Today's real wedding has so many elements that I want to rave about - the dapper groom, the retro-styled bride, and the fact that the couple booked three, yes three, bands for their big day! - but I just can't get over the gorgeous portraits taken by Magda Lukas Photography. Orlaith and Mike's Cork city wedding was a celebration of love and music, beginning with a ceremony and drinks reception in live music venue the Triskel Arts Centre, followed by dinner and dancing in the Garryvoe Hotel. Ready for a rush of endorphins? I hope so, because this pair are next-level adorable!
These lovebirds first crossed paths when they were both working in Dublin. Orlaith tells us that the attraction was instant. "Mike is funny, very smart, supportive and attractive. His sense of style and height made him stand out when I first met him, and I knew within minutes that he was the one." Ah, Orlaith. I'll smudge my mascara!
A few months later, Orlaith and Mike went on their first date to play a round of crazy golf. "Shortly after that, we moved in together. Like most people from Cork, we had an innate longing to return to our beloved city so we moved back after a year of living together in the big smoke. Dublin will always have a place in our heart as it was the opening chapter to our story!"
We are completely smitten with Orlaith's retro wedding-day look! "My headpiece was an original 1920s piece that I bought from vintage seller Sharon O'Keeffe in Limerick," she tells us. "I always knew I wanted to wear a headpiece and when I saw this particular one on social media, I knew I had to have it!"
For his proposal, Mike took Orlaith on a surprise trip to Killarney. They were having afternoon tea in the Lake Hotel when Mike ran back to the room, claiming he had forgotten something. "In the mean time, the waiter brought over the afternoon tea tray to the table and accidentally dropped it all over my clothes! Once Mike returned, I said I had to go back to change. When we got to the room, it was in darkness. The suite had candle light and Champagne, I foolishly still didn't understand what was happening until I turned to see Mike on one knee! Covered in clotted cream and flour, I said yes!"
Orlaith and Mike wanted to include as many friends and family members as possible in the planning of the wedding. "I was very fortunate that my mother-in-law Mary is a very talented florist and gardener," she says. "Mary and three of her friends worked so hard to help create my vision with natural flowers and soft lighting. Lanterns, wooden boxes and a tree set in concrete with crystals and fairy lights were all used in the Triskel. The cake was made by a family friend who is very talented, Caroline Donegan."
The Triskel Arts Centre is such an elegant spot for a civil ceremony!
I love how Orlaith and Mike used this antique desk as the centrepiece for their ceremony. What a cute alternative to a traditional church altar!
The couple took a really hands-on approach with their wedding, down to the finest details! "We designed the invites ourselves with Pretty Print because we wanted to include everything that is important to us, such as where we used to go on dates in Dublin, lyrics of our favourite songs and our favourite places in Cork. Although a lot of people may not have understood what it meant, it was very special to us!"
We've fawned over Orlaith's wedding-day look already - now it's Mike's turn! "Mike has always been a dapper dresser and I knew he would like something a little bit different," Orlaith says. "Dave and Shauna at the suit distributors were fantastic and very accommodating considering two of the groomsmen were travelling from Dubai and the UK."
How cool do Orlaith's bridesmaids look in their Lindy Bop dresses and high street accessories? "I knew I wanted to get the girls something light, easy to wear and fun!" Orlaith says. "With three beautiful bridesmaids, it was easy to dress them! I purchased their shoes and beautiful leather jackets in New Look."
Music was one of the couple's top priorities from the beginning, so they booked three acts for the big day! "A string trio played some of our favourite songs at the ceremony, including Where is My Mind by the Pixies." Orlaith explains. "For the cocktail reception in the Garryvoe, we had Velvet, a 1950s cover duo, which was fantastic and so much fun. Then, for dancing, we had a Galway-based band called The Sixty Five. They were brilliant and the dancefloor was full all night!"
After the ceremony, Orlaith and Mike went for a spin around their home town! "Our car was an old Jaguar, originally imported from Africa. Tom, our driver, was so nice and insisted he would drive by UCC where we both went to college. Everyone we passed was waving and shouting good luck, it was such a lovely journey."
Next was a stroll around the iconic English Market. This is why we love city weddings - the hustle and bustle always makes for such atmospheric portraits!
Time for a pint before the reception? Oh, I should say so!
This moment right here is what it's all about, folks! The post-ceremony drink with your other half will be the best-tasting glass of Champagne or Guinness you've ever had!
A pull-your-own pint drinks reception? What fun!
In the end, Orlaith and Mike's wedding day turned out just how they had hoped. "It was the best weekend of our lives," Orlaith gushes.
We are loving the ultra glam set-up in the Garryvoe Hotel! Perfect for an Autumn wedding!
At this point, we have to thank Orlaith and Mike for giving us the inside scoop on their big day and to Magda Lukas for sharing her beautiful photographs with us! We won't forget this one in a hurry!
