A Halloween Wedding With Autumnal Colours

Couple: Hayley and Steven
Engagement length: 8 years
Wedding date: 2024-10-31
Wedding location: Radisson Blu Athlone
Photographer: Alan Roche Photography

Hayley and Steven met by chance! A mistake on Snapchat caused them to meet, and while they don’t fully understand what happened, they’re very grateful for the mistake.

Hayley shares their engagement story and what led to multiple date changes: “Well where do I start. We had been dating just over a year and we brought me to Carnevil in Galway. He scared the crap out of me there and then brought us for a meal to the Skeff which is where we had our first date. He put my ring into my favourite cocktail. I said yes obviously and we set a date which was Halloween 2018. We had started to plan our day and in June 2017 and we found out we were expecting our eldest. So plans went on hold then and well we never got back planning our day as July 2019 we welcomed our daughter and well, 2020 we all know that was Covid and come October 2021 we welcomed our youngest child and we were just happy as we were, we knew we would do it some day. Then in July 2023 we were talking about it and my now husband said Halloween 2024 and I said no 2025 and his words was it was 2024 or never so that was it, we set it and the planning started again. Kids were all happy to be involved in the planning of it and well last Halloween we had our day and it was on our original date 31st October.”

Once they got engaged, Hayley and Steven set their wedding date for 31st October, and began planning their Halloween wedding! Sure, they hoped to tie the knot in 2018, then changed plans to welcome their first child. Covid happened, then they welcomed their second child, and chose a new date: Halloween 2024!

“We both love Nightmare Before Christmas so we brought that into the wedding. We went with the proper Autumn colours so the reds, orange, yellows.”

Hayley went for a more fitted dress with lace/crochet sleeves and had the crochet going down the back on her train.

Steven went for navy suit trousers and had an ivory vest and tie and a shade of cream suit jacket.

The bridesmaids had an orange dress with a slip up the side and they all had gold shoes.

Groomsmen had a navy 3 piece suit with brown shoes and a navy tie with a orange pocket square.

“We had our ceremony at the Radisson Hotel. I walked into You’re Still the One by Ryan Waters Band. I love the original but Ryan Waters Band does it amazing if you like the rustic voice. Our godmothers did the readings and we did the ceremony candles and we also did the sand ceremony with our children. We wanted them to be involved as well.”

They hosted the wedding ceremony and celebration at the beautiful Radisson Hotel in Athlone.

“From our first meeting with Claire in the Radisson she was absolutely amazing. We had the Radisson in mind from the get go and our first meeting with Claire we knew we wanted it there. She could see what we saw with the wedding. Anyone that doesn’t know Athlone, the Radisson is on the river Shannon and there was some amazing places close by to take photos. As we were getting married we had the Shannon in the background and it was just amazing.”

The festivities were wonderfully captured by Alan Roche.

“We had the absolutely amazing Alan Roche. I could be here all day talking about him. He was amazing. He just blended in, didn’t even know he was there and the photos he got were just perfect. We had such a laugh with him and he just made us so relaxed, would recommend him to anyone for photos.”

To entertain their guests, they hired The Wilful as their band and DJ.

“The lads were brilliant. We went to see them in Galway first and they were just brilliant and on the night they kept the floor full the whole night. Anyone that is looking for something different with your band, then you need The Wilful.”

Hayley shares some of her favourite memories from the day:

“One of my favourite memories is the first look. We did it and it was so special, as once you’re dressed it all hits you and we had a couple of minutes just ourselves and it was so special. Second memory is when we were going into the meal. We came in all hyped up and then we went around to each table within the walking in song and got photos. The guests didn’t know we were doing it and now looking back on our photos we have photos with everyone at our wedding.”

We love asking newlyweds for their brilliant wedding advice for other couples:

“My only advice I can give anyone getting married is to enjoy the planning, don’t get stressed out as it all comes together in the end. Enjoy the day and take some time for yourselves as the day flies by so fast. The morning of the wedding relax and enjoy it, take it all in.”

Photographer: Alan Roche Photography

Venue: Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone

Band and DJ: The Wilful

Makeup: Make Up Matters – Grainne O’Doherty

Celebrant/solemniser: Barbara Allen