They say love finds always finds a way. For today's real wedding couple, Alexa and Aaron, love and fate were certainly intertwined; the couple met all the way over in Ohio and despite being together for a short time, they knew it was real, so held the faith for their love and made long distance work until they could find a way to be together properly. And they did. Their love found a way, and then found its way to the beautiful grounds of Castle Leslie Estate in Monaghan for a magical wedding where two families became one. This is a beautifully romantic wedding filled to the brim with incredible style, prepare to swoon just a bit! Francis Meaney documented the day, capturing the most dreamy details and pretty portraits.
Alexa hails from the US and Aaron from Northern Ireland, but as a student Aaron found himself in the heartlands and there the couple finally found each other (with a little help from good friends) Alexa told us their tale... Aaron was a part of the study USA program that landed him in Cleveland, Ohio at John Carroll University in the fall of 2012 where I was pursuing my degree. He was always passionate about rugby and joined the JCU rugby team on campus. It wasn’t until February of that year that his coach Chris invited him over to his girlfriend Lana’s house. Lana and I were roommates at the time and Lana was convinced we would make a good match.
Lana tried on numerous occasions to get me to come to the rugby games and to events where Aaron would be but when all her attempts failed she told Chris to invite Aaron over one night for drinks. We are so thankful for Chris and Lana’s attempts at cupid because they were right! We spent the entire night talking and laughing and soon became completely inseparable. Thank you Lana for having that foresight!
As the school year came to end, Aaron had to return to Ireland and we had no set plans to see one another again. We said our goodbyes in a park and watched the sunset. We remained friends and spoke every single day for a year! The following summer Aaron decided to return to America and we made things official. We vowed to figure out a way to be together; whether I moved to Ireland or Aaron moved to the USA, we’d eventually be in the same country, someday.
The first year was long distance and filled with many FaceTime calls, and trips back and forth to see each other. THEN, Aaron landed a job in NYC! We both picked up and moved to Manhattan to be together and have been there ever since.
About a year and a half after living together in NYC, we planned a trip to see our friends Lana and Chris, who had originally set us up. They had gotten married and just had their first child, and we wanted to meet the little one. They live in Cleveland not far from JCU’s campus so we were so excited to be back in the town we met, to spend time with our friends and their new addition.
On the second day of our visit I was told we were heading to our favorite brunch spot so we got ready and went to meet our friends. Aaron drove to the brunch spot and then got a call from our friends saying they were running late. Aaron said we should drive around and reminisce while we waited for them. He started acting super strange and driving a little crazy (he even ran a red light) I was beyond confused and demanded we go back and wait for them in the parking lot of the brunch spot, to which he refused! He ended up pulling into the park we originally said our goodbyes in when he left for Ireland initially after his study abroad ended. At the time I didn’t even put two and two together I was just so confused why he was acting so strange.
He then parked the car and asked if I wanted to go for a walk? I thought he was crazy we’d be late and they had a new baby we needed to get back before they got there!! Then it clicked. I knew why he was acting strange, why our friends were “late”, why he wanted to take a drive, and why were at this park, “our park”. I of course started crying before I even got out of the car and repeatedly asked him “is this really happening?!”
There was a gazebo set up with candles, rose petals and a picnic with champagne! He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, of course I said yes. After we headed back to our friends house and there was a surprise party for us with all our friends and a few of my family members! My one friend even traveled across the country from California to be there. I felt so incredibly loved and completely shocked. It was perfect in every way.
When it came to planning the wedding, the couple chose to come home close to where Aaron grew up to give their American family and friends a taste of Irish hospitality. The couple chose the beautiful Castle Leslie near the border as the location that matched their wishlist. Alexa explained what they had in mind... We wanted a venue with a romantic feel and old Irish charm. We cannot say enough great things about our venue it was truly perfect and the staff went above and beyond to make our day magical. Most of our American guests had never been to Ireland before so we wanted a venue that truly captured the beauty of the country. Another huge factor for us was having onsite accommodation, Castle Leslie has the castle, mews, cottages, and the lodge for guests to stay!
The couple decided to brave the Irish weather and opted for an outdoor ceremony overlooking the Green Lake at Castle Leslie, a truly magnificent backdrop for making your vows. Fortunately, those threatening black clouds held off and the couple were able to have the ceremony they envisaged. It was the central element of the wedding for them, and they wanted it to be as personal and intimate as possible... We included lots of personal elements to our wedding that made it ours. It was important to both of us to write and read our own vows, it made our ceremony more sentimental! We also have decided to reread our vows on our anniversary every year. Alexa’s brother and Aaron's Godfather both performed a song for us!
The guests were then able to enjoy drinks on the lawn overlooking the lake, while the couple could mingle freely having had most of their wedding portraits taken earlier during the first look.
Then it was into the beauitiful marquee for a fantastic celebration, which was exactly as Alexa wished: Elegantly romantic.
Alexa and Aaron had a few special elements to their decor, including this amazing macaron cake, because who doesn't love macarons?!
Given the couple are from such distant points on the globe, the wedding was an important opportunity for their nearest and dearest on both sides to meet and get to know each other. This became the core of the wedding according to Alexa... The central point of our wedding was family. Coming from two different countries it was important for us to implement our different traditions and cultures into our day. We wanted our two families to become one giant family by the end of the day so we even mixed all the tables to have both Irish and Americans so they could mingle and get to know one another! Then Aaron’s family surprised us with an Irish dance and the Americans thought this was just phenomenal.
Given organising a destination wedding in Ireland from the US is no easy task, and adding in the aim of helping the families to know each other the couple had quite the challenge, so we were keen to hear Alexa and Aaron's advice for wedding planning... Don’t compare your wedding to others, make it your own! Those personal touches will make all the difference. Remember this is a day to celebrate your love and there are no right or wrong decisions, do what makes you both happy 
The lucky couple headed off to Santorini, Greece and then Amalfi Coast, Italy for their honeymoon. Both were absolutely stunning and we plan to go back again one day. Highly recommend! Duly noted for when we can all travel again!
Huge thanks to Alexa and Aaron for sharing their beautiful wedding with us all. And of course to Francis Meaney for sharing his gorgeous images.
