So many of our couples now move abroad to live and work, that organising a wedding in Ireland from abroad has become one of the top questions we get asked. It's not the easiest of tasks, it means delegating lots of little decisions to your family and friends, and putting together a dream team of wedding pros who can bring it all together just as you dream of. But the heady emotion and intense joy of a homecoming wedding are well worth it. Today's gorgeous couple Sophie and Nick not only organised their wedding at home from their base in the US but also combined it with a move back to Europe. They set themselves a tough challenge but these two took it all in their stride and ended up with a magical homecoming celebration they will never forget. Weddings by Kara captured this beautiful marquee wedding in Co. Cavan (which is giving us some serious "Father of the Bride" vibes in all the best ways!) which is just a joy to share today.
One Fab Day recommended stationery supplier Hannah Blake Art hand-painted a beautiful bespoke stationery suite for the couple featuring the bride's family home. What a dreamy keepsake.
Sophie and Nick are a pair of jetsetters - they met on the other side of the world and endured almost a year of long-distance love before they could be back together as Sophie explained their story: "Nick is originally American, and I am Irish, but we met living and working in Shanghai, China. We had both viewed the same apartment when we decided to grab dinner together. From there, we enjoyed a fun few months together enjoying everything China had to offer until Nick had to move back to the states for law school."
"I continued living in Shanghai and we managed ten months of long distance until I got a visa to move to the States. We lived and worked in Colorado and Georgia for seven years before moving closer to home a month before getting married." The couple were living in the US for a number of years but enjoyed trips back to Sophie's family homeplace in Cavan, where Nick got to know her family. It was on one of these trips that the proposal plan started and little did he know that from the beginning his surprise had been thwarted...
Sophie told us the story. "Unfortunately for Nick, my Dad got overly-excited and told me that Nick had asked for his blessing earlier that morning. For the four months lead up to the proposal I had to pretend like I didn’t know. Nick proposed in the local woods in Virginia while out walking the dogs, and I could finally admit I knew. We both had a good laugh." Oh Dad!
For the wedding, Sophie wanted to return home for the ceremony and celebration. Her family home is so picture-perfect, it's no surprise. "The wedding felt like a homecoming. After living abroad for almost eight years, it was incredibly special that my parents hosted the entire wedding at our family home where our friends and family had shared so many fun memories. Having my close girlfriends from school and cousins all staying at the house which we had done so many times over the years as kids made it really special."
She looked utterly sensational in her off-the-shoulder column wedding dress which she accessorised with a sparkling statement headband and a cathedral veil. With a radiant makeup look featuring creamy bronzed eyeshadow and pink lipstick, Claire Barry Hair Stylist was behind her beautiful tousled waves.
Lucky guests were treated to an array of delish treats!
Her bridesmaids looked so pretty in pale pink dresses. The groom opted for an immensely suave suit with the star of the show being the deep blue velvet blazer while his groomsmen kept things sharps in black suits. This house is so idyllic, it would be hard to find somewhere more magical, sweetly the stunning stationary by Hannah Blake Art paid tribute to it.
When it came to the wedding details, Sophie and Nick decided to be relaxed, with an overall look and feel - great food, lovely atmosphere and the amazing hospitality of her family home as the priorities. There's an elegant rustic glamour in the decor with incredible flowers and soft lighting enhancing the beautiful location and creating a magical atmosphere.
So having gone through the "planning a wedding from abroad" challenge, what advice would Sophie and Nick give to brides and grooms planning their day? "Take moments to yourself during the wedding day to soak it in. It goes by way too fast."
As the couple had recently moved from the US to London and only just started new jobs, they decided to take a little break and get settled into their new (married) life together before setting off on their travels for a honeymoon. There's plenty of time to plan it all out now, so I'm sure whatever this pair of world-travellers choose will be epic.
Thank you so much to Sophie and Nick for sharing their oh-so-beautiful marquee wedding with us all, it was a true treat. Hope all is going well in your new home on this side of the water. And huge thanks to Weddings by Kara for sharing her gorgeous images.
Planning your dream day? Check out our archive of Real Weddings and follow One Fab Day's Instagram for even more inspiration.
