Every so often we read the stories behind a real wedding and almost feel as though we were there ourselves. Cheesy and all as it sounds, this is one such wedding. This pair know how to host a great party! You can just tell that the day was overflowing with love from both sides of the family. So many sentimental touches and thoughtful details went into a celebration that represented not just Caroline and Carl, but their families too. Sharon Kee did a stunning job at capturing their Lough Rynn Castle wedding.
The day she met Carl is still fresh in Caroline’s mind; “We met in September 2009; when Carl was delivering a training session to a group at our company offices in Liverpool. Carl remembers getting annoyed by an Irish girl who was asking too many questions; constantly interrupting and putting him under pressure and generally giving him a hard time – this girl turned out to be his future wife.” Hey, start as you mean to go on we reckon!
So many glamorous touches in Caroline's wedding day look, from the sparkling Jimmy Choos to the Hollywood curls.
When it came to popping the question, Carl recalls his months of preparation, “I had spent the summer secretly communicating with Caroline’s cousin Jerome McCann (a goldsmith living in Canada) about making the engagement ring. The plan for the proposal was to take Caroline for a walk on the beach whilst on holiday in Rathmullan, Co. Donegal.”
Unfortunately, neither the romantic stroll nor the ring happened on the day Carl had planned, thanks to bad weather and shipping delays. Instead, Carl proposed with a Tiffany ‘hold over’ ring inside their holiday cottage. Not a bad plan B, eh?!
Caroline & Carl wanted their wedding to feel like a traditional Irish affair, “Full of friends, family, music and plenty of drink. It was amazing to see the two sides of the family come together for the craic; the castle was the perfect setting to host a group of people coming together to celebrate with each other for the first time; people left having made plenty of new friends and great memories.” says Caroline.
The choice of their ceremony venue, and the setting for Caroline's pre-wedding tipple, had a lot of thought behind it, “We wanted to make sure we got married at St Mary’s Church,” Carl tells us, “As this is where Caroline’s dad is buried; so, we wanted him to be included in the day; Caroline visited the family pub before landing in church too; and had her pictures taken with a picture of her dad looking down on her.”
Dapper hints of tweed from the groom and his lads.
These pink and black bridesmaid dresses are so unique - the bouquets are fabulous too!
Caroline has a few tips for planning a wedding without getting overwhelmed, “Shop local, don’t be travelling far and wide, knowing that help is always close to hand takes away unnecessary pressures. Smaller, local places gave me a more individualised and personalised service, really made me feel special. We can’t speak highly enough of all of our suppliers, they really made us feel so well looked after and cared for; we knew we had nothing to worry about during the day.”
As a special gift for Caroline on the morning of the wedding, her sister-in-law gave her sketch by her wedding dress designer Naomi Neoh. Such a lovely keepsake to have that would look amazing hanging above your dressing table.
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Even if she has to use the car mirror, a gal needs her lipstick!
The couple's thoughtful touches went from their choice of church to their alternative to wedding favours, “Instead of traditional wedding favours we had donation cards generously provided by Love Box Wedding Stationery. Our donation was given to Friends of The Cancer Centre who provided care and support while Caroline’s dad was sick.”
Carl continues that couple made sure Caroline's dad's memory was included throughout their day, “Although we missed him; having a drink in his pub before the wedding and visiting the grave after made us feel he was a part of it. Caroline left her wedding bouquet with him before we headed down to the reception.”
What a smashing pair!
Carl says Caroline took the lead on the wedding planning, doing all she could to be the perfect host, “Caroline was the boss, which suited me! We really wanted to make sure everyone was well looked after from start to finish. Caroline planned and studied the finer details to make sure the whole day ran smoothly, from the type of toiletries in the bathroom at the Castle to the vintage horse-box coffee van waiting for people outside the church serving teas, coffee and scones – ready for the drive down to Leitrim. We just really wanted to make sure that people had fun, could let loose and enjoy themselves.”
When the couple visited Lough Rynn Castle just outside of Mohill in Co. Leitrim, they said they knew instantly that it would make the perfect venue; “It was so charming, full of character, but not ostentatious. It felt cosy, warm and a place made for a party. The venue had everything, not just for the wedding day, but to make a full weekend of celebrations.”
The day was full of special moments spent with family. A little time spent in Leitrim brought out the wild side of one guest in particular… “Carl’s 90-year-old Granny flew over from England; despite not having been on a plane in over 20 years. She also stayed up into the early hours and wasn’t wanting to go to bed.” Keep going with yo’ bad self, Granny!
For their honeymoon, Caroline & Carl planned an amazing adventure in South Africa jetting off two days after the wedding, “We started off in Cape Town, before driving along the Garden Route; finishing off on safari. We wanted to do something fairly active, and really take the opportunity to see a truly different and remarkable part of the world.”
The couple got some gorgeous portraits in the gardens around Lough Rynn, “The grounds are ideal to walk around, get a breath of fresh air overlooking the lake. Of course, it also provided some great opportunities for photographs. The staff were also superb. Full of good-humour and charm, catering to all of our guests’ needs individually.” Caroline gushes.
As this bride and groom remind other couples planning their weddings, if even a small part of a traditional wedding doesn’t float your boat, don’t be afraid to do it your way. “There were a few things that we wanted to do that went slightly against tradition, such as having a circular top table in the middle of the room; and we wanted to walk in to the reception at the same time as all of our guests; whatever your preferences, remember that it is your day, and do things that are important to you.”
It wasn’t just the adults who enjoyed their time in Lough Rynn either! “Nieces and nephews also made the most of the bridal suites jacuzzi bath the next day; but overall, from their own private games room to personalised goody bags; they seemed to have a great time, despite the page boy losing his shoe as he walked on up the aisle.”
The food was another deciding factor when it came to choosing a their wedding venue. Caroline’s family run a restaurant in Omagh and really know their stuff!“The food in Lough Rynn was spectacular from breakfast to lunch to dinner. We received so many compliments from guests about the food.”
Another perk of a wedding at Lough Rynn Castle? The sound of the underground! “There was a dungeon that guests could drink in until the early hours; the barn catered for a fun-filled day two, finishing off with Jackson Rox playing for us all, again, well into the small hours.” recants Caroline.
Huge thanks go out to Sharon Kee for sharing her fabulous work with us. Caroline and Carl, it was so lovely to hear about your day! We wish you health and happiness as you start your married lives together.
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