Real wedding couple James and Sinead are both Dubs but they chose one of the most elegant wedding venues in neighbouring Meath to tie the knot. The couple wanted their day to be really relaxed and they celebrated becoming husband and wife at the uber-romantic Tankardstown House. They tied the knot in May 2022 and their wedding was all about celebrating love, family and friends, and having fun. It also included the prettiest line-up of pink bridesmaid dresses ever! Re-live the magic of their Tankardstown House wedding day below, you'll be swooning over the images lensed beautifully by Ivana Milchanska.
Right, first things first, let's get to know our Mr and Mrs a little bit more. James and Sinead actually grew up together as they met during school. Their friend groups were close and sparks eventually started to fly between them. They got together at their Debs in 2009 and the rest, as they say, is history. Sinead says: "Our friend group has stayed close too so we’ve been lucky enough to share so many trips and memories all together."
While the couple is from Dublin, James picked a spellbinding location in Kerry to pop the question. He got down on bended knee along the stunning coastal stretch of Dún Chaoin pier in Dingle. Sinead didn't see it coming at all! "Despite being together for years he still managed to catch me by surprise!" she admits.
Sinead was a picture of elegance wearing a halter neck gown with a fitted silhouette from De Stafford Bridal which she accessorised with drop pearl earrings from One Dame Lane and she added a pop of colour with her pink suede heels by REDValentino.
The wedding flowers included sweet hues of pink making it the romantic hue that tied the whole day together.
The couple exchanged vows at Rathfeigh church in front of 140 of their nearest and dearest. The journey to the church was a nice and chilled-out affair with family and friends driving the bridal party over.
The couple wanted their wedding day to have a really relaxed vibe so everyone could enjoy themselves. Judging from the pictures from the ceremony, the guests couldn't wait to get the party started! "The atmosphere was electric from the moment we got into the church and the energy was great all weekend," Sinead reminisces.
Music plays such an integral role in creating a magical atmosphere during a wedding ceremony and the couple's ceremony ended on a real high note. "Our singer sang Dreams by The Cranberries as we left the church which will always remind us of the day."
Just like mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses, tonal bridesmaid gowns always make a stunning statement while allowing bridesmaids to express their own personal style. Sinead's bridal party was pretty in pink wearing dresses from Norma Kamili and Shona Joy in a range of shades including blush, bubblegum, cerise, and fuschia pink. "The girls all picked out their own dresses and looked incredible!" Sinead exclaims.
When they were planning their wedding day, it was their number one priority to be surrounded by everyone they loved. "From growing up together our families and friends know each other well so we knew that once everyone got together it was bound to be a great weekend. Many guests made a huge effort to travel from all over the world to celebrate with us which we really appreciated."
When it came to finding their dream wedding venue, they wanted a venue that wasn't too far from Dublin as the majority of their guests were travelling from there. Tankardstown House was the first venue the couple viewed and they called off the search immediately after. They fell in love instantly.
Situated in peaceful countryside in the heart of the Boyne Valley, the 18th-century Manor House absolutely oozes elegance. With 80 acres of magnificent woods, courtyards, walled gardens and parkland, it is a truly romantic venue for a wedding reception.
Reflecting on why they knew it was "the one", Sinead says: "The venue’s grounds, the beautiful glass Orangerie and their reputation for food were the main selling points for us!" Once more the pretty pink hues sprung to life in the reception room with the elegant floral display. There's no two ways about it, their Tankardstown House wedding oozed sophistication and style!
"Both of us having a set of grandparents present to celebrate with us was special," she shares. One of the most memorable moments of the night came courtesy of Sinead's grandfather as he stole the show when he got behind the grand piano at the venue. "My grandad spent weeks practicing a piece called This is My Lovely Day. It's definitely a memory we’ll cherish forever!"
Sweetly, their wedding cake table was designed by one of their great friends, Megan Robinson, and she created a gorgeous trio of one-tier cakes that were flecked with edible gold.
When it comes to giving advice to engaged couples, Sinead says: "Don’t stress the small stuff, we didn’t spend time on little details and it really didn’t matter. The people, the food and the music made the day for us!" After tying the knot they jetted off to Greece soaking up the sun in Milos and Santorini.
They decided to sidestep the tradition of the first dance. "It didn't feel very ‘us’. James is definitely more of a chatter than a dancer on a night out!"
We would like to say a massive thank you to our real wedding couple Sinead and James for sharing their Tankardstown House wedding with One Fab Day and to Ivana Milchanska for the beautiful wedding photos.
Did you adore their incredibly elegant venue? Check out the Best Country House Wedding Venues in Ireland.
