Today's real wedding proves you don't have to stick to one style or aesthetic, your big day can be bohemian and vintage-inspired, modern and like something from a fairytale - in fact, it's this mix of influences that makes the day uniquely yours! Sarah and Paul had to wait an extra 12 months to become husband and wife on account of Covid-19 restrictions, so they were determined to make their delightful 'do at Boyne Hill House Estate extra special. Sarah describes it as, "boho, vintage, whimsical, garden-style, with lots of nature and greenery!" and we have to agree that it's all this, and more! Hello Sugar Photography was there to capture the epic wedding party style, phenomenal florals and personal touches, so let's dive in, shall we!?
Sarah tells us that she first met Paul when they were both travelling in Australia in 2015. "We met on White Night, a night festival of lights in Melbourne, Australia," she explains. "Paul approached my table and asked me for a charger at a pop-up bar, and the rest is history… we have been inseparable ever since!"
Four years later, the couple decided to move to the UK to be closer to home, and on the way there, did some travelling in Europe. "After exploring Athens, Santorini and many Italian cities, we stopped in Lake Garda in Italy," Sarah says. "Paul planned a wine tasting day out at an organic Italian vineyard (Villa Calicantus). It was here on a hill at the vineyard where he popped the question! We celebrated immediately with their delicious wine, needless to say!"
The couple tell us that the Secret Garden at Boyne Hill House Estate made them fall in love with the venue instantly! "The moment we saw it, we could envision our day there among the beautiful surroundings," Sarah says. "The Boyne Hill House team were incredible from the start, and nothing was too much trouble, their care and attention to detail was second to none."
The getting-ready experience was something that Sarah really looked forward to! "I loved the fact that Boyne Hill house have a one-of-a-kind glam room, and I knew I wanted to make the most of it. Sarah and Sue (hairstylist and makeup artist) were incredible on the day! They made me feel like a queen!"
I think I audibly gasped when I saw Sarah's bridal look! She tells us, "My dress was altered and customised by Oksana Mustuk, Drogheda, who even created and made my vision of a custom lace drop-sleeve come to life!"
The talented team at Fernwood Flowers created some jaw-dropping arrangements for this pair's garden party wedding, their blooms really add to the romance of the incredible outdoor ceremony space!
How incredible does Paul look in his suit? We love the tones of red and orange seen in his buttons, tie and pocket square!
The couple chose a spiritual ceremony for their big day, and they're so glad they did! "As we spoke to Bernadette Dolan, our celebrant, she put us at complete ease and ensured us that we could create the ceremony that we always wanted," Sarah remembers. "We involved both our mothers during the lighting of candles as a way to include them in our day. Music was always important to Paul and I, so we made time during our ceremony to have some of our favourite songs played and sung by the incredible Alison Sweeney on piano. This made the whole ceremony so personable to us. It also gave us a chance to take a breath and have special moment together."
One of the ways the couple personalised their ceremony was with the song Sarah walked down the aisle to. "This was a surprise for Paul," she says. "I asked Alison, our pianist, to learn a slowed-down piano version of one of Paul's favourite songs, Stand Inside Your Love by The Smashing Pumpkins. The lyrics are so beautiful and I knew it would mean a lot to him. It's originally a rock song so I knew he would have to listen to the lyrics to figure it out, when he did there were tears, big time!"
This couple were determined to have incredible food at their wedding. "We thoroughly enjoyed our tasting at Boyne Hill before the big day," Sarah says. "The food was exquisite, with all our guests commenting on how beautiful everything was on the menu."
Sarah's advice for engaged couples is to schedule in some time on the day to spend alone with your new spouse! "Áine at Boyne Hill made sure we had time alone to have a drink together while the staff seated our guests for dinner," Sarah remembers. "This was such a great part of our day when we could actually stop, reflect and talk about our special day so far!"
Sarah also recommends sticking to your guns about the things that are most important to you, and trusting your gut. "We so wished and dreamed for our outdoor garden ceremony, even though the weather looked a little questionable. We took a chance and Boyne Hill made our dream come true! Sure enough, the clouds lifted, the sun came out and we had the ceremony of our dreams!"
For their honeymoon, the couple spent a week in Portugal. "We stayed at the TUI Blue Hotel in Felesia, which provided a much-needed break for us both. The area was beautiful and the hotel was perfect and provided so many amazing activities such as yoga, pilates and couples massage - we couldn’t ask for more! This was a last-minute decision as our dream was a Safari in South Africa, but with the world healing, we thought best to wait and enjoy this trip in safer times. Our love of travel will take us to many incredible places, that we are sure of!"
Thanks so much to Sarah and Paul for sharing their gorgeous garden party wedding with us, and to Hello Sugar Photography for providing the beautiful imagery! There are even more photographs to swoon over in the gallery below.
