It's a universal truth that a year travelling the world will make or break a relationship; if your friendship or lovestory survives the highs and lows of midnight beach parties in Thailand and missing passports in the Andes, then it's set for life. Thus it was for Mary-Kate and Will, who tested their college romance with a trip abroad that only served to seal the deal. Fast-forward to today and we're delighted to share their story and the beautiful day in Lisnavagh full of authentic vintage elements (the dress!) when they celebrated with everyone they love. Every picture contains a smile, so you know it was a truly wonderful day captured by Therese Aherne...
Will and the adorable Mary-Kate met during a time when most of us our sleep deprived and dizzy with caffeine - the last weeks of the final year in college. Will and Mary-Kate exchanged glances over their books in Trinity College library and the Trinity Ball then provided the perfect opportunity for the first kiss.
Just a few months later they found themselves travelling together, seeing new places, at times almost killing each other, but ultimately getting to know each other and falling head over heels.
After returning home from their travels, Will and Mary-Kate moved in together and it there that Will decided to propose... "Will dropped to one knee on the doorstep of our first apartment in Percy Place in Ballsbridge, Dublin. We had spent a long day moving out, arguing among boxes and dust so there was a bit of a surprise when Will still felt the urge to propose."
For their traditional country house wedding, Will and Mary-Kate took a relaxed approach. They chose wonderful suppliers, let them do their jobs and made an effort not to stress about the rest. As Mary-Kate wisely told us "be decisive, and focus on getting the right people there… no one really cares what shoes you have on!"
Decisive from the beginning, Will and Mary-Kate viewed just two venues and once they'd met the team at Lisnavagh House in Co.Carlow they knew it was the one. "Lisnavagh offered the right mix of flexibility, atmosphere and setting. It’s not too stuffy or intimidating... We felt it would work come rain or shine. Also William and Emily Bunbury just gave us the right feeling – they were so open and welcoming."
Fortunate with a stunning sunny day, Will and Mary-Kate celebrated with a casual drinks reception in the Lisnavagh gardens, before nipping off with photographer, Therese Aherne, to take advantage of the beautiful weather and grab some time alone.
Mary-Kate's gorgeous silk dress is a vintage find, which she bought from the lovely Marie-Therese in The Goddess Room. "Marie-Therese, Evan and the team were so creative… Their shop in the Westbury Mall is a treasure trove."
All of the girls' bouquets were put together by Fussy Peacock whilst Mary-Kate's aunts and neighbours rallied together to do the ceremony and reception flowers.
So how did Mary-Kate and Will manage such a seamless, easy breezy day? Although Mary-Kate and Will did all of the planning themselves, on the day itself they enlisted the help of Natasha Mann from Honeydew Events who ran the whole day for them. This might not seem like a top priority expense, but it is one we would highly recommend to ensure you can thoroughly enjoy your day without worrying about little things such as: managing the catering, dealing with the band or any of the smaller things that might go askew.
For their honeymoon Mary-Kate and Will spent two weeks in the Greek Islands followed by a week in Istanbul. Congratulations to you both, and thank you so much for sharing your day and your story with us all.
A big thank you also to Therese Aherne for sharing her photography with us, to see more from Therese pop over to www.thereseaherneweddings.com
After returning home from their travels, Will and Mary-Kate moved in together and it there that Will decided to propose... "Will dropped to one knee on the doorstep of our first apartment in Percy Place in Ballsbridge, Dublin. We had spent a long day moving out, arguing among boxes and dust so there was a bit of a surprise when Will still felt the urge to propose."
