Our real wedding couple Caroline and Hugh may be from America but Ireland proved to be their dream place to say "I do". They became husband and wife with a sunlight-soaked garden party wedding in the lavish Dromoland Castle in County Clare. Brides dreaming of a classic wedding day will be enchanted by the elegant white and green theme from their June 2023 nuptials. A scene-stealing star? The wow-worthy blooms that blew us away. Get ready to swoon over their gorgeous wedding photos captured by Anna G Photography.
Let's kick off proceedings by getting to know our Mr and Mrs more. Hugh was born in Denver, Colorado, but he moved to the West of Ireland and lived in Galway until the age of 10. His father is from Portlaoise and he still has strong ties to the area as his grandparents, aunts and uncles still live there. Caroline hails from Chicago and today the couple call the city home.
The couple's love story sounds like something out of a romance novel. They met on the first week of college, in Indiana University in Bloomington, and they quickly became friends. It wasn't until two and half years later that Caroline plucked up the courage to tell Hugh how she really felt about him. Her romantic declaration came the week before she moved to Milan to study for a semester. True love knows no boundaries though and Hugh's parents helped organise a first date for the books. They bought him a plane ticket to Italy and they had their first date at the end of the semester on Lake Como. How dreamy!
After five blissful years, Hugh got down on bended knee. The special moment was made all the more magical as he proposed while on a trip to Florida with Caroline's family. Her loved ones played a sweet part in the proposal too. She reminisces: "As we were walking to dinner one night, we cut through a park and Hugh proposed under a banyan tree. I was so shocked, I took a second to soak in what was happening and then when I said yes, my family and his family jumped from the bushes and started to cheer." They toasted to their future as they celebrated by sipping champagne on the beach. Caroline says it was a "perfect night" and we completely see why.
"Chic garden party" was the theme of their wedding day and they chose a classic green and white theme with flowers being the star of the show. Saying "yes to the dress" is one of the most exciting elements of planning a wedding and Caroline actually had a dream about her perfect wedding dress a couple of years before she got engaged! She ended up finding the dress of her dreams, a floral embroidered La Premiere Bridal gown, once they were engaged. "It really set the whole theme for the wedding. It was modern, floral and regal." She topped off the look with a cathedral veil with delicate floral lace and a beaded crown. Her husband opted for a classic black tux with satin lapels and a satin trouser stripe while the bridesmaids wore elegant sage green satin gowns with varying necklines. Also tying in to the beautiful bloom theme was Caroline's mum who looked like movie star in her green flowery Sachin & Babi gown.
The Mr and Mrs-to-be enlisted the expertise of Kate Deegan of Perfect Details to plan their big day. The location was a top priority given that Hugh's family are based in Portlaoise and they had family and friends coming travelling from around the country and others jetting in from the US. "We knew the venue had to be close to both cities and an airport, which made Dromoland Castle’s location perfect. It was extra special that there were so many fun activities to take advantage of. We had golf and a history tour booked for guests and we know that others did horseback riding and archery."
Caroline and Hugh tied the knot on 13th June 2023 in front of 132 of their nearest and dearest. Florist Joeanna Caffrey created an awe-inspiring floral display for their garden party ceremony, mixed white blooms were placed at the ends of every row of chairs.
The couple wanted a gorgeous garden venue and an "emotional" ceremony. Their sunlight-filled outdoor ceremony held in the romantic walled garden at the five-star venue delivered on all counts.
Setting the right atmosphere with note-perfect music was another big priority. When it comes to walking down the aisle, finding a processional song you love is key to making a fantastic entrance. The bride and groom chose the Limerick-based Capriccio String Quartet for their ceremony and they performed a rousing rendition of a sweet Disney classic for their ceremony, Tale as Old as Time from Beauty & The Beast. "It was so romantic and magical walking down the aisle to a string quartet."
When it comes to planning a wedding, Caroline urges couples to stay true to themselves. She explains: "Plan a wedding that feels like you both individually and your relationship together."
Caroline elevated the dreaminess of her dress after the ceremony as she added semi-sheer detachable sleeves which sported dainty floral embroidery which perfectly tied into the theme of her garden party wedding.
The luxurious Clare wedding venue offers plenty of swoon-worthy spots for wedding photoshoots and newlyweds shared a fairytale moment at the lake as the sun set. No doubt the sunset-lit shots will have earned pride of place on the mantlepiece at home!
The reception took place in the luxe Brian Boru Hall. Situated in the heart of the castle, it boasts a striking Gothic entrance and gallery making it a truly memorable backdrop for a romantic banquet. Summer wedding cakes can be so fabulous and Caroline and Hugh opted for a sophisticated and sweet white three-tiered cake dappled with floral icing.
Award-winning Irish band The Mixtape got the party started at the reception. For their first dance as husband and wife, the couple chose a song that was deeply sentimental, Amazing Day by Coldplay. Dance played a sweet role in the early days of their relationship as they took dance classes on date nights. "Our first dance was very special because it was a song from one of our first concerts together, Coldplay, and we were able to work with a dance teacher to choreograph a fun waltz."
Dreaming of a gorgeous honeymoon abroad? Then you should definitely consider taking a leaf out of Caroline and Hugh's book. They enjoyed a sun-soaked honeymoon by hitting the Amalfi Coast, Athens and Santorini. Their verdict? "Italy and Greece were an absolute dream. We would definitely recommend!"
We would like to say a massive thanks to Caroline and Hugh for sharing their beautiful garden party wedding with One Fab Day and to Anna G Photography for the stunning images.
Are you tying the knot during sunshine season? We have so many Summer Real Weddings for you to pore over!
