Mary and Paddy, our real wedding couple have brought us not only one but two special days for us to share with you. The couple, opted for a small, family-oriented celebration in their gorgeous garden with 18 of their closest friends and family, before repeating the entire process a year later at the exquisite Lisnavagh House in Co. Carlow. You can see more on that fabulous day here! Their intimate wedding day is full of delicate details made with love, a relaxed vibe, a 'choose your own style' wedding party and the most perfect floral wedding gown! Moat Hill Photography was on hand on both days, and the results were so delightful we decided to feature them in two posts! So, let us introduce you to part one of Mary and Paddy's celebrations, kicking off with their back garden wedding party!
Mary and Paddy who both grew up in the same town and shared friends from an early age! "Paddy was friends with my older sisters already, and our friend circles crossed over and intermingled. We were both regulars at our local, but my first defining memory of Patrick was at my 18th birthday - to which he had not been invited, because I didn't know him at the time. In rocks this stranger to my party, woefully late at close to 1am, and he doesn’t even wish me a happy birthday! So, I decided then that I didn’t like this chap at all. To say that I'm very glad that I didn’t stick to my guns on that one is an understatement!" laughs Mary.
Regarding the proposal, Paddy had already purchased the ring in January 2019, but because Mary's sister was getting married, he chose to wait until after their special day to pop the question. He took Mary to Skibbereen in Co. Cork for a pre-birthday break. "I apologised as I handed over her final birthday gift; a crossword book (something we've always loved to do together), as there was some “water damage”. The odd warping was in fact the result of my creation of a ring compartment within the crossword book, with the surrounding pages glued together for stability and the engagement ring nestled neatly inside. The answer to the first clue on this particular crossword puzzle was “elopement” in case she needed another clue, but the cat was out of the bag and the question had been asked - Mary, thankfully, said yes!" recalls Paddy.
Paddy, our dapper real groom sported a three-piece sage tweed suit finished with a rustic brown bowtie and pocket square and a cheerful bunch of florals as a buttonhole.
Mary purchased her floral wedding dress the very moment she got engaged but creatively added her own twist! "I tried a dress on at bridal shop but didn't like being fussed over, so I ended up going online and purchasing a dress on Debenhams. I then asked a friend who has a passion for needlepoint crafts to add additional embroidery for a pop of colour to the dress, and the result was my favourite piece of clothing I’ve ever owned! I’m going to raise the hem so I can wear it as a summer party dress for as long as I can."
From the very beginning the couple knew they wanted to be surrounded by family, friends and nature. But what made the lovebirds choose to celebrate twice? "We wanted our guests to feel comfortable, at home and relaxed. We didn’t want a dress code or any unnecessary fuss. Our first wedding was very much about family. We postponed the big wedding day plans (venue/caterer/band) to 2022 but we wanted to tie the knot when we had originally planned. With our immediate family only, plus Paddy’s best man and his wife and Paddy’s grandmother, we had a small ceremony in my parent’s back garden. It was very stripped back and simple - just being with those who have been with us from the very start!" says Mary.
As music is a huge part of the couple's lives, Mary’s father Noel sang The Book of Love by The Magnetic Fields at both ceremonies. Mary’s sisters Rachael and Laura sang Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer at both ceremonies and accompanied Mary’s father too. And to completely top it off, Mary the beautiful bride also sang to one of her own songs - how special!
The couple chose a handfasting ceremony , where they tied a knitted scarf around their hands! "Aoife Hurley helped us to navigate the legalities of planning our garden wedding as well as creating a truly unique wedding ceremony itself. She went out of her way to get to know us as a couple and our story together so that she could craft a ceremony that felt true to us," says the couple.
Important elements of the wedding for Paddy and Mary were spending time with family. "I think throughout the pandemic a lot of people realised how much they needed their family and friends. Whether it is for love and support, or to just let loose and have the chats over a few drinks or good food. Our small intimate wedding was a perfect day with our families and we were so lucky, after what felt like the longest three years, to be able to reconnect with so many people we love, all together once again. It really was incredible, and honestly, that was the most important thing, that we could all be together again" says Mary.
Onto the beautiful wedding party style. The bridesmaids donned sage green dresses in beautiful silk - perfect for the warm summer season! "I wanted my bridesmaids to be as comfy as possible so they picked their own outfits, my only request was that they were green. My two sisters were my bridesmaids for the first outing and they happened to pick the same dress." As for the groomsmen, they kept it easy and relaxed asking the groomsmen to wear a suit from their own wardrobe. The mix-and-match style was all tied together with matching bow ties and pocket squares. But get this, the bow ties were embroidered with sweet william flowers by Mary - the bride's favourite flower and the theme for the wedding day!
Introducing Dorothy, a 1967 camper by Volks Weddings, with a gorgeous interior and loads of character, ready to transport the newlyweds wherever they wish!
As for their honeymoon, they decided to go down the mini moon route both times and save the big trip for a future date. "In 2021 we headed to Killarney, staying at Cahernane House and taking in the gorgeous walks the Killarney National Park has to offer," they tell us.
The wedding reception was held at Fallons Bar & Restaurant in Kilcullen in a cosy outdoor space! Made up of adorable DIY elements, such as mini-succulent plants as place names and favours, garden furniture dressed in white linen and blooming centrepieces. Simply beautiful! "We were the first wedding to take place in the newly -renovated outdoor area. We felt the staff were nearly as excited as we were to get back into the swing of things. The food was gorgeous and the service was exceptional," says Mary.
The gorgeous wedding cake, made with love by the mother of the groom was made up of lemon drizzle and a chocolate biscuit and finished with delicate edible flowers!
Mary and Paddy shared a first dance in Fallon's to Put Your Head On My Shoulder by Paul Anka. "We came up with a short routine ourselves for the first dance, it was a lovely little bit of serendipity," they say.
A very special thank you to Mary, Paddy and Moat Hill Photography for sharing part one of their intimate and wonderful wedding with One Fab Day!
Did you love the idea of having an intimate wedding at home in your back garden? Check outmore of our real wedding couples who did the same!
