Laid-Back Love in the City: Julie & Paul

Today's real wedding is a fantastic story of love conquering all, most especially the doubts of the couple themselves. Anyone looking at these wedding photos can see Paul and Julie are head over heels but it took them quite a while to come to that realisation and get together. I can only imagine all their friends were exasperated with this couple who were clearly mad about each other but somehow wouldn't just admit it. Their story is true movie love stuff, so it's a joy to share their gorgeous wedding from December 2019, with imagery by Memento Photography.

Julie tells us that she and Paul first crossed paths completely by chance in Kinsale, "Paul and I met at the Kinsale Sevens Rugby weekend. He was there with a group of his rugby friends and I was with my friends. We just really clicked straight away but the path was not the smoothest. We were friends for a long time as we thought there were too many things that made it hard (we called it ‘the list’!!) – there is a 16 year age gap, he has 2 (gorgeous) kids and was just coming out of serious relationship and we lived in different countries but something keep pulling us back together. We always kept in touch and he was just always there for me – we just always felt like the other's half!"

We are both self employed (Paul runs a baby swimming franchise business called Water Babies and I have a stylist training school called Stylefish). He supported me in starting and growing my business, and in 2011 was there with me when I went on Dragons Den. Eventually, when he was seeing someone else, I realised how much I loved him as I realised I was losing him and told him so! On a trip to Shanghai, we debated ‘the list’ and tore it up! That’s 6 years ago now.

Looking back, we realised we both totally knew it was meant to be in Kinsale but I think sometimes life has other plans for a while, and that’s ok too. It makes us appreciate what we have for sure and also makes you realise that most of the time life’s risks are worth taking.

We're suckers for bows on bridal shoes!

After making it official, Paul pulled out all the stops when it came to proposing, "Paul took me completely by surprise on Christmas Day 2018 in front of all my family in Laois (his mum was with us too), he had spent months making a video with all the people I love talking about us as a couple. On the video he also had a chat with Emma from Dublin City Hall telling me he had booked City Hall for our day and he had my all time favourite jewellery designer Ruth Tomilson on the video sharing the story of my ring and wishing us well! At the end, he got down on one knee and asked me, at which point I was bawling."

"I used to work for a short time as a wedding planner myself and also now working in fashion I just wanted the complete opposite of what you usually experience in both industries! We wanted simple, laid back and a day that just felt like us. We both love to travel, love cities and food and unexpected surprises and we figured mapping out a fun day meant fun, unexpected elements would all be part of it!"

Cake at the cocktail reception? Yes please! We love this idea, a great way to keep bellies full and save on cake waste.

How cute is honorary wedding guest Polo, the miniature labradoodle?!

After their ceremony, the couple and their guests set off on a mini tour of Dublin city! "We walked from City Hall to Hogan’s Pub with our Ukulele band and guests, which was great fun! We also went and had a pint together, just us two in a little old man’s pub on Wicklow Street (that an American couple bought us!) and we got a great picture sitting between some people having a coffee on South William Street! We also wanted our guests to have fun. Our wedding invites were little maps of Dublin and where we were going to next!"

We have to take a moment to chat about the epic style of this pair! Julie tells us more about how she choose her beautiful, city chic bridal look, "I guess working in fashion, my dress and how I styled myself was special to me but not because it cost a lot! I got so much enjoyment in the months leading up to the wedding visiting vintage shops, and really really wanted to find a dress that didn’t cost the earth and that I loved. It’s so easy to spend lots of money on a wedding dress (I had seen brides spend thousands and just not feeling like themselves on the day) but that just wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to have elements of the people I love with me and have a great story about all the bits I wore! My shoes were the most expensive from Emmy London a beautiful bridal shop in Fulham. They cost £300. My dress was £100 from Abigails Vintage Bridal in the UK. Hair accessories were my best friends and my veil was my Mum’s."

Paul also looks incredibly stylish in his check suit from Louis Copeland & Sons!

The couple describe the vibe of their wedding as 'relaxed, fun and full of love', and their top priority was to create a day that would give all their guests a good time, "We chose to have the theme of ‘a day out in Dublin’ for our day so wanted our guests to move around and experience the best of the city as many of our guests travelled from Scotland, Jamaica, UK and New Zealand."

And after that great wander round the city they met their pals in Hogans for a pre-dinner pint or two and a bit of a sing-along! Followed by another short walk through Dublin 2 to the Pig's Ear to wine and dine with their nearest and dearest. They then headed off for a boogie in House on Leeson Street. Sounds like great fun!

Julie & Paul's best piece of advice for other couples? You do you! "I think it’s so hard not to get swept along in what you ‘should’ do but my biggest advice having now been through it all is the people you love don’t care so do you! The day should reflect you two only. Really spend time at the start getting clear on what you both want and stick to it. Also, we had 50 people and I just think the smaller the circle the more intimate and meaningful the day. Those closest to you only want what you want."

The couple added a cosy atmosphere to their reception space at The Pigs Ear with candles, mini bottle brush trees, and winter foliage.

After their wedding, the couple took in a spectacular multi-stop honeymoon in South America, "We flew to Buenos Aires, spent one week there, then got the ferry to Uruguay, hired and car and spent a week driving along the southern coast stopping in little B&B’s along the way. We came back to Buenos Aires and spent one month driving all around Argentina from Mendoza (wine country) all the way down south, through Chile in parts to Puerto Natales. We flew back to Buenos Aires and home! It was epic! I definitely recommend Argentina for a road trip."