A beautiful Love Story and a Gorgeous Vera Wang gown, what more could you want from a wedding? Leanne Keaney captured the romance of the Mount Juliet wedding of Carrie and Anthony and we get a sneak peek...

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Nothing like starting off the week with a real wedding, and today's definitely won't disappoint - a beautiful bride, a charming groom, a fated love story and a wedding dress to lust after... It's the lovely wedding of Carrie and Anthony last Autumn in Mount Juliet.

Carrie hails from South Carolina, while Anthony is from North Dublin, but these two lovebirds found each other and last November made their vows and started their life together in the beauty of the Mount Juliet Estate in Kilkenny, and photographer Leanne Keaney was on hand to capture the magic...

Let's start at the very beginning, it's a very good place to start, (as Julie Andrews taught us) with how Carrie and Anthony met... "It's actually a pretty wild story... I was travelling Europe, but when my trip came to an end I wasn't ready to go home yet. Being out of funds after months of travelling, I came to Ireland to snag a quick job and keep going. I was working in a bar and was there for a Christmas party that I wasn't actually even supposed to be working, but I had asked to work because it was one of my favourite regulars having the party. Well, in walked Anthony, and straight up to me he walked and said in a very cool tone , "I'd like to have your number by the end of the night." Being one to never give out my number, I told him, "Good luck!!" I, however, was quite charmed because he didn't do the ol' 'send over the mate to find out if she's single and say my friend fancies you' thing... I think all girls know what I'm talking about here... Anyway, towards the end of the night when my shift was over, I was trying to slip out the back but went over to tell my favourite regular that I was leaving. Anthony spotted this straight away and was over like a shot to get my number! What could I do? I had to give it to him!

After a couple of months of dating, it was time for me to go back to the U.S. I went to NYC, and we decided to have no contact as a long distance relationship would be too much - especially after only a couple of months together. One and a half years went by with no communication. Then, one day I was walking down 5th Ave headed to work, and a little lady stops me to ask me for directions. She was clearly Irish, with a Dub accent, so I asked her where she was from. She said she lived in Castleknock, and I told her I used to date a guy that lived out there. She said, "Really? What's his name?" I told her Anthony Moyles thinking, what does it matter? Then her eyes lit up and she said, "Anthony Moyles? I know his mother! Do you have his number? Will you text him to tell his mother hello from me from New York?!" So, we were back in touch, and the rest is history..."

"The proposal was amazing! We were in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for holidays. It was New Year's Eve, and Anthony told me he would like to have a nice dinner, that night in one of the resort restaurants down by the sea, just the two of us. So we're walking towards the restaurants and the path comes to a divide; if you go left, there are the restaurants, if you go right, there is a private beach that we're not allowed on. Anthony goes right and says let's just see what's down here. We turn the corner and there is a little pathway down to the beach lit up with lanterns and candles!! At the end is a little tent set up and out steps our waiter! The table was beautifully decorated with bouquets of flowers, and the napkins were folded in huge lotus flowers. The waiter pulls out my chair, I sit and he takes my napkin to place it in my lap. Under the napkin was a little pressie!! It was a big box, so I still didn't get it. I open it up, and there's the ring box inside!! Well done, Anto!" Well done indeed Anto...We're very impressed altogether!

If like me, you're pretty happy about doing your make up yourself, but just a bit nervous for the big day, Carrie should give you a bit of confidence, she did it herself (a la Kate Middleton!) and if you're good at it, then who knows your face better? Carrie certainly looks picture perfect...

When choosing the palette for the wedding, Carrie opted for seasonality... "I went with Autumn colours - burnt oranges, deep purples, rusty reds, champagnes instead of white - with all candlelight and fairylights since my wedding was in November. I actually got my dress first, and then planned everything around my dress." And the dress, some of you eagle-eyed ladies will recognise as Vera Wang, purchased in Brown Thomas before they closed the concession. Utterly gorgeous is the term I would use, and suits Carrie so perfectly. Ladylike yet contemporary.

The wedding ceremony was performed in Clodiagh Church, a pretty little in the woods in Kilkenny. We actually featured as one of our most beautiful churches in Ireland, and this beautiful scene proves we were right. Could anything be more romantic than a wooded drive hung with glowing lanterns as dusk falls on an Autumn evening?

And within was just as romantic as outside, with the tiny chapel decorated with garlands of autumnal leaves and fairylights, and petals strewn on the floor...

Helping to set the scene and add dimensions to the intimate atmosphere, was a friend of the couple's, Bob O'Mally, who performed the music.

How cute! Carrie and Anthony's favourite moment of the day was actually just after the ceremony and before the reception..." I think it was after the ceremony when Anthony and I were in the car headed back to the reception. It was our first moment alone (well, minus the driver!) as husband and wife, and there was something really special about being next to him, soaking it all in and just enjoying it with him for a few minutes." Got to appreciate those moments of quiet and privacy among the madness of the day.

But before the sunset, Leanne Keaney captured the couple enjoying each other's company, and it's a testament to her ability as a wedding photographer, how relaxed and intimate Carrie and Anthony are...

I can see from these why Carrie and Anthony were so happy with their choice of venue in Mount Juliet, making the arduous venue search more than worth it as Carrie explained..."I must have called a hundred places and only three had my dates available. Mount Juliet was one, and I fell in love with it for the beautiful scenery, big trees, ivy covered house and the food there was amazing!"

And what about the reception? "We actually did two days to our wedding. The first, which was the ceremony, reception and dinner, was family and close friends only. The second was with everyone with a reception, dinner and party. Because a lot of people close to me couldn't make it over from the States (including my grandparents), Anthony did a surprise video for me where they each got on camera and sent me a little message during the speeches on the second night. It made the second night very special." Awwww...

So any wise words for brides planning the skip up the aisle? "Definitely, if you can, get your dress first and then plan everything else around it. Use it as a theme. There are so many choices when it comes to decoration, flowers, setting, etc. You can totally get lost! You want your wedding to be YOUR style and to say something about YOU. The dress that you pick is one of the best ways to see what style suits you best." And not forgetting the groom - it's his day too, but Anthony definitely made it his own, if this last pic is anything to go by (5 a-side anyone??)

Huge Congratulations to Carrie and Anthony - hope married life continues to be a fairytale love story...

And to wedding photographer Leanne Keaney, huge thanks for allowing us to feature Carrie and Anthony's romantic day in Mount Juliet. You can see lots more of Leanne's work over on www.leannekeaney.com