Continuing our week-long swoonfest over winter weddings, this real wedding is serving up glamour, romance, and moody, old school Hollywood vibes. And let's just say, I am into it! It took Lisa Marie and David both an IRL and an online encounter to finally make a date of it, but once they did, sparks flew. Cut to a few years and one very cute dog later, and this stylish pair planned their utterly cool city wedding at The Westin Hotel in Dublin. Leaning into the opulence of the venue and pairing it with a blend of edgy and elegant throwback decor, we can't get enough of the red roses, the abundance of candlelight, the killer wedding party style, and how the bride was greeted in song as she walked up the aisle - all documented by Ivana Patarcic Photography.
Lisa and David say they were originally introduced five years before their first date, Lisa obviously left a lasting impression, but she has no recollection of the encounter, “Skip ahead five years and I meet her online,” explains the groom, “breaking the ice by telling her we had already met. I asked her out on a date, we met in Blackbird Rathmines for a few drinks. And after many Pinot Grigios, the spark was instant.”
Lisa's dad was clearly as floored as we are over her show-stopping wedding day look!
Let's take a moment please for this next-level mother of the bride look! We can see where Lisa gets her style from.
David and his main men headed into the bar for a tipple or two ahead of the vows. Don't they make one jaunty line-up?
Clearly this pair are both fans romantic winter vibes! David tells us about his festive proposal, “Lisa thought she was simply getting a Christmas present of The Meters on vinyl, but on Christmas Eve as we exchanged presents. Lisa turned to open her vinyl and when she turned back, I was down on one knee with a ring. Pretty sure we both cried.”
I am entirely obsessed with this couple’s initial vision for their wedding day, “Casablanca meets Laurel Canyon in the 60s. Champagne by candlelight surrounded by roses and Motown classics. The beauty of the day was magnified by the breathtaking décor of the 19th century Banking Hall. Our friends all sang along to ‘Tiny Dancer’ as Lisa walked up the aisle and it was PERFECTION.”
We love the classic pairing of baby's breath with red roses, an old school combination that adds a little drama to the room with the candelabras.
The couple's friends and family singing Tiny Dancer together as Lisa walked up the aisle has to be up there among my favourite real wedding moments ever!
Despite the grand setting, these two were eager to keep their celebration intimate. “Our first rule was that no more than 100 guests would be invited. It was tough to stick to this but we did and it was worth it in the end, every guest was part of our close families or our second family of amazing friends.”
The couple’s two-year-old shih tzu terrier mix played an all-important part in the day, “Having our little pal Frankie there was very special, even though he was terrified. We made him a groomsman. The ceremony was slightly delayed as Frankie needed a last minute blow dry Since we forgot his tux, a velvet bow tie was borrowed from a man at reception.”
Lisa’s stunning bridesmaids, dressed all in white, played a blinder on the day. “My six bridesmaids were and always will be, life savers!” she gushes. “My maid of honour had a framed print made for us of the front of the Westin with some lyrics from ‘Tiny Dancer’ written above it.”
This laid-back pair have some words of wisdom for other couples, “Don’t over think anything, or immediately panic if something goes wrong*, because regardless, everyone will have a ball including you. *Even if the dog forgets his tux and your veil falls off as you’re announced for dinner.” Duly noted!
The couple fell hard for the luxurious backdrop of The Westin for their city wedding, “The Banking Hall blew us away the minute we walked in. We viewed the place thinking it would be way out of our budget, once we realised it was doable, it was booked. The Presidential suite was the icing on the cake. We have never stayed in a hotel room before that had two floors within it, a dining room, office and steam room, the decadence was next level!”
The couple also loved the idea of having all the festivities under one roof, “It being a winter wedding, not having to leave the hotel between the ceremony and reception was a bonus.”
We’ve heard of tables named after books, bands, and movies, but this one is pretty unique! “David’s one request to have the table themes be wrestling factions,” Lisa tells us. “For example, the head table was called ‘The Hart Foundation’ after his favourite wrestler, Bret Hart.”
The couple jetted off post-wedding for some sunshine, “We flew to South Tenerife, then got a cab to North Tenerife to our hotel, then travelled to south Tenerife for every excursion. It was funny and in retrospect we were in the ‘quiet’ part of the island, full of locals and incredible restaurants. We went whale watching at sunset and we climbed a volcano. Pretty much the best holiday we’ve ever had (bar Disneyland)! We stayed in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Iberostar Grand Mencey for five nights and we’d highly recommend it.”
What an achingly lovely celebration! Thanks so much to Lisa and David for sharing your day with us, and to Ivana Patarcic Photography for sending this gorgeous bash our way. See more of her fabulous photographs in the gallery below.
