Let us take you away to where the warm brightness and calm blue tones greet a spring morning! For this beautiful real wedding, the picturesque Wicklow countryside was filled with powder blue gowns, a deep navy tuxedo, and velvet Valentino heels in cobalt. In the month of May, 35 of Frances and Chris' closest friends and family members travelled from the United States to our emerald island to witness their nuptials and an outpouring of love. Studio Brown and her incredible photographic skills were on hand to capture all the emotional moments and the finest of details of this wedding at Killruddery House. We welcome you all to take a look through the beautiful wedding album love story of Frances and Chris right here...
Eight years ago, on St. Patricks Day, the luck of the Irish cast a love spell over two strangers in a bar in Philadelphia. Frances and Chris who instantly hit it off became completely inseparable, until Frances moved to Baltimore to pursue her career after college. For about two years, the couple balanced a somewhat long-distance relationship, but as the saying goes, distance makes the hearts grow fonder. They explain: "Our bond intensified and we decided that we could not live further apart any longer. So, we finally moved in together in Philly before eventually finding our 'home' in Cherry Hill, New Jersey where we currently reside with our dog, Frank."
An emotional moment shared between Frances, her mother and her bridesmaids that even brought a tear to our eyes. The couple says they share a love that has endured many ups and downs, but Chris knew from the moment he laid his eyes on Frances, that there was no one else he wanted to spend his life with. This leads us to the romantic proposal that occurred one beautiful spring day in May 2019. "Chris proposed to me on a golf course after I sunk my last putt at the 9th hole. Chris marked the ball with the words 'will you marry me?' reveals Frances.
Chris opted for a slick navy blue tuxedo, with a contrasting black lapel and bow tie. which tied in perfectly with the blue tones used throughout the styling. His groomsmen complemented his look dressing in chic black-tie tuxedos. The words used to describe their Killruddery House wedding were romantic, elegant, timeless and simple, and so far, the style has very much understood the assignment!
Absolutely breathtaking! Frances chose Badgley Mischka as her wedding dress designer. The applique detail in her sheer bodice is divine, along with her silky-soft skirt that melted into an elegant train. She completed her timeless style with classic chignon, delicate pearl drop earrings and a pop of colour on her lips to match the prominent fuchsia peonies from her bouquet!
The same florals are seen delicately placed around the charming Orangery by Bella Botanica, a boutique wedding florist specialising in luxurious hand-tied bouquets, venue styling and inspiring floral installations. The couple chose a handfasting ceremony for the wedding, a symbolic unity ritual where the couple stand face to face as their hands are tied together - hence the phrase, tying the knot! Frances reminisces on the most special moments of their ceremony: "reading our personal vows to each other in front of all our guests during our ceremony was so very special for us. We also had a candle lighting for my late father during our ceremony. To quote many of our guests, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Our love for each other was the star of the show."
The couple chose one of their favourite readings for their ceremony - I Carry Your Heart With Me by E.E Cummings. The colour scheme was made up of baby and navy blues, a pop of fuchsia and some gorgeous gilded golden tones. A very special homage was paid to a very important furry friend who unfortunately couldn't make Kilruddery House for the wedding day. We are of course talking about Frank, Frances and Chris' adorable doggy. They honoured their fur baby in a refreshingly creative way - literally! "Our dog Frank, unfortunately, did not come to Ireland for our wedding but our signature drink was named after him - The Frankie! It was a delicious tequila drink shaken with fresh orange fresh and fresh lime juice," they say.
Frances' beautiful bride tribe adorned a baby blue shade with not one, or two, but seven different neckline styles! How striking is the vibrant pop of pink against the softer blue shade? The gentlemen added a few other dapper accessories to their style also - a pair of shades and an Irish 'paddy cap' - we wonder was that a nod to St. Patrick? We hope so, after all, Ireland's patron saint was the reason they got together!
The evening reception was held in the Grain Store of the venue, with dining tables dressed in romantic rich florals and candlelight. The separate top table, was laid out only two seats, one each for the bride and groom, in what us known as a sweetheart table. This allowed the newlyweds to take a moment alone on the magical day, surrounded by their precious family and friends. Such a beautiful thing to do.
The couple's number one priority was showcasing their love for one another by keeping things simple. Spending time and making memories with each other and their loved ones was what mattered the most.
Frances and Chris provide some invaluable advice from their Killruddery House wedding: "Our advice to other couples is to decide what you as a couple want for your big day. Take suggestions and comments from others with a grain of salt because 'those who mind, don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind'. After their speeches and cutting of the cake, they took to the dancefloor and shared their first dance as husband and wife to Halo from singer Lotte Kestner.
The happy newlyweds decided the dreamy islands of Turks & Caicos would be the perfect place for their honeymoon! We wish them a very lovely trip, and also would like to extend our thanks to Studio Brown Photography for sharing this very special wedding day at Killruddery House.
Are you planning a Wedding From Abroad? Or perhaps you are Planning a Destination Wedding? Check out The One Fab Day Podcast below for all the best tips and advice!
