An Irish university romance turned life long love.

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Originally from the USA, Candace chose to do a year of study abroad in Galway, where little did she know she'd meet her future husband Andrew. Smitten from the offset, Candace and Andrew stuck together through long distance and transatlantic phone calls, before finally settling together in sunny San Francisco. To celebrate their love Candace and Andrew threw a wedding party, combining American and Irish traditions and a whole lot of smiles and fun. Danielle O'Hora travelled to America to capture the celebrations and we're so glad she did...

Sunny California Wedding By Danielle O'Hora Photography | onefabday.com

Gorgeous bride Candace tells their love story..."I was living in Galway, doing a year abroad. Andrew had just graduated from NUIG and had started working as a civil engineer. On a rainy December night, we were both invited to a party—neither one of us wanted to attend, as it was such a miserable night but we were talked into it by our respective friends. Once there, we started chatting and hit it off. At the end of the night, Andrew asked for my phone number and said “I’m not sure how to spell your name—will you type it into my phone?” Only later did I realize he had no idea what my name was and it was a clever trick to find out!""

Candace continues..."Over the next few months, we became pretty inseparable. Andrew had an old Punto, and he would drive us around the west of Ireland, showing me parts of the country I never would have had a chance to see otherwise. At the end of the year, I went back home to Southern California to finish my degree. We did long distance for the next year & spent a lot of time on the phone - usually about an hour a day! I applied and got into a Master’s program in writing in Galway, and went back for a year, at which point we moved in together. We then moved to New Zealand for a year, and then eventually settled in San Francisco, where we have lived since 2008."

Finally fully together Andrew proposed during a hike in the hills north of San Francisco. Candace of course said yes and was surprised with a bottle of champagne. She remembers..."Andrew had sneakily packed a picnic, complete with champagne. I proposed about a dozen toasts, I was so excited!

With no set style of wedding in mind Andrew and Candace visited numerous venues before realising what they really wanted. Candace explains..."The more we looked around, we realized that having one big room where everyone could mix and mingle was our top priority. We’d visited the Log Cabin fairly early in the process, and the more places we visited, the more we liked the cosy, rustic vibe of the Log Cabin. The wagon wheel light fixtures & wooden walls added some visual interest and allowed us to save some money on the decorations. We also loved the view - you could see the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge as well as the Golden Gate Bridge. You really knew you were in San Francisco, while still having an outdoorsy vibe."

Basking in the Californian sun, Andrew and Candace planned welcome drinks the day before the wedding for everyone to get to know each other and then the following day said their vows outdoors surrounded by all those they love.

In an effort to combine cultures and traditions Candace and Andrew planned an after party at a local bar to make sure the fun kept going into the early hours. The following day everyone was then invited to chill at a picnic in the park.

Signature cocktails were also served - namely an “Irish Ginger Beer’d” (whiskey & ginger beer) and a San Francisco 75 (a take on a French 75, Candace's favourite cocktail). Yum!

Candace offers some sage words of wedding planning advice..."The best advice I got was to not wait to have an “ah ha!” moment when looking for a gown, a venue, a ring, etc. You make so many decisions planning a wedding, that if you expect to have a transcendent experience with every decision, you’ll make yourself crazy! Instead, just find things that you like, and don’t obsess about if there’s a better option out there. Also, don’t neglect the “going around to tables” duty. It can feel a little formal and stuffy, but it’s a fool-proof way to make sure you speak with all the guests who have gone to quite a bit of effort & expense to celebrate with you."

Huge congratulations to you both and thanks so much for sharing your wedding with us all! A big thank you also goes to Danielle O'Hora for sharing her work with us. To see more from Danielle O'Hora visit www.danielleohora.com