Donna and Karl’s storybook wedding started with a storybook engagment 18 months before. Literally! During a pre-Christmas mini holiday, Karl popped the question in one of the most romantic and thoughtful ways we’ve ever heard on WeddingsOnline.ie, and of course, Donna said a big teary ‘yes!’ (how could she not, in fairness!) The couple married just two months ago in the stunning Leixlip Manor & Gardens and the famously ‘mad as a hatter’ wedding photographer Ros of Couple Photography was there to capture both their engagement photos, and the big day itself!
Length of engagement: 18 months
Wedding date: 10th August 2012
Wedding location: Leixlip Manor & Gardens, Kildare
Wedding photographer: Ros, Couple Photography
We met… In a nightclub in Tallaght…
My first impression of Karl… Maybe not ‘love at first sight’ but after some hours of persuasion I agreed to a date, and it snowballed from there.
My first impression of Donna… She was a grumpy hot girl, who looked like a bit of a challenge. I like challenges when I am drunk so I went for it!
Our proposal… Karl put a huge effort into the proposal, it was just magical. On the night before Christmas Eve we were booked into Ashford Castle, I was of the understanding that this was to be our own mini Christmas together as we were otherwise booked to spend Christmas Day with our own families. Karl went down to reception to find a place to “exchange our gifts”.
He picked a large room with a massive fireplace in an alcove. I gave Karl one of his presents – a plastic remote control helicopter – which he unwrapped with no hesitation, put it to one side, and handed me my gift in a brown bubble wrap envelope.
I shook the parcel and was guessing that it was a book of some sort. When I opened the envelope I found a brushed steel spiral bound book with the title “Karl and Donna’s Storybook”. I opened the book to find our life stories in pictures and captions, from when we were both small children up to the present day. On the last page it read “All I want for Christmas is you, Will you Marry Me?”.
I looked up through tears of happiness to see Karl on one knee with the ring in his hand and of course I said yes!
My dress… I loved my dress! It was a modern vintage style A-line dress made of Satin and Organza. I got it in Classy Lass in Clane, Co. Kildare. It wasn’t the first dress that I tried on but I picked it on the first day of shopping. I knew it was MY dress and couldn’t wait until it was ready.
Our ceremony.. It took place in the Church of St. Patrick and St. Brigid in Clane, Co. Kildare. We had the best priest in the world, Father Donal Roche, who we will be forever thankful to.
Donna’s favourite part of the wedding day: Holding his hand for the first time as husband and wife as we came down the aisle…
Karl’s favourite part of the wedding day: After many hours of “socialising” a lot of Karl’s friends and relatives were out singing ballad songs at 6am. They decided to have a mini Olympics “to the fence and back” – a couple of hundred metre sprint (ahem) – which he won. He has not stopped talking about it since…
Our photographer… We bumped into Ros from Couple Photography at a wedding fair. She seemed as mad as a hatter and the photos she had on display were exceptionally good. We were very happy that Ros could take our shots on the day. We chose Smart Video for our DVD because of the creative way they seem to put together all of the footage in their other videos. Both photographers and videographers were excellent on the day. We cant thank them enough.
My piece of advice for other brides… Try and get everything sorted out as quickly as possible. Don’t stress over things as everything will work out right on the day. Enjoy your day!
Photography by Couple Photography
web: www.couple.ie | mobile:087-2218122
Edited by Karen Birney
