One of the most important things about planning a wedding is understanding your priorities, and for today's real wedding couple Alana and Rory, there was one special guest they really wanted to include: their beloved pup Missy. So when they found out that Rathsallagh House, could accommodate their special pal, it raced to the top of their list. Once they set foot in the characterful space and experienced the quiet luxury and unique atmosphere, they knew they'd found "the one". Their wedding encapsulates all the warmth and fun of a winter celebration and we're blown away by their gorgeous personal style... Be inspired by Alana and Rory's gorgeous wedding by Art Wedding Photography.
Rory is from Wexford and Alana is from Rathfarnham, but as always we were dying to know how they found each other... We met on a Thursday night, Alana had been out since after work, I was starting my night out with his friends, the location was the Workmans Club in Dublin, our paths crossed, our eyes met across a room and I approached Alana to say hello, I got her number and the rest is history. Zip forward a few years and while on a trip to New York, Rory popped the question.
Alana's dress is so elegant in its simplicity, but the subtle additions at the sleeve paired with her flowing waves and strong red lip make for an individual and striking bridal look. The overall bridal party is beautifully styled for a winter wedding - the deep bronze of the bridesmaids' dresses is a super choice and long sleeves for all of the ladies both unifies the looks but is also really practical and warm for those chillier days.
Rory was no slouch in the style department either, his tweed suit paired with a fantastic set of accessories including a silk tie was picked up in a thrift shop in Iceland and his pocket watch was handed down from his great-grandfather.
The couple chose to have both ceremony and celebration in Rathsallagh House, rather than having separate locations, they were delighted at how this decision impacted the flow of the day... Overall the day could not have gone better, it was one of those bright clear sunny days in late winter /early spring. The day was calm but the energy was buzzing. We feel that having the ceremony on site really added to the day, because once our guests arrived the day had begun and everyone could settle into what was a great celebration. The setting of Rathsallagh was something to behold, and the weather allowed guests to sit outside and take pictures in that special type of lighting that can only be had at that time of year.
As Alana is from Rathfarnham, not too far from Rathsallagh House, she was able to get ready at home with her family and have her Dad drive her down to the wedding. There the couple met in the garden before the ceremony for a first look which is (as we've said many times before) an excellent plan for a winter wedding - to make the most of the limited daylight and get the best wedding photos.
As it was to be both ceremony and celebration venue, the choice of location was key to everything, and the couple were clear about their requirements... A laid back, comfortable and cosy setting was important and Rathsallagh House exceeded all expectations. It ticked all the boxes before we had even seen it, and when we went to view it the staff and place itself were just so lovely. But ultimately, being able to bring our dog Missy down with us clinched it.
The ceremony took place upstairs in the Grannery Civil Ceremony room, which is a space the Rathsallagh team created especially for couples who want to celebrate civil or non-religious ceremonies.
The ceremony was the centrepoint of the day for the couple, and they spent a lot of time working it out with their celebrant as they explained... A meaningful but laidback ceremony was really important to both us. Our Celtic Monk, Dara Molloy, deserves a special mention as he set the tone for what was a magical day. Dara infused a lot of spirituality into the ceremony, along with humor, which was great. Dara had asked us both to pick somebody close to each of us and these two people said a few words about us as individuals prior to the ceremony starting. This was a really special and emotional moment. Alana chose her brother Graham and Rory had his friend Ronan.
So what advice do they have for other couples planning their day? Don’t stress! At the end of the day, it’s not about any of the material aspects of the day. It is about the union between two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together. Don’t get caught up spending money on unnecessary added extras. Good venue with nice food and good music, the rest will all fall into place.
Rory and Alana were married last year and so were able to enjoy travelling to both snow and sun for their honeymoon. Straight after the wedding they headed to Austria for a week to try out skiing which they adored, and a few months later they enjoyed a two week trip to the Greek Islands. Am green with envy!
We're so delighted to share Alana and Rory's wedding with you all today, an enormous thank you to them for sharing their advice and insights and also of course to Art Wedding Photography for sharing these beautiful images.
