Month: March 2026

Paradise in Portugal | Harriet and Vinny’s Real Wedding

by Harmony Walton

Destination weddings are always a joy to plan which is why I had so much fun planning Harriet and Vinny’s wedding weekend in Portugal (which was also featured on Destination I Do). The couple explained that their love story began in a local pub when they were just 18-years-old and flourished for a decade before their engagement. They were childhood sweethearts and got to watch each other grow and support each other in their every endeavor.

Harriet and Vinny are truly a testament to lasting love, something that made planning their wedding day an incomparable experience. The couple shared with us the sweet story of their engagement in a quiet, discreet spot in Paris, where Vinny presented Harriet with a photo album of their years of love. When Harriet flipped to the last page, it read: “Will you marry me?”

When Harriet’s parents offered their private vacation home in Portugal as the wedding venue, the couple was set on their plans for a destination wedding. The location was beyond perfect for the theme they wanted- pink and red. Portugal is known for its stunning blossoming flowers of the same hues in the summer months, and so it was our team’s job to enhance that and really make their wedding pop!

With a mixture of vibrant florals and beautiful stationery designed by Julie King Designs, we began planning a red and pink wedding that would create lifelong memories.

The family’s vacation home was the perfect space to host all of our event needs and an even better space for our soon-to-be wed couple to prepare to say “I do.” Harriet looked gorgeous in a white gown from Halfpenny Boutique. Across each of the weekend’s events, she added layers and created different looks, each just as beautiful as the last. Vinny’s choice of a suit in a gentle green matched perfectly with the more vibrant florals we brought in for the reception.

 

Portugal provided the stunning backdrop for the ceremony and a church with breathtaking architecture. Our team brought together elegant floral runners at the entrance of the church and down the aisles for a more classic and simple ceremony look. A touch of the red and pink theme peaked in through the bridesmaid’s dresses, foreshadowing the reception to follow.

The ceremony drew to a close and the couple made their way out of the church to prepare for their next event of the day. I am honoured this incredible couple chose to include us in every piece of their wedding weekend, so we made sure to go the extra mile to ensure each new step would wow both them and their guests.

After the ceremony, our newlyweds and their guests returned to the family’s vacation home. White tents peppered with red and pink florals were absolutely vibrant in the sunlight. In creating the floral-filled space, we wanted to bring out every bit of the red and pink theme in the most elegant way possible. Every aspect of the reception would have a personal touch, down to the napkins embroidered with hot pink thread. It was such a thrill to use such a breathtaking summer vacation home as a blank canvas to create the event Harriet and Vinny had envisioned.

Once the sun set, carefully placed candles illuminated the grounds surrounding the white tents of the reception. With all the candles lit, the area could be seen from the sky glowing with a brilliant soft vibrancy. Harriet, Vinny, and their guests enjoyed festivities of cake cutting, champagne towers and music, but the night wouldn’t end there. We had one more grand event up our sleeve!

Now, for one of my favorite parts! The private discoteca tent was just a short walk from the reception space. Beyond the glowing blue neon sign and entrance, a private Jacquemus-inspired disco tent built just for Harriet and Vinny. The tent was equipped with its very own bar, lounging areas, and even a large sparkling disco ball hung right above the glittering dance floor. The rest of the night was spent enjoying the electric atmosphere where the bride and groom and their guests danced the night away.

You may think this is the end of our story, but don’t go just yet! We still have the epic day-after pool party we planned for the newlyweds!

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Planner: Tara Fay Events | Photography: Anée Atelier | Stationery: Julie King Studio | Flowers: The Garden | DJ: Gordon Johnson  | Bridal Dress: Kate Halfpenny London | Brides Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Band: Brooklyn Shakers – ARL Music | Bridal Hair: Darren Ambrose | Bridesmaids Hair: David Cashman | Makeup: Diva Borrelli | Cake: Edelweiss Wedding Cakes

Planning a Rainy Wedding in Ireland: Personalised, Stylish, and Stunning

by Harmony Walton

Ireland’s weather carries a certain reputation: unpredictably enchanting skies that can shift from sunshine to drizzle in moments. For couples envisioning an outdoor ceremony near the Cliffs of Moher or in the grounds of Ashford Castle, a sprinkle of rain might seem daunting. However, I’m here to tell you embracing rain does not equate to sacrificing personality, charm, or style. With careful planning and creative touches, a wedding under Ireland’s moody skies can feel intimate and utterly distinctive.

Embrace Unique Rainy-Day Details

In my opinion, rainy weddings offer opportunities for design elements that might feel excessive on sunny days. Transparent umbrellas, for instance, add a delicate, cinematic quality to photographs while keeping guests dry. Hand-painted or monogrammed umbrellas serve as stylish keepsakes. Guests can also be treated to luxury wellington boots in vibrant colours, tailored to the wedding palette, which double as practical gifts and photo-worthy accessories.

For an indoor ceremony, the intimacy created by rain tapping against windows can be harnessed (enhanced, even) through lighting and floral design. Warm, ambient lighting and candles bring a cosy sophistication. If the rain brings your wedding party inside, bring natural elements along with you (think: cascading centrepieces or arrangements suspended from the ceiling).

Rainproof Your Photography Vision

As you can see below, photography in the rain often produces some of the most compelling imagery. Photographers familiar with Irish weather can utilise reflections on wet surfaces, misty landscapes, and diffused lighting to capture candid moments that radiate emotion and style. Couples can also integrate bold colour schemes into rainy-day attire or accessories—think jewel-toned cloaks or patterned umbrellas—to elevate the overall aesthetic.

Personalisation Through Small Gestures

Small, thoughtful touches can transform a rainy wedding into an experience guests will remember. Things like luxury hand towels in bespoke packaging, warming drinks served in personalised cups, or cosy throws for seating areas. Incorporating family heirlooms or hand-written notes throughout the venue certainly creates a romantic narrative that resonates even more profoundly when paired with the backdrop of gentle rainfall. In fact, the rhythm of rain outside can become a part of the day’s soundtrack, enhancing the overall sensory experience.

Planning Logistics Without Compromise

From a logistical perspective, having a clear contingency plan does not mean compromise. Multiple venue options and seamless transitions between outdoor and indoor elements will safeguard the entire wedding experience while still allowing for style and personality to flourish. If you work with the vendors I know and trust (the ones who understand Ireland’s climate), I can promise they will maintain high standards of service and presentation regardless of weather conditions.

All of this to say, in Ireland, rain is not a hindrance but an opportunity. It’s not something you can plan – but it is something you can embrace with intentional design, thoughtful touches, and skilled vendors. Regardless of the weather, couples can orchestrate weddings that feel truly timeless. As any Irish bride can tell you, a rainy wedding need not diminish elegance; it enhances character and offers unexpected beauty.

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

Images by Aspect Photography, Wonder & Magic, Unikeye and Fred Marigaux

Engage!25 Mallorca: Inside an Immersive Three-Day Retreat

by Harmony Walton

There’s a particular stillness to Mallorca in the early morning, just before the heat settles in. Light filters softly through the pines, and the air is scented with salt and resin. On the opening day of Engage!25 Mallorca, as I took a moment to breathe it all in before guests arrived, it truly felt like one of those moments where life comes full circle. That may surprise some of you, since I’m best known as an Irish wedding planner, but Spain has been part of my story for as long as I can remember. I spent formative years here as a child, and my very first overseas holiday with my parents was to this very island. That early experience sparked a lifelong love of travel, discovery, and the joy of gathering people in beautiful places. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to return to Mallorca many times through my work, but welcoming Engage! here for the first time felt especially meaningful. Doing it as creative director was both an honour and a responsibility I held very close, and I’m so grateful to Engage! founders Rebecca and Kathryn, whose trust makes it possible to bring an idea of this scale to life.

The Vision

From the very beginning, our vision for Engage!25 Mallorca was to create an immersive retreat that felt abundant and connected; a shared journey for our attendees rather than just a series of events. Mallorca itself guided that direction naturally. The pace there is softer. The colours are warmer. There’s an openness to the landscape that encourages people to slow down and stay present, and we wanted to capture that.

Working closely with the brilliant team at TPD, we drew inspiration from Mallorca’s iconic Ikat patterns (roba de llengües), brought here centuries ago through historic trade routes and now woven into everyday life. Their flowing, organic forms became an underlying visual language throughout the event. The signature “E” icon echoed them, as well as the island’s winding coastal roads and dramatic cliffs, particularly those that lead to the Formentor peninsula itself. We used a palette of blues, greens, and refined earthy neutrals, along with natural materials and textures. Mallorca was part of the story from beginning to end.

Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor offered the perfect canvas. Set within a vast private estate edged by pine forests, cliffs, and sea, it invites a sense of calm while still carrying a rich cultural and creative history. Writers, artists, and global tastemakers have long been drawn here, and that legacy of thoughtful escape felt aligned with what we hoped to achieve.

From Concept to Creation

Destination events carry unique challenges, but when paired with collaboration, trust, and creativity, they become the foundation for something extraordinary. This was not only the first Engage! held in Spain, but one of the first major international gatherings at Four Seasons Formentor since its reopening. Every decision mattered, not just creatively, but in how it would make guests feel. This was grounded in my belief that a successful event should feel effortless, even when the planning behind it is anything but. There were countless moments behind the scenes to ensure we got it just right, but they were always based on a shared purpose, and the ability to trust in people who listen, adapt, and care as deeply as you do. Whether it was our creative partners, suppliers, the Engage! and Four Seasons teams, or my own, everyone brought their best.

Highlights of Engage!25 Mallorca

Engage!25 Mallorca unfolded over three beautifully paced days, moving naturally between learning, conversation, and celebration. Monday began with arrivals and registration in the light-filled Cercle Bar, which flowed into a gifting experience rooted in Mallorcan craftsmanship. Later, after opening sessions and group discussions, the welcome party brought everyone together again for a joyful fiesta inspired by a traditional Mallorcan market. Dressed in flowing linens and caftans, guests wandered between food stations enjoying live music, flamenco dancers, cava, and cocktails. It was a relaxed, celebratory beginning that immediately captured the island’s warmth and spirit.

More sessions on day two brought us to a leisurely lunch overlooking the Bay of Formentor, with a Balearic menu and gorgeous views. The afternoon carried that relaxed rhythm forward, allowing space to pause, connect, and enjoy the setting before we travelled inland for dinner at Can Axartell Winery. This was a true highlight, an intimate journey through history, landscape, and wine-making. From sunset drinks in the loading bay to a candlelit dinner in the barrel room, it was an immersive evening in a spectacular location. Conversation flowed easily, glasses were never empty, and the night ended, as it should at Engage! – with desserts and plenty of dancing.

After a final morning of sessions on our last day, guests enjoyed lunch at the hotel’s private vineyard finca. The afternoon was dedicated to small group experiences across the island, each one designed to foster deeper connection. I loved being able to share some of my favourite island activities with attendees. Then, as night fell, everyone gathered once more on the Es Colomer Terrace for the Gala Dinner under the glow of the Supermoon. This celestial-themed evening unfolded in shimmering blues, metallics, and candlelight, closing the retreat with energy, elegance, and a few dance moves that won’t soon be forgotten!

Community, Collaboration & Connection

At its heart, Engage! has always been about people, and Engage!25 Mallorca reaffirmed just how powerful intentional connection can be. Alongside the main sessions and workshops, the Engage! x Freeda Network circles created space for smaller, more intimate conversations. These moments, combined with shared meals, excursions, and unplanned chats in between, reminded us that while inspiration sparks ideas, it’s relationships that sustain them. Watching friendships and collaborations form over the course of the retreat was one of the most rewarding parts of my experience as Creative Director.

With Gratitude

I am deeply grateful to Rebecca and Kathryn for inviting me to help shape this chapter of Engage! and for trusting the vision from the very beginning. Aida Fernandez deserves special thanks for not running away when I first suggested Mallorca as a retreat destination within the hotel’s first year of opening. From there, the Four Seasons team, Simona Calò, Carola Gobbi, and Carmelo Assenza, have been unfailingly supportive partners. Ars Festum, with Nadja and Temu at the helm, listened with endless patience to every tweak. Tony, Mar and Callum from the LoMusic team, along with Kevin and Mariadelina from Fosh Catering, Núria Coll Cifre from Can Axartell, continually said yes and brought energy and creativity at every turn. And, as usual, the genius of the TPD team shone through daily. Alex Le Roux and all the ALR team now fear answering the phone in case I ask for yet another detail, and Courtney and Jacob from Jacob Co Creative endured countless video calls as we virtually walked through every space together.

Most of all, thank you to the guests who showed up with openness, generosity, and curiosity, and to my own team who lived and breathed this experience alongside me. What will stay with me long after Mallorca is the sense of shared purpose and the feeling that, together, we created something I’m truly proud of on this island that has given me so much over the years.

Slán go Fóill,
Tara

Photography: Lauren Fair, Mike Cassimatis, Nikki Daskalakis, Mark Yeattes

Ireland’s Mystic Outlands: Why the Emerald Isle is 2026’s Dream Wedding Destination

by Harmony Walton

For some, travel is all about sunny shores and colourful cocktails. But for others, it’s about experiencing something new, maybe even something magical and wild. Being somewhere that feels undiscovered, rather than Instagram-famous. Experiencing the way mist clings to the top of a craggy hill, the hush of a mossy ruin just before twilight, or the power of standing in a place that feels older than time. It’s the kind of trip where you return not just refreshed, but transformed.

According to Pinterest’s 2026 trend forecast, ‘Mystic Outlands’ is the next big aesthetic for travel and destination weddings. It’s all about that fairytale-meets-fever-dream feeling: surreal landscapes, moody skies, and a sense of otherworldly wonder. If ever a country was built for this kind of romance, it’s Ireland.

While I’ve always believed Ireland is one of the most enchanting places in the world to be married (and not just because it’s home), this trend highlights something deeper: a growing desire for experiences that feel atmospheric and emotionally rich. Couples are leaning into landscape and legend, searching for places that awaken a sense of awe in them and their guests. Ireland offers all that in spades, from windswept cliffs and ancient forests to ruined abbeys and gothic castles. Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate elopement or a destination celebration that gives guests a taste of something truly extraordinary, here’s why Ireland should be at the top of your list.

What is the Mythic Outlands Trend?

In a year where ‘Wuthering Heights’ is set to be one of the biggest cinematic releases, it makes sense we’re taking a page out of Emily Bronte’s novel, with its untamed moors and stormy weather. It speaks to a deeper human desire. And like the novel, the Mystic Outlands trend is about story and sensation rather than being curated for show. Couples are seeking mythology and atmosphere, not just a pretty backdrop. And Ireland, with its rich culture and elemental beauty, delivers exactly that.

Weddings here aren’t rushed. They unfold slowly, like a landscape gradually revealing itself. You might host your ceremony in the shadow of a ruined abbey, followed by a candlelit banquet in an ancient hall. Your guests might spend part of the weekend exploring ancient stone circles, wandering through fields of wild heather, or hiking rugged cliff paths before returning for folk songs around a blazing fire.

As a planner, this is where Ireland truly shines. We can build in those ‘goosebump’ moments, whether it’s a Celtic handfasting ritual in a fairy glad, the Uillean pipes leading you through the mist to your reception, or a first dance beneath a full moon. It’s about designing an experience that feels anchored to place.

Guest Experience as Pilgrimage

One of the most powerful things about choosing Ireland for your destination wedding is how immersive the guest journey becomes. This isn’t about flying somewhere sunny and sitting by a pool. It’s about stepping into another world, one that feels rich with meaning and alive with sacred lore.

I always encourage couples to think about what surrounds their venue, not just the venue itself. At Cashel Palace, for example, you’re within walkable distance of Hore Abbey, a ruined 13th-century monastery that makes a striking backdrop for photographs. Near Adare Manor, you’ll also find ivy-clad ruins tucked into the woods and glimpses of forgotten chapels through the trees. And of course, we’re never far from the coast, where sea spray, salt air, and dramatic cliffs add their own cinematic presence.

By curating moments that connect people with the landscape, whether that’s a foggy morning walk, a storytelling session in an old stone pub, or simply sipping whiskey by a turf fire, the whole event becomes a memory woven from the very fabric of the surroundings.

From Pinterest to Planning: Bringing the Aesthetic to Life

You don’t need to drape your wedding in moss and lanterns (although you certainly can!) to tap into the Mystic Outlands mood. It’s more about tone than theme. The design details might include stormy palettes, for example, slate, moss, heather, ash. Or, they could use tactile elements like hand-dyed linen, distressed paper, antique brass, and flickering candlelight. I’ve seen couples incorporate Celtic symbols into their stationery or choose venues with original stone walls and stained glass windows that let the late afternoon light stream in just so.

And just as important is what you don’t do: the rushed timelines, the overly staged moments, the pressure to perform. One of the joys of this trend is the permission to slow down, to let the landscape and atmosphere lead. We plan everything so that you can be fully present. Because that’s where the real magic happens!

10 ‘Mystic Outlands’ Locations in Ireland

  • The Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare: Towering cliffs where the sea mist and wind conjure an eerie, majestic calm.
  • Inish Beg Estate, Co. Cork: A private island with woodlands and Atlantic views, where silence, sea air, and soft light create a secluded, mythical atmosphere.
  • The Dark Hedges, Co. Antrim: A tunnel of twisting beech trees with a ghostly stillness, made famous by Game of Thrones.
  • Gougane Barra, Co. Cork: A storybook forest park and lakeside chapel surrounded by rugged mountains.
  • Loughcrew Cairns, Co. Meath: A neolithic passage tomb complex older than the pyramids, set on misty hills.
  • Glendalough, Co. Wicklow: A glacial valley with monastic ruins nestled between two lakes.
  • Poulnabrone Dolmen, Co. Clare: A portal tomb set in the stark, lunar landscape of the Burren.
  • Benbulben, Co. Sligo: A dramatic, flat-topped mountain that looks carved by myth, with Yeats’ grave below.
  • Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry: Ancient woodlands, waterfalls, and quiet lakes that feel enchanted.
  • Aillwee Cave, Co. Clare: A vast underground cavern of echoing chambers and ancient limestone formations, hidden beneath the stark, otherworldly landscape of the Burren.

Mystical, meaningful, and a little bit wild, Ireland is the perfect expression of the Mystic Outlands trend. But more than a trend, it reflects something timeless: the human longing to be part of something older and larger than ourselves. Whether you’re dreaming of vows in a ruined chapel, a feast lit only by candlelight, or a weekend wedding that feels like stepping into a storybook, Ireland is ready to welcome you. And I’d be honoured to help you bring it all to life!

Slán go Fóill,
Tara

Images by Greg Finck, Eric Kelley, Brosnan Photographic

 

 

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