“The proposal involved a surprise dinner and a helicopter tour around Sydney, followed by a short trip in a chauffeur driven Merc to the Shangri La hotel for an overnight stay!”
Length of engagement: 18 Months | Wedding date: 22nd June 2013
Wedding ceremony: Cloghroe Church | Wedding venue: Fernhill House Hotel, Clonakility
Photographer: Patricia Fitzpartick – Insight Photography (with Rob Lamb as second shooter)
We met… originally in primary school in Cork where we sat together because we are both left handed and our teacher didn’t want us bumping elbows with others!
Our proposal… Was a big surprise on a Friday evening in Sydney in November! Involving a surprise dinner, a helicopter trip around Sydney followed by a chauffeur driven transfer in a beautiful Merc with refreshments to be welcomed to the Shangri La hotel for an overnight stay accompanied by lots of champagne and goodies! We got a good night sleep and embarked on the ‘ring’ search from 10am the next morning!
My dress… was a beautiful Jean Fox, handmade, raw silk gown made in Sydney. I had a personal twist to it by adding a pearl and diamond belt! Simple and Classic!
Our wedding theme/colours… Daisies, and a classic country summer theme. Our core colours were ivory, charcoal, navy and yellow!
What our bridal party wore… The groom’s party wore charcoal suits with yellow Craspedia balls for button holes. The bridesmaids wore full length, one-shoulder navy gowns sourced from the Ivory Rose Bridal Rooms in Cork with Craspedia bouquets and flower girls wore ivory dresses from Sydney with beautiful flower wands!
Our ceremony… was at St Senan’s church Cloghroe, where we were both confirmed together many years previous! The Priest was Fr Michael Lomasney and our church music was performed by the lovely Mary Sexton and I walked up the aisle to ‘Ave Maria’.
We chose our photographer because… On a list of priorities the photographer is possibly the most important person and detail to piece together your whole wedding day. We wanted a true professional who would ‘get us’ and what we wanted, not just from a photo perspective but someone who will understand how the whole day will run! A few years previous we had observed Patricia from Insight Photography in action at a friend’s wedding and couldn’t believe the organisation, approach and her natural ability to deal with everyone! Patricia is, in my mind, every girl’s dream photographer on their wedding day. Within five minutes of her arrival she knew everyone’s name and I was at 100% ease because I knew she was going to coordinate ‘our day’!
We chose our venue because… We chose Fernhill House, Clonakilty because of the family personable feel, gardens overall venue and the FOOD! The idea of having the whole venue to ourselves for the wedding was a luxury! Caroline Hayes and the O’Neill family made us feel like royalty and that we were the most important people in existence on the day. Nothing was impossible for them and they ensured our every request was met.
Starter
Fish cakes / Feuilette of Chicken and Mushroom, White Wine Cream sauce
Soup
Red pepper soup
Main Course
Leg of Lamb / Salmon wrapped in Lemon Sole
Dessert
Malteaser Cheese Cake / Wild Berry Crumble
Our honeymoon… started with a few days in Cork with our families, followed by 11 nights at the Sarojin Resort in Khoa Lak, Thailand and four nights at the Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Amazing!
My favourite part of the wedding day… I cannot pick a favourite part because the whole day from start to finish was amazing!
My piece of advice for other brides… Make lots of lists, delegate and just enjoy the day! It will be one of the best days of your life, if not the best!
