Boho style and DIY details at Loughcrew House

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This real wedding features the smiliest groom ever! This guy is smitten - and so is his bride! - although what can we expect from a love at first sight romance. Hazel and Andy live in London, but came home to be joined by their friends, family and four grandparents for a two-day wedding at Loughcrew House that would feel just as relaxed as a destination bash. Awake and Dreaming captured all the details, and this wedding has an abundance of them. Killer boho style, luxe DIY stationery, fun favours, beautiful blooms, one delicious cake table, and effortlessly (though not quite effortless!) cool, laid-back vibes.

I'm already excited about this sleeve situation!

This DIY stationery is so beautiful - more on that a little later!

Hazel and Andy tell us they have different interpretations of how they first met, “We can both agree that it was in Earth, a Drogheda nightclub, in 2009!”

What a first look! Now didn't we tell you Andy was a smiley groom!

Hazel admits she did spot Andy across the dancefloor and made a beeline towards him, “In hindsight, it probably was love at first sight. Obviously, it might have been the Top Gun t-shirt, the baggy jeans or the frosted tip highlights but for some remarkable reason, I was just so drawn to him!”

Hazel tells us she pulled Andy off the dancefloor, “After leading him out to the beer garden and having some deeply intellectual conversations about Akon and ugly shoes, Andy asked if he could kiss me. The rest is history!”

The couple spent the next few years supporting each other through college and as soon as they graduated, they moved to London where they’ve been ever since.

So obviously we love Hazel's spectacular fringed gown, but the ring, the headband - her accessory game is spectacular too!

Hazel explains that a surprise proposal was always going to be tricky for Andy, “We’ve been together since we were 19, so it was something that we had discussed for quite a while. This made it very difficult for Andy to catch me off guard as nothing rarely gets past me!”

That doesn’t mean he didn’t give it his best shot! “On an ordinary Wednesday evening in May 2016, I arrived home from work to find Andy cooking. It was unusual for him to be home from work before me but I wasn’t suspicious until I saw a candle lit on the table… Not your typical weekday table setting in our gaff! I was afraid to jinx it so I half attempted to put it to the back of my mind. I showered, came back downstairs in my pyjamas and sat down to be served the most beautiful five course meal!”

Before dessert, Andy got down on one knee, “He fidgeted with something under my chair, then presented me with the most beautiful ring. It had been wrapped in toilet roll and sellotaped under my chair throughout the entire meal! He then said, “Hazel, love of my life, will you be my wife?”. How could I say no to poetry and gift wrapping like that!”

Andy tells us his side of the story, “Little did Hazel know that my proposal was actually Plan B! I had originally planned a picnic the weekend before but it clashed with the aftermath of a very heavy night out celebrating my first (and last) half marathon… Hazel insisted on a Netflix and Chill day and I wasn’t in the mental or physical state to refuse her!”

Hazel’s cousins, Emily, Rachel and Hannah played a blinder in their flower girl roles. The bridesmaids looked beautiful and bohemian in mix and match white dress.

Oh, the emotions!

The couple just the atmosphere they wanted to strike with their wedding, “We wanted our wedding to feel laidback and effortless, just a big shindig with our nearest and dearest. We didn’t quite realise how much ‘effort’ goes into ‘effortless' but it was certainly worth it in the end!”

The pair lucked out with the weather, “It lashed rain minutes before the ceremony was due to take place! We still don’t know how we managed to defy the odds by having a sunny outdoor ceremony, drinks reception and fire-pit after party in Ireland!”

The couple recruited a few helpers for their hand-fasting ceremony.

The couple poured their efforts into making their ceremony unique and special. “We wrote our own vows and really agonised over our readings and musical choices. Between us, we don’t have a note in our heads but music is hugely important to us. We incorporated George Michael lyrics into our invitations and worked closely the incredible Dublin String Trio and Joe, our celebrant, to make sure some of our special songs were included.”

Hazel and Andy have nothing but great memories of their day, “We had the most magical day that exceeded every possible expectation. It was perfect.” We love that they jumped the broom after their ceremony - we haven't seen that one in a while!

What a bunch of beauts! Along with their boho dresses, the ladies in the wedding party carried gorgeous greenery-heavy bouquets, keeping their looks contemporary and stylish.

The couple made their very own motto to keep their plans on track, “We always wanted an easy going weekend that everyone could enjoy but just as importantly, reflected us as a couple. We were determined to demonstrate our identities and tastes throughout every element. ‘Good food, good music and good company’ was our self-made brief and we believe we achieved it! Not least without the help from some of the most talented and obliging suppliers in the country, all of whom we initially found on One Fab Day!” Thanks for the shout out guys!

Andy says Loughcrew House was instantly ‘the one’, “We didn’t view anywhere else! Initially, Hazel and her mam had visited Loughcrew in November 2016. We had also arranged to visit when we were both home that Christmas and to see some other local venues. I fell for Loughcrew just as hard as Hazel had so we subsequently cancelled the rest of our planned viewings!”

The couple tell us there’s something special about the venue, “There’s a magical spirit in Loughcrew and we honestly don’t think we could have found it anywhere else! It’s the most idyllic place and it really feels like you’re in another world. Apart from the beautiful setting, Deborah, Emily and all of the team are so obliging. If you want a venue with flexibility and where you can really make your mark, we’d highly recommend it!”

To douse their day in personal touches, these two took the wedding DIY to another level! “We made our own invites and every single piece of stationery that featured throughout the day itself. From the invitation envelopes, to our vow books and table numbers, we wanted it to be cohesive throughout. It may have cost us six months of design software, half a rainforest in paper and a few broken nails trying to hand tear everything but it was such a rewarding project to undertake!”

Hazel tells us about the couple’s boozy favours, “We made our own favours by making, barrelling and bottling our very own whisky. Andy is a distiller by day so this was really his pet project! I merely “supervised” operations!”

What a spread for any sweet-toothed wedding guests!

Hazel and Andy explain that they’d initially toyed with the idea of a destination wedding, “But we wanted to accommodate our family and friends, especially our grandparents - we’re exceptionally lucky enough to still have four between us. For us, it seemed to be the most logical option to find somewhere in Ireland that could give us the feeling of a ‘destination’ or weekend away but that was easily accessible for everyone.”

The newlyweds are passing on some advice they received in the lead up to their wedding - “Some of which we had to be reminded of more than once! Firstly, those who mind, don’t matter and those who matter, don’t mind! Interpret as you will!”

The next piece of advice is about not sweating the small stuff, “Secondly, when it comes to elements like decor and having all the bells and whistles, you’re the only people who know what was intended to be or not! By the time it comes to taking it all in, the notions of a stretch tent covered courtyard that’s floored for dancing (true story), will definitely be long forgotten about!”

Andy tells us about a piece of advise passed on by a wise family member, “Pause and take a moment during the day to just observe and absorb. It was advice that Hazel’s aunt had given her and the kind reminder during dinner definitely didn’t go to waste!”

And one last piece of advice from this pair, “Stick to your guns and do what you want as a couple. It’s your wedding, do you. We stayed together in the bridal suite the night before and on the morning of, had a cup of tea outside before anyone else had woken up and then later reunited for our first look!” These two are pros!

Music played a key role in the rest of the celebrations too. “To have Cian Ó Ciobháin curate the rest of the day and night was such a treat, if not an honour. Not to mention our dear friend Rory Bowens who created a playlist for our next day celebrations that we’re still listening to!”

These guys are setting trends by honeymooning with a bunch of pals, “Straight after the wedding we went on an amazing buddy-moon to Marrakech. Long story but we may have inadvertently gate-crashed Madonna’s 60th for the night! A few months after the wedding, we went on an overland safari to six East African countries and South Africa. We spent Christmas Day camping in the Serengeti and New Year’s in Zanzibar.” Okay, we’re officially jealous.