After spending four years in long distance, today's international lovebirds finally came together at the gorgeous Luttrellstown Castle in Dublin for a religious ceremony with all their friends and family. Sarah and Dan's wedding is absolutely stunning and was made truly special with tons of DIY elements from loved ones. Inspired by Love captured the beautiful day in flawless photographs you won't want to miss...
Sarah tell us their love story..."Dan and I are both aid workers. We met working in South Sudan for Save the Children in 2009 – he was the Logistician and I was the Health and Nutrition Advisor. We worked together for 11 months and then continued in a long distance relationship for the next four years. At first Dan was in Haiti following the earthquake while I remained in South Sudan. Then I moved to Washington DC with frequent field travel for emergencies while Dan was on assignments in Haiti, Ethiopia, Thailand, Australia, Iraq and the Philippines...
continued..."For four years we'd see each other for a week every 3 months and otherwise by Skype video when the connection was good enough. As with most “aid relationships” distance was our biggest challenge. Our sights were always on how to find work in the same country. Finally In May 2014 we moved to Dublin and are so happy to be living and working in the same country."
In 2014, finally reunited for good, Sarah and Dan were officially married in a civil ceremony with only their immediate family. Sarah's father walked her down the aisle, she wore her mother's wedding dress, their nieces and nephews were their wedding party, and Dan's mom made the bouquets. Sarah gushes..."It was a perfect day."
A year later Sarah and Dan gladly invited all their friends and family to come and celebrate their love for a religious blessing at the beautiful Luttrellstown Castle where they lucked out with a gorgeous day of sunshine; it was Dublin at its best.
Sarah reveals all the details..."Dan proposed in May 2014 the day before we moved to Dublin. He’d been planning a surprise farewell adventure for me with horseback riding, sight seeing and an overnight stay in a gorgeous civil war era estate in the mountains of Virginia. Unknown to me he’d been working with a jeweller to design my engagement ring which was only finished the day before he proposed – high stress! I had no idea he was proposing until we walked into our suite at the inn and found flowers, wine and chocolates. We walked to a picnic bench overlooking the valley where he proposed."
In planning their dream day, the couple designed their ceremony from scratch with Pastor Martin Sauter, they involved their family in key elements of the ceremony, and they sent their wedding rings through the congregation for family and friends to hold and bless their future together. As a wedding gift, one of their friends designed signature cocktails for each of them, an Old Fashioned for Sarah and a Gin & Tonic for Dan.
Sarah and Dan were also delighted with their wedding band, Craddog. Sarah compliments..."Our band, Craddog, was fantastic, learning our chosen hymns alongside “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and some Christy Moore."
Sarah shares a few more personalised touches that really made the day..."A friend and blacksmith made our unity candle; my mother crocheted my bridal shawl and also lent me the string of pearls my father gave her at my birth which I wore as a bracelet; a friend from Pakistan sent a few dozen pashminas for guests to use; the candles on each table were made with antique cocktail glasses made by a friend."
So much love and support surrounded Sarah and Dan on their special day and they could not have been more grateful. The lovebirds jetted off to Mauritius for their honeymoon.
Congratulations to the happy couple and thank you so much for sharing your special day with us all. A big thanks to Inspired by Love Photography for sharing their photos with us. To see more from Inspired by Love visit www.inspiredbylove.co
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Venue: Luttrellstown Castle
Ceremony/Reception Music: Craddóg
The Wedding Details
- Wedding Dress: BHLDN purchased at Badgley Mischka
- Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier
- Flowers: Countryhouse Flowers
- Suit Rental: Tango
- Make Up: Ruth Anne Kelly
- Hair: Lorraine Browne