Dav and Damien, are the epitome of understated chic. This pair are cool and sophisticated (just wait until you see Dav's dress!). Based in the US, but originally from Ireland, these Corkonians wanted to combine their wedding with an extended stay at home, and ring in the new year in style with a New Year's Eve wedding. But this isn't a fireworks and confetti sorta celebration. This beautifully elegant wedding was all about quality time with family and friends - an intimate celebration with great food and wine in the privacy of a country estate, so a couple who live far from home could really bask in the joy of their best beloved. We're delighted to share this gorgeous wedding thanks to Studio 33 Weddings...
It's funny how often couples who are perfect for each other, run in similar circles but never meet until just the right time - as it was for Dav and Damien - fills us in on how they first met…“Our story is pretty typical. We met in a bar in Cork through a very good friend. It was funny that we had a friend in common for almost ten years but never managed to cross paths until that night! We dated for a couple of years and then I got offered a job in the U.S .and moved here and Damien followed shortly after. We have been living here ever since.” So the couple are now located in the US but decided they were homeward bound for the wedding with family and friends.
After Damien convinced Dav to take some time off work for a staycation in New York, he planned to do some of her favourite things before popping the big question. Dav remembers…“He managed to book tickets to see my favourite band play in City Winery and got a reservation in a restaurant that I had been longing to go to, but bookings are near impossible to get. The significance of both never crossed my mind until he proposed in the restaurant. I was completely surprised, and of course said yes!”
How gorgeous are these two?! Serious wedding portrait envy!
Having lots of family and friends in Ireland, the couple knew that’s where they wanted to get married. Because they don’t live in Ireland, they had to go by word of mouth, and recommendations from friends. It's a risk, but if you trust that other people's taste is similar to your own, and that you're on the same wavelength about what you're looking for in a wedding then it can work really well. Dav shares their experience choosing Liss Ard Estate…“Believe it or not neither of us had seen the venue in person until the day of the wedding. We listened to our friends and family that had been there and just trusted it was going to work out on the day. We loved Liss Ard and it ended up being the perfect venue for us.”
Dav and Damien kept things simple and tried not to overwhelm themselves with designing every detail. Their choice of a New Year's Eve wedding was easy since it already came with a party vibe. Dav details…“We didn’t stick to every typical wedding tradition but added in different elements that were important to us.”
Before tying the knot in Ireland, Dav and Damien chose to have a civil ceremony in New York before their official wedding day, which left them free to make the ceremony in Ireland more personal and intimate. Dav tells us…“We asked my brother Finghin to officiate the ceremony. We wanted friends and family to participate as much as possible through songs/readings/lighting candles etc.”
As the dinner was such an important part of the celebration, Damien and Dav wisely enlisted the talents of the lovely Jill from Wild Floral Couture to make their dream event come to life. Loving the use of succulents and seasonal foliage combined with golden details to add warmth, and copious candles to add a touch of magic to the atmosphere...
So any words of advice to share after creating such a special occasion? “Spend time finding good vendors and trust that they will make it happen on the day. Don’t worry about the small stuff and outsource as much as you possibly can.”
How delicious does this dessert table look!? My mouth is watering just looking at it...
A huge congratulations to you both, and thanks so much for sharing your wedding day with us all! A big thank you also to Studio 33 for sharing their work with us. To see more from Studio 33 visit www.studio33weddings.com.
