Sergio and Rachel's enchanting wedding saw the bridal style rulebook firmly put to one side, in favour of ebony shades and divinely dark details, that we cannot wait to share with you! Ballybeg House in Co. Wicklow was the perfect rustic venue to showcase inky colour accents, jewel-toned decor, set against twinkling candlelight and roaring fireplaces. Breathtaking bride Rachel's black custom-made gown had a fairytale train that will make you gasp, but that's just one of the unique details - there are many more! The Portrait Room was the talented eye behind the lens, and captured each magical moment for you all to swoon over below.
Rachel and Sergio, who are living happily ever after in New Jersey, first met online on the dating app Bumble."We got to talking and eventually met up for dinner for their first date. However, Sergio "foolishly" decided to have a light salad for dinner, after not eating much all day, and found it hard to keep up with his bride to be who was drinking her vodka sodas with ease. "We eventually left dinner after having a fantastic time getting to know each other, and head over to a local bar where we stayed until closing. Rachel managed to outdrink me and I fell victim to the effects of alcohol, while she was perfectly coherent. On our way to the car we shared our first kiss, it was magical, with tons of internal butterflies," says Sergio.
As for the proposal, Sergio proposed to the bride on her birthday in May 2021. "I had her blindfolded, pretending that I had a birthday gift for her. I put a small chalkboard around our dog Nate's neck with the message, “Mommy, will you marry my Daddy?” It was safe to say she said yes!"
Can all you dare-to-be different brides-to-be take a moment for Rachel's black wedding dress? The made-to-order gown glistened with dark embellishments which also adorned her endless tulle train and long sleeves, which added vampish detail and dramatic effect! The wedding bouquets were hand-tied and overflowing with natural foliage, in keeping with the bride's moody-meets-rustic wedding theme.
The beautiful ladies by Rachel's side on the day looked breathtaking in their deep jewel-toned dresses. A rich plum, green and navy were the chosen shades adding depth to the bridesmaid style along with their matching headpieces!
Here come the boys! Sergio, our dapper groom was dressed in a magnificent shade of blue, with a saffron tie. His groomsmen also donned three-piece matching suits but in a charcoal tone, paired with greenery buttonholes and beaming smiles!
Summing up the country house wedding in the Wicklow mountains, the couple described the day as overcast and moody, with hills that go on on on, into the clouds and sky. "A variety of organic greens and white tones were dusted everywhere and the string of lights lit a path to reveal 100-year-old giant trees. The style includedf tweed suits and velvet dresses, dark and heavy in nature. We had ferns and greenery everywhere, with light twinkling everywhere. There were plenty of shadows, stone and gravel, candlelight with fireplaces roaring, and a Medieval vibe in the ceremony room. It felt spiritual, connected, blissful, with a twist of darkness!" they say.
What made the day extra special for both Rachel and Sergio wa being surrounded by the people who they considered to be their 'soul pod'. "Everyone at the wedding had a special genuine connection to us and also with each other. We all got along having a fabulous time, this made for wonderful energy the entire day!"
Although the couple had never visited Ballybeg House before, they followed their gut feeling and booked it! "The actual venue itself is a place that touches your soul, not because there’s a wedding, but because it is just THAT special and breathtaking. I left Ballybeg House changed, and I don’t think that that’s a usual feeling for venues," says Rachel."We were far away from home, but couldn’t have felt more connected to it and the people there. The grounds, the venue, and the atmosphere itself are a total representation of what we love so dearly about Ireland. The rustic buildings, the stone, the fireplaces, the country setting, it was pure magic. You cannot find that in America. We got to spend a full three days with the best people in our lives, IN IRELAND. Can’t ask for much better than that!" say the newlyweds.
When it comes to wedding advice, they say: "Be unapologetic in everything you do and want for your day. Let it be a genuine representation of the couple being honoured and celebrated. Roger Kenny from The Portrait Room and Chris Mooney offered drone footage as an add-on for the wedding video, I highly recommend brides and grooms consider adding in a drone. Capturing the day from a bird's eye perspective was alluring!"
While the couple were busy with their portraits, the guests were greeted with an upbeat musical session full of toe-tapping, dancing and pints of creamy Guinness!
The wedding decor, perfectly suited for the moody theme, used the natural charm of the venue and enhanced it with flickering candlelight, nestled in bunches of fresh foliage garlands on each table.
The newlyweds added some extra personal touches to the wedding day, such as creating a signature Dark & Stormy cocktail along with customised sparklers and matchboxes!
The wedding cake, sat exquisitely on wooden slices, surrounded with antique gold candles and fresh ruscus and eucalyptus. The three-tiered beauty was ided naked style and garnished with plump seasonal berries and topped with a personalised wooden cake topper.
For the honeymoon Rachel and Sergio plan keep the celebrations going by travelling to the azure waters of Portugal for their honeymoon. We wish them a fantastic holiday!
A very special thank you to our wonderful couple and The Portrait Room for sharing such a unique and inspiring wedding day with One Fab Day! There are lots more photos to pore over in the gallery below!
If you enjoyed this charming country house wedding, visit Ireland's best country house venues right here!
