Autumn Adare Manor Wedding | Aimee & Shane

When we first started working with Aimee and Shane to plan their Adare Manor wedding, we were anticipating a spring celebration with all their family and friends. Of course, 2020 had other plans! Like so many other couples, they unfortunately had to postpone their big day and reinvent their event to ensure compliance with COVID restrictions. With a date shift to October, we adjusted the colour palette to include more vibrant autumnal tones alongside the original green and white. The guest list was also slimmed down to a more intimate 50 people, prompting us to adjust how we planned to use some of the space. The lead-up to the wedding was a bit of a nail-biter and in fact we narrowly avoided a second postponement thanks to further restrictions imposed just a week later. However, despite the challenges along the way, the end result was pure joy, and every bit as beautiful and charming as an Adare Manor wedding should be!

bride with half up half down wedding style

Monique Lhuillier off shoulder wedding dress

When it came to choosing a location, the couple were already familiar with one of my favourite Ireland wedding venues, Adare Manor in Co. Limerick. (In fact, it was where they stayed the night before Shane’s proposal!) They loved the picturesque Adare Village, as well as the fact that it was half-way between West Cork (where Shane is from) and Dublin (where Aimee calls home), making it convenient for both their families. They also loved the beauty and opulence of the estate and, as a golf fanatic, the groom loved the championship golf course which is set to host the Ryder Cup in 2027. Really, there was no other choice! Adare Manor was their perfect venue, and to celebrate they commissioned a watercolour illustration of the manor house which was incorporated into their stationery suite.

Although Adare Manor has several lovely ceremony venue options, the couple chose instead to have exchange vows at Holy Trinity Church in Adare Village, one of several beautiful churches nearby. It was at the church that guests were first introduced to the abundant florals that were a hallmark of the day, with a spectacular floral arch created at the entrance to the church. We used similar floral arches as a reception detail, surrounding the seating chart and as a backdrop to the band. Similar floral touches were added to the grand staircase and the bar and, of course, reflected in the table arrangements. As the bride said: “my flowers were the talk of the wedding!”

Adare Manor wedding flowers and pillar candles

Aimee and Shane’s reception was held in the Grand Ballroom at Adare Manor, a spectacular venue that is part of the new wing and has its own private entrance. Although the Grand Ballroom boasts 4,800 square feet of space and has a capacity of 350, one of the reasons I love it is that it can be tailored to accommodate an intimate reception of as few as 20 guests. It allowed us plenty of room for social distancing while also creating an opulent, intimate atmosphere, especially with the chandeliers twinkling above! Walking into the ballroom, dancing to Stevie Wonder while their friends and family cheered them on, was the couple’s highlight of the day. Aimee said: “There was such an atmosphere of joy, that after a stressful few months prior, we could feel the happiness and positive energy fill the room.” Details like the custom whiskey bar and live band also helped to get the party started – essential for this fun-loving pair!

Adare Manor wedding bride and groom couple shoot

Manolo Blahnik green wedding shoes Irish wedding

Another highlight for the bride and groom was getting to share their big day with more than the 50 guests who were able to attend, thanks to a live stream that allowed them to attend the church ceremony virtually. Prior to the wedding, they had sent these virtual guests their mass booklets along with bespoke cocktails from Lockdown & Co., so that they were able to toast together.

I loved planning this Adare Manor Wedding. Congratulations again to an incredible couple!

Slán go Fóill,

Tara

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