Today we transport you to a glorious Summer garden for Chloe and Rory's wedding, which will be a dream for anyone who can't resist a touch of pink. Inspired by a rose garden Chloe stumbled upon one day with her mum, Chloe and Rory wanted to create a floral fantastia of a wedding. They chose the beautiful backdrop of  Hilton Park in Monaghan for an outdoor ceremony followed by a smaller celebration than originally planned, because the couple, like so many others, had to reimagine their big day due to Covid restrictions. But their wedding planning was further complicated because they were working on the frontline during the pandemic! They still managed to pull off a phenomenally beautiful, love-filled day so their 'silver lining wedding' is a huge inspiration! It was all beautifully captured by Hello Sugar Photography, and we're delighted to be able to share it today

Chloe and Rory's romance started in the student halls of Queen's University Belfast as she was studying medicine and he was studying physiotherapy. "Rory was in the neighbouring flat just down the corridor," Chloe told us of their first meeting. "As cheesy as it sounds, he remembers the first moment he saw me walking through the doors with all my bags and knew I was the girl for him. He pursued me with such gentleness. As we got to know each other, it was impossible not to fall deeply in love with him. Six years later, it feels like we've been waiting forever to become husband and wife - with one another, we are home."

As for the proposal, it was very much a family affair - just as it would be for their eventual wedding. "Unbeknownst to me, Rory had organised for my family to bring me to my favourite place in the whole world - Murlough Beach, Dundrum," Chloe gushed. "I thought we were going on a family walk! My dad drove me and my mum and sister to the beach just like we would when we were younger. It was lovely! They walked me along the promenade to where Rory was waiting. It was so beautiful as if my family had brought me so far on life’s journey and they were now letting Rory take the lead on the next leg of the journey to come."

Unlike how their romance started, Chloe and Rory's wedding planning came with its fair share of hiccups. "We were initially meant to get married in June," Chloe told us. "The pandemic has given us all many challenging, difficult and heartbreaking moments, however, as I look back, I'm grateful it changed all of our plans! I truly believe everything happens for a reason. It's an understatement to say this wedding has been the silver lining of Covid."

So starting from scratch, this pair decided to totally upend the wedding they had planned for a wedding neither of them would have thought they would have wanted. "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. We wanted it to feel timeless and elegant, with an attention to detail and love abounding. We wanted lots of happy tears and cheers! A day full of fun in a setting that whispers 'slow down' gently to everyone present, that pulls people into the present, and a day full of celebration for all that is pure and good."

To create that feel, the pair started with a colour palette which was all inspired by a pink and peach rose garden that Chloe saw while out for a walk with her mum in Hillsborough Castle. "I loved the mixture of pink and peach, along with cascading greenery and an inviting stone staircase," Chloe revealed. "I also love the grandeur, luxury, and classic elegance of period properties." So, naturally, the magnificent Hilton Park fit the bill perfectly.

With the plans changed as a result of restrictions, Chloe and Rory relied on the help of family and friends for some of the finishing touches and details and a result, made the seemingly small details all the more special. "A favourite memory from the day was driving down to the venue with my family," Chloe said. "My dad is car mad so he drove with my mum in the front passenger seat and my sister - and maid of honour - in the back beside me. It was just like it was when we were growing up. We played Fleetwood Mac the whole journey, just like we used to!"

Rory's father also chipped in and played to his strengths. "My afternoon tea and wedding cakes were entirely made by my father-in-law," the bride told us. "He is an incredible baker especially his famous shortbread. Every Christmas, he bakes a massive batch of shortbread - at least 200 biscuits! For our wedding, he made heart-shaped shortbread with strawberries and double cream for our afternoon tea, along with scones and our delicious wedding cakes. It was just perfect!"

Their venue really did make for a weekend of fun for this couple and their guests. "On the Sunday after our wedding, we all took a nice walk alongside the Hilton Park lake," Chloe told us. "The grounds are so beautiful there are quite literally endless trails to walk and explore! My husband and I jumped into the super fresh lake to celebrate becoming Mr and Mrs and our bridal party followed us in. It was so fun for all involved - especially those spectating and cheering us on! After the swim, we wrapped up in robes and sat by the fire in the drawing room which was just gorgeous."

This pair planned not one but two weddings and while they only got to have the one, Chloe and Rory learned a lot from the experience. "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."

Thanks so much to today's couple Chloe and Rory for sharing their extra special wedding with us and to Hello Sugar Photography for capturing it all so beautifully.