Before they got engaged Paula spotted a UK barn wedding and admired its unique style, she mentioned it to Trevor in passing but thought nothing more of her remark. Eager to find the perfect Irish equivalent to tie the knot in, Trevor sourced Mount Druid, where he later proposed to Paula, before marrying in the same location in a colourful DIY celebration. A thoroughly charming couple, it's a joy to share Trevor and Paula's wedding today - photographed by Michelle Prunty Photography.
Meant to be from the beginning Trevor and Paula met on a night out while celebrating their birthdays (which just happen to fall on the same day.) Paula remembers..."I was celebrating with my friends and so was Trevor when the DJ called out a Happy Birthday to both of us individually. We happened to be standing beside each other at the time. We made some small talk and then we were separated, however Trevor spent the night looking for me, and on the last song of the night (Maniac 2000) he finally found me and asked me to dance. He plucked up the courage soon after to ask me out and brought me to see Elf! We've been inseparable ever since.
Knowing Paula loved barn style weddings Trevor decided to propose at their future wedding venue - Mount Druid. Paula recounts..."Trevor had planned the proposal with the venue so looking back at the time when we arrived to check in I could see the excitement in the owner's faces but didn't really think anything of it. We had a little BBQ and went for a walk around the grounds, we came across a tin barn and Trevor brought me in, it was little chapel. He joked “will we check this place out?” I couldn't contain my excitement when I saw it, it was just perfect."
Paula continues..."I sat down at the top of the aisle and said "well if you were to ever ask me this is the venue of my dreams…” with that I turned around and there he was down on one knee with a token ring and said "why do you think I brought you here, this is where we’re getting married..." and popped the question! I was speechless. When we got back to our yurt there was champagne waiting for us. We sat by the campfire in our own little world for the night. The next day we booked the wedding and then I was whisked off to Dubai for my beautiful ring."
Going full circle Trevor and Paula had their wedding ceremony in the chapel where Trevor proposed. The emotional humanist ceremony was fun and vibrant with music playing a big role.
Paula told us..."The music was so important to us and we had so many special friends sing and play for us which made the ceremony just magical. My best friend Claire and her dad sang me up the aisle to Rainbow Connection from The Muppets Movie. We had the honor of having the amazingly talented folk singer Enda Reilly. He was introduced to us by a mutual friend years ago and from the moment I heard him sing I knew I had to have him for my wedding so we were so fortunate to have him. Then we had three close friends Andrea, Edwin and Kevin who sang a song from one of our favourite films the Jerk “Tonight You Belong To Me” with a surprise trumpet solo from my cousin Andrew."
Putting their own stamp on the Mount Druid barn Paula DIYed all of the decorations with help from willing family and friends. Paula fondly remembers..."The whole wedding was so personal to both of us because of the effort that our friends and family put into it, from Trevor’s sister sitting up for the whole night cutting doilies for my invites, his mam spending hours hand crafting each tiny flower for the cake, to my sister’s endless advice - I couldn't have done it without them. My mam in particular was so supportive with all the crazy ideas I had, she never once said that’s too much work and anytime I told her of another idea that I was planning she was first up with advice and offering help with the endless internet searches for material."
Music again played an important role in the wedding reception with a close friend performing Trevor and Paula's first dance “‘Till There Was You” on the ukulele, which Paula told us is "a moment we’ll never forget."
After their wedding Paula and Trevor honeymooned in Hawaii and San Francisco. A huge congratulations to you both, and thanks so much for sharing your barn wedding with us all!
A big thank you also to Michelle Prunty for sharing her work with us. To see more from Michelle Prunty visit www.michelleprunty.com
