Real Weddings: Dearbhaile and John’s woodland dream

THEY MET

We matched on Tinder back in 2015 and had our first date at Dakota on South William Street in Dublin.

THE PROPOSAL

In June 2022, John had the whole proposal planned. He was going to pop the question at the stunning Slieve League Cliffs on a Saturday morning. But, as luck would have it, the weather had other ideas. It poured rain all weekend, and it just wasn’t the ideal moment to get down on one knee.

Instead, after we arrived in Donegal and settled in by the fire watching our favourite show, he decided to ask me then and there. I was completely shocked. I honestly couldn’t believe it! What made it even more special was that he had already booked me a nail appointment for the next morning, and my grandparents happened to be staying just down the road, so I got to share the news with them in person.

That Saturday evening, John had arranged a tasting menu dinner at Harvey’s Point — the same place where my parents got married. It truly was the most memorable, meaningful weekend, filled with love and thoughtful details.

THE WEDDING ATTIRE

I found my dress at Pearl Lane in Galway, and honestly, I could have said ‘yes’ to every single gown in their collection! Being 6ft, it was amazing to try on so many different styles and see what worked best for me on such a special day. The staff there were incredibly helpful and made the whole experience so enjoyable. After my experience, I’d highly recommend them to anyone looking for their perfect dress!

John’s suit was custom-tailored at Abrahams on South Anne Street in Dublin city centre. My dad has been a loyal customer there since the ’70s, so we knew Tony and Declan would create the perfect green suit for John. The final result was flawless, and I couldn’t recommend them enough for anyone looking for a high-quality, personalised suit.

THE CEREMONY

There are three stunning spots on the venue grounds where you can hold your ceremony, but the woodlands was by far our favourite. It felt so different and special, a magical setting that made the moment unforgettable. My dad is a farmer in forestry, so choosing the Woodlands also felt like a heartfelt nod to him and our roots.

THE RECEPTION

Our reception took place at the front of the house, where the venue set up lawn games for our guests to enjoy, and it created such a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The staff, along with our wonderful wedding coordinator Leslie, were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the entire day. One of the highlights was having the speeches organised at the front of the house before dinner, which flowed perfectly and made the whole evening feel seamless.

THE ENTERTAINMENT

Our band for the night was The Suitcase Trio, and I honestly couldn’t recommend them enough. They had everyone on the dance floor all night and were incredibly versatile. It felt like they could play just about anything!

One of my favourite parts of the evening was our incredible content creator, Sara from Muse Wedding Content. I first met her at another wedding and knew right away I wanted her to be part of ours. She went above and beyond and captured every special moment while connecting so naturally with all our guests. The photos and videos she took were amazing, especially the fun clips of everyone using our Gra phone (audio guest book) and our temporary tattoo station, or photos of everyone wearing our McCarthy sunglasses. 

THE DECOR

The venue supplied 90% of the decor; I brought a few things for our guests and tables. 

THEIR TOP TIPS

Book Sara from MUSE Wedding Content! We first saw her in action at a friend’s wedding and were blown away by what she created for them. From the start, she took the time to understand exactly what I wanted captured on our day and even chatted with me about trending video ideas I might want to try. We were absolutely thrilled with everything she did, and she worked seamlessly with our other suppliers and brought such a fun, relaxed energy. She’s an absolute gem and truly a must-have for your wedding. 

THEY WISH THEY HAD

Better weather, but sure that is Ireland for you!

THEIR BEST MOMENTS

Everything! It was the best day. 

THE FIRST SONG

Our band sang You Got the Love because John let me have that song, and I let him have our entrance song as Rock and Roll Star. 

THE CREW

Dress/Veil: Pearl Lane. Cake: Cinnamon Cottage. Make-up: Sarah Keough. Groom’s Suit: Abrahams Tailoring. Entertainment: The Suitcase Trio. Flowers: AC Bloom. Content Creation: Muse Wedding Content. Mother of the Bride’s Dress: Suzannah London.

See more photographs from Dearbhaile and John’s wedding in the gallery below.

Photography: Emma Russell Photography.

Want to see your Real Wedding on IMAGE.ie? Email shayna.healy@image.ie with the subject line ‘Real Wedding’.