Oh, we do love a wedding that's bursting with rich, seasonal florals, and that's exactly what we got when we clapped eyes on today's real wedding! Kate and Johnny's big day was full of pretty, vintage-inspired details, including possibly the most creative table plan I've ever seen! Seriously, no corner of Coolbawn Quay was left unstyled! If you're looking for ideas on how to add more colour to your wedding day, this gorgeous couple have tonnes to pilfer, all of them captured beautifully by Conor Brennan's camera. But let's start with their movie-worthy how-we-met story...
A Richard Curtis rom com ain't got nothing on this pair! Johnny was visiting friends in London when he realised he was completely lost and stopped to ask for directions. The person he asked was Kate, who was also from Dublin, and also in London visiting friends! "We quickly realised that had grown up so close to each other and knew all the same people," Kate tells us. "We went on our first date when we got back to Dublin and quickly knew we had something special."
Four years later, they had their son, Noah, and eight months before the wedding, their second son, Lennon, arrived. Prepare yourselves for page boy cuteness!
Would you just look at these two? My heart is now a puddle.
For his proposal, Johnny took Kate back to London where they met and proposed on the London Air Line cable car overlooking the city. "I was totally taken by surprise," she says. "It was magical."
The couple tell us that their top priority was finding a relaxed venue that felt like a home away from home. "We both love to be by the water, so being on the lake was important to us. We also wanted somewhere we could have all to ourselves for our wedding weekend, this was key."
A bride's first look moment with her dad always hits us right in the feels!
Kate and Johnny found their dream wedding venue in Coolbawn Quay on Lough Derg in Co. Tipperary. "We fell in love with Coolbawn Quay from the minute we walked through the door," Kate tells us. "The location, the staff, the accommodation - it was just perfect. It ticked all the boxes for us, being on the lake, having it to ourselves for the weekend, and the beautiful décor and food was outstanding."
The couple imagined a wedding day that was "colourful, fun and full of music." Kate explains, "As music is a big passion of ours, there was lots of singing, from my Dad's song in the church to John serenading me at the reception. It became one big singsong in the end, which we loved!"
At the top of the couple's wishlist was a laid-back vibe and lots of aesthetically-pleasing personal touches. "Our wedding day was vibrant, easy going, fun and full of energy. It was a real party. The look was relaxed with a real vintage feel, with colour and flowers in abundance!"
You know what they say: "When in Lough Derg...!
This wedding had so many charming retro details, from vintage book décor to vibrant greenery!
We love the pink, peach and gold tones of this epic cake table! I can't decide which I'd dig into first!
At each place setting, Kate and Johnny left a mini bottle of Jameson whiskey, all wrapped up with a clever little label. This is such an easy and effective idea for wedding favours!
Both Kate and Johnny have sadly lost a parent, so they made sure to remember Kate's Mam and Johnny's Dad in lots of small ways on their wedding day. "It was important to have them there in spirit," Kate says. "We had lovely pictures and memories dotted throughout the venue.
I told you the table plan was pretty special! The prop hire and styling team at A Vintage Affair used rustic shipping palettes and plant markers stuck in potted lavender to display the seating arrangement, with each table named after one of the couple's favourite pubs!
Kate's advice for brides and grooms-to-be is all about delegatation! "It’s very easy to get caught up in the stress, but don’t let it stress you. It comes and goes so fast, and it really is such a magical time. Be as organised as you can and accept help from friends and family."
Straight after the wedding, Kate and Johnny headed to Kerry for a mini-moon, and then onto Portugal for a week. "We are planning a big trip to Thailand for Christmas, which we can’t wait for!" Kate adds.
And that's a wrap! Thanks so much to Kate and Johnny for inviting us into their stunning wedding day, and to Conor Brennan for sharing the beautiful photography!