The real wedding we're sharing today strikes a balance that lots of couples struggle to achieve - it's an exceptionally refined and luxe affair, but it also manages to feel really laid-back and relaxed. For their big day at Lough Eske Castle, Mel and Neal plumbed for a stunning black and white colour palette, giving the celebration a classic Hollywood feel, but they also did a terrific job of informalising things, by incorporating fun details from their Irish, Cambodian, Australian and New Zealand backgrounds, serving a vegan feast, and having a family pet as their groomsdog! Paul McGinty was behind the camera on the day, so we just can't wait to get into the photographs!

Neal tells us that he first met Mel during a game of touch rugby in Melbourne! "I loved her drive, desire to win and attitude during the games. She was there to win! During the second or third week, I took it upon myself to speak to Melissa during rugby on the sidelines, but, it didn’t go so well. Anyone who knows Melissa knows she does not like to talk while playing sports!"

Weeks later, they ended up in the same bar for Christmas drinks. "This was the night that we first spoke and we instantly knew there was something special between us," Neal says. "We did numerous shots and reminisced about Christmas at home with our respective families. I think we both thought the other was lying, as our upbringing sounded so similar. It was humbling when we both met each other's extended families, and realised that we really did grow up in a very similar fashion - playing and fighting with all our cousins, with our grandmothers ruling the roost! Everything just felt normal from day one, the first time also felt like the 1,000th time."

Shortly after the couple met, Neal's Dad, who has since sadly passed away, became quite ill, meaning that Neal spent most of 2015 in Ireland. "We both knew it wasn't over," Neal says, "but equally, we couldn't see a future together as I focused on life at home. I returned to Melbourne late 2015 to Melissa's surprise, we restarted our relationship, and have been inseparable since!"

Two years later, Neal popped the question in his favourite place, the cliffs of the North beach in Rush, County Dublin. "It was December 24th, three years to the day after we first kissed in Melbourne," he remembers. "We went for a walk around 3.30pm, before it got dark. We walked the beach to the cliffs, and sat down for a few minutes. I wondered how to steer the conversation in the direction I wanted, until I realised that no conversation leads to a proposal! So that’s when I proposed!"

When it came time to plan the wedding, the couple were keen to ensure that their guests' needs were met. "We wanted everyone to feel like they were on holiday, even those who travelled from Dublin," Neal says. "We were determined to create a really relaxed atmosphere. We had our wedding outdoors and were so lucky that it was a beautiful and warm day."

Mel tells us that she and Neal booked Lough Eske Castle from Australia, without ever visiting the venue. "Given that we had family and friends travelling from Australia, New Zealand and England, we were really looking for somewhere to give people a real taste of Ireland; the history, the scenery, the mountains, the roads, the coast and, of course, the friendly Irish people! Donegal provided all of this, along with the beautiful setting that is Lough Eske. And every girl dreams about marrying her prince in a castle!"

The couple were keen to incorporate their Irish, New Zealand, Australian, and Cambodian backgrounds, while also keeping the look and feel of the day modern and elegant, which was no mean feat! "Instead of a reading, my sisters surprised the guests and sang a very well-known song by New Zealand singer called Brooke Fraser, which blew all the Kiwis away!" Neal says. "We gave a nod to Melissa’s Cambodian heritage by having all the table numbers in Khmer. Melissa’s sister also did part of her reading in Khmer, and her mum and sisters wore traditional Cambodian dresses."

Photography was another huge priority for this pair. "We were truly grateful that we got to work with Paul McGinty and Dzifa Hollwey," Neal says. "Paul is a specialist in his field, and everything we had hoped for and more. We wanted to be guided by the best and let them tell us what works well and Paul did that and more. And he made us feel so relaxed."

We are totally bowled over by Mel's intricately-embroidered wedding dress, which features the most gorgeous, form-fitting silhouette. "I always wanted my dress to be designed by well-known Australian bridal couture house, Pallas Couture," she tells us. "It took three flights to Sydney to customise my dress, but it was all worth it! Instead of a traditional veil, I had shoulder veils, which brought a contemporary vibe, and made me feel like a princess!"

Mel's advice for engaged couples is to make your peace with any unexpected issues before the big day. "There were things that didnt go according to plan, and that were out of our control, but we made sure we didn't stress about them. And in the end, guests didn't even notice! We also had an unplugged ceremony, so it meant that everyone was present and in the moment. That made it even more special and more heartfelt."

Instead of a honeymoon, Mel and Neal opted for a buddymoon with friends and family in Albufeira, Portugal. Clearly, this travel trend is still going strong!

And that's a wrap! Thanks so much to Mel and Neal for sharing their gorgeous day with us, and to Paul McGinty for providing the beautiful imagery. There are more photographs in the gallery below, so be sure to click through for a look.