Real Weddings: Laura and Nicholas’ day of entertainment at Tankardstown House

THE PROPOSAL
We had just finished building our forever home – a project that took much longer than expected, thanks to the pesky pandemic – so our first Christmas there felt especially meaningful. On Christmas Eve, as we celebrated our new beginning, Nick got down on one knee… and the rest, as they say, is history!

THE WEDDING ATTIRE
My bridal mini was by Ukrainian designer Milla Nova, one of the beautiful designers we’re proud to feature at Love Ellie. Being surrounded by stunning wedding dresses every day, I knew that when it came to my own, I wanted something a little different. I fell in love with the bridal mini trend that’s having such a moment right now, so I chose a puff-sleeve Milla Nova mini paired with white Chanel tights and Amina Muaddi bridal heels. I finished the look with a satin bow, one of our Love Ellie whisper veils, and a Cult Gaia pearl choker for a modern yet romantic touch.

For Nick, we wanted a classic black-tie look, and where better to go than the iconic Louis Copeland on Wicklow Street? His deep navy velvet jacket was the perfect mix of timeless and contemporary, a true standout for the occasion.

THE CEREMONY
We actually had a church wedding, celebrating with just 18 guests in the private Jonathan Swift Suite at The Ivy, Dublin. So for our big day out at Tankardstown House, we were thrilled to have the ceremony outdoors in the walled garden, surrounded by four majestic yew trees. We couldn’t have been luckier with the weather; it turned out to be the hottest day of the month! Our guests enjoyed drinks in the sunshine after the ceremony, accompanied by the magical music of the HoneyVoom Duo. A few friends may have left with a touch of sunburn, but with pints of Guinness flowing, all was quickly forgiven.

THE RECEPTION
We hosted our dinner reception in The Orangery at Tankardstown House, a stunning, light-filled room adorned with chandeliers and antique furniture. The Manila Strings provided our dinner entertainment, and they truly kept the celebration alive! They moved from table to table, taking song requests from guests, and honestly, there isn’t a song or tune they can’t play. They were incredible.

The large double doors of The Orangery open out onto the lower garden level, which leads back to the walled garden, and that’s where the Hit Machine Drummers took over. Once speeches were finished, they burst in with an explosion of rhythm and energy, leading everyone outside for twenty minutes of high-octane fun, exactly what you need after a delicious five-course meal. We also had a flame thrower performer to accompany the drummers, and she was absolutely mesmerising against the evening light.

Our guests put so much time and effort into celebrating with us, so we really wanted to make sure everyone had the most fun possible. It was our way of saying a heartfelt thank you.

THE ENTERTAINMENT
Our evening entertainment was the one and only Jo Petit and the Dream Band. Jo is genuinely one of the kindest, most talented people you could ever meet and his voice? Just wow! This man can sing anything and everything, all night long.

The moment our first dance ended, the shoes came off, and the dance floor was never empty again! The atmosphere was electric from start to finish. We also had a photobooth set up so our guests could capture some extra memories from the night.

THE DECOR
My favourite flowers are peonies, so I carried a bridal bouquet of white peonies. My bridesmaids had beautiful arrangements of white blooms, including roses with a touch of greenery for a soft, timeless look.

For our overall décor, we completely fell in love with the pink and white floral clouds created by Emma Rose Floristry. They lined the aisle and adorned every dinner table, so soft, feminine and perfectly in tune with the romantic vibe of the day.

THEIR TOP TIPS
Entertainment is key. If you can, take a little from other areas of the budget and invest it in your entertainment; it truly makes a huge difference to the overall atmosphere of the day. Our wedding planner initially suggested that we might have too much entertainment booked and perhaps should scale back, but I was determined to make it all work. And honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. The day was filled with high-energy vibes, laughter and plenty of sing-songs from start to finish!