From the thatched pub venue and warm family vibes to the traditional Irish music by The Chieftains today's real wedding by David Duignan is the perfect example of a wonderful traditional Irish wedding. Denise and Jimmy's wedding day is brimming with love and charm and we couldn't be happier to share it with you today.

As many traditional Irish love stories go Denise and Jimmy met in a pub. Denise recalls..."We met just over five years ago in a pub in Westport. I gave Jimmy my number but he put it into his phone incorrectly. So I never heard from him again and he never heard from me. I was in Matt Molloy's where he works one night and we got chatting and we soon learned what had happened. He made sure to take my number down properly that time and we went on our first date soon after and the rest is history. I lived in Dublin at the time so it was a lot of driving up and down and seeing each other at weekends and so on but a few years ago I moved down to Westport and we never looked back!"

To propose Jimmy brought his girl to her favourite place ever. Denise gushes..."The proposal happened on an island in Clew Bay called Cullen Beg, on the very top of the hill there, my favourite place in the whole world. Jimmy knows I love this place and whenever we visit the island we always walk up to the top as there's a panoramic view of all the islands as well as of Croagh Patrick. We went to the island that day and as usual we walked to the top with our little dog Django..."

continued...."Little did I know Jimmy had asked his soon to be best man to drop a picnic hamper in our spot with some wine and vegan treats (I am vegan). I saw the hamper and knew something was up, but before I had time to question it Jimmy was down on one knee proposing with a beautiful antique ring he had picked out in Delphi Antiques, Dublin. I said "Yes", we had our picnic, then we went back to Westport and had a few celebratory drinks with our friends and family that night in Matt Molloy's pub."

As Jimmy is the son of the famed Matt Molloy of The Chieftains traditional Irish music was always going to be a big part of Denise and Jimmy's wedding day, beginning with The Chieftains playing as Denise walked up the aisle. Denise recalls..."Jimmy's dad is a member of the Chieftains so having him play as I walked up the aisle was very special. Having friends and family play music on the day was really special and meant so much to us."

After their ceremony Denise, Jimmy and guests all celebrated at Molloy's before heading on to Paddy's Thatched Bar in the small town of Tourmakeady on the shores of Lough Mask.

Denise recalls how they found their idyllic venue..."We had looked at one or two hotels but we weren't getting a feeling of this is special or this is the one for us. We wanted something with character and I really wanted something that was beside the sea. (I didn't quite get the sea but a lake was the next best thing!) We were driving one day from Leenane to Westport and drove through Tourmakeady where we decided to stop at Paddy's and have a look. It happened to be a really beautiful day and we just stood in the garden looking across Lough Mask at the mountains and we just had that overwhelming feeling of "this is it!""

Denise continues..."We knew there would be a few obstacles and that we would have cut work out for us but once we had seen it all other venues paled in comparison. Luckily the day of our wedding turned out to be an even more beautiful day than this one so all our guests got to stand in the garden with a drink or canape in their hand, the music session playing next to them, looking across Lough Mask at the mountains just like we had done on that day."

On the day Denise and Jimmy made the best of the sunshine and arrived by boat - an unexpected surprise for all their guests. Denise remembers..."I really loved arriving by boat to the venue with my dad and my new husband. Seeing everyone standing out in the garden by the shores of Lough Mask cheering us on was really special. As we arrived I could hear a chorus of "Row row row your boat" and it made me so happy as I knew everyone was having fun in the sunshine and that's all I had hoped for."

The rest of the evening was then filled with lots of good music, food and drinks, including home made elderflower cocktails. A huge congratulations to you both and thanks so much for sharing your beautiful wedding day with us all!

A big thank you also goes to David Duignan for sharing his work with us. To see more from David Duignan visit www.djd.ie and if you really loved this wedding keep an eye out for Denise and Jimmy's wedding film coming up soon...

The Wedding Details

• Ceremony: St. Mary's Church, Westport
• Pub Reception: Matt Molloy's 
• Main Reception: Marquee attached to Paddy's Thatched Bar
• Bridesmaids dresses: Ted Baker
• Shoes: Dune
• Flowers: Tom Brawn Florist & Sarah Power Florist
• Groom(smen)’s suits: Hugo Boss & Next

• Accessories: Aldo, New Look, Debenhams & Etsy
• Stationery: Laura Baird (artist)
• Make Up & Hair: Ann Scott & Lauren Beirne
• Wedding Bands: Murtagh's Jewellers
• Ceremony/Reception Music: The Chieftains, CODA, Dave Munnelly, Peter Molloy & friends
• Photographer: David Duignan