Bursting with colour and creative handmade details...

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Bernie and Michael are a couple who aren't afraid to do things their own way. Their second date was a trip to Paris, their proposal took place on their couch and their wedding was brimming with auction props and second-hand shop delights. In the run up their day, Bernie and Michael had lots of concerned guests and raised eyebrows because they were choosing to break with traditions (I'm sure more than a few of you know that feeling!) But when the day finally arrived, all doubts disappeared and every lucky guestwas super impressed with the creativity and vision of this lovely couple. Once you see the images by Rubistyle you'll understand why...

Bernie and Michael's Retro Mount Druid Wedding By Rubistyle | onefabday.com

Bernie and Michael met back in 2008, and immediately knew it was love at first sight. Just a month later they found themselves on their second date, in Paris. Now that's what you call romantic. But when you know, you just know. A match made in heaven, they've been an inseparable duo ever since.

Michael chose a rainy Sunday morning to pop the question, which he quickly brightened up with a not so classic proposal. Bernie explains, "I was sitting on the sofa in my pyjamas with dog drool all over my top (we have a very sloppy Newfoundland) feeling a bit worse for wear and grumpy. I heard Michael go out the front door and get something from his car and come back into the house. Then he came into the sitting room, dramatically kicked a pizza box across the floor (it was a Sunday morning after all!) and got down on one knee in front of me handing me a box and asked me to marry him. I was in such shock I started protesting about the house being messy and me looking rough... But of course I said yes!"

Just four days later Michael and Bernie found out some equally exciting news - that they were expecting their first baby. Nine months down the line Michael and Bernie were proud parents to little baby Bláithín, and, impressively, well on their way to planning their gorgeous vintage-inspired barn wedding.

Bernie and Michael both decided they really wanted to do things their way, in a style that reflected their own personal tastes rather than what was expected of them or what is the traditional done thing. Lots of planning and trips to vintage stores across the country ensued, but despite all the planning it's inevitable that something will go wrong...

Bernie explained what happened... "Having spent months minding the documents and making sure they were transported safely from home to our venue, we managed to forget to bring the paperwork to the Church! Panic ensued as I stood outside the church trying to entertain my one year old, my Dad was pacing up and down like a lunatic and my two sisters were trying to hide me as late guests arrived! Some of the most beautiful photographs were taken at that time so what seemed like a disaster was a blessing in disguise."

Disaster averted, and panic over, Bernie joined groom Michael inside the gorgeous church, for a traditional ceremony with music from the Dublin Gospel Choir. "Walking down the aisle to My Life My Love My All by Dublin Gospel Choir was really special. Walking back down the aisle as husband and wife and recognising faces in the crowd was so fun."

After the ceremony Michael and Bernie took some time to stroll around the scenic surroundings of their venue, taking in the momentousness of the occasion (and catching their breath a bit I'd say) before heading over to the barn to join their guests.

Capturing this moment, and all the moments that followed was of huge importance to Michael and Bernie, and they were thrilled with all the portraits photographer Amy captured."We wanted candid shots and after meeting Amy from Rubistyle we were convinced that she could deliver what we wanted. We were right. She was super to work with and we have the most beautiful photographs that captured the day perfectly."

Bernie's retro fabulous dress was another important element. Bernie was sure she didn't want something overtly traditional, and so was delighted to find this tea length design by Lou Lou Bridal, complete with button down detail and a sweet cap sleeve.

Michael opted for a similarly alternative look, which he found in Ted Baker and online from Mrs. Bow Tie.

Inside the barn Bernie went wild with colourful pom poms, homemade bunting, DIY light up marquee letters and lots and lots of original vintage details.

"It was important to us that we were involved in all elements of the wedding and this included using a lot of props we had collected in auctions and antiques shops over the years. We used vintage suite cases, glass jars and jugs. We spent 18 months scowering charity shops at the weekends for tea pots for the flowers. I travel a bit with work and I stopped in every charity shop in every small village I passed through up and down the country. We collected china plates and made cake stands for the floral centre pieces. I made 200m of bunting which almost drove me to distraction but looked just as pretty as I had hoped."

Bernie also made her own DIY vintage table plan which she made at the last minute. "I had used a vintage suitcase to make the original one but a few weeks before the wedding a friend gifted me a pretty grey suitcase which had beautiful paper lining. I took my original table plan apart and remade it using the new suitcase and I love how it turned out!"

Can't forget a few table top activities for the kids....

Overall Bernie and Michael pulled together this vintage/DIY barn extravaganza just perfectly, but in the run up there was quite a few raised questions as to why the wedding was held in a barn, rather than a more traditional venue, and why things weren't kept to the cookie cutter standard. If you're having similar problems, Bernie has some sage words of advice: "We had concerned looks from elderly relatives when we mentioned a barn for the reception. There were people who could not get their heads around the idea of no top table or a group first dance. Some people could not imagine mismatched, floral bridesmaids dresses, no suits on the men and a naked wedding cake ... But we didn’t let that deter us. We did it our way and we loved the result."

Congratulations to you both Bernie and Michael and to little baby Bláithín, and thank you for sharing your wonderful day with us. Wishing you all a lifetime of happiness x.