While we can never rely on the sun making an appearance in Ireland, it seems the weather Gods were truly smiling down on couple Denise and Hugh for their sunshine-filled summer wedding at Cloughjordan House, County Tipperary. The 800-year old country house was bathed in July heat and the fun vibes and the couple's summer chic style was beautifully captured by Ivana Patarcic Photography. Read on for more inspiration!

Dubliner Hugh met Cork-native Denise met on a night out in Dublin. "I was at a work Christmas party in the Black Door and convinced a shy, non- dancing Hugh to hit the dance floor with me! We went on a series of dates following that night and I can remember racing back to Dublin to ring in the new year with him."

When it came to the proposal, the couple were away, with a loose plan to cycle the greenway in Achill, County Mayo and to see friends in Galway. Turns out neither were on the agenda though. "Hugh decided we’d visit Keem beach first and used the fact that I love taking photos to go there," explains Denise. "Once we had strolled over to the quiet side of the beach with just a few sheep as onlookers, Hugh produced a ring box and asked me to marry him. After a few seconds of shock, OMGs and laughter I said 'yes'. We continued the celebrations and had the ultimate luxury stay at Ashford Castle."

The ceremony was at St Michael & St Johns Catholic Church in Cloughjordan Village,  before Denise and Hugh and their 50 guests plus kids returned to enjoy their wedding day at the house. Naturally the vintage green VW Beetle which is a staple at Cloughjordan was a smash with the page boys and flower girls, who were made up of lots of special nieces and nephews -William (Denise's godson), Bobby, Johanna, Emily and Ali, who were all in the bridal party. But Phelim, James, Rory and baby Jerome were snapped in their finery too.

Denise's romantic gown was the Leo gown by New York designer Alexandra Grecco and wow factor on the elegant summer silhouette was truly amped up by the gorgeous bubble sleeves that draped off the shoulder. Hugh opted for a smart summer take on the tuxedo look which complete this fresh interpretation of formalwear in the sun.

The couple describe the vibe of their wedding as mixing old-world elegance with fun, summer chic vibes. "Our wedding look was very much a combination of chic sophistication and romantic summer vibes," says Denise.

The bridal party was given a sustainable nod, as it was a colourful mix of vintage dresses. "Breda Casey from Miss Daisy Blue vintage has an amazing eye. I asked her to put a selection of her dresses together for the bridesmaids. I was looking for pieces that would suit the individual style of my sisters while complementing each other and we settled on a blush coloured trio of vintage showstoppers!"

The breathtaking flowers and styling were created by Jill Wild Flowersmith who wows with her creative work. "Giant king proteas were a floral luxury but they brought opulence and drama to the soft blush palette and really complemented the mixed hues of the bridesmaids dresses," says Denise. "Flower Girl crowns had pampas and astrantia to match the sandy nude tones of their dresses."

Top of the priority list for Denise and Hugh was that they go ahead with their planned wedding date regardless of covid restrictions. "Luckily for us the guestlist numbers went from 25 to 50 guests a couple of weeks before our date which meant we were not confined to just family members. Having a smaller wedding made the day more intimate in lots of ways. It really felt as though everyone there was up for a good time !"

It had been such a long time since they were all together, that Denise and Hugh wanted the celebrations to reflect the airy, spacious, outdoor environment that they had become accustomed to. "The gardens and grounds of Cloughjordan House offered all of this for our wedding, plus the added charm and magic of old-world surroundings. The July heatwave ensured the festival atmosphere continued long into the night!"

"Cloughjordan House was the first and only wedding venue we viewed. We loved all the different rooms of the house and grounds. The beautiful lawn, the ballroom, converted barn, fire pits, woodland forest and having exclusive use of the house. We knew it would naturally create the perfect summer wedding."

"Hugh and I wanted to be present for all the fun with our friends and family. It was our desire to have a photographer that worked in a subtle manner in capturing snapshot moments throughout the day. Ivana Patarcic was a dream find. It felt like she was a long-time friend, even from our early conversations. She naturally befriended all our guests throughout the day and our photos are a reflection of the relaxed happy vibe that she herself contributed to."

What really made the day special for Denise and Hugh was that they both decided to spend the eve of their wedding in separate locations with their families. "Having this time with our families built excitement, set the tone for the big day ahead and settled any pre-wedding nerves. From then on everything just fell into place. Even amongst the madness of the wedding morning the sun shining in the green room window at Roundwood House and Fleetwood Mac's Albatross playing in the background is definitely a happy moment I won't forget."

When it comes to their top tips for other couples currently in the throes of planning a wedding they advise to choose suppliers that make it easy for you. "Photographers, florists and music... I think I felt overwhelmed by so many choices and decisions. Look for guidance if you're unsure as this is what they do and work with people that you are at ease and comfortable with," says Denise. We also love their advice on how to choose the wedding music. "Throw a few cocktail nights at home to choose music you both like, and brush up on some dance moves together!"

After the celebrations, these love birds spent their staycation honeymoon exploring the beautiful Burren and Connemara. "It was the hottest week of the year, so we couldn't have been happier to be soaking up the sun on the Wild Atlantic way. We stayed at Gregan's Castle Hotel which we couldn't recommend more post-wedding, and spent our last few days in the gorgeous surroundings of Ballynahinch Castle."

Thank you to Denise and Hugh for sharing their sunny Cloughjordan House wedding with us, and to Ivana Patarcic Photography for providing the beautiful imagery! There are even more photographs to swoon over in the gallery below.

Check out more of our Irish Real Weddings for inspiration here!