Here we are bringing you a real wedding that is utterly unconventional and fabulous from Belfast couple Chris and Kathryn. The couple said 'I do' at Mount Druid in Belfast, an alternative and wonderful wedding space. From their gorgeous ceremony crafted by Tara Carroll to their last song on the dance floor, each moment was tailor-made to suit them. These images by Vicki Maher Photography give us a peak into what their beautiful day looked like, and totally inspire us to be authentic in love. Let’s take a look this magical wedding!
We adored the deep emerald green Kathryn chose for her bridesmaid dresses which the flowers accented perfectly!
As for how they met, the couple had mutual friends but didn’t meet properly until they both worked at Next. Chris later moved to Liverpool for his studies and when he returned, wanted to see Kathryn as much as possible. He asked her to be his girlfriend at an Arctic Monkeys gig and the rest is history!
Kathryn's marvellous gown is a creation by Eliza Jane Howell. The stars that add a touch of magic!
The couple wanted a non-traditional wedding and were very organised from the start, planning and styling the wedding themselves. "Chris had spread sheets and to-do lists set up about a week after the engagement. Other than the great venue, we added all of our own decorations including pumpkins, candles, logs and leaves." They were so touched by their friends' contributions on the day. "My best friend Cliona read her own poem ‘As We Roam’ for the two of us, and one of Chris' best friends John, did a reading that Chris put together from some of his favourite comic book writers, Brian K Vaughn, Rick Remender and Neil Gaiman."
Kathryn reminisces fondly on the day Chris popped the question during a trip to Ballintoy Harbour. The surprise proposal was followed by tea and red velvet cake to recover from the shock! "I was taking it all in, and after Chris had said my name a few times, I turned around to him down on one knee and he said, 'This is not a joke' then asked me marry him. I immediately froze and don’t think I even said yes but put my hand out for the ring anyway. Chris had to ask again 'Is that a yes?' and it was," she laughs.
For their wedding day the couple wanted to combine two things they love; autumn and music festivals. Their day was offbeat and whimsical at its essence. Kathryn says, "I really love October as autumn is my favourite season and wanted to incorporate that into the look of the day." Chris says, "I love going to music festivals and wanted the wedding to have the same vibe, without the mud."
We're head over heels for this cute scrabble moment on the couple's guest book. It's so simple and so effective!
The candlelit autumn evening created a beautiful intimate setting for people to relax, rewind and catch up. Chris says, "I wanted the evening party to feel like a night out which both the band and DJ absolutely got right. The BBQ put on by Mount Druid was also exactly what we were looking for, achieving the relaxed wedding vibe we wanted."
Chris having a moment horsing around! Kathryn says Chris created playlists with the perfect songs for them.
"The end of the night will always be special to us," says Kathryn. "My mum, Yvonne is still talking about our final song, which was LCD Soundsystem's All My Friends. She said to us afterwards, "Watching that was just you all summed up and what an end to the day." These unforgettable moments are what makes a wedding so special, and it was all expertly captures on film by Eye Capture Weddings, so they can relive every moment!
"After the wedding we headed on a road trip around the West Coast of Ireland going to counties Kerry, Clare and Galway," says Chris. "We would both recommend getting away anywhere after the wedding, even if it’s only for a few nights to relax after the big day."
A huge thank you to Kathryn and Chris for sharing their charming Mount Druid wedding day with us, and to Vicki Maher Photography for these amazing images. There are more beautiful photos for you to pore over in the gallery below.
