Adorably, real wedding couple Robert and Laura have known each other since they were just 11 and 12 years old. Attending the same school they became friends and grew up together. Oblivious that they were the perfect match Robert and Laura continued studying together in college, and it wasn't until their final year that they realised they were totally, madly in love. Such a pleasure to share their story and Lissanoure Castle wedding by Jonathan Ryder Photography with you today...
Laura recounts their charming love story..."Robert and I went to school together, we met when I was 12, and he was 11. We became friends around the age of 14, and romance didn’t blossom until our final year at university when Robert and I lived two streets away from each other."
Best friends, and each others other halves Robert proposed (unexpectedly) on Christmas Day 2013. Laura remembers..."We had been out on Christmas Eve with mutual friends. Three people asked if we had any plans of getting married. I was trying to save Robert from getting embarrassed, and vehemently denied this, as we hadn't discussed anything and I didn't want him to feel pressurised. Little did I know when we took his Dad’s dog out for a walk the very next day, that he would get down on one knee and pop the question. Needless to say there were floods of tears all round, but my Dad still complains about “the day his Christmas dinner was late”!!"
Traditionalists at heart Laura and Robert chose to have a traditional church ceremony and castle wedding reception - tweaking certain elements to make the day their own. Laura explains..."We had a fairly traditional wedding, but didn't feel constricted by traditions that didn't suit our tastes. For example, neither of us are big champagne drinkers, so for the drinks reception we had a selection of cocktails and beers instead."
Originally dreaming of a Scottish castle as her wedding venue, Laura decided to instead stick to a castle near home - and add some Scottish elements in the form of traditional Scottish kilts.
Again, tweaking traditional elements Laura and Robert decided against a wedding guest book and instead DIYed a fingerprint tree - downloaded and printed from One Fab Day. Laura told us..."We weren't fussed on a guest book. I never know what to write in those things without it sounding cliched. So Robert offered to do something different. He created a fingerprint tree (from a One Fab Day template!!) and it’s now hanging on our wall and I love it. It’s a beautiful reminder of all the people who shared our special day with us."
For their honeymoon Laura and Robert spent four nights in San Francisco, before flying to Waikiki beach, Hawaii for eight nights. Sounds amazing! Huge congratulations to you both, and thanks so much for sharing your story and Lissanoure Castle wedding with us all.
A big thank you also goes to Jonathan Ryder Photography for sharing his work with us. To see more from Jonathan Ryder Photography visit www.jonathanryderphotography.com
The Wedding Details
- Reception: Lissanoure Castle
- Ceremony: All Saints Church
- Wedding Dress: Ivory & Pearl
- Bridesmaid's dresses: Pronuptia Bridal
- Veil: Visionary Veils
- Bride's Shoes: Moda in Pelle
- Bridesmaid's Shoes: Next
- Flowers: Budding Designs
- Groomsmen’s Suits: Tweedy Acheson
- Accessories: Argento
- Cake: The Little Cupcakery
- Cars: Perfect Day wedding cars NI.
- Wedding Favours: Donation to MS Society
- Stationery: Invitations by The Lighthouse Drawing Rooms / Orders of service from Antrim Printers
- Makeup: Shannon Carruthers
- Hair: Lorraine Hume
- Wedding Bands: The Breakfast Club
- Catering: Posh Nosh & Tricycle Trading
- Reception Chairs: Leaf Designs
- Photography: Jonathan Ryder Photography
- Videography: Carl Higgins Media
