Over the weekend, we shared Chris & Anna's tear-jerking wedding film (make sure to give it a watch!). And we need to warn you, their real wedding might require you to reach for the tissues again. Let's just say the chances of Chris & Anna ever crossing paths were slim, and the story that eventually lead to them meeting, well, it's pretty incredible (like movie-worthy incredible!).
The couple came all the way from the US, for a destination wedding in Offaly’s fabulous Gloster House and Gardens with their friends and family by their sides (which meant a bigger guest list than Chris might’ve once thought possible). Despite bad weather which caused their vows to move indoors, every last detail of their day, was elegantly executed, with stunning florals, romantic style, and the most beautiful tablescapes. And as you'll see, photographer Haley Ozier (who's also the bride's cousin!), caught every moment to perfection...
"How did we meet? Well, it was the luck of the Irish!" Anna recalls. "It all started on Cinco de Mayo 2011. This day was also Chris's 25th birthday and the day that would change his life forever. Chris was adopted and never knew his biological family growing up. On this one night, he happened to tell a complete stranger at a restaurant that he was adopted from Easley, South Carolina (something he never really does) and that it was his 25th birthday that day."
And this is where Chris' story takes a dramatic twist. "They small-talked briefly and parted ways. Two weeks later, he happened to be at this same restaurant and the same women walks in and heads straight to him. She goes on to say, 'I don't know how to say this, but I think I know who your biological mother is.' After several seconds of silence and processing, she goes on to explain that only one boy was born at the small Easley Hospital on his birthday, and that one boy was adopted. He only knew his mother's last name and once mentioned out loud, both of their mouths dropped." Anna continues.
"This woman happened to be best friends with his mother. After a few weeks and a DNA test, he met his mother and two half-sisters and eventually his biological father as well. He remains close to his biological family to this day!"
And this is where Anna comes in - this story just got better and better once Chris got to know his biological family. “Chris asked his "new" sisters if they knew any red-headed girls. They did! It just so happens that I was best friends with one of his sisters in high school. Around this same time, I moved back to South Carolina from Virginia. I had called his sister so we could go out and catch up. She asks if she can bring her brother (which was puzzling!) but said she would fill me in when we met. We all went out and I met her brother. At one point during that night, he turns to his sister and said; "I will marry that girl one day." Five years later and we did, in fact, get married! Holidays are great because he has such a big family now... that I have known longer than him!” What an incredible story!
Dresses this pretty need all hands on deck for maximum fluff-ability.
The simple calligraphy and glass display box make for a handsome photo set-up. This is a lovely way to display floral details for the 'morning of' photos.
Chris asked Anna to marry him with a pretty memorable proposal, "Each year I get Chris season tickets to his favourite college football team for his birthday. So naturally, we got engaged at a Clemson football game. In October of 2015, during college game day and Hurricane Joaquin, Chris proposed. He had made a sign for game day but during one particularly loud group chant, he switched the words for the proposal and got down on one knee...in the mud!"
Chris and Anna describe their wedding day as intimate and romantic, “It was set in an old world Irish estate full of charm and elegance. There was an endless number of hallways and secret little rooms, and nooks. The home holds so much charm and rich history, it was just the perfect scene for the Irish wedding of our dreams.”
Check out Chris & Anna's wedding film to watch highlights from their ceremony, and read their moving story about Anna's father, and how walking his daughter up the aisle was even more special and emotional than usual, for him and his family.
The couple say their priority was to have a relaxed day, with lots of Irish twists, “Our motto the whole time was just to have fun! We didn't want to be overly stressed and wanted our guests to have a great time and experience something new! We wanted to follow Irish traditions for the true experience (food, drinks, music, ceremony, location) and we did.”
Planning a wedding from afar can be risky, but for Chris & Anna, it all paid off. “We picked the venue without seeing it in person until the wedding! Although we had been to Ireland the year before, our venue just recently began hosting weddings. The estate had the perfect combination of history (previously a nunnery that is over 300 years old) and beauty. The pictures were stunning and we knew we couldn't go wrong with picking this venue. Once we saw it in person it was even better. The garden and house is exquisite and immediately transports you back centuries. It had the charm that we were going for and the current owners were beyond amazing and welcoming."
For Anna, coming to Ireland for her wedding had added sentiment, "I tied my grandparents’ wedding rings to my bouquet. My grandfather passed when I was 17 but my grandmother (almost 80!) made the trip across the pond for the wedding! Before this, she had never been outside of the US. It was great seeing her check off something from her bucket list while also being a part of our wedding!"
The couple had to move their ceremony indoors last minute on account of the weather, but they still got to make use of this beautiful floral arch for the pictures.
Different shades of purple made each of the bridesmaids' dresses unique, but they blended together perfectly.
The grounds of Gloster House are seriously stunning!
Touches of eucalyptus add chic greenery to the elegant setting.
Anna says her cousin helped to give their day lots of personal touches, “My cousin did a lot of great DIY projects for the wedding. She painted an Irish blessing that we displayed as well as making our signature cocktail signs. She even did the calligraphy for our invitations.”
Lindsay Moynagh of House of Hannah created this stunning nature-inspired table-settings.
The grey candles look so beautiful in the gold candlesticks, and paired against the rich hues of the florals.
So, what advice would Chris and Anna give to other couple's planning their big day? Stay true to what you want for your day, "Don't be afraid to break tradition, incorporate a new tradition, or just plan something crazy if that's what you want...just do it! This is where the magic and uniqueness of weddings happen and this is the part you will remember forever. Weddings are stressful leading up so you should enjoy it as much as you can! Have fun with it!”
Chris and Anna, thank you so much for sharing your incredible story with us! It was so touching, and we wish you all the best in the future. Big thanks to photographer Haley Ozier for sending this one our way - and make sure you watch Chris & Anna's film too, by Justin Peay Productions.
