Shauna & Stevie had a really beautiful day (bar the weather!) with ceremony at Glencastle and lively reception at the Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet. The following words came directly from Shauna & Stevie about how their day went.
How Morning Went: From the moment I woke up the day just went so smoothly.
The tone/mood was just so relaxed and stress free.
I slept in my home house the night before but came down to our newly built house to get ready. We went down at 6am.
I walked into the kitchen and it had been decorated the night before by mum and the bridesmaids with large helium balloons. It was such a lovely surprise and set the tone.
We went upstairs and pottered around for a bit. I know stevie had left me a gift that I was instructed to open the morning of the wedding. I snuck off into the utility to look at that and read the note. Of course that set the emotions off for the day. It was so thoughtful and meaningful to both of us. I remember everyone looking for me and we had a laugh that I was balling crying.
I then made myself and the bridesmaids coffee. We casually sat around chatting.
I remember the hair stylists arrived and they set up. Hayley Coleman my mua arrived shortly after. I made them all coffee. I tried to eat a bit of yogurt and granola. Ciara, my bridesmaid was doing my hair so she started to curl my hair and pin it up while the other girls started their hair.
Once she had pinned my hair I remember the photographer and videographer arriving. They were so amazing and not at all in your face. I barely knew they were there and could be totally myself. They caught every emotion from the morning. Hayley done my makeup and I have a thing about doing my own lips so I snuck off to do those and Ed captured some lovely shots of that also. I never even knew he was there. I came down and sat on the couch reading some well wishes from friends and family. Ciara completed my hair. We were all ready so we had a sneaky glass of Prosecco and got some selfies. We got some lovely shots of us all popping open the champagne. I remember by dad arriving so I quickly went upstairs (with my glass of champagne) and just hung out up there for a while. The girls and mum got dressed first and I remember just pacing around the bedroom anxiously. Just before I got dressed we got some nice shots of me holding the dress etc.
the girls came in and helped me get into my dress. I remember feel nervous but also relaxed. It was a funny feeling. It was all getting real but everyone was just so calm and so it made me calm. Once I was in my dress I definitely started to get more butterflies in my stomach. The girls went back downstairs after we got some lovely pictures and I remember Ed telling me to walk down the stairs and when I get to the bottom call dads name for him to turn around and get the first look. I had mentioned to Ed that I wanted nothing staged or ‘fake’.
But I vividly remember that moment cautiously walking down the stairs, getting to the bottom and calling dads name. He looked at me with such pride and the both of us just started to tear up. It was such a gorgeous moment that I will never forget. It was captured so well in both the video and the pictures which I am truly grateful for. It’s definitely one of the highlights from that day. Hayley was to the rescue to fix my makeup after the tears and I walked into the kitchen and the girls and mum and little flower girl were there. We got some more pictures and a few more sips of champagne and then realised it was definitely time to go to the church. It was just the most relaxed, unforgettable morning and I have to be thankful for everyone I had around me. Karl, our wedding car driver was so lovely he held an umbrella over my head while I got into the car. I remember the journey from the house to the church. Mum was in the front and dad in the back with me. Dad was rambling away as always
I don’t actually remember much of what he was saying. I remember pulling up to the church and my mum turning around to dad asking ‘where is the arch?’
….. dad was to help put out the arch that morning but obviously got lost in the day. It was actually quite funny that the daughter of Enchanted Wedding Company forgot to have the arch outside. But it didn’t bother me in the slightest.
How Ceremony Went:
From the moment we had arrived we had a little laugh about the arch as mentioned above.
I was nervous and excited. I don’t really remember what was going through my head. The porch is quite small in the church and there a lot of people. The bridesmaids, mothers of the flower girl and page boys. So there was a lot going on. I just remember standing to one side and I was ready. The little page boy was coming up showing us his lovely shoes and again even though it was a little bit chaotic in that porch, I felt very much at ease. I remember the music starting to play and my bridesmaids kissing me and wishing me good luck. It was just me and dad left to walk up. I remember Carl our car driver and another lady help fix my dress at the back before I walked up. I was standing at the back of the aisle anxiously waiting to walk up. There was a key change in the music that was my queue to go. I remember walking and smiling at some people along the way. I made it half way and I just started to get emotional. I tried to hold it in but I couldn’t. I remember my dad looking over at me and placing his hand on mine as if it let me know he was there. We got to the top and Stevie was balling his eyes out! Which made me worse (and everyone else). My dad shook his hand and gave me a long hug and whispered some lovely words in my ear. I remember giving Stevie a hug and just taking his hand. We were both so emotional but it was lovely. I remember Stevie looking at me and telling me I looked lovely. Again, everything was just captured so so well. So I think the most memorable moment was that whole walk up the aisle and meeting Stevie at the top.
How Photos/Drinks Reception Went:
After the ceremony myself and stevie waited for some pictures in the church. Mum and dad had decorated it so nicely it looked like a fairytale. Ed knew exactly where to position us to capture the best shots. They made us feel very comfortable and at ease and nothing put on. We got the most amazing pictures.
After the church we took a quick trip down to our newly built home. Again, Ed knew the exactly locations in the house to capture the best shots. We got some on the staircase. We got some ‘mirror’ shots which I just love. We have a huge V shaped window in our bedroom with a chez long and a lovely view behind us. We got some great shots there and to finish we got some sitting on our couch. I’m not a very outdoor person and although we live close to a beach I’m not the biggest fan of the sand getting on my dress or the wind ruining my hair!!! and knew that the house would get the most amazing pictures. We were delighted with the postures. They are amazing. After we got our pictures, Ed and Jason left Stevie and myself in the house for a few mins. That was a lovely time we just had on our own. It was only 10/15 mins but definitely something I feel is needed before we went into the reception.
Meal/First Dance:
We had no doubt that the Broadhaven would deliver the most amazing meal. They never fail to disappoint. The service is amazing and they always go that extra mile. The room was decorated so lovely and each table had a centre piece by my mum at Enchanted Wedding Company.
The first dance was lovely. I remember being very relaxed before hand. Although everyone was gathered around us I felt as though it was just myself and Stevie. We were lost in the moment I think. The way Stevie was looking at me as we danced was very special and il always remember it. We had a little hug at the end and again it was captured by Ed and made for a great memory. The dance floor was packed all through the night. The band were amazing and everyone had such a great time. The floor was never empty which is always a great sign.
Wedding Advice:
I think if I was offering advice it would be to just relax and don’t stress over silly little things. Remember the meaning of the whole day and that it’s a celebration of your love for each other.
If something goes wrong it’s ok. It’s shouldn’t ruin your whole day.
Experience with Ed:
From our very first email exchange to receiving our fantastic photos, the whole experience was amazing. It was stress free and so relaxed which is exactly what I wanted. As I previously mentioned above, Ed captured every moment so well and it was as if he wasn’t even there. There were so many candid photos also which I just loved. And even the posed photos were so natural because he knew exactly what to say or what to do to capture the best pictures. I honestly can’t recommend Ed enough. He was a dream to work with.
We received a little slideshow of all our best photos that Ed put to music and that was just so special as well. It was so nice to be able to send that to our friends and family for them to watch. It was like a mini highlight video. Ed’s attention to detail is amazing.
Three words to describe Ed on the day: Relaxed, professional, quality!
Suppliers we chose:
Photographer: Edward Reid Photography
Videographer: Jason Nolan Wedding Films
Makeup: Hayley Coleman
Hair: Capelli Ciara, Elaine Noone hair and hair by Helen
Dress: Pronovias (La Boda Bridal)
Shoes: Rainbow
Venue: Broadhaven Bay Hotel, Belmullet
Florist: Enchanted Wedding Company
Rings: James Allen and The Hazel
Cake: Cakes by Angela
Band: Bumblebee Honey
Dj: Bumblebee Honey
Cars: U2R1 wedding Cars
Menswear: Thomas Murphy, Cork (Groom) Eddie Murphy Menswear (groomsmen)
Church Decor: Enchanted Wedding Company
Church Music: Monica and Anne Brennan, Stephen Doherty and David Doocey. Barry and Priscilla Staunton
Invites: Invites by Jen
Entertainment: David Geaney (Irish dancer)
Tanning: Crazy Angel (Red Carpet Beauty, Castlebar)
Nails: Bliss beauty by Kamila
Anything Else: Singers secreto.
