Today we're really excited to have the very beautiful wedding of Edmund and Louise to share with you. What I personally adore about their wedding is that it's so very traditional, it has all the trimmings with the addition of some very personal touches. It's the wedding you dreamed of as a little girl. Edmund looks so dapper in his morning suit, and Louise is the picture perfect bride. The  whole wedding is captured beautifully by Gillian Higgins making a beautiful record of memories of a very special day...

You may have guessed even from just the top image, that Edmund isn't an Irishman (real morning suits in Ireland are a very rare commodity), he's actually from across the water in England. Louise, on the other hand, is from Northern Ireland. So how did these two meet and make it down the aisle we wondered?

"We met in 2005, while we were studying for undergraduate degrees at the University of Edinburgh. On Valentine’s Day, we both attended a university society debate on the motion ‘tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.’ Edmund spoke in favour of love, and I voted for him - the rest, as they say, is history!" (Myself and Mr. OFD are quite the nerds so this really rings a bell with me)

"Almost seven years later, we were back in Edinburgh for a friend’s engagement party, when Edmund suggested that we go for a walk on Arthur’s Seat, a very picturesque spot. I knew something was up, as he seemed very nervous. Nevertheless, I was shocked when he got down on one knee!"

We didn’t want to have a theme for the wedding as such, but much of the inspiration came from my mother’s garden. She is incredibly talented, and in June her garden overflows with gorgeous flowers. All the flowers on the tables were from the garden, and mum arranged them herself, with the help on one of the bridesmaids, creating beautiful, unfussy centrepieces — a huge task! The country garden feel was also reflected in my cascading bouquet, the muted, natural colour palette, the cream teas served at the reception, and the vintage seed packets we gave as favours .

This warm floral summer look was so natural to the pair and their celebration that Edmund's groomsmen didn't even have to make much of an effort to blend right in. I ADORE the pink and lemon waistcoats!!!

The boys weren't the only ones to shine though, with the bridesmaids looking beautiful in soft mocha and Louise's Mum winning the most glamorous Mother of the Bride 2012 by a mile so far! And to think she had been hard at work putting all the floral arrangements together that morning and the previous evening?!

Waiting patiently by the altar at the Star of the Sea Church, Portstewart, Louise's home town. "The town itself is beautifully located on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, and is a tourist attraction in itself. Our ceremony was in the gorgeous Star of the Sea church, and as the doors open directly onto a sea view, there was a stunning backdrop."

As Edmund is from England, this meant that many of our English friends and family were able to come over for an extended break and travel around Northern Ireland. I was very keen that they got a sense of what a great place it is, and put together a suggestions pack of things to do and places to visit, which was sent out with the invitations.

While Edmund and Louise were wandering the quayside for their portraits, it was all aboard the vintage bus for the guests, leaving the coast behind and travelling inland to the beautiful Lissanoure Castle in Loughguile for the reception. And as part of their welcome to the guests who were travelling from abroad, they arranged for the buses taking the guests to drive along the Antrim Coast road. A lovely touch by Cross Country Coaches was that the drivers gave a guided tour, and even stopped for photographs, which for Edmund and Louise "added another special element to the day." Such a lovely touch.

"We chose Lissanoure Castle (for the reception), which was recommended by a friend. Here, the stable blocks have been converted into a stunning venue, with a dining room and bar lounge area — it was very important that we had lots of indoor space for guests during the drinks reception, given the notoriously unreliable Irish weather! The venue itself couldn’t be further from a hotel function room, with charmingly mismatched pictures and furniture, and a wonderfully light dining room. Our guests were also able to explore the gardens, with their lake and the ruins of the original castle. The icing on the cake, however, was Sheryl, the events manager, who couldn’t have been more helpful, providing lots of sound advice and invaluable tips, and being utterly indispensable on the day, ensuring everything ran smoothly and everyone was well catered for."

A few minutes with the whole bridal party, meant some great fun in the gardens of the castle as the gentlemen (and ladies) certainly got in the swing of having their photographs taken...

Music was incredibly important at this celebration, with a variety of musicians from harpist to piper, dj to ceili band all on cal to provide entertainment and providing Edmund and Louise with some of their favourite moments... "Instead of having a receiving line, Edmund and I stood outside the dining room as our guests were piped in for dinner, which meant we had a chance to have a quick word with everyone in an informal way, which was lovely. Also, our first dance, choreographed to Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s was a real surprise for everyone and got a fantastic reaction!"

The table decorations were not only a work of art but a labour of love and a special reflection on Louise's heritage "The flowers on the tables were from my mother’s garden, and were arranged in antique tea sets. These had all belonged to my grandmother and great grandmothers, which in a sense meant that they were present on the day.  My mother and one of my bridesmaids did all the floral arrangements on the tables and the pew ends using flowers from mum’s garden, and incorporating traditional wedding flowers which relate to the Victorian ‘language of flowers’. "

So finally, after seeing all the loveliness Louise created for their day we have to know what her advice to brides and grooms planning their day would be... "Don’t do anything just because it’s the ‘done thing’; it’s your wedding day! Choose suppliers who you like as people, as it makes them much easier to work with. On the day, ensure you take a few minutes just to have a look around as a couple, and watch everyone enjoying themselves — it all goes so quickly!"

A very special Thank You to Louise and to Edmund for sharing their day with us. Long life and happiness to you both!

And to Gillian Higgins for sharing her beautiful images we are really grateful. If you love Edmund and Louise's wedding, you will adore seeing more of her work over on www.gillianhigginsphotography.com 

All the People who Made Edmund and Louise's Wedding Possible

Ceremony: Star of the Sea Church, Portstewart

Reception: Lissanoure Castle, Loughguile

Photography: Gillian Higgins

Dress: Ian Stuart, from Dream Weddings, Coleraine

Bridesmaids dresses: Debenhams

Shoes: Meadows bridal

Flowers: Jim Bell and Denise Carson

Jewellery: Jersey Pearl

Hairpiece: Vintage Bridal Jewellery

Veil: Dream Weddings, Coleraine

Cake: Marks and Spencer

Wedding Car: Wade’s, Coleraine

Vintage Bus: Cross Country Coaches

Favours: wildflower-favours.co.uk

Stationery: David Edwards

Hair: Stephen Moore

Wedding Bands: M. Kemp Antiques, Nottingham

Singer and organist: Bernard and Aaron Loughrey

Harpist: Carissa O’Hart

Piper: Craig Donaghue

Ceilidh: Ballycastle Ceilidh Band

DJ: Darran Wallace