Destination Wedding in Ireland at Mount Juliet
Love, laughter, and a touch of Irish magic – that’s the recipe for the dreamiest destination wedding that unfolded amidst the enchanting landscapes of Ireland at the stunning Mount Juliet. Picture this: a picturesque estate straight out of a fairytale, a couple madly in love, and a team of wedding wizards led by the incredible Tara Fay Events and flowers by Neillstrain Floral Couture, all captured through the lens of the talented Under the Veil photography. It’s not just a wedding; it’s a symphony of elegance, beauty, and a dash of that unmistakable Irish charm. So grab a cup of tea or a pint of Guinness and join us as we embark on a virtual journey to this whimsical celebration that perfectly blends sophistication with a touch of Gaelic whimsy!
The Proposal:
Esias proposed in the Mayfair Townhouse Hotel under the guise of my birthday on 3rd December 2021. I thought I was just going out for a birthday dinner and was taken completely by surprise in our current hometown of London. The engagement was followed by dinner at one of my favourite restaurants Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay and lots more celebrating with friends and family.
What led you to decide on your venue?
We wanted to get married in Ireland and our wedding planner, Tara Fay had suggested Mount Juliet so went to view it first. I had my heart set on Virginia Park Lodge but it was fully booked (and this was definitely a blessing in disguise). We also went to see Cashel Palace but it was hard to visualise as the hotel was under construction and Luttrellstown which was magnificent but accommodation was an issue. Mount Juliet ticked all the boxes we had in mind and was the perfect choice–proximity to Dublin, accommodation for all guests on site, food quality etc.
What was the inspiration behind your wedding theme?
I have always dreamed of a winter wedding and it was brought to life via candle lighting, colour scheme and materials. The white florals with an abundance of greenery, the velvet within the bridal party attire and navy and gold accents throughout all added to the warm, wintery vibe
What was your favourite detail from the day?
The flower arrangement over our top table–the room felt like a fairy-tale as a result of the intricate and magnificent floral arrangement. It was the most stunning arrangement I’ve ever seen and added a real wow factor. Candles, candles and more candles–the room felt so warm and inviting as a result of the lighting. The his and hers cocktail theme added a nice personal touch. In particular, the Moscow mule cups really added to the Winter vibe and cocktail theme of the whole 3-days.The photobooth was a great addition and added a really fun element to the photography.
Did you undertake any DIY projects?
We designed our invitations with Mount Street printers. Mass Booklet Artwork–the groom drew the artwork on the mass booklet which was a lovely surprise.
Talkto us about your dress?
My dress was from Sassi Holford on the Fulham Road, recommended by a friend after I’d described what I was thinking for my wedding dress. My Mum, my sister and I did a two-day wedding dress shopping trip in London where we went to 5 different boutiques – all very different! Sassi Holford was by far the most enjoyable boutique and we just had the best experience there from start to finish. We visited Sassi on he first of our two days and I wanted to wait until the Jenny Packham appointment before making my final decision, but I knew I’d fallen in love with my dream dress. From appointment to final collection, the process took about 8months.
The groom knew he wanted a velvet jacket from the start. We considered Louis Copeland in Dublin but decided London was better. The groom and groomsmen visited Moss Bros and were very disappointed so we’d heard the bespoke option in Suit Supply was great and visited their shop in London. The experience was impeccable from start to finish and the groom, groomsmen and father of the bride all got bespoke tuxedos from the one tailor, John. From appointment to suit the process took about 6-8 weeks.
Bridesmaids–this was by far the most challenging aspect of the clothing search given I had 4 very different bridesmaids in terms of skin tone, height etc. I did a lot of research for bridesmaids and initially had a top and skirt idea in mind. We tried Folkster as it had been recommended to me by friends and my sister and I fell in love with a dress almost immediately. We ordered the dress in a variety of sizes and had all bridesmaids sorted within 2 weeks.
Where did you find your key vendors?
Our wedding planner, Tara Fay, was instrumental in providing nearly all the vendors. Any additional vendors were personal connections namely the florist and the stationery provider.
Favourite moment / memory from the day?
Bride:
The morning getting ready with the girls Walking up the aisle with my dad and seeing Esias’ poking his head around the florals.
The band.
The late night sing-song
Groom:
Entering the reception room.
Surprise song from bride.
Any funny stories from the day?
The bride forgetting everything–most importantly the official wedding papers and the 250 Moscow Mule cups.
When the mother of the bride’s dress split (funny in hindsight, maybe not for her on the day!).
Advice for other couples planning a wedding?
Don’t sweat the little things, we left the church to the wrong song but no one notices. Keep smiling, embrace the day and take in every minute as it goes by so quickly. Take a break between the drinks reception and the ceremony for just you and your husband, have a drink and a chat in peace and quiet as your guests are getting settled.
Anything you are really glad you did? Or wish you didn’t do?
Really glad we did an event the night before rather than a formal rehearsal dinner for a select few. It was a lovely way to welcome everyone and it helped calm our nerves slightly getting to see everyone ahead of the big day.
Really glad we did a traditional church service with personally selected music, readingsand prayers.It made that part of the wedding all the more special for both the coupleand our guests.
Really glad we did our Day 2 in a different location entirely; it injected a new lease of life into everyone and was a welcome change of scenery.
Really glad we said no children and kept the wedding to adults only except for theflower girls and page boy, children would have added a different dimension.
I wish we had taken more group photos outside with the backdrop of the Manor House at Mount Juliet as inside felt quite chaotic with everyone trying to take photos/ circulate to the drink/canapes.
Groom wishes he had spoken earlier in the evening; it was difficult to balance getting speeches out of the way but also making sure guests weren’t hungry
Vendors:
Wedding Planner: Tara Fay Events
Photography & Video: Under the Veil
Flowers: Neillstrain Floral Couture
Wedding Dress: Sassi Holford
Day 2 dress: ASOS and top Anna Campbell Bridal via Ivory and Pearl
Bridesmaids: Folkster.com
Make-up: Christine Lucignano
Hair: David Cashman
Groom and Groomsmen: Suit Supply
Church Music: Meav
Band: Superfly via ALR
Lighting: Gorilla Design
Linen: Total Event Rental
Crockery: Whitehouse Event Crockery
Bride Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Groom Shoes: Loake Shoemakers
Flower girls & Page Boy: John Lewis
Invitations: Mount Street Printers
Wedding Gift List: The Wedding Shop