What bride wouldn’t feel like a princess when celebrating her marriage at a gorgeous, historic castle set in the lovely rolling green hills of Ireland? Fionnuala arrived at the church chauffeured by her father in his classic Bentley, and looking so beautiful in her amazing Carolina Herrera gown. A string quartet added to the air of tradition during the ceremony and cocktail reception. Gorgeous flowers and a lovely three-tiered wedding cake (made by Fionnuala’s Mum) were standouts at the reception. For friends and family, it was most certainly a night to remember. Congratulations to this charming couple!
Fionnuala + Gavin | March 9, 2011 | County Leitrim, Ireland
The wedding
Our ceremony was a spiritual one in a catholic church, in the village I grew up in. Our celebrant was my Dad’s cousin. I travelled to the church in a vintage white Bentley S2. There was a string Quartet ‘Bohemian Strings’ playing classical music including Wagner’s bridal chorus and Mendelsshon’s Wedding March. There were beautifully scented floral displays and my bouquet was made from lily of the valley and stephanotis. My Dad made the holder for the mass booklets and the bench we sat on throughout the ceremony, from antique pine with our initials engraved on it. We gave special consideration to our prayers and reflection.
My Dad chauffeured us in his 1936 bullnose Morris-Cowley, six miles down the road to the reception. It took place at Lough Rynn Castle Ireland, the ancestral home of the Earl of Leitrim. The House and Garden date back nearly 200 years. The gothic character of the architecture together with the traditional walled garden and converted French Stable yards provided a truly magical setting for our wedding.
The drinks reception took place in the spectacular Baronial hall, where champagne and canapes were served, while the String quartet provided the background music. We used a large bare tree to display the seating arrangements in the Baronial hall. The floral theme was carried through to the reception room, with grand floral hydrangea, herb and rose displays in martini glasses as centerpieces, with rose posies, rose quartz crystals, tea lights and slender pink taper candles at their base. My Mum made the 3-tier traditional fruit cake and decorated it with layers of hand made roses.
Fionnuala’s dream wedding dress
My dress was a hand-made couture gown by Carolina Herrera. It had a simple silhouette made gorgeously unique by ribbon accents in front of the bodice made from beautiful Mikado silk fabric. It was slightly longer in back to give just enough trailing effect, and a slight “flutter effect” at neck, with draping grosgrain ribbon at the bodice. We used the same grosgrain ribbon to tie the mass booklets together! Inside the dress, there were several seamless layers of 100% silk English net that makes it really light but with a lot of movement at the same time.
How she felt in her wedding dress
I felt amazing, special, fortunate to wear such an exquisite dress on my wedding day. I am a keen follower of fashion and always dreamed of having a couture wedding gown…a showstopper! When I saw the dress I fell in love with it and when I tried it on, I had to have it…the material was so beautiful, it was a real fairytale dress The matching Peter Langner veil really set it off. My Mum, sister and the staff of the bridal boutique were blown away when I emerged from the dressing room. It was a special moment.
Why Fionnuala decided to sell her wedding dress
I decided to sell the dress because I didn’t want it to sit in my wardrobe at home when somebody else could have the opportunity to wear this amazing dress, and attain it at a very affordable price. It is after all as good as new, so many people thought it was amazing. I hope someone else will get as much pleasure from wearing this dress as I did.
