Lynne and Justin
11/05/2007 – Glenview Hotel, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
How and when did you meet?
We met growing up in the same village. We started to hang around with the same crowd of people. I guess we just caught eachother’s eye one day and that is where it all began!
How old are you both?
I’m 27 and Justin is 29.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
We were in Galway last August (the 9th to be precise). We were standing on a very quiet street off the main walkway. We had planned to go stay in a hotel quite a bit away from the city, so I mentioned that we “should head off now”….. but before I could say anything else, he said, “Well, actually Lynne, I was going to ask you to marry me.” It was amazing. I was truly and for the first time speechless! I started to cry, then we hugged eachother for a while. For a few moments, I felt like I was on top of the world, like I was floating on air, such an amazing feeling! Then, Justin grabbed my hand and we went ring shopping! We popped into a few jewellers first, but nothing jumped out at us. We came upon a lovely jewellers on the main street and went in. We sat there awaiting a tray of rings (still in complete and utter shock by the way). I tried on a few of the ones I always dreamed of wearing, but none of them suited me. So then, the lady brought out a tray of rings, as I described what I was looking for. As soon as they came out, one specific one was just twinkling up at me, and that was the one!
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
Yes – Justin went to London with all his close mates and it ended up a party of about 20 guys I think. They had a great time, but to be honest, that is all I know about it! I went to Sligo with all of my ‘angels’. We had such a brilliant time. We stayed there for the weekend, got dressed up, had lots of laughs (and tears), but it was fantastic to get away with all my mates!
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
He helped with the seating plans, but that is all I really asked of him, as I am a complete organiser and planner myself and I knew that he was not really into that side of the wedding. He told me that he had complete trust in me and he would be happy with anything I chose!
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
I did to a certain point, but once the months got shorter, I didn’t really have time to use it that often. It was so helpful and the website is great for ideas, tips and help from other engaged people and previous brides!
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
Yes – we bought some heart light garlands for our big day. I bought them online.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
My dress was a Ronald Joyce one piece. It had a sweetheart neckline, beautiful ivory colour, with a spanish lace effect and very long (and heavy!) trail. it had a beautiful sash around the waist with a fab diamante buckle attached to it. I also wore a full length veil with tiny diamantes on it. I bought the dress in a shop called B Couture in Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
Yes – I had 2 bridesmaids. My sister Leah who is married and my best mate Danielle. They wore a taupe coloured Bill Levkoff full length dress with a camel sash around the waist, super duper dresses! I bought them online at a bargain! They were stunning against my dress!
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
Justin chose 2 bestmen, both his very good friends, Ronan and Mark. We had my brother Karl as the Usher/Groomsman also. They all wore black pinstripe formal suits, with Cream waistcoats, black shoes, cream shirts and coffee colour cravats. Justin wore the very same except, he wore a cream cravat – very dapper!
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
We had a Catholic ceremony.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
In our local church, where we both grew up!
Where did you hold your reception?
We had our reception in the Glenview Hotel, Co. Wicklow.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
Justin’s uncle collects vintage cars, so he offered us 2 of them for the day, which were fab!
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
We invited 165 guests for the full day and then we had separate evening guests.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Our colours were all shades of creams and browns, but with a very laid back theme to it. Sparkles were included and scented candles which consisted of chocolate, coffee and vanilla, yum! We also had butterflies incorporated into the wedding.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
We bought candles which smelt and looked like chocolates, and put them on each table. People were trying to eat them! We also had tealights around the whole room, and when the evening set in, it was all lit up by the amount of lights, which made the room very cosy and very romantic! We included the butterflies on our cake, in the bouquets and in the church.
Did you give your guests favours?
No, we didn’t really like the idea of it, so we left favours out of the day. But I do think that some of our guests brought some of the candles home with them!
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
Bouquets consisted of gerbera, lotus heads, small cream lilly type flowers and a butterfly! We had a single stem cream rose in a vase on each of the tables at the reception. We had beautiful lilly and rose sprays on the top table, which made it look fab! Our florist was Busy Bees in Ferns, Co. Wexford, who were so professional and so friendly!
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
We used the hotel catering, as it was second to none! I’m a vegetarian, so for the vegetarian option, we went for buffalo mozzarella and tomato and basil salad for starters, leek and potato soup for the second course, aubergine with tomato and goats cheese in filo pastry on a bed of mash for main course and the classi fruit pavalova for dessert. The meat option changed for the main course and it was a fillet of beef, which went down very well!
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
It was a three tiered cake. We chose the traditional fruit cake for the base and then we had lemon sponge and the top tier was a yummy chocolate chip sponge. A few of our friends who are excellent bakers made the cakes between them and another friend iced it and it was so beautiful. He added a few butterflies onto it. It was simple, yet effective!
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a string quartet (who learned to play Damien Rice’s Cannonball for us as we lit our wedding candle) for our church ceremony, a band after the meal and then a DJ till 2am!
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
No, we did not have a gift list.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We spent the first night of our honeymoon in a Dublin Airport Hotel (The Radisson). We booked our honeymoon with a travel agents in Gorey Co, Wexford call O’Donoghue Travel. Then we headed off to Sorrento in Italy for 11 nights – Magical!
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
I think walking up the aisle was a memorable moment for me. The whole day really meant so much to me, I couldn’t take the smile off my face all day! Another moment was when the string quarted played the Damien Rice song for us as we lit the wedding candle. I completely savoured the moment!
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
I was very lucky to be honest. Didn’t have any nightmare moments! Oh yes, there was one. I picked my wedding ring up a few days before the wedding and I couldn’t get it on my finger, as I had a slight cut over the knuckle.. Luckily, Justin gently eased in on me the day we got married!
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
Would do nothing differently, except lengthen the day by another 12 hours! We had torrential rain on our day, and the run up to it, the weather was fantastic! But they do say if it rains on your wedding day, it is meant to be for a very happy marriage, so I’m saved then! Advice I would give to other brides – be yourself, enjoy and savour every moment of that day from the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep! Try and get to chat with your guests, but remember to make sure you get that ‘special two minutes with your new husband’. Just take a walk around with him and enjoy watching other people or maybe head off for a chat and a catch up and see how they are feeling! Most of all, dance your heart out, as we did. All our friends danced with us all night and it was just the best time ever!
