While many couples have had to change their wedding plans due to Covid-19, Emer and Edward are one of the few who never considered postponing - they were going to get married on October 24th 2020, regardless of what obstacles were thrown in their way! As a result, their engagement was full of uncertainty, but they did have one small piece of luck - four days before the wedding, they learned that they could up the guest list from 6 to 25! As you'll see in the imagery by Memento Photography, their stylish lockdown wedding at Cloughjordan House was totally magical, and, as Emer says, convinced them both that "this was always how it was meant to be." Full of Autumnal inspiration, including a stunning colour palette, this is such a special real wedding, we can't wait for you to see it!

Emer tells us that she first met Edward when they were both attending Dublin City University. "We became best friends from working together in the Student’s Union – Ed was SU president and I was the Communications officer. It was there that sparks flew and when our tenure was up, we got together and never looked back."

Edward popped the question on the hill of Howth on an otherwise ordinary Sunday. "There’s a spot we always go to when we need some perspective and sea air and when we reached it, Ed was down on one knee," Emer tells us. "It was perfect. He designed the ring himself, a three-stone diamond with an emerald in the middle. We then went for a celebratory pint and home to several bottles of bubbly, while we called our family and friends. One of the happiest days we’ve both ever had. So simple and yet so perfect."

The couple tell us that they always wanted their wedding to be, "an Autumnal weekend for the soul. Our guest experience was paramount - we wanted to invite everyone into the ultimate expression of who we both are, as individuals and together, while ensuring they all felt relaxed, at ease and all the love. We wove all aspects of ourselves into the day from our love of nature, the magic colours of Autumn, Irish traditions and culture, creativity, words, music, our African adventures and our Dublin home away from home."

Emer tells us that, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the couple's top priority became themselves and their families. "We always said we were going ahead regardless. We had this phrase 'even if it’s just the two of us in a field'. Very quickly, all the trimmings fell down our list of priorities and we focused on the core elements – getting married, our parents and closest people being in attendance. We also held onto the idea of us looking like our most authentic selves on the day with a photographer to capture it all, in whatever guise it took. Everything else became extras."

Unfortunately, this meant waving goodbye to some wedding elements they were really looking forward to including in the day. "It was crushing to let go of the African Gospel Choir, our original bigger venue, the five-piece band, DJ, the three-tier cake, etc. but we always knew that none of that would make or break our day." Emer says. "We knew that Covid, despite the struggle, could never take from the meaning and the magnitude of our wedding day, and we feel so grateful to have been armed with that insight and courage."

Cloughjordan House wasn't the couple's original wedding venue, but, with the couple dead set on keeping their wedding date, it became the perfect spot! "When we had to prepare for just six people (us and our parents) and no venue would take us, Cloughjordan still offered to host dinner for us. Four days before the wedding, the government allowed cross county travel for weddings, meaning we could have 25 people. So with only a few days to go, we miraculously got to invite our immediate family and bridal party. I remember falling to the floor in tears when the government made that announcement - it meant more than we’ll ever be able to describe."

The couple's reception was held in the beautiful, rustic Asador at Cloughjordan House. "It was perfectly designed for our now bigger, yet still intimate gathering. When we viewed it (the week of!), we were transported to our travels across Africa - the wood, the open fires and rugged atmosphere just embodied our story in that space. In that very moment, it finally felt like everything fell into place, like maybe this was always how it was meant to be."

The couple tell us that having those additional 18 guests meant the world to them. "I still remember calling my bridesmaids a few days before and asking them if they were busy on Saturday?!" Emer recalls. "Can you imagine?! We had already said our goodbyes to so many of these people, who had all gifted us something in advance, presuming they wouldn’t be there on the day. But then, they could attend! We savoured their physical presence in every moment of that day. I’ll never forget seeing my bridesmaids all in their dresses for the first time, they looked like an African sunset and I remember thinking, 'wow, to think I might never have witnessed this'."

I mean, they're a pretty breathtaking sight, in fairness!

Emer tells us that the love the couple felt from friends and family members was overwhelming at times. "It honestly felt like we had 1000s of guests on the day. We always joke that we wish we had known it was going to feel so full, despite people not being there physically - it would’ve saved us a lot of stress in the run up. People rang us consistently, lit candles in churches, baked cakes, sent flowers, shared amazing videos of love and support, which were played on the night, and even gathered outside my home house to see me off in the cold while wearing masks. My mam has said that she never felt so supported in anything in her life! We will both never have the words to describe the power of community that made that day bigger in every sense."

Emer's outrageously stunning bridal look comprises an Alexandra Grecco wedding dress (the Sienne gown), with sleeves co-created with dressmaker Anna O Alterations, and a flower crown handmade by Yvonne from All Occasions, Portlaoise.

The couple also tell us that having such a small wedding meant they had, "the most mindful day. We both savoured each moment, never felt rushed or hurried, or under any pressure. We knew we’d have loads of time with everyone so we enjoyed each part of the day like it was the only part of the day. When we were getting our photos in the Monastery in Roscrea, I remember not wanting to leave the forest. We were having such a good time and under no pressure to get to the venue and 'see people'. Our top table was also just us and our parents, precious time and conversation we would never have experienced had we had the 200 person do."

We are absolutely here for the level of detail this couple included in their big day, particularly the customised hand sanitizer featuring an illustration by Helen O'Higgins.

Emer and Edward's advice for engaged couples is to, "take back control and focus on the elements of the day that will happen, regardless of what the world throws at you. Focus on your love, your commitment, the community that surrounds you, celebrate your personalities and passions, your people. You will be so consumed by each other on the day, the external stuff won’t matter. Ask yourself honestly what truly validates a good wedding, the answers are all in there, underneath those ideas of grandeur that became the norm. Let love win and try and overcome all your fear that you won’t have a 'perfect' day. The imperfections and how you deal with them actually define your wedding in the end."

Emer also advises couples to lean into the historical significance of getting married in the middle of a pandemic. "One of my favourite quotes that gave me strength is, 'crisis means to sift - a perfect time to let the extra fall away so only the important will remain.'"

Thanks so much to Emer and Edward for sharing their stylish lockdown wedding with us, and to Memento Photography for providing the beautiful imagery! There are more images in the gallery below, if you fancy having a click through.