Real wedding couple, Collette and Michael were blessed with a warm autumn day at the charming Boyne Hill House Estate in Co. Meath for their fabulous wedding day infused with boho style (and an epic wedding dress made by the bride's mum!) and tartan touches! Friends and family from all around the globe gathered in the Boyne Valley to reunite and celebrate the next chapter in this love story, captured by Spellbound Photography. We simply cannot wait to show you!

Collette and Michael, who first met at work in Newcastle Upon Tyne when they were 22 years old, spent the first few years of their relationship living and working all over the world due to the job they both shared. Fast forward to 2019, the couple were on a tiny surfing island in the Philippines called Siargao, and after a day of surfing, they took a scooter to watch a breathtaking sunset. Collette explains: "As the sun was setting Michael got to one knee and asked me to marry him. It really felt like a full circle moment as our first-ever date was when Michael asked me to go surfing with him in Northumberland - although that was much colder than the Philippines!"

Wow, a flower crown fit for a queen, and bouquets bursting with a sensational array of autumnal flowers in every shade, style and texture to match. The enchanting bride created her own boho-inspired wedding dress, with her talented mother making it for her, in an extra meaningful touch! Collette actually styled her own hair on the morning of her wedding, along with her beautiful bridesmaids, as a special tribute to a dear family member who should have been in the room. "The bridal hair was supposed to be done by my cousin Georgia, however she passed away and I didn’t want to replace her. So I did my own and all of the bridal party’s hair," she says. "We also had suicide awareness badges that we asked all of our guests to wear throughout the day." This was a poignant and thoughtful touch in memory of Collette's cousin Georgia who sadly died by suicide the previous year.

We absolutely love this groomsmen mix-and-match style with tartan touches! After growing up in the Philippines, Michael relocated to Cardiff, his father's hometown. The customary Watson Tartan, which was also used later in the ceremony, represents the family name. Our groom Michael styled a three-piece suit, with a neutral waistcoat and a pop of fresh vibrant colour via his buttonhole and a tartan tie. Topping off the style, one of the groomsman completed the look with a kilt!

The outdoor ceremony was led by their friend, which added a personal touch and allowed the wedding to really reflect who they were as a couple. "My sister sang a hymn that has been played at all the family weddings, funerals and baptisms for generations and it was an incredibly moving moment. Also looking back at the photos and seeing everyone wearing their suicide awareness pins is really lovely for us, as it reminds us that my cousin Georgia’s presence was there throughout the day," says Collette.

The whole vibe of the boho wedding day was for it to be relaxed, with a focus on spending time with family and friends. "We really wanted the day to be a celebration of the family and friendship group that our love has brought together. I think that detail was something that was woven through the whole day. On the morning of the wedding, there was a real sense of togetherness as we all pitched in to do each other’s hair. We had family come from Australia and the Philippines and it was the first time we’d all seen each other in three years. The whole wedding was just about coming together in the most personal and happiest way. and I believe that shows in the pictures of the day."

The newlyweds chose a handfasting ceremony, often known as "tying the knot," which is a symbolic unification ritual in which a couple stands face-to-face while their hands are knotted together. Collette and Michael used the family tartan to symbolise the binding together of their separate lives. One of the couple's favourite pieces of music played during their ceremony the hymn, I Watch the Sunrise, sung by Colette's sister.

Warning; cuteness overload incoming! Pictured below is Colette and Mick's sweet little daughter in her wedding finery. Her emerald green stockings match her mother's velvet green bridal shoes, nail colour and the other rich green elements within the styling as inspired by Collette's vintage engagement ring.

"My engagement ring is a beautiful Edwardian, emerald and diamond ring. I took my inspiration from this and decided to have my bridesmaids in green. For the chief bridesmaid, we went with a burnt orange dress, as this is Michael’s favourite colour and the colour I wore when we eloped." The ladies looked divine in their silky satin gowns and nude shoes.

When it came to creating this magical boho wedding day, Boyne Hill House Estate was the obvious choice. A gorgeous country house tucked away in the Boyne Valley, it allowed them to start proceedings with an outdoor ceremony in the Secret Garden boasting its own waterfall, bridge and orchard, followed by an al fresco drinks reception on the idyllic grounds, before enjoying the evening in the manor house.

"We found the venue on One Fab Day! It is such a beautiful place and the staff was so welcoming. Both the outside and the inside of the venue are incredibly beautiful. Although we wanted our ceremony outdoors, we knew we wouldn’t be disappointed if it was indoors. We also had a guest list ranging from newborn babies to relatives in their 80s and Boyne Hill House is full of cosy corners where people can go sit if the party gets a bit loud," they say. A quiet space is always an important factor to consider for your guests when choosing a venue!

As for priorities, it was always intended it to be about the people they cared about coming together. "Mike’s family and childhood friends live in the Philippines, my sister and her family live in Australia and due to moving around we have friends from all over the world, and so we really wanted the day to be an opportunity for everyone to be together."

The bride adds, "We really wanted capture the memories of the day and so the photography was really important to us. Sylvia from Spellbound Photography got us completely and the photos show beautiful candid and tender moments between friends and family. It’s been a real joy to look back at them together," they say.

The advice that they would give to other couples planning is to simply go with the flow. "Things will go wrong as the day approaches, or might not happen as you expect on the day itself, but just go with it and you’ll enjoy the day so much more. We really just soaked up how happy everyone was and how much love there was and that’s what we remember," they say.

To pay homage to Michael's father who had sadly passed away, they honoured him through their wedding favours. Colette says: "We had small bottles of Penderyn Welsh whisky that we asked everyone to drink in honour of Michael’s Dad." Looking for some table plan inspiration? We adore how the couple used props such as crates, lanterns, fabrics and gold frames to create this display. Such a simple DIY!

A huge thank you to Colette, Michael and to Sylvia from Spellbound Photography for sharing such a special boho wedding day with us at One Fab Day.