Everyone dreams of blue skies for their very special day, and our real wedding couple, Naomi and Paddy, were blessed with a crisp winter day in December for their wedding. Not only were they blessed with a cloudless sky, but a blanket of fresh snow was sprinkled on the charming grounds of Boyne Hill House Estate, Co. Meath. Against this backdrop we see berry-coloured blooms and bridemaid style, plentiful seasonal elements and a sentimental first look photo. Photographer Olga Hogan was on hand to capture all of the magical moments, so take a look at her beautiful photos below...
Naoimi and Paddy, our lovebirds, first met at UCD college back in 2010 where they were both studying sciences. "We were just friends until we reached the third year and got the opportunity to embark on a student exchange to Melbourne together. Paddy had been given strict instructions by Naomi’s boyfriend at the time to look after her while they were away, a promise he intended to keep. But having lived in a hostel with Naomi for two weeks he realised that was going to be impossible. Paddy managed to keep his secret crush to himself for the six months while they lived in Australia. However, the very last night before returning home, he ended up confessing his feelings and well… the rest is history!" As for the proposal, Paddy got down on one knee, lakeside by the Shannon River, a very special spot for them both!
Without having to even look twice, we can tell Paddy is sporting an oh-so-stylish Benetti suit! The three-piece navy suit is paired with a cool grey tweed waistcoat with a touch of rouge thanks to his tie - the perfect winter groomswear attire.
The talented artistry skills behind Naomi's glowing bridal makeup were those of Juliet Morrow, one of our favourite bridal makeup artists who created an effortlessly natural look for our radiant bride.
As for breathtaking bride Naomi, she looked enchanting in her Justin Alexander gown. Her wedding dress showcased an off-the-shoulder neckline, with delicate embroidery and sequins adorning the gown, catching the light beautifully. She accessorised her look with delicate pearl earrings and hair jewels, along with a winter bouquet full of seasonal berries and blooms, finished with a dusky pink ribbon!
Oh, how we love a first look moment! This photo trend is becoming increasingly popular among couples as an alternative to walking down the aisle for a variety of reasons, but for winter weddings it can be helpful to get those gorgeous couples portraits done when the light is at its best in the early afternoon.
Elements that were important on the winter wedding day, were ensuring guests were having an amazing time! "We both always said we just wanted everyone to enjoy the day and have a good party! We wanted a relaxed atmosphere which Boyne Hill House was perfect for. One of the first things we decided was that we would do a Humanist ceremony. It allowed the perfect blend of personal and intimate touches with some humour and jokes sprinkled in," they say.
Here comes the... flower man! Let us introduce you to Dean, the bride's brother, who travelled all the way home from Canada to play the very important role!
We love swooning about the special moments that take place throughout a couple's wedding day. From personal touches to special moments and particular memories. "Having all our friends and family present was really the highlight. Also having close friends of ours sing the ceremony music was very special. We wrote our own vows for the ceremony and being able to watch back the video of our vows and the speeches is so lovely," they say.
Naomi and Paddy chose the symbolic handfasting ritual for their romantic winter wedding ceremony. In a nutshell, hand-fasting, often known as "tying the knot," is a symbolic unification rite in which a couple stands face-to-face as their hands are knotted together.
Is that a ski we see? Let's just say it wasn't used for getting around, but a fun and boozy photo op instead!
Boyne Hill House Estate is nestled in the heart of Boyne Valley, and the couple tells us what made the venue the one: "Some venues we viewed seemed a bit formal for us, but from the minute we walked into Boyne we felt at ease. It had an indoor ceremony room, a good amount of on-site accommodation and funky interiors in the main house. It seemed the perfect mix. We chose a winter wedding as we are both realists and didn’t fancy risking a summer wedding and rain for an outdoor ceremony, it was a total fluke we got the snowy conditions on the day and got to enjoy the stunning grounds."
The vibe of the day was full of fun in a relaxed setting - the dream! The venue was twinkling with Christmas lights and of course plentiful festive cheer. The beautiful bridesmaids wore silky smooth burgundy gowns to match the gentlemen's ties, socks, seasonal winter blooms and beautiful table wedding decor that we will touch on next!
Each table has a rustic touch of fresh eucalyptus and romantic burgundy candles. The table names, which were a clever DIY, were themed by the couple's favourite gins and whiskeys. Instead of opting for a traditional sweet wedding cake, a drool-worthy cheese wheel cake stood tall, garnished with flowers and fruit. The perfect alternative for savoury lovers, and also a great option for evening food.
The couple left us with worthy wedding advice for those in the midst of wedding planning. They say: "Get your bridesmaids to try on dresses after any alterations, we had a minor mishap on the day! We would highly recommend doing a first look with your photographer - it really put us at ease and set a lovely tone for the day. If possible, avoid having expectations about how it’s going to be, just go with the flow and enjoy every minute!"
A very special thank you to Naomi, Paddy and Olga Hogan for sharing this wonderful winter wedding day with us all at One Fab Day! There are more gorgeous images to pin and pore over in the gallery below!
Did you fall in love with this Christmas wedding? Check out our favourite festive wedding cakes, our guide to winter wedding florals and winter wedding stationery right here.
