A Fab Floral-Filled Springfort Hall Wedding by Sean Jefferies Photography

Real Weddings

“There wasn’t a single minute during the day that we would have changed, everything was just amazing from start to finish.”

The couple: Christine Turner & James Patrick Carroll
Length of engagement: 18 months | Wedding date: 24th March 2018
Wedding venue: Springfort Hall Hotel & Country House, Cork
Photographer: Sean Jefferies Photography

We met… online on Plenty of Fish. I was deleting my account that day (New Year’s Eve) and he was the last person who messaged me on it. We got talking over text and went on our first date a few weeks later.  It turns out we only live 10 minutes from each other and had loads of mutual friends. I told everyone we met in Rearden’s for at least a year after we starting going out!

Our proposal… was in Frankfurt in October 2016. JP was running his first full marathon with a friend and I booked a flight last minute to go over and support them and make sure they were okay. He ran the whole marathon and at the end he spent ages fussing over where to get a nice picture with his medal. He insisted on getting a picture with me as well and his knees gave way while posing for it (or so I thought)! It turns out he was actually proposing! He ran the whole marathon with the ring wrapped in cellotape in his pocket. We got back to the hotel afterwards (where I was staying on my own and he was sharing with his friend) and the two of them fell asleep from exhaustion for the rest of the day!

My dress… was from Rice ‘n Roses in Donnybrook. I had no idea what kind of a dress I would go for, it’s not something I ever really thought about. I did know that I wanted something different though. The girls in the shop were so helpful and nice. I tried on every style and colour they gave me but in the end just fell in love with my dress. I took bets from my bridesmaids about what style they thought I would get and they all thought the same, fitted and fishtail/mermaid style end! I surprised myself with the style I chose!

My hair and makeup… were absolutely flawless! My hair was done by the amazing UpStyle Junkie (Audrey Cashman). From the minute I met her at my trial, she put me completely at ease about everything! On the day we went for something completely different to what I had trialed and I think she knew what I wanted better than I did! My makeup was done by Andrea Murphy, who was just an absolute star! She made the whole morning so relaxed and easy. The whole bridal party looked absolutely stunning and our makeup didn’t budge for the day. I have to say that Audrey and Andrea went above and beyond on the day of the wedding, whether it was having emergency playlists, fixing and tying car ribbons, touching up on the way out the door, they made the morning the most relaxed and easy going morning I could have asked for.

Our ceremony… was celebrated by Fr. Pat Hogan, who is JP’s uncle. It was such an honour to be able to have someone so close to us give the ceremony and it was so relaxed and easy going. We wrote the mass ourselves (with the help of a lot of collected booklets from other weddings) and felt that we wanted readings and a theme of friendship and love. Our ceremony and reception music were by Ceolann, a trio of harp, violin and flute.

We chose our photographer because… when we met him for the first time he made us so relaxed and at ease, it was like we knew him our whole lives. Every time we met Sean (Sean Jefferies Photography) from then on, it was like he was a close friend or part of the family. On the morning of the wedding, JP’s dad even thought that he was one of the lads walking around the house as he was so relaxed and laid back that he just slotted in unnoticed! Not only does Sean’s personality shine, as an added bonus his pictures are out of this world. We did an engagement shoot a few weeks before the wedding and his attention to detail and creativeness blew us away. Our main thing about the day was that we got natural and relaxed pictures to reflect us as a couple and Sean did this in the most stunning way with photos that reflected our day perfectly and who we are as a couple. He goes above and beyond (even getting locked outside on the roof of the hotel) and added to every part of the day.

His suit… was from Tom Murphy Menswear, Cork.  He went in and chose all the suits with his dad. He wore a Magee suit, but had a back up suit as well… a man can never have enough of them!

We chose our venue and wedding coordinator because… it is the most stunning venue we had (and still have) seen. Originally we had decided we didn’t want to get married in Cork as we have been to so many weddings around the place that we wanted something different. We had decided on a venue in another county, and were due to put a deposit down after agreeing with the coordinator and off we went back to Cork happy that a decision was made. JP wasn’t fully convinced (not that I knew) so he stayed up late one night researching more venues and the following morning had booked a viewing of Springfort Hall for New Year’s Day. Reluctantly (from me) we went down and met with Marcella. The place was beautiful. It ticked boxes we didn’t even know we were looking for. Every room we walked into took my breath away but the final moment was the ball room. Even in broad daylight, after 4 weddings in a row, it was everything we were looking for. The decor and finishing touches make this hotel a cut above the rest.

Marcella and Paul were fantastic every step of the way. Nothing we asked for was too big or too small and they even suggested things to us that we would never have thought of ourselves. Marcella was only a message away if needed and to be honest, we rarely had to contact them or ask any questions as they had them asked and answered for us before we even thought about them! The way they decorate the venue with their own touches and having that family feel to it just made our day. Liz couldn’t have done more for us on the day and Paul was literally hiding under a table I think as every time I looked like I needed something he was there in a blink!

Our menu… was difficult to choose as when we went for our tasting we liked everything and found it difficult to make a decision. In the end we went for a choice of starters between black pudding and pork belly or panko coated fish cakes. The mains was between the roast supreme of free range chicken or Springfort signature feather blade beef and the dessert was a chocolate dessert plate.

Our wedding theme/colours… were dusty pink vintage/classic theme – I was was always clear about the colour scheme I wanted, especially as it was a Spring wedding. The theme progressed itself and we ended up decorating/making most of the props and little extras ourselves. There was a floral theme going through it as well.

My favourite part of the wedding day was… all of it. We both were just so happy to be able to have all our families and friends in the one room together to celebrate with us. There wasn’t a single minute during the day that we would have changed, everything was just amazing from start to finish. We honestly had the best day of our lives and if we could do it all over again then we would! The lanterns were amazing and helped to bring everyone together and outside while the room was being moved around for the dancing.

My piece of advice for other couples is… to enjoy it. There is no point in getting stressed over the little things because when it is all over, the finer details are irrelevant! The day goes by so fast so savour the moment for what it is, your wedding day! Don’t let anyone or anything get you down because it is you and your partner’s day and you two are the only people that matter.

Suppliers

Venue: Springfort Hall Hotel & Country House, Cork | Photographer: Sean Jefferies Photography | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander – Rice ‘n Roses | Hair: UpStyle Junkie | Makeup: Andrea Murphy | Bridesmaids Dresses: Romantica – Laura Jane Bridesmaids | Suits: Tom Murphy Menswear | Videographer: James Conroy | Flowers: Pamela Dillon – Absolute Flowers of Youghal | Cake: Baker Boy CakesRings: Diana O’Mahony Jewellers | Car: Wed2day | Nails: Toma at Amber Lashes & Beauty | Tan (Bridal Party): Jen’s Beauty Rooms | Band: The Papa Zitas | DJ: Patrick Aherne Entertainment