In 2020, the usual practice of planning a wedding was challenged and upended by Covid restrictions, leaving couples hoping to get married last year with an epic process to navigate. And while it might have some of this year's couples worried about what a Covid wedding might look like, hundreds before them have proven that a plan B wedding definitely isn't second best. We've delighted in sharing dozens of examples of couples getting creative and making the absolute most of their covid wedding, so today we're sharing some incredible examples to inspire. These real weddings are all the proof you need that a wedding during these uncertain times can certainly be magical. Don't believe us? Just listen to what the couples had to say of their experience.
Aoife & Shane's Dublin City Wedding
Aoife and Shane were supposed to marry back in March of 2020, just as the country was shutting down for the first time. The pair, like many others, moved the wedding back a few months but as their second wedding date drew closer, they knew another reschedule was likely. "We had to make a decision - either we accept the fact that we have a small wedding where close family members on both sides would not be able to make it or postpone the whole thing for a year," Aoife told us.
"I can honestly say that if our March wedding went ahead, we would not have been able to enjoy and appreciate it as much as we did when it finally went ahead in September," Aoife said of their City Hall nuptials which ended up in Fallon & Byrne. "We were worried about the tiniest little things before Covid. When we were able to finally have our wedding, we realised how lucky we were to be getting married and to be able to celebrate this with close friends and family."
You can see more of Aoife and Shane's wonderful Dublin City wedding here.
Jack & Katie's Back Garden Wedding
In a year of video calls and virtual quizzes, Jack and Katie embraced technology and had their 300 guests at their wedding. "We wanted to enjoy our day together with the people we love," they told us. "That always meant more to us than the decor or food. Covid kind of messed up those plans, but we had 300 people on Zoom cheering us on watching us say 'I do' and that meant so much to us."
The pair eventually decided to forego tradition and have their ceremony in a friend's back garden. "We were just happy we could get married! After having to cancel so much and getting stuck in the UK, we weren’t sure how it would happen. So, when a friend said we could use his backyard, we were sold! Doing a first look before the ceremony was so special. During the ceremony, a neighbour started doing some work on his tractor next door and we couldn’t hear anything - that made for some funny moments.
"Don’t be influenced by what others want, just do what you two want," they say of the lessons learned from their Covid wedding. "If you want a small wedding go for it, it’s much easier to plan! If you want a big wedding, enjoy it all. Just do what’s important to you. Keep it simple."
You can see more of Jack & Katie's back garden wedding here.
Joanna & Andrew's Cliffside Wedding
Joanna and Andrew are one of those couples that used the restrictions to get creative with their wedding plans and thought outside the box when it came to choosing a venue and a backdrop for their nuptials - and it doesn't get much more breathtaking than this. "I was never a fan of the fuss of a massive wedding with hundreds of guests, I wanted to talk and celebrate with people who truly care about me and Andrew on the day and not just having to invite people for the sake of it," Joanna told us of their wedding at Dunluce Castle in Portrush.
"Nobody else has had a wedding like this before in that location and it gave us the opportunity to have it how we wanted," they said. "We love the north coast of Ireland and go there very often so it was nice to get married somewhere we will go back to so often. When I walked up the aisle, I took a minute to take in the view and consider just how lucky and grateful I was. The location meant everyone we wanted to be there could make it without fuss."
"Our venue allowed us to tailor it to suit the numbers and Covid restrictions. I always said, 'I want the marriage, not the wedding'. So, our advice would be to not worry about numbers, it's your wedding, it should be how you wish to have your day. Take moments throughout the day to get in the moment and enjoy it all, it goes so fast. But make sure whatever you are planning is for you and your partner, not for anyone else."
You can enjoy more of Joanna and Andrew's stunning cliffside wedding here.
Ellen and Daniel's Intimate Hotel Wedding
Ellen and Daniel canceled their April wedding in lieu of a smaller, more intimate affair later in the year with the plan to host a bigger celebration at another time with their wider family and friends. But that didn't mean their ceremony fell short. This couple embraced the change and had a day bursting with personality and love. "Our wedding was not at all what we had planned," Ellen told us. "It wasn't when we planned it, where we planned it or with whom we planned it, but it was perfect!
"Originally, we had booked City Hall for our ceremony and The Morrison Hotel for after but due to restrictions, we had to postpone our April wedding to September. As a result, we lost City Hall but thankfully, The Morrison was able to hold the ceremony. We had to cut our guest list also, but we're planning a bigger party when it is safe to do so. The hotel was amazing to deal with during a very difficult time and made what could have been a very stressful experience so easy."
To see more of Ellen and Daniel's downsized wedding you can do so here.
Chloe & Rory's Outdoor Summer Wedding
Surrounded by pink flowers and the beautiful grounds of Hilton Park in Monaghan, Chloe and Rory opted for an outdoor summer wedding in 2020 and the results were truly stunning. "We planned a completely new and different wedding whilst on the frontline during a pandemic in just under two months," they told us. "We went from a large wedding of over 150 guests in a big cathedral to an intimate family wedding weekend deep in the Irish countryside. In essence, we wanted our wedding to feel intimate, close, and for us to be surrounded by those who have run alongside us at every stage in order to get us to the altar.
"One of the biggest hurdles to overcome for me personally when Covid came along was the fear of missing out on what all my other friends had been able to have - primarily the big wedding, walking down the aisle to your groom in the dress, in the nice church, with all your friends and family there," Chloe admitted. "I was surprised by how many brides reassured me that had they been given the option again to have a big or small wedding and after having had big weddings, would now opt for a smaller celebration. Looking back, I missed out on nothing! We had the perfect day."
You can see more of Chloe and Rory's perfect day here.
Tara & Jonathan's New York Wedding
After whittling down their guest list from 120 to 16, Tara and Jonathan had a truly elegant celebration in New York City with their nearest and dearest. "Our wedding day was everything that we ever wanted," they told us. "Even though we couldn’t have everyone there as we originally planned. We had 16 of our closest family members surrounding us with the most magical backdrop in the best city in the world.
"The vibe, the energy, the weather was so perfect. New York was so humid the few days leading up to this, but it was actually perfect that day and night! Our wedding is so deconstructed it’s hilarious. We even drove ourselves to the dinner in our jeep. We’ll be having our bachelorette and bachelor parties sometime next year, along with a party on our anniversary. Plus, since we didn’t do our official wedding dance, we’re having a party on my island of Guam later this year with more of our family! Let the wedding celebrations continue to happen for years to come.
"We kept saying, if there was a zombie apocalypse and the world was burning (which it felt like it almost was), we were still going to get married. So go with your gut and do what’s important to the two of you. It doesn’t have to be by the book, do everything that you always wanted. And most of all, make it special for you guys. This is your day between you two."
See more of Tara and Jonathan's New York City wedding here.
Amy & Conor's Elopement
Amy and Conor opted for an elopement so didn't have to worry about a lot of the red tape others did last year. "Our day was full of heart, intimacy, togetherness, and love," they told us. "There was no ‘look’ or ‘vibe’ because we didn’t craft or manipulate the day in any way. It was raw and honest and a day that was completely about us, a day truly dedicated to one another and to our marriage.
"The laid back feel, the mountains the venue in Ballybeg is engulfed in, the stunning honeymoon lodge - it was perfect. We were surrounded by nature and plenty of space to be outside.
"We had planned to go to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia afterward but we had to cancel due to Covid. Instead, we explored the west of Ireland and were blessed with the most incredible weather. We visited different islands and went to see where my ancestors grew up as I have Irish heritage."
To see more of Amy and Conor's elopement you can enjoy it here.
These couples are just an example of those who turned lemons into gorgeous lemonade and prove that having to change your plans because of Covid doesn't mean you have to settle for second best.
