends for 2024 and Edel's bridesmaids looked incredible in their off-the-shoulder gowns. Raymond and his groomsmen looked slick to boot in black three-piece suits but the groom popped from the crowd by wearing a white blazer.
The couple tied the knot on October 21st, 2023, and 185 of their nearest and dearest celebrated their magical day with them. Floral church doorway displays are a sure-fire way to leave your guests enchanted from the outset and the couple opted for an uber-chic display of white roses and baby's breath.
Inside, the breathtaking blooms continued as clusters of white roses and baby's breath were dotted at the end of pews and suspended on poles. White pillar candles were lined along the aisle bringing a romantic glow.
For the bridal party entrance, their ceremony band performed a spine-tingling mashup of two ballads by Shania Twain, You're Still the One and From This Moment On.
How sensational was Edel's glittering wedding gown?
After the 'I dos' were said Edel had a very sweet surprise planned for her husband. "The one thing Raymond kept talking about was the fact that our two dogs wouldn’t be there on the day."
"I surprised Raymond after the ceremony by bringing our miniature dachshunds Darla and Chip for some photos before we left for the reception." They were adorably kitted out too in their finest wedding attire.
Outside the church, their guests fuelled up for the celebrations ahead with coffee and baked goods in the design of rolling dice which were spot on their casino theme.
It was hugely important to Edel and Raymond that they could relax and soak up the magic of their big day. Edel tells us: "I’ve heard before from previous brides that they couldn’t wait to relax and enjoy themselves once all the planning was done and the wedding day itself was over."
"We had discussed that we ultimately wanted to fully take in every moment of our wedding day and enjoy the day with our guests so we spent almost the full night on the dancefloor surrounded by our family and friends."
The four-star wedding venue is packed with ornate spaces which make for one-of-a-kind wedding photos.
There's no question that their guests delivered when it came to the dress code! Everyone looked amazing.
Audio guestbooks have become very popular at weddings as they provide a memorable experience for both guests to have fun with and for couples to look back on. It's a keepsake Edel and Raymond treasure: "We can listen to their messages forever."
As for preparing for the big day, they shared the following wise advice with couples: "Rather than making wedding planning an endless to-do list, we made the most of it by making the ‘jobs’ fun. For example - we had a cake tasting night drinking champagne together and choosing our favourite flavours as if we were already celebrating."
"I got the bride squad together for a girly night to assemble the invites and we laughed and had fun and got excited for the big day. Making an evening of those tasks can lift the pressure off and help you to enjoy the process."
When it comes to the big day, they say: "Take it all in and enjoy every moment. It’s true when everyone says they day goes in so quick. Don’t stress about the small details - it’s the people there that make the wedding."
Their wedding cake made our jaws drop. Set against a backdrop of white flowers and sparkling fairylights, their tiered white wedding cake had gold accents and was adorned with sugar flowers. Sweetly, it was personalised with their initials.
For their first dance as husband and wife they chose Coldplay's uber-romantic hit Yellow.
The couple celebrated the beginning of married life by flying to Mexico the week after the wedding. "We had a relaxing 10 days at an amazing all inclusive resort and it was amazing to get away to the sunshine for a break after all the planning."
Congratulations Edel and Raymond and thank you for sharing your sensational Castle Cabra wedding with One Fab Day. We'd like to say a huge thank you to The Three Bears for the utterly gorgeous images.
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