After an engagement lasting one year and 10 months, Thérèse and Michael were married on September 3, 2011 in Creeve, Co Roscommon with reception afterwards in The Landmark Hotel, Co Leitrim.
They planned a classic DIY wedding in romantic shades of aubergine and soft pink to match the beautiful surroundings of the river Shannon at their country celebration.
For a personal touch, the couple made a lot of the decor themselves including invitations, Mass booklets and our very favourite, the candy buffet.
Suzanne Toal of Zanni Photographic was there to capture the first day of Thérèse and Michael’s married lives.
Here is their love story…
Our wedding theme/ colours… Our colours were aubergine and soft pinks. Our bridesmaids wore aubergine dresses in three different styles. My bouquet was made of pale pink sweet avalanche roses and the girls had a mix of roses, gerberas and lisianthus, which were also dotted around the church, in jars and outside. We made our floral invitations and Mass booklets. We also made a retro candy buffet for our drinks reception and the “sweet love” bunting for the candy table. We borrowed a Hillman Avenger from my Dad’s friend to get me to the church on time.
My dress… was from Essence of Australia. I added some touches to it like extra lace and a champagne sash to match my shoes and bouquet ribbon.
Our ceremony… was in a little church near my parent’s house in Creeve, Co Roscommon. We had a string quartet, which really made the ceremony. Hearing “One Day Like This” by Elbow as we signed the register was really perfect.
My favourite part of the day… There are so many favourite bits but I will never forget standing at the end of the aisle waiting to walk up and seeing all of our friends and family smiling back at me, but most of all seeing Michael waiting for me at the top, I couldn’t resist giving him a little wave.
The venue… The Landmark was the perfect place for our big day. As soon as we went to see the venue I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about anything on the day. It was the first venue we went to look at and we didn’t go anywhere else because we were dazzled by the lovely Patricia! Our guests loved the string quartet that played while they sipped strawberry daiquiris and mojitos at our drinks reception. The resident retro ice-cream cart from the hotel was wheeled out to go with our retro candy buffet and went down a storm.
My piece of advice for other brides… Everyone says this but try to take it all in because you’ll want to remember every moment. It was also really lovely to have all our family and friends involved in the wedding and we tried to get as many as possible involved. Michael’s mother made our cake, two of my friends did the hair and make-up, and others said readings, drove, filmed for us and helped out with little jobs in the lead up to the big day.
You might think it’s a big job, but it really is easy to make your own invitations and mass booklets and you’ll save so much by doing this.
Finally try not to let other people’s opinions influence you too much, go with what you want as it’s your day!
Vendors
Dress: Essence of Australia from Dinagh Modes, Castlerea.
Photographer: Suzanne Toal, Zanni Photographic
Invitation and Mass booklet materials: Daintree Paper
Candy Bags/Signs: MyWeddingParty.co.uk
Venue: The Landmark Hotel
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm/Alvina Valenta from Tracy Bridal
Church/ Drinks Reception Music: Sirona Strings
Band: Pink Champagne
Flowers: Calla Floral Design
